Ricky Romero will toe the rubber for the Jays this afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim). The enigmatic lefty has been a stalwart in the Jays makeshift rotation this year, posting a season line of 10-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 97/50 K/BB ratio over 125.1 IP in 20 starts.
These numbers appear strikingly similar to a young Tampa Bay hurler who is also in the running for the 2009 American League R.O.Y., Jeff Niemann:
11-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 86/44 K/BB ratio over 133.1 IP in 23 games (22 of those starts).
However, it's even more interesting to compare Romero's overall stats to a one of the players he's helped replace in the Jays rotation. Former Jay and current Yankee, Allan James Burnett:
10-7 with a 4.08 ERA and 141/77 K/BB ratio over 158.2 IP in 25 starts.
Comparing all three, Niemann appears to have the slight edge with an extra win and a slightly lower ERA, but all three pitchers have very similar K/BB ratios, roughly 2-to-1.
Consider that Burnett signed a whopping 5-year, $82.5 million deal with the Evil Empire after opting out of his Jays' pact after the first 3 years. Romero on the other hand is making an estimated $400,000 this year for the Jays.
Sounds like a bargain to me. The Jays biggest surprise this season goes for win #11 today against the Angels at 1pm.
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