Jonathan Papelbon Did Not Like Mingling With Red Sox Fans

Throughout the Major Leagues this week teams have had all sorts of ceremonies to commemorate Opening Day. In Philadelphia they raised their new World Series banner and had a ring ceremony, and in Boston they had the Red Sox players enter the playing field through the stands at Fenway Park.

Jonathan Papelbon did not appreciate this.

Not being one to ever keep his thoughts to himself, Papelbon has a new web-only interview he does on Boston's Comcast SportsNet, and he used the inaugural episode to complain about the dangers of walking and mingling with his fans.

The Boston Globe said "this symbolic gesture was made by the players to thank the fans personally for their passion, dedication, and unwavering support." And even a Yankee fan like me thought it was a cool thing to do.

But Papelbon agreed with Comcast hosts Gary Tanguay and Michael Felger that it was unsafe. "I know the fans probably loved it," he said, but "you do have to be safe, especially walking down the steps and stuff like that." OMG, steps!

"Just a terrible idea by [Red Sox senior vice president] Sarah McKenna, that was the person who came up with this idea, very stupid of her, " Papelbon said. "And if she pulls another act like that, she can go down to Pawtucket."

If only Papelbon was as good as shutting his mouth as he was at shutting the door on opponents in the ninth inning.

Is he seriously complaining about having to walk down steps? Oh the horror of it all! They just keep coming at you one after the other! Then sometimes they turn and the one side of the step gets significantly smaller, and that could cause you to fall. I tell you, it's a miracle nobody died.

Red Sox Snapshots

BOSTON - APRIL 9: Daisuke Matsuzaka #18 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays won the game 4-3. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daisuke Matsuzaka

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BOSTON - APRIL 9: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox prepares for a game with the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays won the game 4-3. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Ortiz

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Boston Red Sox's Jed Lowrie, left, can't make the tag as Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura steals second base in the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Boston. The Rays won 4-3. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON - APRIL 9: Manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays speaks with his infield during a game with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Maddon

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BOSTON - APRIL 9: Manager Terry Francona removes Daisuke Matsuzaka #18 of the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daisuke Matsuzaka;Terry Francona

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BOSTON - APRIL 9: Matt Joyce #20 celebrates his home run with teammate Gabe Gross #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays during a game with the Boston Red Sox throws against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Joyce;Gabe Gross

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BOSTON - APRIL 9: Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs the outfield before a game with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, April 9, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Evan Longoria

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Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria watches his two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Boston. The Rays won 4-3. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jason Bartlett, left, and Akinori Iwamura celebrate the Rays' 4-3 win in a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Tampa Bay Rays' catcher Shawn Riggans (L) and teammate Dioner Navarro celebrate their 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in their American League MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts April 9, 2009. REUTERS/Gretchen Ertl (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)

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