The MLB All-Star Game is next week in Seattle and the Boston Red Sox will be represented by closer Kenley Jansen. However, some fans feel that outfielder Alex Verdugo was snubbed of a berth on the team. On Wednesday’s Felger and Mazz, Mazz talks about Verdugo not being on the team and how he feels that the Red Sox actually have zero All-Star’s and that Jansen only made the team by default.
Mazz thinks the Red Sox don’t have an All-Star
Mazz: “Can I just read the numbers quickly on Alex Verdugo? .291 batting average, I know nobody gives a rat’s ass about batting average anymore but I like it, but eff you. Okay, seriously, you people. who don’t look at batting average, eff off. .291 batting avergae, OPS of .815, six homeruns, 35 RBI. SIX home runs in more than half a season. That’s an All-Star? So I’m not telling you he sucks. He’s had a good first half. Good, not great. Let’s not turn him into an MVP candidate with six home runs and 35 RBI. At the end of the day, it’s about run production. He’s got 91 hits. He’s had a good first half. 26 doubles….good, good. He’s not great. He’s good. And Kenley Jansen got on to the team by default. He’s 2-4 and he’s got a 3.45 ERA. He’s had 17 saves. That’s pretty average for a big league closure. I think what they did is basically picked the best available former Los Angeles Dodger. I’m not kidding. Nobody else on the Red Sox has any name recognition or status in Major League Baseball. Rafael Devers does, but he hasn’t played well enough. And so who do you pick? You pick the name. That’s what you do. You pick Kenley Jansen because people in L.A. know who he is. It’s embarrassing. They don’t have an All-Star. They don’t.”
May 12, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
