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When it comes to the most durable of the two then mariano would win that easily but when it comes to the best "stuff", the best natural ability, then Papelbon would win that one.
 Papelbon is truly remarkable in what he has accomplished so far in his young career but his durability is questionable and he is liable to shoulder problems throughout his career, closers come and go and that is why rivera is the best ever, papelbon unfortunately has a limit to his potential because of his less then stellar makeup of his shoulder, its weak and will be tested again and again with or without a shoulder strengthening program.
Papelbon has two or three good years left, maybe, it doesn't matter starter or closer, its the sad truth. I think papelbon could very easily win a cy young or two in those two or three years, as closer, and thats one hell of an accomplishment that he is more then likely able to achieve.
First off, its Jonathan Papelbon.
 Second, right now, Pap is better. However, Rivera did this last year. He got off to a bad start. By the end of the year, he was closing games and Papelbon was on the DL.
Mo is a HOF, Papelbon isn't.nygiants1080
Yet. Papelbon isn't a HOFer yet :DÂ
[QUOTE="JML897"]Joe Nathan.
nygiants1080
You must have trouble reading.
Joe Nameth is the correct answer to any question :DÂ
Papelbon could not get the job done in huge spots last season, most notably against the Yanks in the 5 game Boston massacre, and in a big time series against the Indians. Mo on the other hand has never let his team down and fail to make the post-season. As of right now Pap has good stuff, but he isn't a pimple on Mo's fanny. Wake me up when he has half of Mo's rings.dru26You can attribute his downfall last year to being way way overworked by terry francona. Remember, the red sox offense in 2006 had stints where they couldn't even score any runs so there were multiple times where pap would save a series, thats crazy, saving a whole series? Thats just not right and thats what he was doing last year. So when pap is healthy he is second best to rivera, still good company.
[QUOTE="dru26"]Papelbon could not get the job done in huge spots last season, most notably against the Yanks in the 5 game Boston massacre, and in a big time series against the Indians. Mo on the other hand has never let his team down and fail to make the post-season. As of right now Pap has good stuff, but he isn't a pimple on Mo's fanny. Wake me up when he has half of Mo's rings.schoolisnotkoolYou can attribute his downfall last year to being way way overworked by terry francona. Remember, the red sox offense in 2006 had stints where they couldn't even score any runs so there were multiple times where pap would save a series, thats crazy, saving a whole series? Thats just not right and thats what he was doing last year. So when pap is healthy he is second best to rivera, still good company.Over the last 3 years Mo has been forced into being a 2 inning pitcher, thanks to the lack of quality set-up men. I can't think of any other managers actually trying to have their pitchers arms fall off othere then Torre.
[QUOTE="nygiants1080"]
[QUOTE="JML897"]Joe Nathan.
slateman_basic
You must have trouble reading.
Joe Nameth is the correct answer to any question :DÂ
No it isn't. This is between Mo and Pap.
[QUOTE="slateman_basic"][QUOTE="nygiants1080"]
[QUOTE="JML897"]Joe Nathan.
nygiants1080
You must have trouble reading.
Joe Nameth is the correct answer to any question :D
No it isn't. This is between Mo and Pap.
 At least I said a dominant closer, not a quarterback from the 60s. :P
Papelbon could not get the job done in huge spots last season, most notably against the Yanks in the 5 game Boston massacre, and in a big time series against the Indians. Mo on the other hand has never let his team down and fail to make the post-season. As of right now Pap has good stuff, but he isn't a pimple on Mo's fanny. Wake me up when he has half of Mo's rings.dru26
What about Game 7 of the 2001 World Series? What about Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS? Yeah, he's never let his team down before...
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