DUNEDIN, Florida – Could it be? With the Blue Jays failure to land Ervin Santana and the continuing spring struggles, to varying degrees, of Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond and J.A. Happ, Ricky Romeros name is being brought up on an increasing basis. Its getting lumped in with that large group competing for a job in the starting rotation. Manager John Gibbons was effusive about Romeros Wednesday performance, in which the former ace lefthander allowed one run over four innings of work. "All hes got to do is get it in the zone," said Gibbons. "That ball is moving every which way too. Its tough to square him up. If he gets in the zone, he makes them swing, you add that great changeup on top of that, thats where hes had his success. Where he ran into trouble he was just scattering it. He was walking guys, things like that. Hes getting in the zone now and thats the key." Baby steps, though. Romero did walk two batters and hit another. He was the beneficiary of a beautifully turned double play and of an outfield assist on a base hit by Jose Bautista, who threw out a runner at third. If Romero was to land the starting job, at this moment it seems remote, the Jays would likely begin the season with an eight-man bullpen. The fact Romero isnt on the 40-man roster works against him, performance over the last two seasons aside, but he is owed at least $15.6-million over the remaining term on his contract and the Jays would love to get some value for it. Romero has simplified his approach. "Like Ive told Kratz and Thole, the guys who have caught me the last two times, just set up down the middle and stuff will move," he said. "I feel like Im getting that movement back with the changeup and the sinker. There are going to be times when I come out of my delivery a little bit but I think the good thing now is that Im realizing when Im coming out of it. Its just slowing myself back down and my delivery is going to be key, just finding that rhythm." One noticeable difference from last season: when Romero talks about feeling good, feeling confident, his eyes and his body language emit the same. That hasnt been the case. "I definitely feel like its in the right direction and how can you not," said Romero. "Everything Ive been through, this feels good. Im not going to get ahead of myself or anything like that but its taking it day by day and working. I think if I do that, just continue to work, work, and see the little wins each and every day and remain positive I think Im going to be just fine. The rest will take care of itself." Its a long road back to being the 15-game winner from 2011 and Romero may never regain his All-Star form. But hes trying. His manager hopes the crisis of confidence is a thing of the past. "Some guys never rebound from it," said manager John Gibbons. "What hes done here this spring, we noticed it, first started noticing it, just warming up in the bullpen, just throwing their sides and in BP, before we even started playing games, he looked different. Were all pulling for him here." McGowan feeling better Dustin McGowan threw two scoreless innings in Thursdays 7-5 loss to the Astros. It was his first game action in 10 days thanks to a stomach bug. It was the same illness that affected Sergio Santos earlier this month. "I lost eight (pounds,) exactly, too," said McGowan. "I think its the eight pound flu or whatever it was. Next time Sergio needs to stay home." After years of battling shoulder problems, McGowan made 25 appearances out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.45 ERA while striking out, essentially, one hitter per inning pitched. Hes stretching out this spring, longing to be a starter once more. He felt no side effects from his sickness-induced layoff. "I felt good," said McGowan. "For me, thats the most important thing is feeling good. Pitches are starting to come around and location is starting to get better so its a positive outing today for me." McGowan seems to understand the unlikelihood that hell end up in the rotation, admitting "Its hard to say in my head Im going to be a starter but thats where I want to be." Still, hell continue to try to pitch deeper into games. "Ill keep going this path but if Im at four innings by the end of spring, if they want me in the bullpen thats easy to transfer right into," he said. "If you throw one or two, youre ready for it easily." Has he gained the eight pounds back he lost while sick? "You dont see this," joked McGowan, pointing to his stomach. "Ive got it." Discount Balenciaga . The move will give Hentgen the "time needed to support his family and his fathers current health issues," the Blue Jays said in a release. Hentgen spent 10 of his 14 big-league seasons with the Blue Jays, winning a Cy Young Award in 1996. Cheap Sneakers Online .Then came December.Three straight losses, including a crushing 27-24 defeat to Washington (4-11) on Saturday, has the Eagles (9-6) on the brink of playoff elimination. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/fake-air-vapormax.html .C. -- LeBron James called comments on an audio recording of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling "appalling" and said hes not sure if he would suit up for the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he played for the Clippers. Cheap Balenciaga Shoes China .com) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly found themselves a new offensive coordinator, and one thats quite familiar with the NFC South. Balenciaga Sneakers Sale . - Tom Brady and the Patriots routed the Bengals and quieted the doubters.TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees fifth starter candidate Michael Pineda allowed three runs and six hits over six innings Sunday in New Yorks 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Dioner Navarro had an RBI single in the second, which ended Pinedas scoreless streak at 10 innings. The right-hander avoided further damage by getting an inning-ending double play from Ryan Goins with the bases loaded. Toronto scored twice in the fifth, on Pinedas throwing error after fielding a bunt and a wild pitch. Considered the front runner, Pineda is competing with David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno for the final rotation spot behind opening day starter CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Masahiro Tanaka and Ivan Nova. Manager Joe Girardi is expected to announce the choice Tuesday. Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle gave up one run and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. STARTING TIME Blue Jays: Buehrle made the start on his 35th birthday. "I just dropped the family off at the airport," Buehrle said. "Im going to go home and clean up the house." The left-hander took a shutout into the sixth before giving up a run on Derek Jeters double-play grounder. Buehrle will make his final spring training start in the first of two exhibition games in Montreal on Friday night against the New York Mets. Yankees: Pineda missed the past two years following right shoulder surgery.dddddddddddd "I want to make it," Pineda said. "I want to stay with the team." Nova is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Monday, an off day for the Yankees. TRAINERS ROOM Blue Jays: Infielder Jose Reyes, who left after three innings of Saturdays game due to left hamstring tightness, didnt play, and is day to day. "He feels a little better," manager John Gibbons said. "We still dont think its a big deal." Yankees: Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, scratched March 16 due to right calf tightness, took batting practice and ran the bases. He could return Tuesday in a minor league game. "Just building up," Ellsbury said. "Want to make sure its 100 per cent." JETER METER The Yankees captains offensive funk continued, going hitless in three at-bats. Jeter is 5 for 44 in 15 games. Girardi said he is not worried about Jeters bat. PERFECT TIMES Three of the 23 major leaguers to pitch a perfect game were at Steinbrenner Field. Buehrle, New York spring training instructor David Wells and Yankees broadcaster David Cone. KILLER B Dellin Betances is still in the mix for the Yankees bullpen and made quite an impression Sunday by striking out Jose Bautista and getting a flyball from Edwin Encarnacion with bases loaded to end seventh. ' ' '