It was a sight to behold. Sergio Romo – a guy with three World Series rings earned while a member of the hated San Francisco Giants – was now wearing a Dodgers uniform, a uniform that his father and grandfather had dreamed that he would one day wear. After all, they and Romo himself had grown up in Brawley, California – a small farming community located just north of the U.S / Mexico border – and were die-hard Dodger fans who often made the three-and-a-half-hour drive to Dodger Stadium to watch their favorite team play.

During his first spring training with his new (and favorite) team, Romo would spend hours – literally – signing autographs for Dodger fans and it became very obvious that he had become an immediately a fan-favorite.

But after only two successful outings with the Dodgers, the energetic and wiry 5′-11″ / 185-pound right-hander who enters every game to the popular Mexican song “El Mechon” began a downward spiral that seems to be getting progressively worse, not better.

Although Romo became an immediate fan favorite during spring training, because of his struggles over his last several outings, he has just as quickly fallen from grace with them.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka

In his 19 relief appearances and combined 15.1 innings pitched thus far with the Dodgers, Romo is 1-1 with a team-worst 7.63 ERA. He has also given up four home runs, which is tied for the most among all Dodgers relievers with fellow right-hander Chris Hatcher. He has also issued eight walks, which is tied for second-most among all Dodger relieves and only three behind the eleven issued by right-hander Pedro Baez.

There is no arguing that Romo still owns one of the best hard sliders in the game. The problem is, it is only one of two pitches the 34-year-old right-hander throws. As such, opposing hitters have a 50-50 chance of guessing right, and when they do, the ball usually ends up in the bleachers.

Dodger reliever Sergio Romo gave up his fourth home run of the season on Wednesday night. One has to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself on the disabled list for some type of mystery injury … or worse. (Photo credit – Thearon W. Henderson)

Although Romo’s enthusiasm and obvious love for being a Dodger are admirable and even entertaining at times, one has to wonder when Dodger fans and, more importantly, the Dodgers brass will have had enough of Romo and his one-year / $3 million contract.

…especially with the (apparent) addition of Hyun-Jin Ryu to the Dodgers bullpen.