Papelbon already fan favorite in Boston

BOSTON – Is he Jon or Jonathan? A starter or a closer? A pitcher who craves strikeouts or any kind of out?

For Boston’s newest mound sensation, none of that really matters.

The soft-spoken 25-year-old with a Southern drawl just wants to enjoy himself. And the best way for him to do that is by helping the Red Sox win.

“I’m just going out there trying to do my job and have fun with it,” he said.

Because the Red Sox had a crowded rotation, the rookie who figures to be a mainstay as a starter for years to come was expected to be a setup man. But when Keith Foulke struggled early this season, manager Terry Francona tried the hard-throwing Papelbon in Foulke’s spot in the bullpen.

The results have been spectacular: seven saves in seven opportunities in Boston’s first 10 wins. No runs, two walks and just three hits allowed in eight innings, and regular standing ovations when he comes in from the bullpen to protect another lead.

“I like the fans expecting a lot because I expect a lot of myself,” the pleasant but physically imposing Papelbon said. “It’s good to have them behind you because they can carry you through innings when it gets rough.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound righty is doing so well that Francona may keep him in that role a while.

“I wouldn’t be disappointed,” Papelbon said. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of closing and right now that’s all I’m focused on.”

The unflappable Papelbon has a similar ambivalence to what people call him. Soon after making his major league debut last July 31, he let it be known that he’d prefer to be called Jonathan. But this year, he said either Jon or Jonathan was fine.

And although he fanned 34 batters in 34 innings last season, he doesn’t care how he retires them.

“Strikeouts are great,” he said, “but that’s just icing on the cake.”