Chart Observations: DET @ HOU

1) Justin Verlander: 118 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (3 in 1st, 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 6th) and 2 on changeups (both in 1st)

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and a little sink in on righties, a change with excellent fade and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and bite and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite, but not much. He will throw changes to righties and only threw the slider to righties, mostly Hunter Pence. Verlander's command wasn't as good as it has been and he was pitching to the middle of the plate quite a bit.

1st: FB (93-100), CB (77-83), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (78), CU (83)

3rd: FB (91-99), CB (79-83), CU (83), SL (88)

4th: FB (92-96), CB (77-80)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (77), CU (81), SL (87)

6th: FB (93-97), CB (78-81), CU (84)

2) Wandy Rodriguez: 106 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Curves (both in 2nd) and a Change (1st)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a big breaking 11-5 curve with good depth and a straight change with a little sink. I am not a huge fan, as his command is erratic and doesn't have a true out pitch. He is a # 3 or # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (75-78), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (78), CU (85)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (88-90), CB (74-77)

5th: FB (88-93), CB (75-81), CU (83)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (73-76)

3) Nate Robertson: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• The Tigers latest attempt to make Nate Robertson relevant is to use him as a loogy. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink and a little run in on righties. He is a long reliever and doesn't make a good LOOGY due to him not having a dominant off speed pitch for lefties.

6th: FB (86-88)

4) Zach Miner: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miner is a 6-3, 200 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium to big frame that is nearly maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with excellent run in on righties and has some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His change has a little fade and sink that he will throw to righties. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth. He is in the perfect role for him, to pitch the 6th and 7th to get them to their end game guys. May be able to hold a Scot Shields type role for a couple of years.

6th: FB (93-94), SL (83)

7th: FB (92-95), SL (81), CU (81), CB (74)

5) Alberto Arias: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curve (both in 7th)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a power 12-6 curve and a fastball with excellent run and sink in on righties. Still a fan of this guy.

7th: FB (92-96), CB (80-83)

8th: FB (92-94), CB (80-82)

6) Tim Byrdak: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Chris Sampson: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good run and sink in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a 2-7 curve that had some depth and was slower then his slider.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (81-84), CB (76)

8) Joel Zumaya: 30 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Zumaya is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam that can flash some run in on righties. He has a classic drop and drive delivery and alsoo shows a 1-8 power curve with good depth. His command was a question in this outing, but his mechanics appear to be pretty clean. Future closer.

7th: CB (80-81)

8th: FB (99-102), CB (80-82)

9) Freddy Dolsi: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Dolsi is a 6-0, 160 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He is your typical long and lanky pitcher. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has excellent run in on righties while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with okay bite. He was in the middle of the plate with his fastball and struggles to command it due to the movement he generates with it. He is a solid middle reliever who could be a set-up man if he figures out his fastball command.

8th: FB (95), SL (86)

10) LaTroy Hawkins: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawkins came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp slider that moves more like a cutter and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (88-90), CB (79-81)