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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. Ben Powers Ravens Jersey . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6. Jonathan Ogden Womens Jersey . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-...arshall-Jersey/. Osasunas Alvaro Cejudo drove the ball onto the crossbar in the fifth minute and his team squandered several long-range strikes before he was denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez in the 50th. Iman Marshall Youth Jersey . -- The Grand Rapids Griffins scored three goals in 33 seconds of the second period en route to defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-1 in American Hockey League action on Friday. Joe Flacco Womens Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell.NEWARK, N.J. - Vladimir Tarasenko is on one of those streaks where any time the St. Louis Blues forward is on the ice, the puck seems to find him in scoring position.After being stopped on a first-period breakaway and hitting a goal post in the second, Tarasenko scored a power-play goal early in the third period and the Blues extended their winning streak to six games with a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.Vladdy is on a hot streak right now and hes proving to everyone how good of a player he can be, said Blues goaltender Jake Allen, who stopped 26 shots in earning his second straight shutout and ending the Devils two-game winning streak. He is definitely leading this team right now.The NHLs No. 1 star last week, Tarasenko has seven goals in last five games and the deciding tally for two straight games. He netted the clinching shootout goal against the New York Rangers on Monday.He came through for us, St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. I know he felt badly that he missed those chances early on, but he stuck with it and got the goal. Thats a goal scorers goal.His blast from the right circle at 4:55 was the difference against the Devils. Tarasenko netted his eighth goal of the season just 17 seconds after Devils defenceman Marek Zidlicky was whistled for holding Alexander Steen in the crease.Steen barely kept the puck in the New Jersey zone after the faceoff, and then Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera exchanged a couple of passes before the Russian ripped a shot past Cory Schneider, the only one of 23 he didnt stop.Its a save Id like to make for sure, said Schneider, adding the shot beat him on the short side.Devils coach Pete DeBoer wasnt surprised Tarasenko got the goal. He had three shots in the game and five overall, with two jjust missing the net.ddddddddddddI looked at the goal and thats probably the hottest guy in the league, DeBoer said. He makes a good play. He has a knack for it and he is on fire lately.The Blues winning streak is one shy of the NHL-high of seven this season set by Anaheim.Allen, who shut out Anaheim 2-0 in his last start on Oct. 30, had two good stops on Travis Zajac and one on Adam Henrique in the second period. He got his glove on Michael Ryders shot drive in the first, with the puck landing on top of the net.It just fluttered and landed on top, said Ryder, who led the Devils with seven shots.Allen smiled about the save.I got my feet tangled up, but I managed to get my glove on it, he said.The Devils came into the game with the NHLs third-best power play, converting at 26.3 per cent, but they went 0-for-3.The Blues also had three chances, and converted the one they needed. The also saw defenceman Ian Cole hit a goal post in the first period.Its not easy to win like this on the road, said Blues forward Jaden Schwartz, who had the secondary assist on the goal. Our goal was to come in here and get the points and we did that. You never think one goal is going to win it, but getting the first goal was huge and gave us a lot of confidence.NOTES: The Blues played without C Paul Stastny (shoulder) and RW T.J. Oshie (concussion). Stastny has missed eight straight, and Oshie has sat out four. ... Devils D Jon Merrill was out with an undisclosed injury. ... The Blues and Devils will play again on Thursday in St. Louis. ... Devils LW Mike Cammalleri (jaw) missed his fourth straight game. ... New Jerseys Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,485th NHL game, moving him into sole possession of 18th place on the career list, one ahead of Rod BrindAmour. ' ' '