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John Romano - Sports Columnist
John Romano

Sports Columnist

Finding the right career can be hit-and-miss. In my case, it was swing-and-miss. When Major League Baseball scouts declined to watch me play, or even acknowledge my existence, journalism seemed like a plausible fallback plan. I started covering prep sports for St. Petersburg's Evening Independent as an 18 year old college freshman, and have worked for newspapers ever since. I have a daughter in college, a son in high school and a wife in charge. And I still can't hit the curveball.

  1. Rays’ Randy Arozarena has arrived in Tampa Bay, so let the party begin
    Yesterday• Rays
    Rays leftfielder Randy Arozarena celebrates hitting an RBI single in the sixth inning Thursday against the Detroit Tigers with his now-famous crossed-arms routine at first base.
  2. Rays have challenged status quo for 25 years, but can they win it all?
    Yesterday• Rays
    The Rays have had plenty of chances to celebrate over the last 25 years, including this walkoff homer by Taylor Walls that brought Kevin Kiermaier and Manuel Margot out of the dugout in 2022.
  3. 5 questions that could determine the fate of the Rays in 2023
    Mar. 29• Rays
    If the Rays want to improve on their 86-76 record from 2022, they're going to need increased production from left-handed hitters like rightfielder Josh Lowe.
  5. If this isn’t the right time for Kyle Trask in Tampa Bay, will his moment ever come?
    Mar. 28• Bucs
    After two years as an understudy to Tom Brady, it looked like Kyle Trask might get his opportunity to run the Bucs offense in 2023. And then Tampa Bay signed former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield in free agency.
  6. Ranking the Rays and every MLB expansion team through their first 25 seasons
    Mar. 27• Rays
    Tampa Bay’s remarkable turnaround, which coincided with Stuart Sternberg’s purchase of the team prior to the 2006 season, got us thinking as the team completed its 25th season: Where do the Rays rank compared to the first quarter-century of other expansion teams?
  7. MLB pitch clocks could wreak havoc on the lives of video replay officials
    Mar. 25• Rays
    You think players are annoyed by pitch clocks? Think about video replay officials, like Tampa Bay's Randell Kanemaru, who might have 15 seconds or less to determine whether a close play deserves a replay challenge.
  8. The Ballad of Randy Arozarena is an anthem just waiting to be written
    Mar. 25• Rays
    Mexico's Randy Arozarena celebrates after scoring against Canada during a World Baseball Classic game earlier this month in Phoenix. “He definitely likes to put on a show,” Rays teammate Isaac Paredes said through interpreter Manny Navarro.
  9. Forget the drum roll, everyone knew Shane McClanahan was starting opening day
    Mar. 24• Rays
    After his opening day start last season, Shane McClanahan went 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA for the Rays. On Friday, manager Kevin Cash announced McClanahan as Tampa Bay's opening day starter again next week against Detroit.
  10. Rays’ Luis Patino has another rough outing with opening day creeping up
    Mar. 24• Rays
    Pete Alonso's 425-foot home run was the loudest hit yielded by Luis Patino (1) on Friday, but it was not the only hard-hit ball against the Rays starter in an 11-2 loss to the Mets.
  11. Hey Baker Mayfield, good luck in Tampa Bay. You’re going to need it
    Mar. 21• Bucs
    Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, pictured during his introductory news conference Monday in Tampa. Mayfield is hoping to revive his once-promising career after beginning 2022 with Cleveland, being traded to Carolina and ending up in Los Angeles after being waived.
  12. Alarms, planes and a fairy-tale golf story that ended one shot from reality
    Mar. 20• Sports
    Adam Schenk tees off at the 16th hole during the Valspar Championship on Sunday at the Innisbrook Resort. He finished one shot back of the champion for his best-ever PGA Tour finish.
  13. Once in a lifetime sports dreams happen twice in same day for this family
    Mar. 17• HomeTeam
    Nick Gabrelcik, who graduated from Mitchell High in Pasco County, hits the ball off the tee on the 11th hole during the first round of the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort on Thursday.
  14. Taylor Walls returns to the Rays lineup, eager to reinvent himself as a hitter
    Mar. 15• Rays
    Few shortstops can match Taylor Walls with a glove, but the Rays switch hitter had very noticeable struggles at the plate in 2022. With a fresh approach after an offseason of studying video, Walls is hopeful of an offensive turnaround this season.
  15. If it means more at-bats, Luke Raley is happy to dust off his first baseman’s mitt
    Mar. 15• Rays
    He hasn't played first base regularly since he was in Double-A with the Dodgers in 2018, but Luke Raley has been a pleasant surprise with the glove during the first half of spring training.
  16. Names are the same but expectations have changed for this Rays offense
    Mar. 14• Rays
    Josh Lowe has had plenty of reasons to smile this spring with a .308 batting average with three homers and three stolen bases in his first 26 at-bats.
  17. Taj Bradley, Curtis Mead are among the first cuts in Rays camp
    Mar. 13• Rays
    Rays pitcher Taj Bradley was optioned to minor-league camp on Monday, but it would not be surprising if the team's top pitching prospect was back in St. Petersburg at some point this season.
  18. He’s got all the right numbers, but this Rays prospect still needs to find a path
    Mar. 13• Rays
    Tristan Gray, shown during a game against the Braves at CoolToday Park last spring, improved his defense at the request of the Rays and now is working on his strikeout-to-walk ratio to complement his 33-power at Triple-A Durham.
  19. Don’t look now, but the Rays’ rotation may look shockingly traditional in 2023
    Mar. 11• Rays
    Pitching coach Kyle Snyder keeps a close eye on Drew Rasmussen in the bullpen before a recent spring game at Tropicana Field. Rasmussen is one of five starters with the ability to throw deep into games, which is a departure from recent Rays rotations.
  20. The Lightning have been nearly unbeatable at home. On the other hand ...
    Mar. 10• Lightning
    With a 23-5-5 record at Amalie Arena, the Lightning are tied for the second-most wins in the NHL at home this season. The flip side is they are 15-16-1 on the road, their worst record away from Amalie since the 2012-13 season.
  21. Forget the slump, the Lightning show spirit and fight in OT loss to Vegas
    Mar. 10• Lightning
    Lightning left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) drops the gloves and fights Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) during the second period Thursday at Amalie Arena.
  22. Something is wrong when the Lightning celebrate a win against the Flyers
    Mar. 8• Lightning
    Nikita Kucherov accepts congratulatory fist bumps after scoring one of his two goals in a 5-2 victory against Philadelphia on Tuesday night that ended a five-game Lightning losing streak.
  23. He may not have a spot on the roster, but Charlie Culberson should have one in your heart
    Mar. 7• Rays
    He's looking at a crowded roster situation for a utility infielder, but Charlie Culberson brings experience and a great personality/presence to the table for the Rays.
  24. Dave Wills had a microphone, a sharp wit and a million friends in Tampa Bay
    Mar. 6• Rays
    They were separated by plexiglass during the COVID season of 2020, but Dave Wills (left) and Andy Freed were as close as two radio partners could get after 18 seasons together on Rays broadcasts.