ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Red Sox admit that they've leaned hard on Jonathan Papelbon this month. Papelbon admitted after Game 6 of the ALCS that he's "pretty beat up."
It hasn't yet been a problem for the Red Sox. You wonder if it will be, either in Game 7 or, if they win tonight, in the World Series against the Phillies.
Papelbon has never allowed a postseason run, in 16 career appearances. But he's had to work harder this year than ever before.
Papelbon has already made seven appearances this month, or as many as he made in the entire 2007 postseason. The Red Sox have played 10 postseason games so far, and only three times have they been able to stay away from their closer. That's after he appeared in a career-high 66 games during the regular season.
"He's pitched a lot," manager Terry Francona said. "The guys that are around us all year know that we try so hard, and it's not always easy, to keep an eye on their innings and their workload. So when there comes a point when we need to lean on them, it's there. And he's answered the call. He's done a terrific job."
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