MIN 6, STL 0: Fernand0 R0mer0!!!!

First: Great win! I mean, all the components were there, what else can you say?

Second: We often joke when someone gets hurt, or performs poorly, (to ease the pain of course), with a comment such as "Why can't we have nice things?" The truth is...despite that horrendous stretch and some current injuries and the Polanco suspension, UGH...we have a LOT of nice "things" on this team. (Buxton and Sano healthy and figuring a few things out could actually have us borderline ecstatic and bouncing off walls!)

Romero looks almost too good to be true! Except, I don't think that's the case. We've heard and read for some time now good he could be. He flashed in ST. He looks poised in control of himself on the mound. Reminds me very much of Berrios. (Although maybe he's a bit more relaxed that Berrios? At least at comparable points in their career) But please, let's not wig out or get despondent when he inevitably has a rough game or two, or a stretch. It's natural.

Third: And perhaps I'm as carried away as anyone with "Romero Fever", but I was thinking tonight while listening to the game about his "expected" IP limit for this season. He pitched 90 innings in 2016 and jumped to 125 in 2017 when his season ended on a somewhat down note with shoulder issues, though they were reported to be, and appear to have been, mild in nature.

Considering a normal growth arc, could/should we expect another jump in IP to around 160? For a young, rookie pitcher I think that would be a fair total. Combined in this young season, he's at 33 IP thus far between Rochester and his 2 wonderful starts with the Twins. If he can average 6 IP per start, for math sake, that puts him at a total of just over 26 total starts for the season. Not bad, but not in the 30-32 start category you'd want from a rotation fixture. Of course, he's young, a rookie, and only joined the team a week ago.

The whole point being, no matter his talent, great start, or how well he pitches the rest of the way, I wonder if the opportunity will exists to skip him one time still the first half, catch a break around the All Star game, and maybe skip a turn in the second half to keep him as fresh as possible come September. A bit of too forward thinking? Perhaps. But it just got me wondering.

He's probably going to need a third pitch....but man does he have life on the two he throws.

 

Is it true what the broadcast said that he's only allowed 7 HRs in his entire professional career?

Fastball, slider, change up.   I think he might have thrown a few curve balls as well.   He probably won't need any others.  Fine tune the command is probably his best aspiration.    Nitpicking shutouts but less than three walks per 9 would be nice.

Wow.

Easy motion, devastating pitches.

Repeatable.

This is our Ace.

What's his swinging strike percentage?

Wow.

He's probably going to need a third pitch....but man does he have life on the two he throws.

 

Is it true what the broadcast said that he's only allowed 7 HRs in his entire professional career?

No question he needs refinement, as most any young pitcher does. BIG and NASTY FB with a "change" in the low 90's and a slider in the high 80's. I hate to ask because it just sounds so incredulous, but is his change too hard? But I am confused because on the radio tonight I heard the announcers say he threw a curve. I didn't think he threw one. I'm assuming it was simply a mistake. Or am I mistaken?

I was pretty impressed with matt magill tonight. First time ive watched him pitch. But if he is our “blow-out and mop-up guy” and pitches like that, thats a pretty good weapon.

Many other plusses from the game tonight...we beat a good team, not just the white sox, rosario continues to be on fire, and Romero looks awesome! Figured id just call out the guy most likely to be the unsung hero of the game.

Fernando has some serious mojo, on the mound and at the mic. Appointment viewing for now.

Seems the rotation is now firing on all cylindars. What happens when Santana is ready, or May, or Pineda or Gonsalves is pitching lights out too....

Yep. Why Bobby WIlson catching insted of Garver, Romero's catcher of the future?

Grossman in right field? Okay. LaMarre needed to pinch-hit, I guess.

Magill got two innings. Saving bullpen for tomorrow, before an off day.

But...hey,. the Twins Won!

Its been incredible to watch this guy for 2 games.  I love that he is home grown from the system and I love that he looks ready after making a huge jump from AA without a ton of innings even there.  He seems to not be intimidated and trusts his stuff vs MLB hitters already, hes even joking around like no big deal in the dugout which is a really good sign to me.

His fastball is nasty and he seems like he can give it some cut or run depending on which side of the plate hes throwing too.  That low and away fastball hitting the corner of the zone at 97 is a devastating pitch and he seems to be able to command that spot. 

The slider has excellent break and he can really bury it off that same corner he hits with the fastball, which makes both even better.  He does seem to lack control of it a bit and has spun/ hung/ wildly missed with a few. 

The change is kinda confusing, he must not be able to get the same arm speed/ deception if he throws it any slower.  It must look somewhat like a hung slider coming in at that speed so maybe it is deceptive in a weird way, hitter thinks they are getting a slider they can handle and then it drops on them

Overall he overcomes some offspeed inconsistency with the power on his fastball as hitters have to be worried about 97 foremost.

Comparing him to Berrios is kinda fun, both have big fastballs/ nasty breaking stuff/ inconsistent changes/ no 4th pitch.  Romero has more control/ speed and Berrios has more break.  I think Romero could be more consistent because his fastball is the main weapon whereas Berrios relies on his curve being on and getting called for strikes.

Add Gonsalvez to the mix eventually and the Twins rotation is going to be an absolute joy to watch.

Giddy

So much to like, but can't help but wonder how the game would have gone without Rosario's terrific catch. Can you make a game-saving play in the first inning? I say, "Absolutely!"

I've told this story before, but I was watching Romero pitch in 2016 when Cedar Rapids came to Beloit.  We were sitting next to the Beloit pitchers who were using the gun and charting pitches.  They were just drooling about his stuff.  At one point a pitch was thrown and the guy charting was silent for a second and then said. "Changeup at 91.  That's just sick."

If it's only 5-6 mph below his fastball that doesn't seem like enough, but batters definitely seem to be out in front on it so far.  Hopefully that holds up!  Loving it so far, obviously.  Must-See TV.

Hey looked great.

The question I have is did the Twins wait too long to promote, or was it perfect timing?

IMO if he can come in and do this in the majors, they waited too long, but we won't really know until he gets a few more starts under his belt.

Hey looked great.

The question I have is did the Twins wait too long to promote, or was it perfect timing?

IMO if he can come in and do this in the majors, they waited too long, but we won't really know until he gets a few more starts under his belt.

Before answering your question, are you sure you want to know the truth?

Not concerned that he has only three pitches because his fastball is at least two different pitches the way he moves it.  Needs some work on his change, hopefully getting it a couple mph slower.

Romero and Berrios or Berrios and Romero?  Damn, this is exciting.

And like Doc Bauer, I have been thinking about his innings during both of his starts.  What might work well when Trevor May is ready to join the Twins in July, move him to the bullpen.  Limiting him to a couple innings every five days would cut the # of innings from say 30 (5*6) to 10.  Then get him back into his regular starting spot in September so he is available for game #1 or game #2 in the playoffs.

This plan would solve two problems, keeping Romero available for the playoffs AND creating a spot for Trevor May when he is available.  Now, how do we find a spot for Santana next month?

Giddy

Giddy - up!