Romano’s played only two games in June, a well-deserved breather for a guy who entered the month tied for third among relievers in appearances. But it's unfair to call it a break — because the Blue Jays closer has been anything but idle. (ArdenZwelling)
closer Jordan Romano’s had a pretty easy month. After pitching 12 times in April, then 10 times in May — including a demanding run in which he appeared four times in six days — Romano began June with six consecutive days off. Then, following a smooth appearance against the Kansas City Royals last week, he had four more. The Blue Jays have played a dozen games in June and Romano’s appeared in only two of them.
And he’s regularly gotten off a mound — including twice in that six-day span earlier this month, when he threw a couple 15-pitch bullpens intended partly to help keep Romano fresh, and partly to help him work on a delivery inefficiency he and Buschmann found in that video. Buschmann describes it as “staying stacked.” It’s an athletic position that allows Romano to tap into the force he generates most efficiently while remaining directional towards the plate. Somewhere along the line, he developed a tendency to come out of that position just a moment too soon, leaning ever so slightly forward with a little bend in his back leg, which the Blue Jays believe could have been impacting his fastball velocity.
In late May against the Angels, Romano was releasing the ball a hair earlier. Last week against the Royals, thanks to staying upright and back on his stiffer right leg a moment longer, he was releasing the ball later. At the point the ball is coming out of his hand this month, it was already halfway to the plate in May:
And on Sunday against the Tigers he was sitting at 97 again, reaching 98 three times against Victor Reyes — the final hitter he faced in a Blue Jays blowout. Romano’s two appearances this month rank within his four hardest-throwing outings of the season. And his average fastball velocity in each was higher than in any of his 10 May appearances:
The rust thing is a fine balance for high-leverage relievers like Romano, who have to manage their workload throughout a six-month season to avoid over-use and stay as healthy as possible for September and October, while throwing often enough to maintain arm conditioning and familiarity with performing in the high-stress situations inherent to their role.
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