Rare is the day — and perhaps especially at night — that Jordan Romano doesn’t let his mind wander to the disastrous way the 2022 season ended for the Toronto Blue Jays.
As one of many central characters in the tragedy at the Rogers Centre, the Canadian closer won’t let go completely of that blown 8-1 lead and ultimate playoff elimination at the hands of the Seattle Mariners.
From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
But here’s the thing about the Markham, Ont., right-hander, who has established himself as the ace of the Jays bullpen over the past two seasons: He’s using the disappointment to make him stronger.
“A game like that, I don’t think you can ever truly forget it and flush it,” Romano said in a recent interview with the Toronto Sun at his locker in the Jays’ Dunedin clubhouse. “I don’t think about it dally, but I’m trying to use that as a little bit of fuel.
“It’s what can I do better to make sure it doesn’t happen again? What can I do to be stronger at the end of the year? It was a tough one, but I’m trying to use it in a more positive way.”
Much of the damage had been done before Romano got into the first post-season appearance of his career in the fatal Game 2 of the AL wild-card series back on Oct. 8. But in his 1.2 innings, he allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out four.
He admittedly took the defeat hard, but like so many on this locked-in Jays team, Romano is micro-focussing on the little details that will fulfill his part on a team determined to let far fewer games slip away in 2023. Whether that’s the defensive work being put in on the back fields, or perfecting that slider that has become a formidable weapon, or sharpening his mental approach, Romano has been getting after it.
“It comes down to the total picture,” Romano said. “How I’m eating. How I’m preparing. How I’m sleeping. It doesn’t let you miss a step because you know what the scenario could be. It drives you to make better decisions so you won’t be in that spot again.”
Romano is definitely an interesting cat during games, the intensity on display in the bullpen during the middle innings of a ball game he may have to come in to close. But that nervous energy gets channeled into a steely focus when manager John Schneider hands him the ball with the game on the line.
“I feel like the mental game is huge for relievers,” Romano said. “I still work on it every day. As a closer, if you can’t you’re going to have a short shelf life.
“I think that’s why there’s so much turnover in relievers. It’s how to handle those big moments when you are not doing well. If you have a bad week, it’s very hard to get the confidence back and keep performing. It’s why I work on it daily.”
That’s why, rather than beating himself up about the one that got away, with conviction Romano opted to learn and improve from the experience.
“I’ve pitched so much worse than that and gotten away unscathed,” Romano said of the October effort to forget. “I was feeling strong and I pitched fine and that just happened. During the course of the season, I’ll blow some big games but you just have to turn the page. I’d like to think I’ve become pretty good at that.”
Coming off the best season of his career with 36 saves (fourth-most in the majors), Romano also set career-highs in appearances (63) and innings pitched (64). He has a resolve to continue to improve, however, a big reason why he backed out of his opportunity to play for Italy at the WBC.
Along with his own off-season work and focus, Romano is bullish on the bullpen, another area of improvement for a team looking to take a large step forward when the season begins this Thursday in St. Louis.
“I think everyone has improved a little bit from last year,” Romano said. “I’m liking what I’m seeing. Obviously I’m trying to tune things up myself, but seeing everyone else’s work, it’s been nice to see.
“We’ve got so many guys here with back-end stuff. The way (trade acquisition Erik Swanson) has been looking is impressive. (Anthony) Bass is in mid-season form with his stuff and (Tim Mayza) with his new slider … I’m about as optimistic as you could be.”
A sizeable portion of that optimism comes from what Romano sees across the Jays clubhouse where the starters hang their hats. A front end that goes from Alek Manoah to Kevin Gausman to new guy Chris Bassitt has the potential to be one of the stoutest in the American League.
“They set the tone,” Romano said. “When they’re going deep into games, everyone in the bullpen can be just doing what they’re meant to be doing. No one is getting stretched out further than they need to be and no one is throwing more than they need to be.
“It starts with the rotation. If they’re putting us in good spots, that’s going to be the best for the bullpen.”
And when it comes to closing time, Romano prides himself on being mentally ready for last call.
BLUE JAYS BOUNCED BY YANKEES
Matt Chapman and minor-league catcher Andres Sosa both drove in runs as the Toronto Blue Jays dropped a 6-2 exhibition decision to the New York Yankees on Sunday in Tampa.
New York took control of the game with three runs in the fifth inning, then two more in the sixth.
Toronto (17-13) scored its runs in the seventh and ninth innings.
Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo each homered for New York while Jhony Brito threw 5.1 hitless innings with three strikeouts.
— The Canadian Press