The Detroit Tigers just stripped two major arms, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, from their rotation at the deadline, but don’t tell Kenley Jansen this season is over. No way. While Detroit is still within striking distance of an American League playoff spot, Jansen’s message to the clubhouse was crystal clear: stop dwelling on what’s gone, and own what’s left.
Jansen’s Call for Accountability
Seriously, this guy gets it. “If you’re going to worry about that stuff, you’re going to feel miserable,” Jansen declared. “I’m not going to do that.” He acknowledged losing “two great guys,” but pointed out, “Did the lineup change? Tell me, did the lineup change? The lineup is the same. Did the bullpen change? The bullpen didn’t change.” He’s not wrong: the lineup and bullpen are playing the most, and those guys are still there. That’s the kind of blunt honesty you need when the chips are down. And the best part? Jansen isn’t pushing this burden onto young arms or the front office. This veteran closer is pointing the finger straight at himself. “With the bullpen, it starts with me,” he said. “I need to step up and pitch better and I will be showing that. The rest of the guys need to step up and help the team do the job.” He’s talking about earning your keep! “You get paid to play a game we love. We just have to go out there with a chip on our shoulder, when it comes to the bullpen, and lock it down. It starts there.” That’s true leadership, and you gotta love that fire.
October Dreams Still Alive
His message is simple, right? “To me, nothing has changed,” Jansen declared. “Put a chip on your shoulder and go play. People are counting us out? Great. I love it.” That’s the mindset! It’s not about proving anything to outside noise, it’s about what they’re capable of as a team. “We’ve got to suck it up, put our big boy pants on and show up to work and do the job.” This isn’t just talk. Jansen hasn’t seen October baseball since 2022, after a ridiculous 10-season run. He didn’t sign up with Detroit to just coast through September. He wants back in. “I want to be back there. I thought this team had a chance to get there and I still think that. I came here for a reason. I don’t want the season to end Sept. 28. I hope we play longer than that.” That drive, that belief after a tough deadline, is what makes a team dangerous.
The Tigers are still in it, even after losing those two arms. It’s all about if they can bottle up Jansen’s fire and turn that ‘chip on the shoulder’ into wins. Can this bullpen, led by Jansen, truly lock it down? Can the lineup stay consistent? That’s the question now. If they listen to their closer, they’re not playing for next year, they’re playing for October, and they are doing it with something to prove.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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