Papelbon spoke with members of the Boston media on Monday at media availability at the All-Star Game in Kansas City, and the right-hander fielded questions about the Red Sox.
It's something that Papelbon has already done since leaving Boston for Philadelphia. He ticked off some fans in Boston back in March when he compared the two fanbases.
On Monday he spoke more about having moved on.
"I miss some things [about the Red Sox] and I don't miss some things," Papelbon said, according to The Boston Globe. "I miss the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. I miss Fenway, but I also enjoy Citizens Bank Park. I enjoy the city of Philadelphia. I enjoy a lot of things."
The Phillies closer spoke at length about his relationship with Terry Francona as well. Papelbon said that he feels bad for the way that things ended for Francona in Boston, also saying that it wasn't Francona's fault the club collapsed last September.
"I think that players, when they get to the big leagues, they're responsible for themselves even more than a manager is responsible for them," Papelbon said, according to the Globe. "A manager's job is to make sure the right calls are made and that it's managed properly. A manager's job shouldn't be babysitting. We're grown men. I think every player was prepared and ready to go."
Papelbon, who said that it was unfair for Francona to shoulder the blame for how things ended last season, also said that Francona's exit played a role in his decision to leave Boston.
"He was like a father figure to me sometime," Papelbon recalled. "That SOB kicked me in the ass when I needed it. He picked me up when I was falling down. He taught me the ins and outs of being a player and how to succeed. … To go from having him for a manager from 2005-2011, to someone else, that wouldn’t have been easy. I don't think it's easy for Dustin [Pedroia] or anyone else in that clubhouse who spent time with Tito."
Papelbon also spoke about David Ortiz, specificially the Red Sox slugger's latest outburst surrounding his contract situation.
"I think sometimes he lets his feelings get in the way, but that's Papi, man," Papelbon said, according to the Boston Herald. "Papi, he gets a little emotionally fired up sometimes. You guys know. I mean, I'm happy for him. I couldn't be happier for him.
"I think it fuels him. He just talks about it a little bit more. David, he's an emotional guy. He puts his heart and soul into this. I find nothing wrong with what David says."
He also touched on what Ortiz means to the club.
"In my opinion, the Red Sox are not the Red Sox without him, period. I don’t care what he asks for. I’m trying to make that big man happy."
He even took that one step further with a pretty large comparison.
"He's different than anybody else," Papelbon said, according to WEEI.com. "He's different than Ted Williams. In my opinion, he's bigger [to the Red Sox] than Ted."
In Papelbon's first season of a four-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies, he has racked up 18 saves in 20 chances.
