Romo is ready for new start with A’s
There is nothing intimate about a Zoom call, but Romo has a knack for warming even the coldest interactions.
There is nothing intimate about a Zoom call, but Sergio Romo has a knack for warming even the coldest human interactions.
Romo’s goofy personality was on full display as he re-introduced himself to the Bay Area on a call with reporters.
“Hey guys, I’m wearing green this year,” Romo said in that February call. “It’s gnarly. So gnarly.”
The 38-year-old was both giggly and candid and he explained with a masked grin why Oakland was his preferred destination. He wanted to win again. And the A’s were one of a few contending teams in dire need of some bullpen help. Romo has called San Francisco home since 2008 — with his fifth son on the way, a short drive across the Bay Bridge to compete for a World Series was a no-brainer.
On paper, Romo complements this A’s bullpen perfectly. The A’s saw the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers bullpens go headto-head with a variety of arm angles, speeds and looks in the World Series. Side-slinging right-hander Romo would be the right piece to help diversify the ‘pen.
But more than the technical fit, the A’s were signing experience. Not on paper is the guidance of a three-time World Series champion and experience of a veteran headed into his 13th MLB season. Out on the latter half of his career, Romo has learned that, to
be a leader, it was essential to stay loose. Silly. He made that impression quickly when he joined the A’s and hopped on Zoom.
“He seems to be a bit of a free spirit, and that should play well here and fit in well here,” manager Bob Melvin said. “But boy, you look at his track record and he’s still getting guys out. He’s really, really difficult on right-handed batters and it’s a really good pickup for us, we’re really excited. And doubly because of the personality he brings, too.”
Romo’s slider got him into the league. But he’ll tell you that coming to terms with himself, his role as a closer, is what’s kept him in bullpens all these years. One single pitch proved to be a career turning point for Romo.
Romo has a calling card. Ask any Giants fan where they were for it, and they’ll tell you.
In Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, Romo froze Detroit Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera looking at a fastball right down the middle. The moment it hit catcher Buster Posey’s glove was the moment the Giants clinched the four-game sweep and their second title in three years.
Cabrera wasn’t the only one frozen; the entire ballpark and the Giants dugout were stunned. A closer known for his slider threw a fastball to the game’s most dangerous fastball hitter. And it worked.
“Buster and I were the only ones that knew a fastball was coming,” Romo said in a call this week. “I was so sure Cabrera did not know it was coming.”
That fastball down the middle wasn’t a spur-of-themoment choice. The decision to throw it tracked back to Game 1 of the series. Romo, sitting on the top step of the Giants dugout, caught eyes with Cabrera as he chased a Marco Scutaro foul ball.
“I’m ready for your slider,” Cabrera said after he blew a kiss to Romo and walked away.
Giants reliever George Kontos whipped his head around. “Did he just tell you he’s ready for your slider?” he asked.
Romo couldn’t even process the smack talk.
“Whoa, Miguel Cabrera knows who I am,” Romo said to Kontos.
Everyone knew Romo in 2012. He was the closer who, really, only threw sliders, and unhittable ones at that. He was San Francisco’s closer who replaced Brian Wilson when the bearded pitcher had to undergo his second Tommy John surgery in the season’s first week. Who finished that year with a 1.79 ERA and 14 saves.
Romo recorded two more saves in that World Series before that pitch, and Cabrera was on deck for both.