Red Sox's Kenley Jansen Calls Out 'Embarrassing' Quality of Baseballs Used vs. Angels

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen has taken issue with the quality of the baseballs (specifically their slickness) this season, and his frustration came to a head after he finished closing his team's 5-4 home win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

"It's embarrassing. It's been a while I've been playing in this league and, from the beginning of my career until now, it's getting worse," he said, per Maureen Mullen of the Associated Press.

"It's been an issue the whole year. I've been talking to a lot of my teammates, and they feel the same way. First pitch, get out of my hand, I don't know where it's going. Second pitch, the same thing. Then, I tried to throw a ball down the middle, just keep going down. It's tough trying to make an adjustment and also you have the clock ticking."

Jansen endured a rough top of the ninth inning, allowing the first three runners on base with a hit-by-pitch, single and walk. The Angels then cut the Sox lead to 5-4 after an Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly, but Jansen settled down and struck out Luis Rengifo and Mike Trout to end the ballgame.

Jansen admitted that he needed to get better postgame but stressed the need for higher-quality baseballs, especially in colder weather.

"I got to get better, but also if you're playing in the cold weather, windy, and you get pearls balls out there that's not rubbed well, I don't know where the ball's going," Jansen said.

Jansen also said that he doesn't typically hit batters or walk people this often, leading to more frustrations on the mound. He's also resorted to returning baseballs that don't work for him.

"Any balls that came, I just throw it back 'til when I find a good ball," Jansen said. "And it's just brutal."

Despite Jansen's concerns, he's still performed quite well this year, with Sunday marking the first time in six appearances that he's allowed an earned run. He's now posted a 1.59 ERA and four saves for the Red Sox, who improved to 9-7 with the victory.