Jonathan Papelbon, after many years away from the spotlight, has returned to relevance in a big way, making headlines with his criticism of Bryce Harper while opining Jason Varitek would be a more compelling subject for a docuseries than Derek Jeter. The former Red Sox and Phillies closer has always been a loose cannon, and his recent discovery of social media along with a new podcast that debuted earlier this month, have provided the perfect outlet for him to spout his scorching-hot takes.
Papelbon shared an interesting rule of thumb, recommending bettors take the under on runs scored during Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles, positing that it’s easier to pitch hungover than it is to hit.
A veteran of six All-Star Games, the 41-year-old is likely speaking from experience, lending credence to the theory that All-Star week, at least since the game stopped counting for homefield advantage in the World Series, is essentially one big party, offering players a chance to unwind, usually with a glass—or several—of social lubricant in hand. Former Yankees ace David Wells famously pitched a perfect game after a night of heavy drinking with Jimmy Fallon and other SNL cast members, which would also support Pap’s argument.
Per usual, Tuesday’s Mid-Summer Classic was a low-scoring affair with the American and National League All-Stars accounting for just five total runs with none scored after the fourth inning. Typical of today’s feast-or-famine MLB that emphasizes power over contact (hence teams hitting a combined .242, the lowest league-wide average since Bob Gibson’s heyday in the late 60s), four of the five tallies were the result of home runs, including a two-run blast off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton, the first Yankee to earn All-Star MVP honors since Mariano Rivera in 2013.
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