Jonathan Papelbon Clarifies Comments About Boston Fans, Says He Wasn’t Trying to Offend Anybody

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Mar 26, 2012

Jonathan Papelbon Clarifies Comments About Boston Fans, Says He Wasn't Trying to Offend AnybodyJonathan Papelbon caught some heat recently for comments that, according to him, were taken out of context.

"The difference between Boston and Philadelphia, the Boston fans are a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball," Papelbon told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team recently. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

That didn't sit well with some Red Sox fans, who understandably don't like to have their baseball intelligence questioned. However, some fans were especially upset, and have since harbored ill will toward the former Boston closer, who inked a four-year, $50 million deal with the Phillies earlier this offseason.

Papelbon has responded to the distress, though, saying that he meant no harm, and that his comments were not intended to insult Boston fans.

"I wasn't trying to offend nobody, man," Papelbon said, according to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo. "I was just calling a spade a spade. I've been in the bullpen down there many a times in Boston to know this [fan] don't have a clue what he's talking about. It happens in Philadelphia, too. I've been in Philadelphia's bullpen. I was just simply saying that, because the American League is different than the National League, there's a little more thought process that goes along with that."

Papelbon said he knew his words were going to be written as they were, but that he knows there's fans in Boston who understand he wouldn't start knocking the city after seven memorable seasons.

"I had a phenomenal run there," he said.

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