It’s apparent that the Kenley Jansen Era did not have a happy ending in Boston.
Red Sox reliever Kenley Jansen didn't endear himself to teammates by going home before the season was complete. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)Getty Images
Jansen pitched pretty well in his two seasons here, recording 56 saves in his two years. He was a solid if imperfect closer both years. But his decision to go home to California earlier this week did not sit well in the clubhouse.
The Red Sox officially placed Jansen on the IL Monday with right shoulder inflammation, marking his season over. As such, he didn’t travel to Toronto for the final road series, but that was standard procedure. A number of players currently on the IL, including Rafael Devers, remained back in Boston.
But even before the Sox returned for the final three games of the season, Jansen packed up and went home. That’s highly unusual for injured players, especially veterans who know the importance of seeing the end of the season through with their teammates.
Multiple players, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity, registered their disappointment over Jansen’s early departure, though one added: “I can’t say I’m too surprised.” Jansen was known to be somewhat aloof during his time with the Sox, at times unsure of some teammates’ names.
According to one Red Sox player, Jansen entered the training room last Sunday before his team’s split doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins and announced that he would pitch in the first game and that would be it. Indeed, somewhat strangely, he pitched the top of the ninth inning of a game in which the Sox were leading by eight runs. He later told reporters that he was done pitching for the season, and suggested they confirm that with the team. After the second game, following some confusion from team officials throughout the day, Cora revealed that Jansen was dealing with a sore shoulder and wouldn’t pitch again in the final week.
It was telling that, when the clubhouse opened Friday afternoon before the final homestand, his nameplate had already been removed from atop his locker, as if the club was trying to scrub any evidence that he been part of this year’s team. Such actions are rare indeed. Chase Shugart, who had a temporary locker, was suddenly in the place Jansen occupied for two seasons.
On Saturday, Devers, Lucas Giolito, Rob Refsnyder, Brennan Bernardino, Garrett Whitlock and David Hamilton, each one on the IL, were still present in the home clubhouse and accounted for.
Jansen, meanwhile, was long gone.
* This was not a good week for Major League Baseball when it came to optics.
First, MLB badly handled the weather in Atlanta. It was obvious that Hurricane Helene was going to make playing games Wednesday and Thursday impossible. MLB had time to anticipate that and move the series to a neutral site out of the storm’s path. Instead, they stubbornly dug in their heels and the two teams now face the prospect of a doubleheader Monday to decide one of the wild card spots in the National League. There’s currently a scenario where the Mets will go from Atlanta to Milwaukee this weekend, back to Atlanta Monday, and then to San Diego for Game 1 of the wild card round Tuesday.
But even worse was the final series ever in Oakland for the Athletics. And here, the other 29 owners share blame with commissioner Rob Manfred. The A’s are now leaving the Bay Area to play three seasons in a minor league facility in Sacramento en route to their eventual home in Las Vegas. The whole episode has been shameful, and yet owners have inexplicably allowed A’s owner John Fisher to do as he pleases, at the expense of a dedicated and mistreated fan base in Oakland.
* Jerod Mayo could use some serious media training. Just a few months into his head coaching tenure, he has several times had to walk statements back or clarify things he’s said. Too often, Mayo has been unclear about the quarterback spot, intimating that a change could be coming, only to be forced to explain himself the following day.
* The Bruins are bigger this season, and seemingly better equipped to bang some bodies around on the forecheck. Failure to execute that part of the game was the big difference in each of of the last two springs, when the Florida Panthers were far better in that department. So the Bruins added some heft this offseason, especially for their bottom six. That’s all well and good, but size isn’t enough if a team doesn’t have the speed to get on the opposition quickly.
* Lookalikes: Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto.
Red Sox fans won’t want to hear this, but a Yankees-Dodgers World Series would be a lot of fun, with the game’s two biggest stars representing the two biggest markets. It will be fascinating to see Shohei Ohtani on the post-season stage for the first time.
* The NHL preseason is becoming more and more like the NFL preseason all the time. The games are little more than contests featuring prospects and rookies, while the stars mostly sit out except for a game or two.
* Nothing but the best wishes to Pam Kenn, a longtime, integral and dedicated Red Sox employee who is leaving the organization after 25 years. She’ll be impossible to replace.
It’s just plain strange that 90% of the NFL players who are true divas just happen to be wide receivers. Imagine that transferred to another sport: Yeah, he can be pretty difficult to deal with, but then, what do you expect? He’s a second baseman!
Not to brag or anything, but before the season, I had the Red Sox finishing in fourth place and winning 83 games. I’ll be off by as many as three on the win total, but I’ve made worse predictions.
* When we’re at the point where we need a judge to issue a ruling on whether a special home run ball can be auctioned off, I’d say the whole collectibles industry has gotten out of hand.
* Good riddance to the hideous blue tops for Red Sox uniform options. For years, they’ve looked like BP shirts or spring training uniforms. They were a blight on the team’s 2018 championship run.
* He can be supremely full of himself at times, but all credit to John Tortorella, who invited Guy Gaudreau, father of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, to help out at Flyers’ practice last week. Guy Gaudreau is dealing with unimaginable levels of grief over losing both sons recently, and Tortorella thought having him on the ice might serve as a nice distraction. Good for Tortorella.
