Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has received the dreaded “vote of confidence” from skipper Dave Roberts, as detailed in a report from the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. Following a blown save in Friday’s game against Arizona, Jansen has five blown saves in 2019–matching his combined total from 2017 and 2018. Despite the big righty’s career-high 3.83 ERA entering play Saturday, Roberts seemed generally nonplussed at the prospect of a Jansen demotion. “Do I have any concerns? No,” Roberts told Plunkett. “He’s a guy that I know for us to win 11 games in October, we need him. I know he’ll get there.”
As Plunkett points out, Jansen has responded to his 2019 struggles by altering his repertoire. Typically a flamethrower with a 90% usage rate on his cutter, Jansen has implemented a slider at an 11.3% clip in 2019–his highest rate on that offering since 2016. “Certainly throughout the early part of his career, he just overpowered the league and there was some unfamiliarity there. Now you’ve got to continue to evolve,” Roberts said.
More developments from the world of late-inning lynchpins…
- Blue Jays hurler Ken Giles has been dealing with a balky elbow for several weeks and could end up on the injured list in the coming days. Manager Charlie Montoyo told Scott Mitchell of TSN that Giles’ arm isn’t “bouncing back” after a July cortisone shot that was intended to quell inflammation surrounding the elbow, and admitted that the team is having a “conversation” about what to do next in regard to Giles. At 49-71, the Blue Jays don’t figure to close many relevant ballgames down the season’s homestretch, but it stands to reason that Giles’ lingering injury would be of concern to a Blue Jays front office that opted not to deal the talented closer at July’s trade deadline. Across 37 innings, Giles has logged identically fantastic ERA and FIP marks of 1.95.
- Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel hit the injured list five days ago with knee inflammation, but he could rejoin the team for this week’s upcoming series with the Phillies, per Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Kimbrel is expected to “test” his knee with a bullpen session in Philadelphia, although it is unlikely that he will be activated when first eligible on Wednesday. After Steve Cishek’s IL placement this afternoon, Cubs fans will certainly be clamoring for Kimbrel’s recovery.
Dixon Miaz
Oh the mighty have fallen
marijuasher
And an idiot has spoken. Neat!
johnk
And a child shall lead them
great_gumbino
Roberts May be the only one with confidence in Jansen
ladodgers27
I’m sure Roberts must of been the one during the deadline who argued that Jansen would come through and that the Dodgers don’t need another closer. I’m positive he is dreading that decision now!!!! A closer with over a 3.00 era is not what you want!!!
BlueSkyLA
I’m positive that you are positively wrong.
fox471 Dave
Why, Blue Sky?
BlueSkyLA
The comment was ludicrous. A manager doesn’t make trading decisions on any team and certainly not on the Dodgers. What is he going to say? Exactly nobody expects him to publicly express a lack of confidence in any of his players. Roberts has to play the cards he was dealt by the FO and he has to do it with a smile on his face.
bucnole31658
Why? Lol 3 era means he gives up a single run every 3 rd appearance. Not bad at all
TradeAcuna
How about this stat..
The Braves have the worst bullpen in baseball. Seems like every year they make the playoffs, they are the worst team amongst the group.
Next off season is make or break for the Braves and hopefully, AA learns from this. You get exactly what you pay for!
John Kappel
You realize that in the last 7 years they’ve only made the playoffs twice. 2013 the were tied for the 3rd best record out of the 8 teams in the playoffs.
TradeAcuna
and then got destroyed in the NLDS. Records are irrelevant. The Braves are a .500 team without the Marlins…who ironically might be the team that ignites something down the stretch given the club house incident after the game.
John Kappel
Except you literally just said they are the worst team when they make the playoffs.
TradeAcuna
and?
They are!
John Kappel
Except, I just proved that was not true.
pr0ject2501
You: here’s an incorrect stat about records!
Grown ups: Wat. No.
You: Records are irrelevant!
Grown ups: ooh a troll
You: But records!
TradeAcuna
You didn’t prove anything. Many intelligent people would agree that in 2013 and 2018, the Braves were the worst team from the team composition standpoint..especially last year.
There is a reason they tore it down after getting destroyed by the Dodgers in 2013.
Last year, the excuse was/is they are too young and inexperienced.
This year after the eventual collapse, not enough pitching. We get them next year. You know the usual cliches!
pr0ject2501
But:
“Records are irrelevant.”
-You
pr0ject2501
But he did. He proved that your “Seems like every year they make the playoffs“ statement is untrue.
TradeAcuna
why is it untrue? Granted my statement was an exaggeration, but in 2013 and 2018, the Braves were the worst team in the playoffs from the roster composition standpoint.
If your argument is that the Braves have not made the postseason “every year,” in that case I probably should have said, “Seems like ‘any’ year they make the playoffs.”
pr0ject2501
We can’t help you with reading comprehension.
