Reliever Sergio Romo looking forward to strong 2010 season

Reliever Romo ready for 2010

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants reliever Sergio Romo is looking forward to the opportunity for having a strong season.

The right-hander, who turned 27 on March 4, is coming off a solid season, when he was 5-2 with two saves and 11 holds in 45 games. He is trying to build on that, earning a spot on the opening day roster and staying healthy, something he didn’t do a year ago. A sprained elbow cost him the spring and the first two months of the 2009 season.

“Things are going extremely well,” said Romo, who got a save in a 5-3 spring victory over Milwaukee on March 4 and had given up one hit in two innings through Sunday. “It’s a great feeling around this clubhouse. You get the sense of, ‘Hey, man, we’re good,’ that we could be a part of something historic.”

Romo is in better shape, having maintained his playing weight of 185 pounds a year after he lost between 20 and 25 pounds.

“I never really have been a gym rat, but I have learned that if you want your team to be serious about you, you have to be serious about what you are doing. I have been serious before, but I’m even more so now,” he said.

Romo said he is the third player from Brawley, Calif., to reach the major leagues. The first two also were relief pitchers, Sid Monge and Rudy Seanez.

Romo said his father, Francisco, who coached kids in the area, also coached Seanez briefly. Romo wants to earn a World Series ring as Seanez did with Philadelphia in 2008.

Although the arm angles might vary, Romo describes his delivery as straightforward.

“What you see is what you get. I’m a small guy who doesn’t necessarily throw hard, but who throws strikes. I’d almost rather have a guy hit a home run off me than walk him.

“I want to be aggressive but not too aggressive. My father always told me to sit tight and fight, gain some respect, instead of turning and running.”

Notes: Rain canceled Sunday’s game against Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz. … Right-hander Tim Lincecum and left-hander Madison Bumgarner, the projected No. 5 starter, pitched four-inning simulated games in the covered cage in Scottsdale. Hitters did not swing, although manager Bruce Bochy stood in against Lincecum and found his knees buckling on a first-pitch curveball. … Left-hander Barry Zito will throw Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Scottsdale. … Nate Schierholtz, the likely starter in right field, fouled a ball off his left knee, falling backward and hitting his head against a metal support piece in the cage. He was wearing a helmet. He appeared to be OK. … Utility man Mark DeRosa (left wrist) is nearly ready to play in games and could do so on Tuesday or Wednesday.