Jonathan Papelbon Says Phillies Fans Know Baseball Better Than Red Sox Fans, Praises Boston’s Passion

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Mar 8, 2012

Jonathan Papelbon Says Phillies Fans Know Baseball Better Than Red Sox Fans, Praises Boston's PassionJonathan Papelbon gained a lot of fans during his time with the Red Sox by never being afraid to speak his mind. It may end up that same trait will be the reason he loses a lot of fans in Boston.

The new Phillies closer is at it again, and this time he's talking about Red Sox fans and comparing them to the Philadelphia faithful. In fact, he says that fans in Philly know the game better than those who fill Fenway Park every night.

"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. "The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

Papelbon's comments will likely get blown out of proportion, so in the interest of fairness, the newest Phillie did emphasize that he enjoyed the passion Red Sox fans displayed.

"I've had a guy take off his prosthetic leg and throw it in the bullpen in Boston," he continued. "It's a religion. It's a way of life. They come to the field and they expect certain things out of players. It's an environment where you put up or shut up. I enjoyed that. It got my motor running every day."

Papelbon wasn't done, however. He added that the Red Sox "didn't really come at me the way I was expecting them to come at me in the offseason," saying that he was valuing "interest" and "loyalty."

And if that interest and loyalty came from the once-hated Yankees, well, he'd have to listen.

"You hate 'em when you play in between the lines. But there's a fine line here. That hate and that passion to beat them was in between the lines, and that was it. I would have definitely entertained the decision to go to the Yankees if that was there, but obviously it wasn't. I really don't even care to be totally honest. Honestly, I could not be happier."

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