Ron Romanick
Encyclopedia
Ronald James Romanick is a Major League Baseball
pitching coach
and a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. In 2011, he was the Oakland Athletics
pitching coach
. After the 2011 season, Romanick's contract was not renewed by Oakland in anticipation of new manager Bob Melvin
bringing in his own desired personnel.
in . He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the third round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend Arizona State University
, where he played for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team. He was drafted again in , this time by the San Diego Padres
, in the first round (seventh overall) of the June Secondary amateur draft, but again did not sign.
Romanick finally said yes to the California Angels, who drafted him in the first round (fourth overall) of the January Secondary Draft. He spent three seasons in their minor league system, compiling a 30-25 record and 3.89 earned run average
in 71 starts.
, going 12-12 with a 3.76 ERA his rookie season. He improved to 14-9 in . Perhaps the biggest game Romanick ever pitched was on October 2, 1985 against the Kansas City Royals
. Having once had a 6.5 game lead in their division, the Angels found themselves just one game up on the Kansas City Royals
in the American League West
when they headed to Royals Stadium for a four game set on September 30. The Royals won the game on a three hit performance by Bud Black
, and went on to win the division by a game.
After finishing second to Kansas City Romanick's first two seasons in the big leagues, the Angels finally captured their division in , however, Romanick hadn't pitched for the major league club since July 21, and was left off the post-season roster.
Following the 1986 season, he was traded with a player to be named later
(who would be Alan Mills
) to the New York Yankees
for Butch Wynegar
. He spent the entire season with the Yankees' triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
, where he went 5-8 with a 5.16 ERA. He spent the following season in the Milwaukee Brewers
organization before retiring.
organization from through . He worked as minor league roving pitching instructor for the Athletics from through . On October 17, 2007, the A's promoted Romanick to the parent club as their bullpen coach, replacing Brad Fischer
.
On November 1, 2010, Romanick was named the pitching coach for the Athletics when Curt Young
left to become the new pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox
. Romanick was not retained after the 2011 season as manager Bob Melvin
opted to have coaches of his own.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. In 2011, he was the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. After the 2011 season, Romanick's contract was not renewed by Oakland in anticipation of new manager Bob Melvin
Bob Melvin
Robert Paul Melvin is the manager of the Oakland Athletics, and a former Major League Baseball catcher.During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams...
bringing in his own desired personnel.
Early years
Romanick graduated from Newport High School in Bellevue, WashingtonBellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
in . He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the third round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
, but did not sign, choosing instead to attend Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, where he played for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team. He was drafted again in , this time by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, in the first round (seventh overall) of the June Secondary amateur draft, but again did not sign.
Romanick finally said yes to the California Angels, who drafted him in the first round (fourth overall) of the January Secondary Draft. He spent three seasons in their minor league system, compiling a 30-25 record and 3.89 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 71 starts.
Playing career
He won a roster spot with the Angels out of Spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, going 12-12 with a 3.76 ERA his rookie season. He improved to 14-9 in . Perhaps the biggest game Romanick ever pitched was on October 2, 1985 against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Having once had a 6.5 game lead in their division, the Angels found themselves just one game up on the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
when they headed to Royals Stadium for a four game set on September 30. The Royals won the game on a three hit performance by Bud Black
Bud Black
Harry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
, and went on to win the division by a game.
After finishing second to Kansas City Romanick's first two seasons in the big leagues, the Angels finally captured their division in , however, Romanick hadn't pitched for the major league club since July 21, and was left off the post-season roster.
Following the 1986 season, he was traded with a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
(who would be Alan Mills
Alan Mills (baseball)
Alan Bernard Mills is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:Mills was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the amateur draft, but did not sign...
) to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Butch Wynegar
Butch Wynegar
Harold Delano "Butch" Wynegar, Jr. is a former professional baseball player and is the current hitting coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Triple A affiliate of the New York Yankees...
. He spent the entire season with the Yankees' triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, where he went 5-8 with a 5.16 ERA. He spent the following season in the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization before retiring.
Coaching career
Romanick worked as a minor league pitching coordinator and coach with the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization from through . He worked as minor league roving pitching instructor for the Athletics from through . On October 17, 2007, the A's promoted Romanick to the parent club as their bullpen coach, replacing Brad Fischer
Brad Fischer
Bradley James Fischer is a major league baseball coach who was most recently the third base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers...
.
On November 1, 2010, Romanick was named the pitching coach for the Athletics when Curt Young
Curt Young
Curtis Allen Young is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and current pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics.-Playing career:...
left to become the new pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Romanick was not retained after the 2011 season as manager Bob Melvin
Bob Melvin
Robert Paul Melvin is the manager of the Oakland Athletics, and a former Major League Baseball catcher.During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams...
opted to have coaches of his own.