Mariano Who? Jonathan Papelbon Thinks He Should Close the All-Star Game

Leave it to Jonathan Papelbon to find the one idea sillier than the one posited about Mariano Rivera starting the All-Star Game last week. During a media session today, Papelbon told reporters that, if the American League is winning come the ninth inning, he should be the one to close the game out.

"If I was managing the team, I would close. ... But I'm not managing the team," he said today.

Sam Borden and some of the other writers there asked Papelbon whether Mariano Rivera had earned the right to close.

"I think we both earned that right." he said

After acknowleding Rivera's status, he said he earned the right to close by winning the World Series last season.

If Rivera were just on the All-Star team as a courtesy because of his long career, I'd agree with Papelbon. He has earned the right to close an All-Star game. He's on the team, after all and there's nothing wrong with wanting to close. But he picked the wrong year to make his argument.

Rivera isn't just on the team, he's having as good a season as any in his career. Furthermore, his competition is with Joe Nathan and Francisco Rodriguez for best closer in the AL. Papelbon is having a good year but he's not in the same ballpark as the other three guys. Throw in where the game is and Rivera's entire career and you've got yourself your closer.