Romo closes out Mexico's 5-2 WBC win over USA...

[Upton]

PHOENIX — Adrian Gonzalez homered and drove in three runs, seven pitchers handcuffed United States hitters all night and Mexico rebounded from a disappointing opening loss with a decisive 5-2 win over the Americans in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic on Friday.
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Mexico was in need of a lift after a disappointing opening game against Italy.

Leading 5-4 after eight innings, the Mexicans lost 6-5 after Sergio Romo, closer for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants, gave up a two-run double to Anthony Rizzo. Mexico had the bases loaded in the bottom half against Jason Grilli, but Jorge Cantu grounded out to end the game.
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Romo bounced back from his rough outing against Italy, closing out Mexico's statement win with a perfect ninth that set off a huge roar inside Chase Field and sent the Mexican players charging off the bench.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/romo-closes-out-mexicos-5-2-wbc-win-over-usa

Romo has thrown some 39 pitches over the last 2 days. Bochy is concerned. I believe Ryan Vogelsong goes against Italy today in a must win for the US. I just don't want to see any injuries.

[Auggie]

1. I do not like this ...

Nope. No way.

[Upton]

2. Me neither..

Romo has always struck me as sort of frail. He also for whatever reason hasn't had the bite on his slider we're all used to. He should be in spring training. I wish he wasn't pitching.

The WBC does have pitch count rules... for instance, Vogelsong's limit is 65 versus Italy. A reliever can throw up to 30 pitches until he's not allowed to come back on consecutive days. Romo throw only 26 Thursday, prompting Bochy to say: “Being honest, I wouldn’t have minded if he threw four more", so he was eligible to pitch again last night. Understandably, all the managers are keeping close tabs on their players who are participating.

I watched Mexico/USA yesterday after catching the tail end of Puerto Rico/Spain earlier. The games are taken very seriously by countries outside the US...making for some interesting play. The teams are just littered with ML players, some clubs like the DR or Venezuela look like ML all star teams, but the prospect of a key injury takes a lot of the enjoyment of watching away..

[Auggie]

3. Frail: strikes me the same way

BTW, what's the plan for Giants' closer? I don't think anyone on staff believes Romo is the answer. Stumble along with closer by committee until July, then try to pick up a rental? They had Heath Hembree penciled-in down the road, but he's not readyright now.

[Upton]

4. Romo for now...

but you have to figure the Giants have doubts as to whether or not he can handle the workload of a full time closer. If he can't, they resigned Casilla, he can do the job. Otherwise, I think it'll be closer by committee, with Bochy going with the hot hand.

And you never know..Brian Wilson is still out there, somewhere.

[KamaAina]

5. Let me see if I've got this straight. The Italians* shell him,

and we can't get a loud foul off him?

Remember, the Italian* team is composed of any major-league benchwarmer or AAA guy whose name ends in a vowel. Most have never been closer to the old country than Olive Garden. Ours, like our Davis Cup teams, is composed of anyone who gives a crap. Hence, suckitude.

Then again, Mexico's newly minted national hero is actually from Brawley, CA.