Romero’s Neverending Nightmare

What is there to be said about Ricky Romero that hasn’t already been said? 2012 has truly been the worst season of his career, and just when it looks like it can’t get any worse … it does.

I think the photo above of the exchange between Ricky Romero and John Farrell says it all; Ricky couldn’t even look his manager in the eye when he was taken out of the game. Farrell was just standing there in disbelief as his starter held out the ball, as if Romero was saying “here … you figure it out”.

What was also telling was Romero’s head roll after Farrell came out to the mound to give him the hook. After Michael Saunders got on base with a single, John took some time in the dugout before eventually trotting out to the mound.

That just goes to show how little rope Ricky Romero has these days. By all accounts, it was still a very close game at the time, but John Farrell didn’t want to take any chances with two men on and nobody out.

At the beginning of the season, Romero would’ve had the benefit of the doubt … not any more.

The Blue Jays specifically skipped Romero’s originally scheduled start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, thus giving him nine days of rest going into last night’s start. If he couldn’t get it done on nine days rest against the Seattle Mariners, then when will Ricky Romero get it done?

Everyone seems to have a theory on what’s been troubling Ricky Romero, whether he’s hiding an injury or it’s something wrong in between his ears. You can scroll through the Rolodex of reasons or excuses for Romero’s downfall, but now that we’re in September … they’ve now all been exhausted.

At this point, fans might almost prefer that Ricky was suffering from an injury because then at least there would be some tangible reason for his horrendous season. Instead, we’re left wondering when and if Ricky Romero will ever bounce back.

Despite all that’s happened in 2012, Ricky Romero will still be a mainstay in the Blue Jays starting rotation going forward. The Blue Jays don’t really have a choice other than to continue to keep him on the mound. The question is whether he can ever return to that borderline “ace” status he once occupied.

I really can’t imagine 2013 being much worse of a season for Romero than 2012 has been. Then again, when Ricky hit rock bottom this season, he continued to dig himself further and further down to an unimaginable new low.

There may be just under three weeks left in the schedule, but October 3rd can’t come soon enough for Ricky Romero. If the Blue Jays do in fact employ a 6-man rotation down the stretch, Ricky might be lucky to get another three more starts before season’s end.

Even if Romero theoretically posted three solid starts to end the season, would that be enough to silence the doubts about him moving forward? I’m sure the Jays would love to have Ricky Romero finish the season on a high note, but it still looks like there’s an incredible amount of homework he has to do in the offseason.

Eventually, Ricky Romero’s neverending nightmare will come to an end … whether it’s by his interviention or simply because the schedule runs out.