Chart Impressions: OAK @ TEX

• Vicente Padilla was on the bump for Texas. I was not a Vicente Padilla fan, but let me tell you something, he may be one of the most underrated pitchers out there. It appears only he and Kevin Millwood have the ability to be consistent starters in Texas and I wonder what Padilla would be capable of in a real ballpark (as opposed to a bandbox). Padilla attacks hitters with a 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam fastball that has a lot of fade and very good movement. He also throws a solid average slider, solid average splitter and a curveball that is about 50-65 miles per hour. He also adjusts his gameplans based off what he is facing. Oakland threw out a lineup chock full of left handers and Padilla basically turned into a very effective fastball-splitter pitcher. Padilla may never get his due, but he has won me over.
• Dallas Braden looked good. I am as skeptical of pitchers who can't break 90 with their fastball as the next guy, but Braden can make himself a solid # 4 starter. His changeup is very good and has about a 15 mile per hour difference, more then enough to screw with the timing of hitters. He also throws a solid average slider and a rare (threw one) cutter. He had good command and with Oakland's current reliance on defense, he is one that may have a strong season (sub 4 ERA) because of it.
• Andrew Bailey is your typical right handed reliever who is fastball-cutter (he calls it a cutter, some have slider-like break). Fastball-slider relievers tend to grow on trees and he will need to prove he is not a 1-month wonder. I have my doubts, as he struggled with the command of his low 90's fastball in this outing.
• Russ Springer needs to have your respect just because he came back from a serious arm injury to turn himself into a solid middle reliever. Similar to Bailey in that he is fastball (low 90's) and cutter (mid 80's, also with slider-like break), but he also utilizes a curveball in the mid 70's. His ability to change speeds helps him compensate for the lack of a true out pitch.
• I was a Michael Wuertz fan when he was with the Cubs. I thought his stuff warranted more then just bus trips from Chicago to Omaha. After seeing him with Oakland though, he just doesn't have the command of his slider anymore (and he has also lost some bite from his Chicago days). I think I now agree with the Cubs that he is a 4-A reliever. A good guy to have when someone goes down, but you don't want to rely on this guy.
• As a starter, Jason Jennings was pounded. However, as a reliever, he may be a strong middle guy. Jennings will not over-power you with his 2 pitches (a high 80's 2-seamer with good sink and a low 80's slider), but he has enough command of the two to not allow hitters to really sit on either pitch. Now, as the scouting reports get out, his over reliance on his slider may hurt him, but I think he can be good over a full season if he stays healthy.
• Watch Texas' hitters next time you get a chance. They all seem to be fairly straight up in their stances and their heads are straight at the pitcher, not slanted. This allows them to keep their head in the same spot during their swing, allowing them to see the ball longer. There's a reason Rudy Jaramillo is the best in the business.
• Andruw Jones is back. He is in shape and can turn on fastballs again. The risk taken by Texas has paid off (though the risk was negligible enough where it wasn't too risky, just a minor league contract).
• Elvis Andrus is 20 and in the big leagues. He has all the familiar symptoms of a player that has been rushed. He has zero plate discipline and doesn't control the strike zone well. He still has very little muscle on his body with that end result meaning he doesn't have much power. My personal opinion was that Texas should have kept Michael Young at SS and played Hank Blalock or Chris Davis (whichever wasn't at 1B) at 3rd. But, Andrus is a big upgrade over Young defensively and defense is the new "it" thing nowadays (like OBP after Moneyball). Will this result in a stagnation of Elvis' skills, or will he be able to continue developing at the big league level? Only time will tell.
• Nelson Cruz has real power. Legitimate 80 power in my opinion. The fact that he can now utilize it without getting out on 9 out of 10 at bats mean that this kid may be a late bloomer. FYI: Cruz went through a little of what Elvis will be going through. Took him 3 seasons of big leagues and AAA to finally develop into the hitter he is. Don't be quick to judge.
• Oakland ran out a collection of who's who from their current roster to start yesterday. Landon Powell is a big-bodied catcher (how about the fact the A's drafted 2 college catchers in the 1st round and they both made it?) who may not actually catch. He reminds me a lot of Jack Cust, but that isn't a good thing, as he lacks Cust's ability to work the count and his power. He played 1st base yesterday, so who knows just how good he is behind the plate? I was a big Eric Patterson fan as well when he was with the Cubs (and Georgia Tech). I thought he just needed at-bats to establish himself. Well, he is a utility player. And one that won't hit. He just has no muscle on his frame and is not fast enough to get away with that. Another 4-A player. I also liked (but wasn't a huge fan) of Travis Buck, but I feel his swing has undergone some major changes (and not for the better in my opinion) since his strong rookie season. His front shoulder tends to fly out a ton and while he still has his ability to draw walks, he can't hit. Major league pitchers just need to challenge him, as his ability to translate his power has fallen off considerably.

Live scoring assignment tonight is the Mets and Phillies with a pitching match-up of the great Mike Pelfrey and the immeasurable Chan-Ho Park in Philadelphia. God Help Me.