Romo has allowed no runs in 4 innings of relief in 2012 (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
No disrespect here to Santiago Casilla.
The guy really hasn’t done anything noteworthy to make Giants fans scream for a new man in the ninth.
But Sergio Romo brings more to the table than Casilla (both physically and emotionally) that this club needs as a closer to replace Brian Wilson.
Now, I know Romo doesn’t have the fastball velocity Casilla does. But I’m a huge believer that the stats don’t lie. Here’s a comparison of Romo and Casilla’s key stats last year:
WHIP - Romo: 0.71, Casilla: 1.19
ERA - Romo: 1.50, Casilla: 1.95
K/IP - Romo: 1.46, Casilla: 1.01
K/BB - Romo: 14, Casilla: 1.8
BAA - Romo: .173, Casilla: .183
OBPA - Romo: .197, Casilla: .290
P/IP - Romo: 13.8, Casilla: 16.5
(Key: BAA-batting average against, OBPA-on-base percentage against, P/IP-pitches per inning pitched)
The most overwhelming stats have to be the K/BB ratio and the OBPA. Romo walked just five batters in his 48 innings pitched in 2011, while Casilla walked 25 in almost the same amount of innings (51 2/3). Pair that with Romo’s 70 strikeouts to Casilla’s 45 and you’ve got a K/BB ratio for Romo that shatters that of Casilla.
Think about what you want out of a closer. Fewer guys on base: Romo wins. Fewer runs allowed: Romo wins. Fewer balls in play: Romo wins.
Even Romo, who is considered a “righty specialist,” had a better BAA against lefties (.229) than Casilla (.234).
To top it all off, Romo’s demeanor on the mound is exactly what this team needs in the ninth. Part of what makes Wilson so effective is the atmosphere his entrance creates at AT&T Park. Romo not only sports a fan-crazed beard that rivals Wilson, but he contains a similar love from the fans that would induce the routy crowd that ensues once Wilson trots in from the pen.
Again, nothing against Casilla. He’s a vital piece to the Giants bullpen. But his ninth inning entry is nothing for the fans, both statistically and emotionally, to get excited about.
I think I see the light…
Haha you think you see the light? Why weren’t/aren’t you a Romo fan?
Anything is better then what we are Doing now. Using multiple pitchers to close out games is never going to work. It looks good on paper, just making perfect matchups through the 9th, but for one that won’t always work, you don’t have enough people in the pen, second of all your going to get what we ha on our hands today, and that is a night game to a day game where all but one of your receivers got worked less then 15 hours before. It is going to be a trial and error whoever we choose, but we have to choose ONE not 5.
Spot on, Kev.
Definately all for Romo closing… It’s all about keeping guys off base and he does that. The walks stat jumped out at me. No one can beat the atmosphere to “Jump Around” when B Weez comes in but Romo can get close.
Yeah Jordan, Wilson is tough to beat.
Bochy is just such a traditionalist that he wants the typical hard-throwing guy out there to close. I wish he would take more or a “Moneyball” approach and realize how good Romo’s stats are.
I like it man!! so true, the stats don’t lie! but my favorite part about this article was the point you made about the emotional effect that he would have on the team. It is so true, when Wilson came running out onto the field the crowd went crazzzy! he brought a whole new element to the game. He was intimidating and passionate. I don’t follow the giants as close as you do, but if you tell me Romo can bring even a little bit of that back, then it makes sense to me that he should be closing. good article man.