Former Boston Red Sox stud Johnny Damon says his former teammate Jonathan Papelbon earned himself the right to party in New Orleans last weekend ... despite the fact the Sox had just skidded their way out of the playoffs.

Damon -- who played for Tampa Bay last season -- was leaving Boa in Hollywood last night ... when we asked about the photos of the Red Sox closer firing off beads on Bourbon street.

Damon replied, "[losing is] never easy and Jonathan Papelbon has had a great career so far ... so he can do whatever he wants."

He added, "I'm glad he's enjoying himself, I wish he was on my team."

It doesn't matter that his team was eliminated from the MLB playoffs in one of the most epic September slides in baseball history -- Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon went out this weekend and partied his face off anyway!!!

Papelbon -- who reportedly made $12 mil in 2011 --  hit up Bourbon Street in New Orleans with some buddies Friday night.

In case you missed it, Pap's Sox blew 18 of their final 24 games ... and were shockingly eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago when they lost the last game of the regular season.

Who needs the World Series when you've got a fistful of beads?

Manny Ramirez -- former star of the L.A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox -- has been formally charged by the Broward State Attorney's Office with misdemeanor domestic violence and battery.

Ramirez was arrested in Florida earlier this month after allegedly slapping his wife in her face, which caused her to hit her head on the headboard.

Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey has filed to divorce his wife, Krista ... who is in the middle of battling breast cancer.

Lackey filed on August 30, according to court docs in Texas, claiming "the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities." Krista and John got married in November, 2008.

Sources close to the family tell TMZ ... Krista underwent a double mastectomy back in March and underwent chemo as recently as June.

The divorce petition says John and Krista had a prenup. It also says Lackey has "separate property" he wants to keep for himself.

Lackey filed the divorce papers using only his and Krista's initials -- a tactic Tony Parker and Eva Longoria ... and Sandra Bullock and Jesse James also used in their Texas divorces.

It's unclear why Lackey -- who's struggled on the field all season long -- didn't wait til the off-season, about a month from now, to start divorce proceedings.


4:33 PM: The Red Sox just released a statement on Lackey's behalf -- telling us, "John Lackey is dealing with a deeply personal family issue, and it is one the Red Sox do not feel is appropriate for public debate.  The Red Sox request that John and Krista’s privacy be respected."