I think we all know that era for a closer is hogwash.... Midseason, let's say he's pitched 35 innings and had 2 bad outings giving up 5 combined runs in those 2, then through the other 33 innings he gives up 8? Total earned runs-said closers era would then be 3.34
I haven't followed paps season too closely to know if this might be the case, but era can be misleading with closers ( and idk how much Philly has used pap in " nonsave" opportunities, but he was horrible in those instances for us )
Edit: as of June 21st papelbon has allowed 7 runs in 10 1/3 innings in non-save situations , but while pitching 17 1/3 innings in a "save-opportunity" he has allowed 0 earned runs.... I always hated when we would throw pap out there in a game to " get some work in" then he gave up a couple runs... Small sample size I know for this season, but it does help prove that his era may be skewed some