Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon started his career with the Boston Red Sox and helped them win the World Series in 2007, but he says he will always be a member of the Red Sox:
"The Red Sox are a part of who I am, man," Papelbon told the Boston Globe's Julian Benbow. "I don’t really feel much like a Phillie. Boston’s where I was born and raised. It’s kind of like that, you know. It’s the city you were born and raised in."
“It’s been a tough transition over here. I’m not going to lie. It’s been tough. Tough getting used to the way it is here. It’s two totally different organizations. The way they’re ran, the way they’re coached, the players that are on them. Two totally different styles of baseball. I don’t know if I can honestly tell you if I’m even used to it yet.
"I've never been embraced here, from day one. It’s not antagonizing [the Phillies]. It's speaking the truth. When I get asked that question, I give you the truth. What is a Phillie? A horse? That’s what it is? I feel like a horse. I felt like a horse tonight, yeah.
"For me, it’s like where are you from? I’m from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So that’s what I will always say. That’s where I feel like I’m from. That’s where I grew up. That’s where my roots are. So if you ask me, what runs deep in you, the Red Sox still run deep in me. It’s where I’m from. It’s where I grew up, it’s who I became as a pitcher. So that will always stick with me no matter what."
Papelbon signed a 4-year, $50 million deal to join Philadelphia after the 2011 season, but the Phillies haven't had a winning season since then.
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