Romine producing without putting ball in play

DETROIT — The list of Major League leaders in bases-loaded walks includes reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson, his slugging Toronto teammate Troy Tulowitzki, home run producers Chris Carter and Mark Reynolds, and selective slugger Shin-Soo Choo. It also includes Andrew Romine.

Yes, Andrew Romine.

Yes, Romine was as surprised as anyone to learn that.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said Friday, a day after his third bases-loaded walk of the season brought in the go-ahead run in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Red Sox. “I don’t know why they’re having trouble throwing strikes. Maybe they’re easing up because they know where the order of the lineup is. I don’t know.”

What Romine knows is that he’s paid to get the run in, no matter how it happens, especially in that situation. A grand slam is a luxury. Whether he hits a single, draws a walk, is hit by a pitch — he’s had one of those this season too — or forces a wild pitch, he wants the run.

More important, Romine knows that with the bases loaded, the …

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