One of the coolest things you’ll hear this season, easily.
Jonathan Papelbon was frustrated after giving up two runs in the top of the 9th to blow a 6-4 lead the Phillies gave him. It was Papelbon’s first blown save of the season.
So what did he do? He offered up a sum of money for someone to hit a walk-off homer off Rays reliever Jake McGee.
“This was a huge pickup for us by Jim Thome,” Papelbon said. “I couldn’t be happier for anybody else in this clubhouse. I’ve got to do a better job myself and come in and do my job. But you know, I’m kind of misfiring right now, so I’ll get some good work in and keep grinding away. I came in the clubhouse and I said, ‘Whoever walks this guy off, I’ll give him five grand.’ I didn’t think Jim would do it right off the bat. Not that he needs the money but…”
[So you’ll pay up on it] “I just wrote him a check for $5,000,” Papelbon said.
Later, Jim Salisbury tweeted: “Addendum to Pap walkoff payoff: Thome says no money was exchanged. Oh well, still cool story.”
True or not, that is so awesome.
TTB 