Cruising around the Internets yesterday, I came across this article on Red Sox Monster that discusses Jonathan Papelbon's new nickname/on-mound persona, as taken from an interview Paps did with Fox Sports Network's Gary Tanguay. In that interview, Paps says that when he's pitching, a second personality called Cinco Ocho takes over and keeps him just on the edge of sanity so he can pitch with all of the intensity we know and love. It's a little bit crazy (especially coming from a guy with hair that looks like it recently made friends with a light socket), but as I was commenting to some coworkers yesterday after Papi's bat presentation to Vlad during the Home Run Derby, I love it when athletes step out of the public relations mold and show some personality. From (presumed) Cinco Ocho namesake Ocho Cinco (and all of the other characters Chad Johnson has developed) to the hijinks of Kevin Millar, Julian Tavarez's bowling technique and all of the weird things that make Manny be Manny, athletes that move beyond the standard lines ("we played a great game, these are a great bunch of guys, we give it our best every day") and stand above the crowd (without being jerks, anyway) are a lot more fun to watch.So long live Cinco Ocho, especially if he can keep making hitters look goofy. Maybe he and JT Killer can start a "barely restrained psychopaths" club together. That'd build some team spirit, right?
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