Kenley Jansen Admits He Couldn’t Really Enjoy Dodgers 2020 World Series Win
As the Dodgers head home from Tampa Bay and their mini rematch of the 2020 World Series, it gives us a nice excuse to look back at something that didn’t make headlines recently but was still pretty interesting to see. Former Dodger closer Kenley Jansen was in the news as he locked down his 400th career save. He did his media rounds as he celebrated the incredible accomplishment that could help get him enshrined in the Hall of Fame — he is after all one of the best closers of all time and a World Series champion.
As part of one interview with ESPN, he talked about that World Series ring with the Dodgers. He opened up to columnist Joon Lee about his love/hate relationship with the 2020 title.
“Even though we won the World Series, deep down I wasn’t happy,” Jansen said. “I wasn’t happy because as much as my teammates picked me up, the responsibility I was supposed to carry, I didn’t take that responsibility. Someone had to do it for me.”
Via ESPN
The 2020 season wasn’t kind to Kenley and things only got worse for him in the postseason. The big man had an ugly 5.14 ERA and eventually lost his manager’s confidence as Dave Roberts turned to Julio Urias to secure the biggest outs in the final two series for the Dodgers. Still, Kenley was a contributor in securing the organization’s first title since 1988. He locked down two saves and tossed scoreless outings in five of eight appearances.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t what you’d want as a player. But it is what it is.
When Will the Dodgers Face Kenley Jansen Again?
Kenley Jansen signed a 2 year deal with the Boston Red Sox this past offseason where he got off to a dominant start. Since securing his 400th save, he was hit around a bit but has got back on track. The Dodgers will travel to Boston to face the Red Sox at the end of August. There they’ll not only be reunited with Kenley, but old friends Enrique Hernandez, Alex Verdugo, and of course, Justin Turner. It will also be a homecoming for 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts who hasn’t been back since being traded to the Dodgers in February 2020.
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