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 Jays GM JP Ricciardi, seen here with Cito Gaston, is looking forward to seeing a healthy pitching staff next season. (Sun Media/Jack Boland) |
The sun poured into the Rogers Centre at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday, when the stadium operations people hit the switch to open the roof.
But for Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, the dark began lifting weeks ago, when his weary and broken pitching staff began showing signs of renewed life. It now appears that all the club's starters will be healthy for spring training next year.
Shaun Marcum (elbow surgery last year) threw out of the bullpen yesterday.
Dustin McGowan (shoulder surgery last year) is expected to throw off the mound next week.
And Jesse Litsch (elbow surgery on June 12) will throw on Oct. 2.
Throw in ace Roy Halladay, if he isn't traded in the off-season, and rookie Ricky Romero, and Ricciardi couldn't help but speak of better days ahead, even if he might not be a part of it.
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"That's going to be really fun to watch," Ricciardi said, of the Jays' possible 2010 rotation. "We're going to have some depth behind Doc."
Ricciardi means Halladay, but the only Doc in the clubhouse on a regular basis next season may be Ron Taylor.
Ricciardi wouldn't comment on that long-running soap opera, but what had the Jays GM willing to face a firing squad of microphones yesterday was Romero, who likely pitched himself out of AL Rookie of the Year contention last night by giving up nine hits and three runs over 61/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners, who prevailed 5-4 in front of 15,306 at the Rogers Centre.
ESTABLISHED HIMSELF
Though he has struggled lately, Romero continues to battle and has established himself as a cornerstone for the reeling Toronto franchise.
"What he has done this year is really incredible," said Ricciardi, who drafted the Los Angeles native sixth overall in 2005. "I think he has established himself (as a major-league starter) and I think next year he's really going to take off."
Ricciardi suggested that Romero's swoon in the last couple of months (2-5 in his past 10 starts, 12-9 overall) may have to do with fatigue. The 24-year-old has thrown 166 innings this season. His previous high as a pro: 121 2/3.
"The first day I saw Rickey (at Cal State Fullerton), the first thing that jumped in my head was Johan Santana," said Ricciardi. "He competes like a son of a gun, he has got a lot of guts and his makeup is great," the GM continued.
Romero will get two more starts this season for the chance to win 14.
"I'm happy for the kid, because he heard all the (crap) that you guys wrote, and he overcame it," Ricciardi said.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez improved to 17-5 with the win, to remain firmly in the Cy Young race.
Romero walked three, struck out five and yielded nine hits.
Vernon Wells lined a Hernandez offering into the left field bullpen in the sixth, his 15th homer of the season, to tie the game 3-3.
Seattle shortstop Josh Wilson hit a triple in the eighth off Jesse Carlson to put the Mariners up 5-3. Wells then singled home Aaron Hill in the eighth. Hill went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk.
STEVE.BUFFERY@SUNMEDIA.CA