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Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Blog Kiosk: 6/21/2016 - Dodgers Links - Meet Your Franchise Saves Leader Kenley Jansen


It's funny to think that this guy started out in pro ball as a catcher.

Kenley Jansen now holds the Dodgers franchise record for career saves at 162.  Last night he helped extend the Dodgers winning streak to four games by striking out two of the three batters he faced for his 20th save of the season. Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:
"He's really good. We've been spoiled," Kershaw said of Jansen immediately after a hard night's work was finished. "It just feels like when the ninth inning rolls around, we have a win. And you can't take that for granted. I'm happy for him. He's had a nice career here so far, and hopefully there is more to come."
It should be noted that his very first save of his career came in only his second big league appearance on July 25, 2010 with Clayton Kershaw on the mound to win his 10th game of the year.  His record setting save last night also came in relief of Kershaw for his 11th win of the season. 
"Every time Kershaw is pitching, I have a great chance to get in there," Jansen said. "To get my first save with the Dodgers with him, and then to break the record with him, that's awesome."
BTW, Jansen has saved 33 of Kershaw's wins in his career.  Listen to Kenley speak about the record save with Alanna Rizzo here.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodger History:In 1998 Dodgers manager Bill Russell is released and replaced by Glenn Hoffman.  Also, Tommy Lasorda becomes the Dodgers GM.
  • Happy Birthday, Rick Sutcliffe!
  • Via August Fagerstrom at FanGraphs; "The Kenta Maeda Guide to Soft Contact."
Blengino wagered some guesses as to what was behind this ability, invoking the fact that Maeda utilizes a five-pitch repertoire, including a slider of which he varies the shape and speed, effectively giving him six pitches. Maeda throws his fastball less than half the time, a unique approach with which hitters are largely unfamiliar, adding in a layer of deception. There’s also some deception to be found in his start-and-stop delivery from the wind-up, and from the near 20-mph gap to be found between his fastball and curveball, with his changeup and slider sitting at the midpoint between the two. Any time Maeda’s changing speeds, he’s adding or subtracting 10 mph, and sometimes 20. Maeda keeps batters off balance, and perhaps that helps explain how he has a top-five infield-fly rate without relying on a high-spin four-seamer.
"He'll be back [Tuesday]," Roberts said. "We had him scheduled for today, but I think it's just to give him an extra day.... To give him an extra day and also get Trayce [Thompson] and Howie [Kendrick] back in there, with that continuity, I felt that was the right thing to do."
Yadier Alvarez made his first start for the Arizona Rookie league Dodgers and he struck out seven and gave up one hit in 3⅔ innings pitched.
  • The Dodgers are now signing up fans interested in attending the Dodgers-White Sox Fantasy Camp at Camelback Ranch in January 2017.  Go here for information.
Tommy Lasorda and a new generation of coaches including Pedro Guerrero, Steve Sax, Eric Karros and Eric Gagne are among the former Dodgers already scheduled to appear. Tom Paciorek, the former Dodgers and White Sox player, is serving as camp commissioner.
  • Lastly, Eric Gagne gave Kenley Jansen a call last night after his record breaking career save.  Pic below of the affair via the @Dodgers on twitter:


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