The former Sox closer signed a four-year, $50 million free agent contract with the Phillies back in November, and on Friday night, Papelbon shut down his former team, collecting his 12th save in 12 tries this season.
A case can certainly be made that Papelbon is the most reliable closer in the major leagues right now. Despite his infamous blown save that ended Boston’s 2011 season, Papelbon has recorded six straight 30-save campaigns, a rare feat in baseball history. He also has a World Series victory under his belt.
But at the moment, Baltimore’s Jim Johnson is leading the league in saves with 15, and he has yet to blow a save for the first-place Orioles. Tampa Bay’s Fernando Rodney is not far behind, with 13 saves in 13 chances.
Over in the National League, Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel is off to another fast start with 13 saves in 14 chances. He recorded 46 saves a year ago. And the Milwaukee Brewers, while not off to a great start, have a reliable shutdown man in John Axford, who also racked up 46 saves last season, the second-highest total in Major League Baseball.
Finally, let’s not write off Boston’s own Alfredo Aceves, who got off to a rocky start but has settled in to convert nine saves in 11 chances this season. That’s not bad for a guy who wasn’t expected to be the closer until Andrew Bailey was injured in spring training.
