Papelbon whines, Mets win

The Mets have done what the Yankees have been unable to do this season thus far: beat the Red Sox.  And they’ve already done so twice.

But I really want to talk about what Jonathan Papelbon did in the bottom of the ninth inning tonight.  Papelbon, of course, gave up the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth.

With a runner at first and no outs, Jason Bay grounded to third.  David Wright made a great play just getting to the ball.  He then fired a one-hopped to Luis Castillo who somehow kept his foot on the bag to record the force out.

Papelbon came running out of the dugout and started doing the “safe” motion with his arms.

Now, I ask you to imagine the uproar if a Yankee, more specifically, Joba Chamberlain, did something similar.  Chamberlain is killed for pumping his fist, but guys like Papelbon take it to the next level.  If Chamberlain did the “safe” sign like that, he’d be all over ESPN, Mike Francesa would be calling for his head and columnists would talk about how he’s showing up the opponent.

I want to watch MLB Network or “Baseball Tonight” and see these “analysts” call out Papelbon.  If they don’t, something is seriously wrong.

It was nice to hear one of the Mets’ announcers tell Papelbon to “sit down,” but I want to hear more of a reaction tonight.

AP Photo

Manny's AL East reign of terror is over

SI's Jon Heyman is reporting that Manny Ramirez has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jason Bay will be sent to Boston. The rest of the details are sketchy, but one this is certain: it's great that Ramirez is 3,000 miles away and in a different league (for the rest of this season).

Update - 5:05 p.m.

Red Sox get: Bay

Dodgers get: Ramirez and cash (payment of Ramirez's contract from Boston)

Pirates get: Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen, Brandon Moss and Bryan Morris

So the Red Sox traded Ramirez, Hansen, Moss and $7 million for Bay. It's obvious Theo Epstein was pressured into doing such a one-sided deal.