DUNEDIN, Fla. — Left-hander Ricky Romero will start the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training opener. Starting the regular-season opener, he says, is the farthest thing from his mind.
"You’ve still got to go out there and prove yourself and continue to so good," he said Tuesday. "As long as I’m part of the rotation and I’m part of the 25 guys going out there and competing, I’m fine with that.
"It’s going to finally be good to go out there and face a different team, see where you’re at when they’re swinging at you," Romero said. "I’m always going to be competitive whether it’s a practice game, an intrasquad game or a real game."
The Blue Jays play Detroit on Wednesday. For the first trip through the starting rotation, pitchers will be limited to two innings, manager Cito Gaston said.
"You can get a lot out of that, the whole control thing," Romero said. "You can tell where you’re at and what pitches need a little work, what kind of swings the hitters take on you.
"Everything works off your fastball so I’d say that’s my best pitch. The out pitch has always been my curveball but this early, it’s probably my changeup. I’m comfortable with all my pitches."
Gaston still has time to decide on who will be Toronto’s closer. The Blue Jays open the season April 5 at Texas.
Jason Frasor and Scott Downs combined for 20 of Toronto’s 25 saves. On Feb. 5 the Blue Jays signed seven-year veteran Kevin Gregg to a one-year, US$2.75 million contract to compete for the closer’s role.
"It’s a chance to pitch late in ballgames in the AL East and a chance to kind of help out a bullpen that’s looking for a couple of guys to fill in," Gregg said.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos said no one is the front-runner for the job and that Gaston will make the decision. Gregg had 23 saves with 71 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings with the Chicago Cubs last season, but also had seven blown saves. He allowed 13 home runs, tied for the most by a reliever, and lost the closer’s role in August.
"It was my first year after knee surgery. It was feeling a lot better than it was before but there were some mechanical issues. Now I feel I’ve got myself back in the right spot, where I need to be."
NOTES: Gaston said Jose Bautista will start at third base. He’s holding back Edwin Encarnacion, who underwent left wrist surgery in October to remove a bone spur. "We’ll just give him a few more days," Gaston said. "He’s OK, though. He’s probably going to play on Friday."
