The Phillies need a quality bullpen from day one to the end, and for that to happen, J.C. Romero needs to be the pitcher he was during August and September, not the one who was released eight months ago.
The 31-year-old left-hander was designated for assignment by Boston in June, signed a minor league deal with the Phils, and miraculously turned a 180 in time to receive a three-year, $12 million extension from the club.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Romero says. “There are some things in life you can’t explain.”
Romero dominated September and says he is closing in on his personal best streak of consecutive scoreless regular season innings. He says his surprising turnaround had more to do with tweaking the mental side of his game than fixing mechanics.
“To be honest, my problem was my temper,” he admits. “Early in my career, I was too explosive and let my temper get the best of me. Now, I’m more mature. I’m under control. I’m trying to use all my emotions in a positive way instead of against me. Last year, I wasn’t an overpowering pitcher; I was just trying to get them out. In previous years, I wanted to strike out everybody. I’m smarter, more mature, and now I’m pitching. I’m not throwing.”
Armed with a healthier approach, Romero will be asked to capitalize on another aspect of his game: his rubber arm.
“Some people are blessed with height, some people are bless with stuff. I’m blessed with the way I recuperate,” he says. “I know I have to prepare myself mentally and physically for the wear and tear of the season. That’s why you take the off-season very seriously.”
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel expects to use Romero in the later innings, possibly in a setup role depending on the opposing match-ups. Along with new closer Brad Lidge, veteran set-up man Tom Gordon and right-hander Ryan Madson, Romero expects good things from the revamped bullpen.
“We have great arms,” Romero says. “The only key factor here is health."
(This is the sixth in a series of small reports from Thursday’s Winter Tour in Reading.)
Romero: "Early in my career, I was too explosive and let my temper get the best of me. Now, I’m more mature."
OK, let me see if I have this straight. The reason he was terrible with the Angels in 2006 and cut last year by the Bosox was that he'd lose his temper and hadn't really matured yet. But, at age 31, he suddenly matured with the Phillies.
And that explains why the best season of his career came with the Twins in 2002 at age 26.
Say what?
Posted by: clout | Friday, January 25, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Well, it's possible that at age 26, he had the 'stuff' to get by with mistakes. But as he got older, a few MPH dropped off the pitches or maybe the breaking weren't moving as much anymore.
So after getting cut by the Res Sox, he's accepted that. He's realized that he can't get fired up & rely on pure talent to get by anymore. He has to be smarter & calmer out there.
I'm not saying that I buy it either, but if thinking it is what caused his performance in Philly last year, I'm all for it.
Posted by: stjoehawk | Friday, January 25, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Gotta love Romero! I was amazed at how few hits he gave up during the season. I hardly remember batters hitting the ball hard against him. Too bad his luck apparently ran out in the playoffs with Colorado. I expect him to be our set up man this season and even get a save or two if the last batter of the game is LH. Gordon may be done and we're lucky to have a player like him fall into our lap like he did.
Hope he keeps it up! Go PHILS!!!
Posted by: James L (forever a Phillies fan!) | Friday, January 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Yeah, I don't buy this at all. It'd be great if it were true though.
Posted by: Tray | Friday, January 25, 2008 at 07:26 PM
I think we'll be lucky to get 2 good years out of this guy. I'll guess probably one, and we'll be booing him the other 2. I hope I'm wrong, and I'm glad at least they didn't spend a huge fortune on him.
Posted by: Brian | Friday, January 25, 2008 at 07:35 PM