BOSTON — Kenley Jansen is upset with the quality of baseballs.
“I have to get better, but also if you play in cold weather, with wind, and you get pearl balls that aren't rubbed right, I don't know where the ball is going to go,” the Boston Red Sox reliever said. after Sunday's 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
The 36-year-old right-hander entered with a two-run lead, hit Logan O'Hoppe leading off, then allowed a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly to Anthony Rendon before striking out Luis Rengifo and Mike Trout to his fourth save in four opportunities.
Jansen tied John Franco for fifth all-time with his 424th save.
“I don't hit guys, I don't walk around people as much. And I'm starting to get frustrated.” Jansen said. “Any ball that comes in, I just throw it back until I find a good ball. And it's just brutal.”
Jansen said the bullpen balls rubbed better than the game balls.
“It's embarrassing. I've been playing in this league for a long time and from the beginning of my career until now, it's getting worse,” he said.
“It's been a problem all year,” he said. “I've been talking to a lot of my teammates and they feel the same way. The first pitch, get out of my hand, I don't know where it's going. The second pitch, same thing. Then, I tried to throw a ball up the middle, keep going. going down. It's difficult to try to make an adjustment and you also have time running out.
Jansen said he got lucky when facing Trout, as he threw some balls “and got some that were rubbed.”
