Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky RomeroCarlos Osorio/The Associated Press
The Toronto Blue Jays are going to use Ricky Romero in a minor-league game Thursday rather than in Grapefruit League play to work on an adjustment to his delivery.
Pitching coach Pete Walker said the club identified a mechanical fault which may explain the control problems Romero endured last year and so far this spring. He said the fault can be seen in video tracing back to 2011 They've been working to correct the issue – dragging his arm across the body on certain pitches, rather than straight to the plate – but he lapses into old habit when in a competitive situation, as in his 3-inning outing against the Tigers last week.
Romero is moving his foot about 6 cm toward third on the pitching rubber in an attempt to resolve the problem.
The Blue Jays have continued to insist that Romero will be with the team on Opening Day in two weeks. As Romero had medical procedures on both knees and his pitching elbow in the off-season, leaving him at extended spring training on the disabled list is a possible option.