2009 Projection: JC Romero

JC Romero, RP (LHP)
Age: 32 (33, June 4)

2008: 59 IP / 4-4 / 2.75 ERA / 38 BB / 52 K / 1 SV / 4 BS / 1.34 WHIP

Summary: JC Romero’s magical resurgence as a late-innings wizard continued throughout the 2008 season. In 59 innings he gave up 41 hits and walked 38, putting up a WHIP that usually wouldn’t translate to an ERA under 3.00. And yet 85.7 percent of runners on base were stranded there after Romero screamed off the mound. It wasn’t as improbable as his 89.8 percent success rate in 2007, but it was close. He was great against left-handed hitters, leaving them at a ridiculous .102 average, .193 on-base percentage and .153 slugging percentage. It’s simple: He rules lefties. Righties? No.

Career Level: Prime (Year 3)

Green Flags: As long as Romero can master left-handed hitting, he’ll be an integral part of the team’s success. … While getting into jams might be a negative, Romero’s iron will to escape every harrowing situation is a positive — the man has fire. … His 7.93 K/9 is very strong.

Red Flags: Romero’s control continues to be his Achilles heel. … His second heel are righties, of course, so he has to avoid them. … He won’t be pitching in games until at least game No. 51, so he’ll have to get up to speed quickly.

Prognostication: If Romero only faces left-handed hitting he could possibly have a perfect season. But that won’t happen. He’s too important in the back end and will have to pitch tough spots against lefties and righties. Should he step back a little? Yes. Will he? Who knows. He’s already proven himself over 1.5 seasons. With the right role, Romero will again be deceptively effective.

2009 Projection: 43.2 IP / 4-2 / 3.29 ERA / 28 BB / 33 K / 1 SV / 4 BS / 1.39 WHIP

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.