Astros sign former Yankee prospect...

[countingcrow]

Rotoworld Link (http://www.rotoworld.com/display1.asp?sport=MLB&page=news&date=7/18/2003)

Astros signed LHP Randy Keisler to a minor league contact and assigned him to Triple-A New Orleans.

It's the third PCL team Keisler has played for this season. New Orleans is quite the pitcher's park, so he should have some success and there's a slim chance he could see time with the Astros as a reliever later this season.

[countingcrow]

His stats for Triple-A Portland (Padres) this year are really good. He was involved in the trade earlier this season that sent Bubba Trammell to the Yankees. There was a lot of hope for this guy. He was being groomed as a starter in NY and San Diego. Hopefully, he is not another Bruce Chen.

He started 6 games, pitched 41.1 innings, was 5-1, with a 2.63 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 24/12 K/BB ratio.

Not bad numbers IMO.

[EddieWasSnubbed]

I remember him from the Yankees. Didn't he pitch a few major league games? I thought he was old....but I got bad memory.

[havoc1]

Originally posted by EddieWasSnubbed
I remember him from the Yankees. Didn't he pitch a few major league games? I thought he was old....but I got bad memory.
Keisler is 27 and he pitched for the Yankees and the Padres and has a big league era of 7.61. I like this pickup. He seemed to do pretty good in the minors. Plus he's a lefty.

[arkoe]

Why did San Diego release him?

[countingcrow]

I seem to recall that he asked for his release...

He wanted to start and they wanted to use him in middle relief.

I may be wrong though...

[NIKEstrad]

Keisler's New Orleans debut: 5 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 0 runs.

Looks like we've got another lefty lined up if Gallo faulters, or perhaps a guy who may get a chance if Redding continues to hear voices. At the very least, seems like a September call up to bolster the pen.

I hope Mike Venafro is doing well...that guy used to be a downright nasty sidearmer, then suddenly became hittable.