Comments on: Vicente Romo

By: hen43

hen43 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:49:55 +0000

… and it has just been pointed out to me that there is only one “N” in VICENTE.

Lo siento Vicente, wherever you are.

By: hen43

hen43 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:41:16 +0000

It has occurred to me since I posted that there is most likely a significant difference between Bailes’ 4 years away from MLB and Romo’s 7 year absence. I expect that since Romo was released by the Padres in 1975, he probably hooked up with a minor league club or DR or Venezuelan club. He most surely was not out of professional ball for all of those seven years. In Bailes’ case, he left the Angels after the 1992 season healthy and of his own volition. He played no professional ball after that point, but was seen by a Rangers scout hurling for a local Springfield, MO amateur team in a tournament in the Lone Star State. This scout had Scott at 90+ mph on the radar gun and extended an invitation to the Rangers upcoming spring training. After talking it over with his wife and daughters, he decided to give it a shot. Wise decision, as he earned $360,000 over those last years.

Maybe Scott Bailes does hold the record for the longest time between MLB appearances (non-military service or injury related and with NO pro ball appearances in between).

I know one thing, I should get a hobby.

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:09:14 +0000

I like that thought. Maybe Vicente Romo is like Tom Joad. “Wherever a mop-up man hurls a hanging curve, I’ll be there…”

By: hen43

hen43 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:38:19 +0000

It’s been said, “everyone needs a hobby.” I have one… his name is Scott Bailes. I met Scott at Cleveland indians Fantasy Camp in January of 2007. He and Doc Edwards were my coaches in this my rookie campaign. Over the years I have tried to maintain contact ( often daily… sometimes hourly). Those who know me have said that Scott is not my hobby so much my mancrush. I vastly prefer the term bromance as it implies that the feeling is mutual. I know Scott does too.

Seemingly anything can remind me of Bailes; Ketchup (he puts it on chicken sandwiches), Ducks (he walks like one), garishly effeminate athletic shoes (he’s got a closet full), Kickboxing (he is very good — and I’ve got photos of my bruised chest on my phone to prove it).

Today, while reading CARDBOARD GODS, I was reminded of Scott when I read, …, “after his release from the Padres he didn’t catch on with another major league club in 1975…. He didn’t play in the majors in 1976, either, or in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, or 1981…. But in 1982, the first first spring after my brother went away, Vincente Romo returned.”

You see, I had been under the mistaken impression that Scott’s non-military service, non-injury related absence from baseball, four years between his retirement from the Angels after the 1992 season and his return with Texas in 1997, was the longest such absence ever.

The long layoffs and eventual returns are not the only similarities between these two mediocre pitchers. Both wore chief wahoo (Bailes from 1986 through 1989, Romo in 1968 and 1969). And, in a case of pure coincidental magic, both men dominated Hall of Fame Baltimore Orioles. Vincente Romo faced Brooks Robinson 18 times, holding him to a .071 BA (1/14). Scott Bailes faced Cal Ripken Jr. 24 times, holding the iron man to a .053 (1/19).

Josh Wilkers writes, “But even to this day some part of me continues to believe that Vincente Romo will return once again… and prove that anything that’s gone might someday return.” It seems possible that Romo returned in the guise of Scott Bailes.

I know, I really should get a hobby.

By: ajw627

ajw627 — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:21:32 +0000

Perhaps even more intriguing than his 1982 comeback is the fact that his nickname was “Huevo”. I wonder if you can go into any restaurant in Santa Rosalia and order the “Huevo Romo”.

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:01:30 +0000

2. 1: The above comment from the old CG site was actually attached to Ed Hermann's profile. Following is the comment from the old site that was actually meant for Vicente Romo: pete millerman said... Perhaps he'll turn up, poignantly, as a bench coach for the Atlantic City Surf of the lowly, independent Can-Am leauge. And be somehow pressed into action one particularly grey and stormy late September afternoon....

By: Josh Wilker

Josh Wilker — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:23:05 +0000

1. 1 comment from old CG site:

pete millerman said…
In my faded memory, then White-Sock Ed Hermann was forever cursed to be always just a smidgen slower than his Minnesota doppelganger and counterpart Glenn Borgmann in that eternal competition between burly, mustachioed, second-string American League West catchers whose names ended in matching double consonants….

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