- Josh Johnson was on the bump for the Marlins. The 25 year old who stands 6 foot 7 and weights 230 pounds looked very good. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 91-97, a slider at 84-88 and a changeup at 87-88. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, his plus slider is a 2-7, 3-8 type pitch that has tremendous late downward bite. His changeup works as more of a show-me to lefties and fades away from them, but doesn't really change height wise. He likes to throw back-door sliders to lefties when ahead in the count. He was 93-96 most of the game. His frame is pretty close to maxed out, as he has big tree trunks for legs that allow him to generate a lot of his power. He rocks back and forth a little in his windup. Johnson is an ace. He hasn't been heard from very much by the media, but he is amongst the top 10 pitchers in baseball. Don't know if there is anything else there other then trying to improve the changeup.
- Jon Garland opposed him and also looked very good. The guy that has been around forever, but is only just 29, is 6 foot 6 and 210 pounds. He looks just like he did when he came up and there is still room for projection onto his frame, but he likely won't be getting any bigger. He attacks hitters with a 2-seam fastball at 86-91 (mostly at 88-89, the 86 pitch he took something off to get greater movement and struck out Hanley Ramirez looking), a cutter at 85-89, a changeup at 78-81 and a slider at 82-84. The cutter is his 2nd best pitch, but it is only an average offering. His other 2 pitches are also just average, though the change flashed above average. He will throw inside and features great command of his stuff. His change fades away from left handers with a little sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand. Slider is a 2-9 pitch that has more downward movement then the cutter. Garland is what he is, a middle of the rotation starter when he has command and a good defense and a back-end starter when he is struggling with his command. An underrated innings eater.
- Renyel Pinto was the 1st out of the pen for the Marlins and continues to make me look pretty stupid for thinking he could be a late inning reliever. He was 90-91 with his fastball and 80-81 with his change. His lack of consistent command really hurts him, as he hit Miguel Montero with the 1st pitch he threw. With his above average change, he can get righties out, but doesn't get many opportunities to do that. Pinto is a 6-4, 215 pounder whose frame is maxed out and he also features some very big legs allowing him to generate power. His frame doesn't look as good as Johnson's, meaning he may have some extra weight there that can lead to the injuries he has suffered. He comes at hitters from a low 3/4 release. If he can ever be a guy that lives in the strike zone consistenly, he can be a late inning guy. But, he will likely settle in as a middle reliever.
- Kiko Calero continues to be a slider first pitcher. This outing he was 77-78 with his slider. And that was all he threw. To 2 hitters. I know he has had success before for an entire season, but I still can't believe someone can get by with just this pitch once the scouting reports get out, as it is just above average. His plus command of it helps.
- Juan Gutierrez is a 6-3, 210 pounder who comes at you from a high 3/4 release. He is another guy with tree trunks for legs and also looks to be carrying a little bit of bad weight. The 25 year old featured a fastball at 94-96, a slider at 82, a curveball at 78 and a change at 83. The fastball is plus, but the slider appears to be the most promising of his other offerings, as it flashes plus. His command is still a tad below average, but it is improving. A guy who could be a closer, but will likely settle into a middle relief role due to struggles in command and his secondary offerings.
- Leo Nunez attacks hitters from a 3/4 release with a fastball at 92-94, a slider at 81 and a changeup from 81-85. The changeup features some good action and is a slightly above average offering. His fastball is plus. He reminds me a little bit of Juan Cruz. He also features those types of command issues though and he doesn't look to be a guy to go multiple innings as a bridge to the closer. A solid set-up guy as he continues to refine his command, with a shot at becoming a solid closer.
- Brian Sanches has bounced around from team to team and Florida is the latest to give him a try. Sanches attacks guys from a high 3/4 release that is almost over the top and features a fastball at 87-90, a slider at 83-84 and a splitter at 80. The fastball and split are below average offerings, with the slider being average. He showed above average command of his below average stuff, but all that makes you, at your best, is an average reliever. Average relievers are a dime a dozen and I think Sanches will continue riding the bus (though the ride from Albuquerque to Florida is quite a long one).
- Chris Coghlan is a 6-1 195 pound 23 year old lefty hitter. Coghlan's MO was his offense and it appears his offense will need to carry him, as he started tonight's game in left field despite coming up as a second basemen. He features a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to be a 15 home run guy down the road. His stance is very still and it almost looks as if he is sitting in a chair, as he sticks his butt out a little bit and crouches down a tad. He has a little leg kick as the ball is coming and his hands don't really move back (which is the main detriment to him becoming a 15 home run guy). He showed above average speed and an above average arm. Coghlan's likely best case is that of a Florida teammate, Alfredo Amezaga. I just don't think he will have the stick to carry the outfield and his bat would be just average for a second basemen. He showed some plate discipline, but also showed some struggles in identifying major league offspeed pitches (his 1 hit was a very slow groundball to short). However, he has the speed and arm to possibly be able to man CF and he should be able to hit enough in a utility role. Next season will likely be a big one for Coghlan, as he will either take the stage as a major league player of will be relegated to a career similar to that of teammate Brett Carroll, bouncing between the majors and AAA, but never sticking.
2 charts tomorrow and have a baseball game at 6.
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