Romano removed from closer's role after rough start with new team
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Did the Blue Jays make the right move by letting Jordan Romano go? The former closer and 2X All-Star is off to a rough start after signing a one year, $8.5MM with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Through five games this season, Romano has a 15.75 ERA, a 2.50 WHIP, and one save in two opportunities. He has given up five runs in his last two outings. It's enough of a decline that manager Rob Thomson is temporarily moving him out of the closer's role, putting him in lower leverage situations for the time being.
Ironically, in spite of Romano's struggles, the Phillies are 5-0 in games in which he has appeared.
"I'm used to being just 96 [MPH], around there the whole time. So yeah, I don't know what's... going on right now. But, I need to figure that out for sure."
In his most recent post game interview, Romano stated that he couldn't find anything wrong mechanically, though he has noticed a slight dip in his velocity.
Romano's fastball is averaging 94.6mph, which is down from his career average of 96mph.
"I got to get the velo up, cause that, you know, when the velo's right it helps the slider too. I feel like when the velo's down, it's easier to take a slider."
For about three years, Romano was an elite closer, saving 95 games for the Blue Jays from 2021-2023. He finished his Blue Jays career with 105 saves, which ranks third all time behind Tom Henke and Duane Ward.
In Romano's absence, Jose Alvarado and Joe Ross will likely be given more chances to close out games.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 7 | 151 ANSWERS Romano removed from closer's role after rough start with new team Did the Blue Jays make the right move in letting Jordan Romano walk? | ||
| Yes | 109 | 72.2 % |
| No | 16 | 10.6 % |
| too early to tell | 26 | 17.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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