Dodgers still waiting for Kenley Jansen's 2011 command performance
Was it only a dream?
The kid who had been a career catcher is suddenly turned into a reliever and starts throwing lightning? In less than a year, he not only makes it to the majors, he dominates.
Really, it happened. Kenley Jansen came on last July and posted an 0.67 ERA in 25 games. He struck out 50 in 27 innings.
It just seems like some fuzzy dream at the moment, because Jansen is suddenly enormously hittable. He barely resembles the hard-throwing right-hander from last season.
In eight appearances this year, Jansen has an 11.57 ERA. He's given up 13 hits (three homers), walked six and struck out 13 in 8 2/3 innings. Manager Don Mattingly admits to some concern.
"A little, obviously he hasn't been like last year," Mattingly said. "He hasn’t been overpowering.
"His command has not been great, but he really hasn't had that little extra gear yet this year. There's been times he's had it, but I don't think consistently."
With Lance Cormier and Troncoso struggling, the Dodgers can ill afford to have Jansen go south. Jansen thinks the problem is mostly about his command.
"I have to reach back and get ahead of the hitters," he said. "I used to get ahead of these hitters.
"Just keep working hard on it every day and being aggressive."
Jansen, of course, is comparatively young as a pitcher. He's pitched in only 33 games, and only 45 in the minors. Still, that hardly appeared an issue last season.
"Obviously his command has not been quite the same," said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. "And it's not like he was perfect with his command before. There's no pitcher at this level who can consistently pitch behind in the count. It puts them in definite fastball counts."
Yet even when he's getting his fastball over, it doesn't consistently have the same bite. And his velocity, though still good, is not of the eye-popping variety it was last season.
"I don't know really how to explain it," Mattingly said. "You don't know what's in guys' heads, but you want him to attack. It's really hard to explain velocity-wise why you don't see that same extra gear.
"It's really a matter of when guys are in rhythm and the ball comes out right, it's deceptive. It gets on you. It has that little ride to it. That's the one thing I haven't seen."
Unless it's in his dreams.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Kenley Jansen pitches against St. Louis on Friday. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / US Presswire
Kenley needs to stop throwing the cutter. His idol is Mariano. He wants to be like Mariano. But he is not Mariano.
Posted by: Clint aka thedodgerman | 04/20/2011 at 11:41 AM
He's done. Troncoso is done. Broxton is done.
Posted by: Hollywood Mark | 04/20/2011 at 01:00 PM
he ought to change his number. he's got a rookie number. get a rookie number, pitch like a rookie. he needs a major leaguer's number. . . . LOL. just kidding of course, but his number is huge. there's plenty of lower numbers, why didn't he change his number? might change his luck, if that has anything to do with his performance.
Posted by: HI Dodger Fan | 04/20/2011 at 01:13 PM
The Dodgers' offense out of whack in nothing unusual. They've gotten to two NLCSs without too much it (oh course, Manny helped a lot). BUT all that time they had a much better than average bullpen that carried average starting pitching.
It's tough enough but if they lose it's bread and butter(the bullpen) they've got very little chance, IMO.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/20/2011 at 02:34 PM
Why is it the entire bullpen implodes night after night, yet no one questions Bunnynutts as pitching coach? Its painfully obvious last year and this that he doesn't help any of these guys.
.
Or hell, make him manager, Mattingly didn't help the hitters either last year but that got HIM a promotion.
Posted by: Labeldude | 04/20/2011 at 03:08 PM
Jansen sorely in need of more Xperience & seasoning, @ AAA......
Troncoso & Cormier on the other hand just need to GO!!!
a now-healthy Padilla ought to take one of these 3 spots, while lefty Eveland & righty Link should be recalled from AAA for the other 2
Posted by: Wheelin-&-Dealin' | 04/20/2011 at 05:23 PM