Kenley Jansen bares his soul to Bradfo
Kenley Jansen is uncomfortable.
For the first time in 10 seasons, early October is rolling around and he is without his usual routine. There are no postseason preparations. There is no thoughts of early November glory.
"It’s frustrating," Jansen explained while appearing on the 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast. "I went 10 straight, from 2013 until now. Ten straight years in the playoffs. Frustrating. Disappointment. All come together. Not happy. To be quite honest for you, I don’t know how to play for numbers. I only know how to competing for a championship. That’s me just being honest."
Yes, Kenley Jansen is uneasy.
He will pick his kids up from school. He will drop his kids off at school. He will workout ... a lot. But after that, the coming month is rife with uncertainty. There is something he does know: Jansen won't be watching any baseball, especially that final out of the season. That last pitch represents the pitcher's primary prize, and he has no intention of witnessing somebody else getting such an honor.
"No. Can't do it. It irritates me," said the Red Sox closer asked if would ever be able to watch the final pitch of a World Series.
"That’s the drive I have because I still haven’t experienced being the last guy out there yet. And not me being selfish, that’s the only goal I have in my life as a baseball player, to be the last guy out there celebrating because I didn’t get to do it. I won a World Series, but everything I did right I didn’t get to do that moment because I didn’t have the best postseason with the Dodgers. And that’s understandable. The only thing that is driving me right now is to be the last guy standing and hopefully I can do it with this organization."
"This organization" of course is the Red Sox. And, obviously, that opportunity isn't going to present itself this season. And while that's a reality that has sunk in for most a long time ago, the notion of what-might-have-been hasn't left Jansen. That much is very clear when talking to Jansen with just a few games left in his first season in Boston.
The almost-36-year-old can't hide his feelings. The emotion of not playing in the postseason is still too raw.
"We do have a great team and if we would have had a couple of starters (at the Trade Deadline) we wouldn’t be talking about this right now," Jansen said. "We would be playing in a Wild Card game right now."
The fork-in-the-road moment many identified for the Red Sox this season - the Trade Deadline - is clearly one that has stuck with Jansen.
"We needed help. I knew it," he explained regarding the team's position heading into August. "That’s the mindset we came in with. I won’t speak for (Justin Turner), but we knew to keep it close, and we were close. We were 1/2 game out and we were playing great. But when you ask to have tons and tons and tons of bullpen games, at some point everybody is going to get tired and that’s what happened and we fell off. It’s definitely frustrating."
He added, "From my experience … Like I said, Chaim (Bloom) did put together a good offensive team. I don’t know what happened internally there. At the end of the day it’s a group. That’s what I can say from my experience. I think if we could have had a couple of pitchers - and you probably need to (give up) prospects or whatever … I signed here to play in the playoffs. I didn’t sign here to develop. At this point in my career I don’t want to be on a development team. The only thing I’m chasing right now is a ring. That’s the only thing I’m going to play for. I thought after they signed (Chris Martin), and the interest got higher, I was like, ‘I like where they are at.’ I had other teams involved, too, but this is the best place to be. Having Marty and see how he pitched with the Dodgers last year and the Cubs and knowing other pieces are going to come around. Trevor Story is going to come around. We did have a great offensive team. But if we would have had a couple more starters … I don’t want to mention names, if there were a few starters to start right now for us, with the bullpen with me and Martin and (Josh) Winckowski. It would be one of the best bullpens."
The story of the Red Sox' 2023 season has already been told. Entrenched in the Wild Card race, there is no pitching help secured at the Deadline. The immediate impact is felt with a three-game series sweep at the hands of the team directly in front of them, the Blue Jays, in which 20 of the 27 innings are pitched by relievers.
Later in the month, coming off three straight wins against the Yankees in New York, the Red Sox have another opportunity to take on the club they are chasing, Houston. But there are only two pitchers available (besides late-inning relievers) - Chris Sale and Kyle Barraclough - allowing an early Sox lead to unravel in spectacular fashion. It was a moment that defined what would be another sub-.500 August and the frustrations of what was at times a promising season.
"I thought when I signed here we understand - I don’t want to put anybody on the spot here - knowing that pitching was a little thin," Jansen said. "We tried to do something here to compete, to keep the team as close as it can in the race and hopefully you’re going to make some moves at the deadline. I understand the direction Chaim was going, but at the same thing … Listen, Chaim is a great guy. I love him and I wish him nothing but the best. But I feel like that’s when we fell short, if I can say my true opinion and be realistic. We know that having Chris Sale, you’re not going to get 30 starts. (James) Paxton hasn’t pitched for a couple of years, so you’re not going to get 30 starts. Whitlock, he has had his arm problems. You know there are three injury-prone arms right there. Credit to those guys. They’re gamers. When Chris Sale is on I don’t think there is any pitcher filthier than him. But at the end of the day, the depth wasn’t there. My experience playing 10 years with 10 different rosters, every roster had pitching depth. You have to get depth."
What's done is done. But that doesn't mean it still doesn't sting Jansen, especially having to hear about all those champagne celebrations popping up this time of year.
For the closer, the frustration is slowly evolving into the fuel. But it's going to a bit for that energy to evolve. Such is life for Kenley Jansen these days.
"For the last 10 years that’s all I did. Your body is just so used to it. Your mindset is how can we win the next 11 games," he said of going into the playoffs. "The fact that I can’t do it right now, I’m not saying I’m mentally checked out, but it’s the suck part of it. I can’t pretend I’m coming to the clubhouse and I’m excited to play right now, because I’m not. What I’m doing is to make a positive out of it is to start planning out already, mapping out to get myself in better shape. Eating healthy and all that stuff. Get stronger. And put me in a great position. The only expectation I will carry next year is playing for a title for this organization. The only thing this organization deserves right now is to bring a championship back to Boston."
He later punctuated the topic, saying, "I’m going to be fired up this offseason with what we’ll be getting and how we are going to improve this team, man. I’m sure the ownership is competitive, and that’s why they did this move, probably. It’s a blessing to wear this uniform and I’m going to treat it with respect. I’m going to honor it."
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