The headline used by ESPN caught me: “The most overrated player on all 30 MLB teams.” I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for clicks like this. So as the page waited to load, I made my internal predictions for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The favorite would have to be an aging Adrian Gonzalez — someone whose numbers are nearing career lows as father time catches up with him (I know, he’s only 34, but he seems older).
Then there was the sleeper pick: someone like Joc Pederson? He became a familiar name in last year’s Home Run Derby, so maybe his perception had outgrown his performance?
Finally, there was Yasiel Puig. But is he really overrated anymore, having been sent to the Minors?
By the time the page loaded, I was shocked — none of these three players were mentioned. Instead, it was Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
Kenley Jansen?
Here’s how David Schoenfield rationalized that decision:
I feel bad about this one. His numbers are so dominant, with a 1.27 ERA, 67 strikeouts and just seven walks in 49 innings. But he has somehow managed to blow five saves, and the Dodgers lost four of those games. He had two blown saves last year but five in 2014. His save percentage just isn’t anything special.
Huh?
It’s almost as though Schoenfield is saying: Kenley is just so dominant, but he did have five bad games…
Somehow the person who is tied for second in the Majors with 34 saves, is first in National League ERA, first in NL FIP and tied for first in WAR among relievers, is overrated?
Yes, Jansen has blown a five saves. But even looking into those instances reveals how foolish that statistic is in judging someone.
In Jansen’s five blown saves, he has allowed a total of six earned runs. So sure, ignore the fact that he’s never allowed more than two runs in an appearance, that he has only allowed runs in five appearances all season (49 innings pitched) and that he sports a 0.70 WHIP.
We’re talking about five blown saves. Really?
