Phillies' Papelbon tired of discussing declining velocity

Phillies closer Jonathon Papelbon is growing increasingly tired of answering questions about his waning velocity, as a group of reporters discovered on Thursday.

"Why do you guys care so much about velo so much, man?" Papelbon said in response to a reporter's query. "Does that matter? Does that really matter? Do you think that matters? I don't understand that. I mean, if a ball has life on it at the plate and you're throwing 88 miles an hour versus 98 miles an hour, it doesn't make one damn bit of difference."

[Courtesy: CSN]

Papelbon's fastball averaged roughly 96 miles per hour as recently at 2011, but the 33-year-old's velocity has declined appreciably of late, as his four-seamer now sits around 92 miles per hour. A five-time All-Star, Papelbon owns a 5.06 ERA with a blown save in six appearances this season.