TradeAcuna
No problem. Thanks for your input. You can leave now!
jleve618
Sorry project, you didn’t read his sentence correctly. Funny you were the one to bring up reading comprehension.
its_happening
AllOurGods was right. The other two aren’t. It’s settled.
trollie fingers
Try using spaces and not speaking in generalities with your usernames. It will make your alt accounts look less obvious.
TradeAcuna
^^^
Oh, now I’m using alts? Sorry to ruin your day if intelligent people understand what i say.
trollie fingers
Ruined muh day 🙁
bucnole31658
Absolutely not. The Braves right now probably have the fourth most talent in their organization in all of baseball. Sounds like a hater
papasmurf25
Lol make or break ? They’re a young team with a good farm system and bright future but yeah if they dont fix the bullpen , an area many teams need to improve, they’re finished makes sense
TradeAcuna
“good farm system”
Can we stop reassuring ourselves with this BS? Right now, on this day, the Braves will not win a championship with the current team’s roster. They will not win one next year or the next. If they call up Anderson, they are still not winning one even if he pitches well. Same with Pache and/or Waters.
The only way the Braves will have any legit shot is if they couple these guys with proven veterans via trades or signings. This refers to my statement of make and break. They cannot keep ho-arding prospects and be cheap in the free agent market. The Mets, Phillies, Marlins will only get better. Other teams in baseball will only get better. At this point, it is beyond winning a division title.
MasterShake
You’re the same guy that wanted the Braves to sign Machado, Harper, Kimbrel, and Keuchel this past off-season. You’re also the same guy that wants the team to trade every player in the minor league. You are a fool and you seem like you’d be better off a Red Sox, or Cubs fan.
trollie fingers
You can tell a lot about a fan when they say the same things about the front office/manager/player performance when the team is in year 2 of a rebuild as they do when the team has a 6+ game lead in their division.
This type of fan will always find a reason to claim the sky is falling, lacking the foresight to understand how a decision might be made to impact long-term concerns instead of instant gratification.
If you’re looking to commiserate or throw out opinions without proper evidence to back up your claims, I might suggest trying out the comments section of YouTube.
TradeAcuna
Please, I dare you, find me a post where I explicitly said I want Harper, Machado, Kimbrel or Keuchel. Granted, Machado would have given the team a future third baseman, so I would have been open to getting him.
I never said I want Kimbrel or Harper. In fact, I argued against the two, especially the former.
As for DK, he was the best realistic option available and a vet. Never did I say he is the savior, because the rotation is still bad with or without him.
bucnole31658
The Braves don’t need to sign anyone they have All stars all mover the frield and future all stars throughout their system. The days of signing veterans is dead
bucnole31658
The Braves don’t need to sign anyone they have All stars all mover the frield and future all stars throughout their system. The days of signing veterans is dead
bucnole31658
The Braves don’t need to sign anyone they have All stars all mover the frield and future all stars throughout their system. The days of signing veterans is dead
bucnole31658
The Braves don’t need to sign anyone they have All stars all mover the frield and future all stars throughout their system. The days of signing veterans is dead
corey
As a Cub fan, I have never been so eager for September callups! Hopefully we will have a diamond in the rough to help out our beat up pen or we can hang it up.
ChiSox_Fan
Castellanos magic worn off. 3 K’s tonight! 0/5.
Didn’t need Kimbrel tonight. 10-1 loss.
12 hits in 2+ innings.
1-2 on road trip. Here we go again. Against Cincy! Omg.
Banesays
D’bag.
ChiSoxCity
People are still sleeping on the Reds? Why? They’re only three games below 500. All they need to make the playoffs is more run support.
pr0ject2501
Because there is seven teams above them. Their .500 rating is irrelevant.
pr0ject2501
*Are
Yankeedynasty
Let’s not get started on the whole “records are irrelevant@ thing again
John Kappel
Dude seriously, shut up.
ReverieDays
Imagine your own team being such a trainwreck that you have to obsess about the better team in your city as much as this guy does.
ncaachampillini
I really truly think that dude is like 10 or 11 years old.
chitown311
K.
Steven Juris
Cubs need to play every series at home. They suck on the road. Bad baseball team with an overrated manager. Good teams win on the road. Especially against bad teams.
sillyscully
Can’t use Jansen in a 1 run game in WS! Wake up Doc! Floating cutters and fastballs down the middle of the plate bound to be hit hard. Will turn into Yu Garbage 2.0 to blow it for us. Urias or Kersh should close games in playoffs.
lowtalker1
99% of what Jansen throws is cutters. He is highly predictable and completely overrated.
