Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 1:05 PM | 23 comments |
 

Romero confident he will be on Opening Day roster
options
 

When speaking about J.C. Romero's chance at returning to action by Opening Day, the Phillies' tone certainly hasn't been optimistic this season. But the veteran lefthander has been encouraged by his recent recovery, and said today that he expects to be with the team when it breaks camp and flies North at the beginning of April.

Romero, who had surgery to repair a second-degree tear of his flexor tendon in October, said doctors have told him that he could be ready for Grapefruit League action by the second week of March.

"My mindset is for me to break camp with the team," said Romero, who appeared in just 21 games last season. "I'm going to be smart. I don't want any set-backs. I feel comfortable about it, but I also have to follow instructions. If they say I have to stay here a week after that, I have to stay here. Period. They write the checks. They are the bosses. I'm just an employee. I've got to be smart. But I'm good, man. I have confidence that I will break camp with the team."

Romero's situation is an interesting one.

Two years ago, he appeared in half of the team's 162 games, posting a 2.75 ERA and a 1.339 WHIP while providing a complement to Ryan Madson in the eighth inning. Last year, however, was a lost cause, one that began with a 50-game suspension that seemed to end just as his elbow problems started.

Romero pitched just 16.2 innings, recording more walks (13) than strikeouts (12). If he can return to full strength, he would give the Phillies a badly-needed left-handed option and take even more pressure off closer Brad Lidge and Madson.

In the meantime, unproven prospects Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona are the cheap lefty options in camp.

^

Jose Contreras and Jamie Moyer are the only two pitchers who have not been spotted in the Phillies clubhouse. Lefty J.A. Happ and righty Scott Mathieson both threw bullpen sessions today.

^

New back-up catcher Brian Schneider, a Northampton native, was rocking a Penn State football T-Shirt.

 
Posted by David Murphy @ 1:05 PM  Permalink | 23 comments
23
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:11 PM, 02/16/2010
    Murph, is Eyre officially retired or is he an option if the Phils run into trouble in-season?
    — fly eagles fly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:12 PM, 02/16/2010
    Eyre already audtioned for a spot on MLB TV..
    — craiggo
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:26 PM, 02/16/2010
    He is officially retired, but there is nothing keeping him from coming back and pitching midseason. He didn't completely rule out a return when I talked to him last month, but I don't think it is very likely.
    — David_Murphy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:32 PM, 02/16/2010
    Murph are you related to Murphy Brown?
    — ArtieLange
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:57 PM, 02/16/2010
    Wow, Schneider and his Penn St. T-shirt. Big news. Way to throw in a useless sentence after a pretty decent article.
    — The Truth Hurts
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:10 PM, 02/16/2010
    Hey Truth Hurts, There is a difference between an "article" as you put it and a blog entry. Educate yourself a little before mindlessly tossing out meaningless criticisms.
    — thewiseone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:19 PM, 02/16/2010
    Murph- you are spot on regarding Romero's control issues. Even in 2008 there were times in which he simply could not locate his pitches, so even when he was healthy his control was....suspect.
    — Nigel#1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:36 PM, 02/16/2010
    Artie - Domonic Brown is our half cousin.
    — David_Murphy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 02/16/2010
    Zagurski if healty has decent stuff and could be the lefty they are looking for. Granted he isn't an Eyre. Murph, why do you always overlook him?
    — brinkmang
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 02/16/2010
    Hey Artie: when can we expect YOU back?
    — TheDude
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:28 PM, 02/16/2010
    My money is on Zagurski.
    — 76er
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:44 PM, 02/16/2010
    Say Murph, I'm a trifle lost on the sentence that stated Brian Shneider was "rocking a Penn State T-Shirt." Wearing one? Throwing one? Dancing with one?
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:51 PM, 02/16/2010
    JC, this is what happens when you use steroids.
    — scars73
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:01 PM, 02/16/2010
    Romero will get hurt again. Mark it down. His body is screwed up from the roids.
    — phillyceltic


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About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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