Papelbon: 'Cinco's always got the advantage'

PHILADELPHIA -- Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, now set to face the team with whom he spent his first six big league seasons as a member of the Phillies, suggested that he'd been circling Boston's trip to Citizens Bank Park since he signed his four-year, $50 million deal with the Phillies as a free agent this offseason.

"I’ve been looking forward to this series since the day that I signed here," said Papelbon, who cited as the basis of his enthusiasm the possibility of "facing old teammates, bragging rights. It’s like, you play with your brother in the backyard for so many years, you want to have those bragging rights. I don’t want to have to hear it from Pedroia or someone like that, text messages. I want to be giving it to him. It will be fun."

Papelbon said that he did not anticipate any anxiety should he be on the mound against his former teammates.

"I’m just going to go out there and let Cinco take over, man," he said. "I’m not really worried about it."

Asked whether he or his former team would have the advantage when Papelbon first takes the mound against the Sox, the Phillies closer did not hesitate.

"Cinco’s always got the advantage. Cinco Ocho, he always got the advantage," said Papelbon. "Whatever he does, he don’t know how he do, he just do. He always got the advantage. Never underestimate Cinco Ocho. It’s 10-to-1 odds. Don’t ever bet against him."

While he is eager for the chance to compete against his former club, Papelbon also made clear that he looks fondly upon his tenure with the Red Sox.

"I’m proud of, obviously, the championships that we won there, and I’m proud of being a part of an organization that I felt like taught me how to play in the big leagues," said Papelbon. "I’m proud of playing for a manager in [Terry Francona] who taught me how to be a man, who taught me how to accept failure, taught me how to accept winning, A-to-Z. I could sit here and talk all day about it, but for me, it’s a lot of good memories and a lot of good people surrounding them."

In 16 appearances for the Phillies, Papelbon leads the senior circuit with 11 saves. He has a 2.35 ERA, 18 strikeouts and four walks in 15 1/3 innings. Asked whether he was surprised that the Red Sox did not try to re-sign him, Papelbon pled ignorance.

"I don’t know that answer," he said. "You’ve got to ask somebody else that answer."

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