H. Rumph Jr/AP

Hot on the heels of his crotch-grabbing, umpire bumping theatrics on Sunday, former Red Sox and current Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon was served with a seven-game suspension Monday night.

Major League Baseball also fined Papelbon an undisclosed amount for making a lewd gesture toward fans and getting ejected from Sunday’s Phillies’ loss to the Miami Marlins. He’ll be eligible to return on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

After getting pulled upon allowing four ninth inning runs, Papelbon grabbed his crotch in response to getting booed on his way to the dugout. Umpiring crew chief Joe West ran him from the game at which point Papelbon charged back on to the field and got into West’ face, making contact with both West and first base umpire Marty Foster.


After the game, Papelbon denied making the gesture and on Monday he said his actions weren’t directed at Phillies’ fans and apologized for the incident via a statement.

“While I completely understand how the fans would perceive my gesture while being booed, it was not my intent whatsoever to insult the fans of Philadelphia,” Papelbon said. “If it was perceived in that manner, I sincerely apologize.”

The indecent incident brought to mind former Sox general manager Theo Epstein’s famous response when asked about Papelbon’s annoyed comments about the team’s acquisition of Billy Wagner as bullpen insurance back in 2009.

When apprised that Papelbon sounded off about the team not needing another closer like Wagner despite multiple assurances from the organization that Wagner would not be closing and Papelbon’s job was not in jeopardy regardless of the trade, Epstein said, “I think Pap feels he was misunderstood. He’s not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with, obviously.”

Truer words have rarely been spoken.