News
Romero has support of friend Litsch
Toronto (69-83) vs. Seattle (79-73), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/23/09 9:54 PM ET
TORONTO -- One person pulling for Ricky Romero in his quest to claim the American League Rookie of the Year Award is the young left-hander's good friend Jesse Litsch.While sidelined with a right elbow injury this season, forced to spend his time working through a rehab program away from the Blue Jays in Florida, Litsch has tried to watch every game Romero has started for Toronto. The pair became close friends during their time in the organization's farm system and Litsch has enjoyed witnessing Romero's success this year.
"It's awesome," said Litsch, who underwent season-ending surgery in June. "He did in Spring Training what he needed to do and it's shown all season. It's shown and he's been throwing the ball very well this year."
Midway through the season, Romero -- the sixth overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft -- appeared poised to run away with Rookie of the Year honors. Lately, though, the 24-year-old southpaw has been stuck in a rough streak, and he'll look to reverse that trend on Thursday night against the Mariners.
Over his past five trips up the hill, Romero has gone 1-4 with a 6.04 ERA, issuing 20 walks with 26 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings. Prior to that stretch of outings, Romero went 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA across his previous 16 starts. On Saturday against the Rays, Romero took a loss after allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings.
As Romero has struggled to maintain his early pace, other rookies have made strong bids for consideration when the season-end awards are handed out. Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello and Tampa Bay pitcher Jeff Niemann are among the other contenders, as well as Chicago third baseman Gordon Beckham and Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
"I wish [Romero's] last three or four starts would've been just as solid as the other ones so he'd have a chance for the Rookie of the Year," Litsch said. "It's still there. He's got three more starts left. So if he can push for 15 wins, that would be awesome."
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP Ricky Romero (12-9, 4.28 ERA)
Romero has gone 8-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 starts at home this season for Toronto.
Hernandez is 9-2 with a 1.90 ERA over 17 outings on the road this year for Seattle. Bird feed
Designated hitter/first baseman Randy Ruiz was out of the starting lineup for the eighth time in the past 10 games on Wednesday night. Jays manager Cito Gaston said a main reason is that outfielder Adam Lind has spent more time at DH of late after being hit by a pitch earlier this month. To date, Ruiz has made 25 starts at DH and one at first base for Toronto. The 31-year-old has noted that he is trying to work on playing the outfield, but Gaston was not sure that was realistic. "I'm not hearing too good of stuff about that," Gaston said. "I haven't seen him play out there, but I asked a few guys and they said, 'Yeah, I don't know.' So we'll see." ... Shortstop Marco Scutaro (right heel) and left-hander Scott Downs (right hamstring) are still considered day-to-day with their injuries. With only 10 games left on the schedule, the pair of players is most likely done for the season. "Either one of them, if it doesn't make any sense to play them, we won't play them," Gaston said. ... Lind and second baseman Aaron Hill are only the seventh pair of teammates in team history to each record at least 30 home runs, 30 doubles and 100 RBIs in the same season. Tickets
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• Friday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 15-10, 3.01) vs. Mariners (Doug Fister, 2-3, 4.37), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Blue Jays (David Purcey, 1-2, 5.31) vs. Mariners (Ian Snell, 7-10, 5.03), 1:07 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 7-9, 5.39) vs. Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith, 4-3, 3.70), 1:07 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.
