Bounty-Gate in Baseball Now?

Yes, folks, it appears that those dastardly New Orleans Saints (sarcasm completely intended) have infected America's past time. There is irrefutable evidence that a bounty/pay for play scheme does exist in baseball (again, complete sarcasm).

Unlike the NFL's supposed evidence (no sarcasm here; that crap is pretty flimsy) the evidence in baseball is pretty clear. In fact, no one is trying to hide (possibly because they know its silly and no one cares).

Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon had an off night last Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Rather than close out the game for his 18th save of the year, he blew his first save of the season. Understandably angry and a little frustrated, when he got back to the clubhouse he made this declaration:

"I came in the clubhouse (after the blown save) and I said, 'Whoever walks this guy off, I'll give him five grand.'"

Jim Thome must have taken him seriously, especially after Papelbon reminded him off the offer while he was in the on-deck circle. In his next at-bat he hit the 609th home run of his career. The dinger moved him into a tie for 9th on the all time career home run list with Sammy Sosa, and set a new record for career game-ending home runs with 13.

Papelbon says that he wrote Thome the check after the game, but Thome said he declined it.

So sorry NFL. We can't empathize with your pain. No bounty here; just a shaving cream pie.

(Is it just me or can anyone else see Thome saying 'I want my money?' Where is an NFL investigator when you need one?)