Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen may have gotten the save and clinched the victory for the Red Sox on Sunday, but he did not have a lot of kind things to say about the baseballs the teams are using this year.
Following the game, Jansen acknowledged that he needs to perform better, but he absolutely blasted Major League Baseball for the quality of baseball that they are using this year.
“I got to get better, but also if you’re playing in the cold weather, windy, and you get pearls balls out there that’s not rubbed well, I don’t know where the ball’s going,” Jansen said according to ESPN.
Though Jansen got the save, hit the leadoff batter, gave up a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly before ultimately completing the save. And he blamed the balls for his lack of control.
“I don’t hit guys, I don’t walk people this much. And I start to get frustrated.” Jansen said. “Any balls that came, I just throw it back till when I find a good ball. And it’s just brutal.”
“It’s embarrassing. It’s been a while I’ve been playing in this league and, from the beginning of my career until now, it’s getting worse,” Jansen continued.
“It’s been an issue the whole year,” Jansen said. “I’ve been talking to a lot of my teammates, and they feel the same way. First pitch, get out of my hand, I don’t know where it’s going. Second pitch, the same thing. Then, I tried to throw a ball down the middle, just keep going down. It’s tough trying to make an adjustment and also you have the clock ticking.”
We’ll have to see whether or not this situation improves over the course of the season.
[ESPN]
