Kenley Jansen: 'Ridiculous' to think pace of play is turning off fans

Baseball games are taking too long, at least according to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who wants to make significant rule changes to shorten them, believing it will improve the fan experience.

But Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is strongly opposed to Manfred's pace-of play-initiatives, as he believes the issue isn't that important to fans.

"Football is four hours, four-and-a-half hours," Jansen told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. "The Super Bowl was five hours. Baseball fans are not going to stop watching because the game is too long. Let's stop that. I think that's ridiculous."

Jansen also cited the league-wide uptick in strikeouts and walks as the primary reason that games are taking longer in recent years.

"Hitters are different now, because there’s no contact hitters anymore," he said. "Everybody wants to swing for the fences all the time. There’s a lot more strikeouts. And a lot of walks because pitchers don’t command now. … If pitchers can’t command their secondary pitches, the game is going to be long."

Jansen and members of the Dodgers' pitching and catching staff reported to spring camp in Glendale, Ariz., on Wednesday.