News
Romero not focusing on ROY race
Toronto (66-81) at Tampa Bay (75-73), 7:08 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/19/09 1:20 AM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- With only a handful of starts remaining this season, Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero is running out of time to state his case for the American League Rookie of the Year honor.On Saturday night, Romero will take the hill against a Rays team he defeated July 1, when he logged eight shutout innings and scattered four hits. It was one of the 12 victories that Romero has collected in a strong introduction to the big league stage.
"A lot of the guys, they jokingly say, 'Rookie of the Year. Rookie of the Year,'" Romero said recently. "I try not to look at it like that. If I win it, it's going to be an unbelievable accomplishment for me, personally, but I've just got to take it start by start."
Earlier this season, the 24-year-old Romero -- a first-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft -- appeared to be the leading candidate for the league's top accolade for a rookie. He grabbed a spot in Toronto's rotation in the spring and quickly evolved into the No. 2 arm behind ace Roy Halladay on the Jays' staff.
As the year has gone on, though, the list of candidates has grown. Romero has clear competition in pitchers Rick Porcello of the Tigers and Jeff Niemann of the Rays. White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham, Rangers shortstop Elvin Andrus and Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold are also in the discussion.
Entering Saturday's appearance on the road against the Rays, Romero has gone 12-8 with a 4.22 ERA over 25 starts for Toronto. Compared to Porcello (13-9 with a 4.22 ERA) and Niemann (12-6 with a 3.80 ERA, Romero ranks first with 119 strikeouts, 6.97 strikeouts per nine innings and 60 percent of his appearances being quality starts.
If Romero does piece together a strong finish, convincing voters to lean his way, he'd be in a class of his own in the Blue Jays' record book. Toronto has never had a pitcher take home the Rookie of the Year Award since the club came into existence in 1977. The only players to win the award in team history are Alfredo Griffin (1979) and Eric Hinske (2002).
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP Ricky Romero (12-8, 4.22 ERA)
Romero has gone 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts on the road this year.
Garza is 5-3 with a 1.90 ERA in nine career starts against the Blue Jays. Bird feed
Center fielder Vernon Wells doubled in the third inning Friday to move into sole possession of second place on Toronto's all-time doubles list. Wells has 292 two-base hits in his career with the Jays. ... That hit also extended Wells' hitting streak to 11 games. ... Jays manager Cito Gaston said that left-hander Scott Downs (right hamstring) and left-hander Brian Tallet (right foot) are both considered day-to-day after suffering injuries Wednesday night. Gaston added that it was too early to say if Downs, who already had to stints on the disabled list this season with a left foot issue, might be done for the year. If Tallet is unable to start as scheduled Tuesday, Gaston said he may be forced to use relievers in the game against Baltimore. ... Lefty Jesse Carlson (suspended three games for his part in Tuesday night's bench-clearing incidents in New York) is eligible to return to the Jays' bullpen Sunday. Until then, Toronto does not have any left-handed relievers available unless Downs is cleared to pitch. ... Shortstop Marco Scutaro was out of the starting lineup Friday, but Gaston said it was simply a routine day off. ... With a loss Friday, the Blue Jays guarantee that they will not finish with a winning record in 2009. Toronto ended above .500 in each of the past three seasons. The last time the club finished below the break-even mark was in '05, when the Jays went 80-82. Tickets
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• Sunday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 15-9, 3.03) at Rays (David Price, 8-7, 4.60), 1:38 p.m. ET
• Monday: Blue Jays (David Purcey, 0-2, 6.32) vs. Orioles (Chris Tillman, 2-3, 4.50), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (TBD) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:07 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
