Coors Field was home to a good ol' fashioned detective case last night as the mystery of Kenley Jansen was stranger than an episode of Sherlock Holmes.
Jansen is the Dodgers reliable closer, ranked fifth all time in franchise history with 111 saves. More than likely he will move to number two on that list by season's end, but on Wednesday in Colorado, there were no signs of the Dodgers best arm out of the bullpen.
With Jansen unexpectedly "unavailable," the Dodgers blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning as the assembly line out of relievers could not record an out and the Rockies rallied to beat Los Angeles 7-6.
Expecting an explanation for why Jansen was not called into close out the game like he did on Tuesday night, things took a strange, and stunning turn of events when the Dodgers opened up the clubhouse doors to manager Don Mattingly who evasively said, "he was unavailable," offering no other details or specifics.
After getting no information from the team's head honcho, the media swarmed around Jansen's locker in the visiting clubhouse as they awaited the 27-year-old to get out of the showers. When the Curaçaoan native finally appeared, he too remained silent, telling a member of the Dodgers PR staff that he did not want to speak to the media.
To make matters worse, minutes later ESPN broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe, who called the game that night, tweeted out this concerning message:
Sending my prayers to #Dodgers and closer @kenleyjansen74 — Rick Sutcliffe (@Sut_ESPN) June 4, 2015
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Within minutes, Twitter was running rampant with wild speculation as to what could have happened to Jansen, and the reasoning behind the silence by the Dodgers and their staff.
Here are some of the possible explanations for Jansen's mysterious absence:
1. PED Suspension
@billplunkettocr 50 game suspension for PED? — Occupy Dodgers (@OccupyDodgers) June 4, 2015
Doubtful.
2. Traded
BREAKING: #Dodgers trade Kenley Jansen, Zach Lee, PTBNL to #Phillies for Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, and Ryan Howard. — Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotiIlo) June 4, 2015
The Dodgers are in need of some bullpen help, but why on earth would you trade your best arm. The rumor was quickly squashed.
Kenley Jansen has not been traded. — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 4, 2015
3. Argument with the Coaching Staff
An argument with the coaching staff could have been an explanation, especially with how Mattingly reacted after the game. But typically, if the matter were internal, the Dodgers or their manager would say as such. Regardless, what could have happened in the middle of a game that you're winning that would spark an internal issue?
Especially one so large that you would rather risk losing the game in the bottom of the ninth than dealing with it later? Unlikely.
4. Explosive Diarrhea
Kenley Jansen reportedly has ED flaring up. Explosive Diarrhea. — Phil Fitzpatrick (@phildougfitz) June 4, 2015
Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go.
5. Family Emergency
#dodgers Donny's answer on #KenleyJansen was uncomfortable to me. Am I alone? @TheRealJHair said it could be personal pic.twitter.com/ogmysIurX2 — djJASMAN (@djJASMAN) June 4, 2015
Former Dodger and current Time Warner Cable Sports Net LA broadcaster Jerry Hairston Jr. alluded to the fact that it could be personal, or a family emergency, which would explain Mattingly's refusal to speak about it.
6. Heart Condition
let's hope this is not true.. love you, kenley!! #kenley #jansen @kenleyjansen74 pic.twitter.com/WaoQXqSXrv — Casey Lynn (@mvpuigla) June 4, 2015
Within minutes of the game ending, Kenley Jansen was trending on Twitter with the headline that he had undergone surgery for a heart procedure.
Jansen had a surgical procedure performed on his heart in October of 2012, but that was three years ago. The previous issues he had with atrial fibrillation could have returned or provided a scare, especially in the high altitude, which would explain Sutcliffe's "prayers," but Jansen was able to pitch 24 hours earlier and dressed with teammates in the locker room after the game.
If it was something as serious as a heart issue, wouldn't the Dodgers have taken him to the hospital, or had him get attended to by the medical staff?
7. Anxiety and Dehydration
@BethMilstein From what I'm hearing it's not a major medical issue. He might have some anxiety about pitching here based on earlier a-fib — Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) June 4, 2015
Sources: #Dodgers’ Jansen to be checked today. Was not feeling well; may simply have been dehydration and altitude in Colorado. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 4, 2015
This makes the most sense and is arguably the best explanation we are going to get at this point. Reports are coming in this morning that Jansen experienced symptoms related to dehydration and breathing abnormalities that could have been attributed to the high altitude conditions.
With Jansen's history of heart problems, that could put a scare into a lot of people and without any diagnosis of what was going on specifically, the Dodgers remained silent rather than speculate. This would explain the tweets, Mattingly, and why Jansen seemed ok after the game.
Hopefully, this is the case and we will all see Jansen ready to go on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium for his promotional Bobblehead giveaway night courtesy of State Farm.
