Can Kenley Jansen Adjust To The Pitch Clock Rules?
The answer to this question is probably not, but it’s sure going to be hilarious to watch. Especially with the way clown face, Chaim Bloom is running this baseball club. Bloom’s biggest offseason acquisition is someone that may have the biggest adjustment to the new rules this upcoming season. The pitch clock is coming and nobody takes longer to throw their next pitch than new closer Kenley Jansen.
We talk about the pitch clock rules all we want. Personally, I think they’re ridiculous. Kenley essentially echoed the same thing in his Red Sox introductory presser. We can hate them all we want. It doesn’t change the fact that they’re happening.
I am no way suggesting that the Jansen signing won’t work but an adjustment is going to have to be made. There is a very real scenario out there where the Red Sox lose a game because the umpire hit Jansen with an extra ball for taking too long. If that happens, the focus will go straight toward Chaim Bloom who very much has to be on the hot seat at this point. He can’t afford another mishap.
Jansen, 35, appears to still have some tread on the tires. The now former Dodgers and Braves closer ranked in the 93rd percentile for K rate, 98th percentile in xBA, and 88th percentile in hard hit percentage. Jansen can still bring it. However, is it fair to question if this is the beginning of the end? Will Jansen hold up with less time to recover between pitches? Will the Red Sox have to save two mound visits specifically for him in the 9th inning? All fair and valid questions at this point.
No one is blaming the Red Sox for trying to fix the bullpen but there is a very real nightmare scenario here. AND if Bloom doesn’t find a new Xander Bogaerts replacement, he’s going to lose his job. Watching Jansen close a game with the new rules is going to be must-see TV.