TradeAcuna
so was Rivera!
amk3510
In his prime everyone knew it was coming and couldn’t hit it. Thats just what happens to a pitcher over time. No one thinks he is elite anymore so he cant be overrated
TradeAcuna
Braves trade Greene, Jackson, Melancon, and Martin to Dodgers for Jansen
chicagofan1978
Oh boy
chicagofan1978
Jansen will be fine. They have a 100 game lead in the division. He will pull it together in crunch time. They will not replace him as closer if he blows 8 games in a row
crazylarry
Just in time to go to the WS and have Roberts mess up the entire pitching staff and choke it all away.
chicagofan1978
They ain’t getting passed the Astros even if they reincarnated Mariano Rivera so it really doesn’t matter
pr0ject2501
Rivera is alive dummy.
chicagofan1978
I know, it’s called a joke. Dummy
justacubsfan
Lol why is there so many White Sox fans blowing up cub posts?? lol it’s like they have a Napoleon complex except in baseball. Haha. I’ve learned a lot since the cubs won the World Series, and here’s a free tip. Celebrate thy’s Own team more than celebrating thy enemies hiccups or losses. You’ll enjoy baseball more. Also note that 95% of baseball players have a good relationship amongst rival teams. They’re not “hating the other guy” like fans do.
chicagofan1978
Here we go again. As a life long Sox fan please look again. It’s literally only two buffoons and quite possibly the same buffoon. I could give a rats red behind what your cubs do. If they are on tv during non Sox game hours I will watch them. Otherwise meh. Just ignore them literally everyone else does and they will go away
Banesays
But they don’t go away. That’s the problem. They make the most ridiculous comments and people are sick and tired of it. If they banned cubs fan, wcr, and x, why can’t they ban these two clowns?
chicagofan1978
They should, like I said as a Sox fan it even gets annoying. I’ve been called and apologist by one of the buffoons but honestly i just want to talk baseball and not badmouth a team cause of some stupid childish hatred. Neither add anything of value to any post. There are great Sox commenters like Aaron S, can’t think of his last name now but he’s very smart with his comments. Those two not even remotely.
Show Me Your Tatis
Banesays is cubsfan!
pr0ject2501
Nobody likes the Whitesox.
chicagofan1978
I do
ChiSox_Fan
Are
jorge78
Robert’s is a fool…..
BlueSkyLA
Right, because he didn’t trade to improve the bullpen!
Oh, wait.
fox471 Dave
And…here we go. Friedman, Friedman, Friedman, ad nauseam….forever.
BlueSkyLA
Do you ever bother trying to make an actual point?
amk3510
Roberts is the manager of a team thats tied for the best record in the sport. He knows what he is doing.
jorge78
Kimbrel-another foolish free agent signing…..
ULWashington
“Roberts seemed generally nonplussed”
What? That quote seems to indicate the exact opposite. Roberts didn’t seem bothered or anxious at all.
jleve618
Yea I wondered about that. Seems most people use it nowadays to mean affronted.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
non·plussed
/nänˈpləst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
(of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react.
“he would be completely nonplussed and embarrassed at the idea”
synonyms: confused, bewildered, bemused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, stumped, mystified, stupefied, muddled, befuddled, fuddled, dumbfounded, at sea, at a loss, at sixes and sevens, thrown (off balance), taken aback, disoriented, disconcerted, discomposed, troubled, discomfited, unnerved, shaken, shaken up, dazed, stunned, surprised, astonished, astounded; More
2.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
(of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed.
Rarely do you see a word with such directly contradicting definitions. I’ve seen the 2nd definition used more commonly than the first, though, actually.
SecsSeksSecks
Can we go ahead and admit that giving Kimbrel $43 million at least appears to be a mistake? I’m not going to say it is a total bust because it is too early to tell. It is safe to say that if any team (Cubs included) could look into the future and see what his performance and health would be through this point in the season, he would not be getting the full $43 million right? I mean only one team in all of baseball was even willing to give him that much and they have to be at least somewhat disappointed in his performance this far.
Mikel Grady
The cubs had a ton of blown saves before they signed kimbrel. He has 9 saves in his short time with Cubs. Same as Strop had all season. If they didn’t sign Kimbrel they wouldn’t be in first place . They had no other options. He hadn’t had a spring training and set almost first half so he should get stronger .
its_happening
Tough break for both Giles and the Jays. Giles has been incredible.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Has any team in the history of sports ever had….
A) Such an obvious Achilles Heel
B) The resources to fill that need without missing a beat
…and simply chosen to ignore it the way LA did this year?
It’s like buying a Porsche, then deciding the tires are too expensive, so you just drive off on the rims, instead. And the sparks start flying.
BlueSkyLA
The FO plan seems to be gambling the postseason on Jansen figuring it out by October, or maybe the team getting very hot and scoring so many runs that they won’t be playing in enough close games for a closer to matter. Plan B does not seem to exist. They have some other options if Jansen continues to wobble into September but none of them are very good and we don’t see any signs that they are pursuing them in any case.
WarrenSpahn
great imagery…shower of sparks, then off into the ditch…
Wait until next year! (again)
aaronbj
Jansen is not the closer he used to be! He has not produced in post season last two years! Bullpen of Dodgers is horrible this year! No consistency!
WarrenSpahn
Roberts: ” I know he’ll get there”
in other words, Jansen is not “there”
nightmares of blown saves to come in the post-season….