Artems Lets Plays » d was impressed by Darling, who signed with Chi

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Ricky Romero is headed back to the minors. One day after being shelled by the Detroit Tigers, the former Opening Day starter and fellow pitcher Marcus Stroman were sent to the Blue Jays minor league camp. Toronto manager John Gibbons said both pitchers needed more work. Gibbons tried to soften the blow for Romero, saying the 29-year-old left-hander had pitched well earlier in the spring and was moving in the right direction after two troubled seasons. "We really like what he did this camp," Gibbons told reporters Wednesday prior to a Grapefruit League game against the Philadelphia Phillies. "Just go down there and polish it up." Stroman, a 2012 first-round draft choice who pitched in Class-AA last season, managed just one out in Tuesdays 18-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The 22-year-old right-hander gave up seven runs on six hits. "He was kind of the odd man out," said Gibbons. "He had trouble throwing strikes (Tuesday). Hes got to do that." Romero, who is due to make US$7.75 million this season, walked five and threw two wild pitches in 2 2/3 innings. Unofficially he threw 57 pitches, 23 for strikes. Gibbons said Romero needs to do "whatever it takes" to throw strikes. He was an all-star in 2011 when he went 15-11 with a 2.92 earned-run average. In 2012, he slumped to 9-14 with a 5.77 ERA and things got worse in 2013, when he saw action in just four games in the majors with an 0-2 record and 11.05 ERA. He spent most of last season in the minors where he went 5-8 with 5.52 ERA. "Its a long road. You never know if a guys going to make it back from that or not," said Gibbons. "But he was starting to show the signs of it. (Tuesday) he wasnt as good and it just kind of reaffirmed, Hey start him down there, but hes moving in the right direction." Romero had been a feel-good story earlier in spring training. Gibbons called him "the big talk of camp" last week after giving up one run in seven innings for an ERA of 1.29 in three appearances. But Romero fell back to earth Tuesday in Lakeland. He gave up three runs on three hits with five walks, a hit batsman and two wild pitches. "Weve taken too many steps forward to dwell on this," Romero said philosophically afterwards. Somewhat bizarrely, he referred to a "weird weather day" in noting "the balls were a little slick and just kept coming out of my hand." It was a sunny 20-degree day at Joker Marchant Stadium. Romero has been positive this spring, making an effort to stay in the moment rather than labour in the past or worry about the future. A lot of people have been rooting for him to succeed, including his manager. "We feel for the guy," said Gibbons. "Its not just looking at results. As much work as the kids putting in, things like that -- the battles hes going through, mentally -- you root for him. You root for him extra hard. "But were encouraged. Were positive after this camp. He may look at it differently but we feel positive with what he accomplished this spring." Romero had left the clubhouse by the time the announcement was made. Gibbons said the pitcher was disappointed at the news. "And rightfully so. I cant blame him for that, but hopefully he feels good about how this spring went." Despite the positive signs, Gibbons said he always saw Romero as having an outside shot at making the team. "Personally I thought regardless of the camp he had, it would probably do him some good to start down in the minor leagues in real competition where things are different," he said. "Just to make sure hes back to where he needs to be. "Because you dont want him to come up and if hes not ready to start the season, backslides and he may never regroup. So that was kind of my thinking. But that wasnt everybodys opinion. If he proved he was ready in spring training, he might have been the guy." NOTES -- Gibbons said closer Casey Janssen felt "great" after a throwing on the mound Tuesday and will go again Friday. Hes slated to make three or four appearances before the season starts March 31 in Tampa. Janssen has been limited in action to protect against shoulder soreness. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . Lack replaced an injured Roberto Luongo late in the first period then watched defenceman Chris Tanev score the winning goal midway through the third as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Jets 2-1 in a tight NHL game. Tony Adams Jersey . So far, so good: Gonzalez has allowed one run through 12 innings this season. His second start came Tuesday night, when he gave up only three singles over six innings to lead the Nationals to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. http://www.wholesaledolphinsjerseys.com/...