Lets talk Ricky Romero

[Michael Bradley]

I always thought RR was pitching over his head his first 3 seasons with the Jays. Obviously he found something that works but it's not like he was dominant in the minors. He seemed more like a 3-4 guy than the 1-2 guy he was pitching like. I would expect him to be somewhere between his 2012 season and his first 3 seasons as he doesn't appear to have any arm problems but hopefully I'm underestimating him again.

While Romero definitely overachieved in 2011, I don't think he pitched over his head in 2009 or 2010. His ratios were always very good prior to 2012, and he was doing it in the AL East. He was probably overrated a bit, but a good pitcher nonetheless.

Expecting him to repeat 2011 is likely a pipe dream, specifically the ERA, but I see no reason why he can't repeat what he did in 2009 or 2010 (or some variation of that), assuming he has no health/mental/'whatever it was that plagued him in 2012' issues.

Hopefully lesser expectations will increase his performance.

[dballislife]

i'll take 200innings and 4era from ricky this year

[TheMainEvent]

I always thought RR was pitching over his head his first 3 seasons with the Jays. Obviously he found something that works but it's not like he was dominant in the minors. He seemed more like a 3-4 guy than the 1-2 guy he was pitching like. I would expect him to be somewhere between his 2012 season and his first 3 seasons as he doesn't appear to have any arm problems but hopefully I'm underestimating him again.

I was and am basically in the same boat. While Ricky was a good prospect for a while in the minors, the few years previous to being called up were of average quality, and his label as a good prospect seemed to fade at the time, as well.

So when he was called up and pitched very well for most of his rookie season and second season (in both seasons, he put up pretty great first-four-months... it was the last two months where he struggled [probably tired]), I kind of thought he over-achieved. I basically chalked it up to him being a kind of pitcher that just has more success with the general approach of major-league quality hitters rather than the general approach of minor-league hitters. Even watching him pitch, I never really thought of him as an ace-type. So, yeah, I was really surprised at how he put it all together in 2011 and had such an ace-quality season.

This up-coming season, I'd expect at best a 3.90 ERA type season, but if I'm wrong and he pitches significantly better, I'll gladly call myself an idiot for doubting him.

[TreyTone]

i'll take 200innings and 4era from ricky this year

I'd take that as well. It would prove to be a bounce back year. I expect him to improve. Really, how much worse can he get? If he pitches next season like he did this year, he's in the minors.
I believe in Ricky tho. The guy is a gamer! He's playing with a chip on his shoulder this year because he's been taking a beating from media and fans.