In this installment of RRA, let's look at pitcher Jeriome Robertson. Jeriome was a left handed starting pitcher with Houston in 2002 and 2003.
Jeriome was drafted by the Astros in the 24th round in 1995. He steadily worked his way up the ranks until his first major league start in September of 2002. His first outing was a rough one as he lasted just 2.2 innings against Texas, giving up six hits and two runs to start his career 0-1. Jeriome spent the rest of 2002 in the bullpen, and finished the season with a 6.52 ERA over 9.2 innings.
Jeriome spent almost all of 2003 as a member of the Astros' major league rotation. In 32 games, 31 starts, he compiled 160.2 innings with 99 strikeouts, 64 walks, and a 5.10 ERA. Despite that 86+ ERA, he managed a 15-7 record and finished 7th in rookie of the year voting. Two games stand out when looking for his Astros highlights, both from 2003. On April 10th at home against the Reds, Jeriome gave seven innings of two hit ball, including eight strikeouts, three walks, and one run to earn the victory as the Astros won 4-2. Later in the season, on July 22nd, Robertson pitched another strong game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. In that outing he threw 7.1 innings of shutout ball with two strikeouts and two walks while giving up just three hits. He also had an RBI single off Salomon Torres, scoring Lance Berkman as the Astros went on to win 2-0.
Just before the start of the 2004 season, he was traded to Cleveland for Luke Scott. Jeriome would throw just 14 innings in the majors for Cleveland and never appeared in the big leagues again.
Jeriome Robertson was killed in a motorcycle accident May 29, 2010.
* As reader AstroBrit has pointed out in the comments, Houston also retained the rights to that offseason's Rule 5 draft pick Willy Taveras in order to keep him in AAA for most of the 2004 season.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
