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Version 1 Version 2
Jonathan Papelbon admits ‘he was in the wrong.’ Jonathan Papelbon admits ‘he was in the wrong.’
(about 1 hour later)
VIERA, Fla. — Sitting at a folding table under shaky fluorescent lights in a multipurpose room that sometime doubles as a chapel, Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon addressed the media Friday afternoon, his first public comments since the team suspended him for choking Bryce Harper last September. VIERA, Fla. — Sitting at a folding table under shaky fluorescent lights in a multipurpose room that sometime doubles as a chapel, Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon addressed the media Friday afternoon, his first public comments since the team suspended him for choking Bryce Harper in September.
“I’ve apologized to [Bryce]. I’ve apologized to my teammates. I want to apologize to the fans and the coaches and everyone included,” Papelbon said.“I’ve apologized to [Bryce]. I’ve apologized to my teammates. I want to apologize to the fans and the coaches and everyone included,” Papelbon said.
“I think that with what happened last year, I was in the wrong. Should have never went down that way, and I understand that. I had a lot of time this offseason to reflect on that.”“I think that with what happened last year, I was in the wrong. Should have never went down that way, and I understand that. I had a lot of time this offseason to reflect on that.”
[Bryce Harper reaches out to Jonathan Papelbon][Bryce Harper reaches out to Jonathan Papelbon]
Papelbon filed a grievance against the Nationals after the suspension, a process that requires a hearing and implies ill-will. As a result, some wondered whether he would report on time. But that hearing has not been scheduled, and Papelbon and Rizzo dismissed its importance. Papelbon filed a grievance against the Nationals after the suspension, a process that requires a hearing and implies ill will. As a result, there was some question whether he would report on time. But that hearing has not been scheduled, and Papelbon and Rizzo dismissed its importance.
“I think the grievance thing is all on the business side of things and that’s gonna be taken care of,” Papelbon said. “I think the grievance thing is all on the business side of things, and that’s going to be taken care of,” Papelbon said.
“I expect (the grievance) not to have anything to do with on the field moving forward,” Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said. So Papelbon reported on time, had his physical Friday, and headed to the clubhouse. “I expect [the grievance] not to have anything to do with on the field moving forward,” Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said. So Papelbon reported on time, had his physical Friday and headed to the clubhouse.
The room was sparsely populated, though passersby such as A.J. Cole and clubhouse staffers offered friendly pats on the back. Then Gio Gonzalez, whose locker neighbors Papelbon’s, wandered in, his flowing curls pulled up in a half ponytail. Papelbon barked his surprise, then cheerfully listed a few things of which Gonzalez’s new ’do reminded him, including a sumo wrestler’s. Everyone laughed.The room was sparsely populated, though passersby such as A.J. Cole and clubhouse staffers offered friendly pats on the back. Then Gio Gonzalez, whose locker neighbors Papelbon’s, wandered in, his flowing curls pulled up in a half ponytail. Papelbon barked his surprise, then cheerfully listed a few things of which Gonzalez’s new ’do reminded him, including a sumo wrestler’s. Everyone laughed.
“I’m glad they put me next to you,” Gonzalez told him.“I’m glad they put me next to you,” Gonzalez told him.
By that time, he had already spoken with his new manager, Dusty Baker. By that time, Papelbon already had spoken with his new manager, Dusty Baker.
[Baker gets advice from Joe Gibbs]
“We had a long conversation. We talked about duck hunting and just fishing,” Baker said. “He was trying to get Will Clark down there to go hunting on his property. Who knows, I might even go down there with him next year. And he’s excited. He’s very, very excited.”“We had a long conversation. We talked about duck hunting and just fishing,” Baker said. “He was trying to get Will Clark down there to go hunting on his property. Who knows, I might even go down there with him next year. And he’s excited. He’s very, very excited.”
Rizzo, Harper and several other teammates have said repeatedly that the Nationals players consider the incident closed. Papelbon, whose first words to the media that day were “I was in the wrong,” called his teammates together to apologize to them that day, too.Rizzo, Harper and several other teammates have said repeatedly that the Nationals players consider the incident closed. Papelbon, whose first words to the media that day were “I was in the wrong,” called his teammates together to apologize to them that day, too.
“I think with the team, with the clubhouse, and with the two players, it was done at the time,” Rizzo said. “Now, there was an offseason that we had to consider, and there was the fan base that we had to consider.” “I think with the team, with the clubhouse and with the two players, it was done at the time,” Rizzo said. “Now, there was an offseason that we had to consider, and there was the fan base that we had to consider.”
Discomfort will likely linger there; all social media indications are that the fan base, uneasy about Papelbon’s acquisition, has not forgiven him, and does not intend to do so. Discomfort likely will linger there; all social media indications are that the fan base, uneasy about Papelbon’s acquisition, has not forgiven him and does not intend to do so.
“I think the fans will see from me that I play with a great deal of pride,” Papelbon said. “…I realize that what I did was wrong. And the fans see that. And I see that. But my whole point is that good can come of this. I can redirect this, and we can go out and win 95 games this season and go into the playoffs and be hot and go win a world championship still.” “I think the fans will see from me that I play with a great deal of pride,” Papelbon said. “. . . I realize that what I did was wrong. And the fans see that. And I see that. But my whole point is that good can come of this. I can redirect this, and we can go out and win 95 games this season and go into the playoffs and be hot and go win a world championship still.”
[Players may not have a problem, but will fans forgive Papelbon?][Players may not have a problem, but will fans forgive Papelbon?]
Papelbon won a World Series title in Boston and reiterated Friday that he came to Washington to bring a baseball championship to a city that hasn’t had one in 90 years. None of what happened, he said, has changed that goal. Papelbon said Rizzo supported him to ownership and others throughout the ordeal, which “meant the world to him.” Papelbon won a World Series title in Boston and reiterated Friday that he came to Washington to bring a baseball championship to a city that hasn’t had one in more than 90 years. None of what happened, he said, has changed that goal. Papelbon said Rizzo supported him to ownership and others throughout the ordeal, which “meant the world to him.”
“We hold our athletes to a high standard, and we realize that at the end of last year we didn’t fulfill those standards,” Rizzo said. “But we feel that this is a team that we give second chances to, and we feel that we’re very comfortable with the fact that Pap’s on the club, and that he’s embraced by his teammates.”“We hold our athletes to a high standard, and we realize that at the end of last year we didn’t fulfill those standards,” Rizzo said. “But we feel that this is a team that we give second chances to, and we feel that we’re very comfortable with the fact that Pap’s on the club, and that he’s embraced by his teammates.”
Before he began his mini-news conference, Papelbon said he would stay for as long as it took — all day, if needed — to answer every question reporters might have. But after this day, he would not discuss the incident again. For about 15 minutes, he sat at the table, looking relaxed, fielding questions thoughtfully. Then, in his red Nationals “Train to Reign” shirt and Nationals shorts, he headed back to the clubhouse to start his season. Before he began his mini-news conference, Papelbon said he would stay for as long as it took — all day, if needed — to answer every question reporters might have. But after this day, he would not discuss the incident again, he said. For about 15 minutes, he sat at the table, looking relaxed, fielding questions thoughtfully. Then, in his red Nationals “Train to Reign” shirt and Nationals shorts, he headed back to the clubhouse to start his season.