He polled no votes at all. Not a sausage. Bugger all.
He didn't get a whole lot of love from the Baseball Writers Association of America but he gets some here in another installment of the Batter's Box POTD.
Ricky Romero delivers a pitch against Seattle in his final 2009 start at Rogers Centre September 24th. He gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision but the Jays wound up losing to Felix Hernandez and the Mariners 5-4.
Ricky Romero did not get one vote in the race for the American League's Rookie of the Year award, which went to Oakland closer Andrew Bailey. The 25 year-old Los Angeles native posted a 13-9 record with a 4.30 ERA and struck out 141 batters over 178 innings. The 6-foot, 210 pound lefty was a part of major league history in his first start April 9th as he and Detroit's Rick Porcello became the first pitchers drafted in the first round to make their debut against each other. Romero went six solid innings to beat Porcello and the Tigers 6-2 at Rogers Centre. He was off to a 2-0 start with a 1.71 ERA before going on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle caused by sneezing.
Romero had a 24-inning scoreless streak that began in late June but he struggled in the second half of the season as he won just three of eight decisions with a 5.53 ERA in his last 12 starts. Still, he was one of the pleasant surprises in what was a disappointing 2009 campaign for the Blue Jays. Looking ahead to 2010, Romero says he wants to add a cutter to his fastball, slider and changeup repertoire and he'll be studying video of himself over the off-season in an effort to improve on his rookie campaign.
Until then........
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream,
Follow every by-way,
Till you find your dream.
A dream that will last
All the love you can give
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.
All together now!
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream....
