Dodgers P Kenley Jansen yesterday said that he was "simply standing up for his teammates and had no regrets" about comments he made blaming Dodgers fans as the reason the club has no elected starters in the All-Star Game, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. Jansen said, "I’ve never ripped my fans. I’ve just got to say what I say as a leader in this clubhouse. Is it a risky thing? Yes, it is. At the end of the day, man, I know we have the best fans in the world." Before Jansen talked with reporters, a Dodgers PR exec "spoke with him." In the 5 1/2 minutes of Jansen’s group interview, monitored by three team publicists, he said “we have the best fans in the world” four times and spoke of his “love” for the fans seven times. Jansen: "I love my fans. They are the best. That’s why I returned. That’s why I turned down more money to come (back) here, because I know we have the best fan base" (L.A. TIMES, 7/5). Jansen praised the Dodgers for “leading baseball in attendance every year” and for “selling 3 million tickets before the season even starts." In California, Bill Plunkett writes it was "almost as if" Jansen's quotes were "talking points suggested by Dodgers PR." Jansen also "pointed out that he had included himself when he said Sunday 'We should have voted' enough to elect an All-Star starter and said he was being 'a messenger' for teammates who were disappointed on behalf" of 3B Justin Turner and SS Corey Seager. Jansen: "I’m going to stand up for my teammates. That’s why I said what I said" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/5).
