With Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum on the shelf -- not to mention A.J. Burnett's following the almighty dollar to the Bronx -- the Jays' rotation looks a bit less stout this season. After Roy Halladay, they line up with Jesse Litsch and David Purcey. You can add a fourth name to the list, because Cito Gaston has announced the next spot in the rotation will go to Ricky Romero. The 24-year-old left-hander has never thrown a pitch in the majors, and he has only made seven starts in Triple-A.
In those seven starts, which came last season, Romero put together a 3.38 ERA. The problem, though, was that his WHIP was 1.45, due to 20 free passes in only 42 2/3 innings. This spring, Romero has a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings. He's struck out 20 hitters, but, again, control has been an issue. He's walked 11 hitters. Combine that with the 19 allowed hits and he's been touched up for a 1.67 WHIP. That's good enough, though, because the Jays don't have many other options.
Brad Mills and Scott Richmond are left duking it out for the final rotation spot in Toronto. I'm sure everyone's on the edge of their seat in anticipation of that announcement. Meanwhile, you can hear, "please hurry, Dustin and Shaun" from north of the border if you listen closely.
