Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Despite nerves, vet Romo impresses
JUPITER — Entering his 12th major league season, Sergio Romo has experienced spring training plenty before.
Despite that familiarity, the 35-year-old reliever, who signed with the Marlins this offseason, encountered a particular feeling as he prepared to make his Miami debut.
“I was telling our bullpen coach when I was warming up, ‘Bro, I’m nervous,’ ” Romo recounted. “I don’t know if it’s me with a new team or the start of a new season, because it’s my first outing, but it’s a really good feeling knowing I’m excited and getting nervous.”
The right-hander’s nervousness only helped on Tuesday afternoon. Facing the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Romo pitched a perfect third inning, striking out the side. Utilizing his slider and change-up, the reliever needed just 14 pitches — 10 of which went for strikes — to mow through Houston’s lineup.
“I’m not afraid of being nervous,” Romo said. “Nervous to me is a good thing; it means I still care. I still have fire, I still have passion. I still have the utmost want to do well — to go compete and just play my game.
“For me, I’m not telling you I’m nervous because I’m afraid or I’m scared or I’m going to go in there timid or unsure. I’m nervous, because I really, really care and want to do well. I want to help out and I want to contribute.”
A three-time World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants, Romo was brought in to provide a veteran presence in the Marlins bullpen. He spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, contributing in a variety of ways — from opening to closing.
While Miami’s bullpen features a number of power arms who throw in the high 90’s, Romo presents a different look on the mound. His fastball averaged 86 MPH last season, but his ability to utilize his breaking balls has continued to make his fastball effective. Romo’s slider has been his calling card over the years, but he said he’s worked on his change-up in the offseason during Mexico Winter League.
The jarring difference in pitching styles within Miami’s bullpen was clearly evidenced Tuesday. After Romo exited, he was replaced by flame-throwing Tayron Guerrero, who hit 104 MPH last season.
“I was joking around with the guys earlier, saying ‘What kind of dirty trick are we trying to play on these guys this year?,’ ” Romo said. “I mean, I’m 5-foot-10, 170 pounds; I hover around 85 [MPH] and there’s Tayron coming in behind and he’s 6-foot-10, over 200 pounds and throws way harder than I do.
“It’s just different looks. We all contribute in our own ways. As much as I don’t have power stuff, I still consider myself a power pitcher based on my approach, based on the way I utilize my stuff and I attack hitters.”
The versatile reliever could be used in a number of ways this coming season. Romo said after signing that the Marlins had a lot of “exciting ideas” on how to utilize him.
Last season with the Rays, he made 73 appearances, posting a 4.14 ERA and 25 saves in 67 1⁄3 innings. He was also used five times as an opener, which the Marlins have seemed more open to using this year.
While it’s just one spring training game, Romo felt good about the outing, but also acknowledged you can’t read too much into these initial February games.
“I know it’s a little unfair to some of these hitters,” Romo said. “They haven’t seen live pitching in awhile and especially guys coming at them trying to throw funky stuff like I do, so I know it’s not easy.
“It’s a good first outing, pounded the zone with all three pitches and I’m ready to go.”