A skinny guy with intense eyes, a huge black beard and an animated demeanor more likely would find fame as a member of a heavy metal band than as an athlete.
That, though, is not the case with Sergio Romo, the thin, eagle-eyed, bearded, energetic Brawley Union High alumnus who will be in the international spotlight for the next couple weeks as the “closer” for the San Francisco Giants baseball team. The closer is the relief pitcher who goes in toward the end of the game to attempt to close out a victory, which means Romo will encounter great attention, pressure and scrutiny over the next couple weeks as the Giants face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
Romo ascended to the closer role this season after an injury to longtime Giants’ closer Brian Wilson, who is Romo’s pal and is also known for his wild beard. Romo had been the setup reliever for Wilson for a few years. After Wilson’s injury, Bruch Bochy, the Giants’ manager, and Dave Righetti, the team’s pitching coach, tried various pitchers in the closer role before settling on Romo, with great results.
That should not have been such a touchy decision, as Romo has been one of the most successful relievers in baseball in recent years. Yes, Romo is shorter, thinner and doesn’t throw as hard as most Major League pitchers, but his “out” pitch, his slider, breaks at an angle that most opposing batters find nearly unhittable.
Hitters found that slider particularly frustrating as Romo was one of the team leaders as the Giants beat the odds and came from being way behind in a couple series to advance through two rounds of the playoffs.
With the bushy beard, the intense eyes and the wild celebrations upon closing games, Romo, the Wildcat from BUHS, has become something of an international star.
But in our eyes, he is a young man from Brawley about whom we all in the Imperial Valley are terribly proud.
THE ISSUE:
Romo in the World Series
WE SAY:
Whole Valley should be proud.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
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