Kenley Jansen looking to Mariano Rivera for comparison in pitching fashion
The Los Angeles Dodgers are eyeing a good role this season as they will compete in the National League West division for a place in the off season.
Their Spring Training tenure is passing by well and their focus in the Cactus League is earning them the right awards.
However, one of their rising stars in the roster is looking to do better in the coming years like his idol, Mariano Rivera. Kenley Jansen has the ability to do what his idol has and he’s looking to do big things in the coming years.
The Dodgers have Kenley in the closer’s role and that is not a debate for the supporters of the club. With Joe Torre working for Major League Baseball now, Don Mattingly has taken the managerial role with the club and his concern is on who will take the
closer’s role.
With Jonathan Braxton dipping on his form and Hong – Chih – Kuo pitching with a risky arthritic elbow, Jansen is the man to take the rows.
He’s similar to New York Yankees’ Rivera and his comparison with the 11 time All-Star ball player is related to his pitching. The two players can deliver fastballs that dart sideways. That is something the hitters cannot connect with.
"My ball naturally cuts", Jansen said. "It just has life on it. I throw a four-seam fastball, and when I want to throw a cutter, I spin the ball around and spread the fingers just a little and press with my middle finger and I know it's going to cut. When
I started pitching, I was playing around with it and it worked right away. It's a good pitch for me, especially when I'm ahead in the count, because the hitters can't recognize it. Look at Mariano, he's been throwing it for how many years? Why not me, too"?
Though there’s no reason to believe the two players are similar, catcher, Dioner Navarro, believes there is. The player used to catch for the Yanks and he says Jansen’s grip on the ball is similar to Mariano’s.
The Dodgers may be looking for a prolific closer, but can Kenley duplicate Mariano’s career?
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