Sergio Romo is well aware of the realities of being a relief
pitcher. String a few rough outings together, and even a pitcher of
Romo’s caliber can enter a manager’s doghouse in less time than it
would take to shave the right-handers famously bushy beard.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
Sergio Romo is well aware of the realities of being a relief pitcher.
String a few rough outings together, and even a pitcher of Romo’s caliber can enter a manager’s doghouse in less time than it would take to shave the right-handers famously bushy beard.
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Romo had a 2.18 ERA last season and became a crucial late-inning weapon for the Giants, but a week before spring training started, he decided he needed to add to his repertoire.
After a conversation with left-hander Jeremy Affeldt, Romo began tinkering with a sinker. He immediately felt comfortable with the pitch, and said he hopes it will allow him to become more versatile.
“I want to get away from the feeling that I have to strike guys out,” Romo said. “I’m not really a power pitcher. I want to get more ground balls and be able to get both righties and lefties out.
“I may not have to rely on the slider as much.”
According to fangraphs.com, Romo threw his trademark slider on 36 percent of his pitches last season. He has mixed it up this spring, with mostly positive results. Romo had not given up a run in six spring appearances before allowing a solo homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night.
“It’s coming along real well. The sinker has progressed through spring training and I’ve been able to control it a little better than I thought I would,” Romo said. “I’m real happy with where it’s at.”
Anyone who has seen Romo bounce off the mound after an inning-ending strikeout, head and beard bobbing in celebration, knows that Romo is comfortable in his own skin.
But being comfortable in the major leagues is a different matter. Despite a 2.63 career ERA, Romo said he entered spring training with the attitude that he didn’t have a job sewn up.
“There’s no room to get comfortable up here—I’m never going to feel comfortable,” Romo said. “But I do feel that, if I had a spot to lose, I’ve done a decent job of maintaining it to this point.”
—The Giants played their starters deep into Tuesday’s game, a 5-4 victory over Arizona.
Aubrey Huff hit a home run for the second day in a row and Freddy Sanchez looked to be in midseason form with a solo homer and nice sliding grab at second.
“I’m feeling better each and every game,” said Sanchez, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason.
Travis Ishikawa doubled home Emmanuel Burriss in the top of the ninth for the winning run.
—Madison Bumgarner gave up two solo homers in the first inning and left before talking to the media, but catcher Buster Posey said the left-hander looked good after the rough start.
“He’s putting his work in right now,” Posey said. “He was out there working on stuff.”
Bumgarner went four innings, allowing just the two first-inning runs and striking out six.
— Alex Pavlovic, San Jose Mercury News