-orchard-jersey. Bilbaos first victory in four rounds lifted it four points clear of Real Sociedad and kept it in command of Spains last Champions League berth for next season. In contrast, Betis was left 11 points from safety after a dismal performance that at times bordered on self-destruction amid some questionable refereeing decisions. Kyle Fuller Jersey . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday. Preston Williams Jersey . Rockies manager Walt Weiss was unhappy, too. Weiss addressed the issue in a 15-minute meeting with his pitcher and catcher after the Rockies gave up 14 hits and lost 10-1. De La Rosa lasted only 4 1-3 innings and allowed five runs in his first opening-day start.CHICAGO - Scott Darling didnt have to go far from home to fulfil his NHL dream.Darling made 32 saves in his NHL debut, Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook scored, and the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night.Darling, a 25-year-old native of the Chicago suburb of Lemont, Illinois, was steady as he faced a handful of tough chances early. He was rock solid in the third when he stopped 16 shots to protect a one-goal lead.I was excited and terrified, Darling said. Its 20 years of work coming to this one game. Ive been a Blackhawks fan since I knew what hockey was.The 6-foot-6 Darling was called up from Rockford of the AHL last Tuesday after Blackhawks No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford sustained an upper-body injury.Seasoned backup Antti Raanta started the first three games after Crawford went down, but Darling found out he would get the start on Sunday after Chicago lost 3-2 at St. Louis on Saturday night.After turning aside a few early chances, Darling seemed in charge.I try to give off that illusion, he said. I was pretty nervous to start with, but once you get a few pucks, its just another hockey game. The guys played really great after that.Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville agreed about his teams effort and was impressed by Darling, who signed with Chicago as a free agent on July 1 after bouncing around the minors with nine teams in four leagues.I thought it was our best four-line rotation of the year, Quenneville said. We needed (Darling) early in the game, and he was settled down, patient. He controlled his rebounds, handled the puck well.Patrick Kane assisted on Toews goal for his 500th NHL point.Milan Michalek scored a short-handed goal for the Senators, who have lost two straight.The game featured a matchup of goalies from the Chicago area.Ottawas Craig Anderson, from Park Ridge, Illinois, stopped 43 shots, including a second-period penalty shot by Andrew Shaw.The Senators hurt their momentum by taking penalties and being short-handed six times. They also didnt bear down arouund the net, coach Paul MacLean said.ddddddddddddWe created opportunities, but I dont know if we made (Darling) as busy as we could have or would have liked to have, MacLean said. We did have some chances, but I dont think the (difference) ends up being their goalie.Darling was chosen by Arizona in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, then turned pro in 2010 after two seasons with the University of Maine. He was 2-0 with a 1.44 goals-against average with Rockford before being called up.Chicago outshot Ottawa 17-12 in the scoreless first period.Toews opened the scoring 21 seconds into the second with a wrap-around goal.Anderson slid out and overcommitted to Toews as he skated down the left side of the slot. The Chicago captain circled the net and tucked in a shot from the right side before Anderson could get back into positon.Anderson turned aside Shaws penalty shot with his shoulder just over a minute later.Michalek tied it with a short-handed goal at 7:08 when he completed a nifty 2-on-1 rush with Alex Chiasson from the doorstep. Michalek and Chiasson raced down the ice against Brent Seabrook after Brad Richards failed to hold the puck in the Ottawa zone.Seabrooks screened power-play goal with 6:22 left in the second put Chicago back ahead. Seabrook fired a shot from the blue line with Bryan Bickell parked in front.Darling was sharp in the third. Chris Phillips fired a rebound wide of a half-open net with 3:45 left.NOTES: Crawford has resumed skating. ... Quenneville said LW Daniel Carcillo is expected to miss four weeks because of a right knee injury sustained Saturday at St. Louis. ... Only one referee, Steve Kozari, worked the game because fellow official Eric Furlatt was ill. ... Goalies from the Chicago area have faced each other in an NHL game at least once before. On Feb. 20, 2012, Chicago native Al Montoya entered in relief for the host New York Islanders against Ottawas Anderson. ... A mome