Jansen has no regrets about calling out Dodgers fans for All-Star snubs

LOS ANGELES >> Kenley Jansen frequently finds himself in precarious positions.

“My job is risky,” he said. “Either I’m going to blow it or I’m going to get the save.”

The knowing smile that accompanied Jansen’s statement made it clear the Dodgers closer didn’t think he had blown it by calling out Dodgers fans for failing to elect a starter to the National League All-Star team. Any backlash from his Idea Sunday has left him unfazed.

Jansen said he didn’t regret saying it was “Dodgers’ fans’ fault” that Corey Seager and Justin Tuer weren’t voted in as starters for next week’s All-Star Game and disagreed with any interpretation that he was ripping Dodgers’ fans.

“I love the fans,” he said. “I never rip the fans. I know we have the best fans in baseball. That’s one of the reasons I came back (after reaching free agency last winter).”

Jansen praised the Dodgers for “leading baseball in attendance every year” and “selling 3 million tickets before the season even starts – almost as if these were talking points suggested by Dodgers PR. Jansen also pointed out that he had included himself when he said Sunday “We should have voted” enough to elect an All-Star starter and said he was being “a messenger” for teammates who were disappointed on behalf of Tuer and Seager.

“I’m going to stand up for my teammates,” he said. “That’s why I said what I said.”

Jansen acknowledged that he is “aware” many fans are unable to see most Dodgers games on TV because of the on-going stalemate with cable distributors (now in its fourth year), a factor that could hold down vote totals for Dodgers players. But he pointed out fans are finding a way to vote now – Tuer was the early NL leader in the ‘Final Vote’ online competition for a spot on the All-Star roster. The Dodgers have waged a strong campaign through social media and the team’s TV and radio broadcasts to stir up support for Tuer in the competition which runs through Thursday. Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked that he spent the off day Monday “on his couch, voting for JT.”

As for Jansen blaming the fans Sunday, Roberts said he saw it as Jansen being a team leader and showing his support for his teammates.

“He’s passionate,” Roberts said. “No one loves the Dodgers more than Kenley does. He cares.

“He came back to pitch for the Dodgers, to pitch for these fans. Anything that’s said should be taken knowing the guy’s heart.”

Rotation shuffle

Like the X-rays last week, a bone scan of Hyun-Jin Ryu’s left foot Monday confirmed there was no fracture caused by Andrelton Simmons’ line drive during Ryu’s start last Wednesday in Anaheim. But “there’s some pain in there,” according to Roberts, so Ryu was placed on the DL Tuesday and right-hander Ross Stripling was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Advertisement

“Hyun-Jin is in the clear but he’s still sore,” Roberts said of the results. “I don’t know what day he’ll come back to start. Obviously it’ll be in the second half but where we’ll slot him in, we don’t know yet.

“We just want him to feel good about his foot, get back on a mound and get in a sim game at some point. Then we’ll go from there.”

With Ryu out until after the All-Star break, right-hander Kenta Maeda stays in the rotation despite another poor start Sunday in San Diego (five runs in 3 2/3 iings). Maeda will start Friday against the Kansas City Royals.

Roberts said right-hander Brandon McCarthy will come off the DL and start Saturday against the Royals.

On the DL with tendinitis in his right knee, McCarthy threw four iings in a simulated-game setting to hitters at Rancho Cucamonga on Monday.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir is scheduled to continue his rehab assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and make a third start for the Quakes on Friday.

Also

Clay Bellinger, father of Dodgers rookie Cody, threw a round of batting practice to the Dodgers before Tuesday’s game. Cody has accepted an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby next week in Miami and his father (a former big-league infielder) will pitch to him.

sport world...