Chart Observations: STL @ CLE

• Cliff Lee is a 6-3, 190 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium to big frame with room to add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His front (glove, right) arm stays bent throughout the entire wind-up. His fastball has some natural sink and run. His curveball is a big breaking 11-4 pitch with good depth. His cutter shows some cut and sink while his change is a straight offering with some sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider was thrown once and generated a weak groundball on an 0-2 count to a lefty. He is primarily FB-CU with some cutters and curves mixed in. He doesn't really have a true out pitch and he pitches to weak contact. While he had a no hitter through seven, he wasn't really dominant, as the Cardinals got some very good contact on him. Borderline ace, but one who will fall off quicker then some others.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (84-85), CB (75-77), Cut (88)

2nd: FB (91-92)

3rd: FB (91-94)

4th: FB (89-93), CU (84-86), CB (76-78)

5th: FB (89-92), CU (85), CB (74-76)

6th: FB (91-92), CU (85), Cut (88-89)

7th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), CB (77-78)

8th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), CB (76), Cut (88-89), SL (82)

9th: FB (88-92), CU (84-85), CB (78)

• Chris Carpenter is a 6-6, 230 pound righty. The 34 year old has a big frame that can get up to 240 if he so chooses. He comes from an over the top release from a very quiet delivery. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink. I believe he throws both a slider and cutter (we just chart slider) and his cutter has good cut. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with great depth and he shows the ability to throw it for a strike or bury it for a strikeout at will. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with great bite. He threw one change that went about 40 feet, so who knows how good it is? He is a true ace when healthy, just a question of how long he can stay it.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (87-88), CB (73-76), Cut (87-89)

2nd: FB (92-93), CB (75), Cut (87)

3rd: FB (92), SL (86), CB (75), Cut (87)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (85), CB (75-77), Cut (87)

5th: FB (90-95), SL (86-88), CB (74-78), CU (86)

6th: FB (92-93), CB (75-76), Cut (86-87)

7th: FB (91-92), CB (73-76)

• Chris Perez is a 6-4, 230 pound 23 year old. The righty has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but not much. He comes from a 3/4 release. His slider is a 2-7 with above average bite and can serve as a strikeout pitch while his fastball has a little fade, but is pretty straight. He also takes the ball out of his glove immediately and taps it against his glove before beginning the arm circle. He could be a future closer, but he has shown command issues (though I haven't seen them) and is more likely to settle in as a set-up man. He is more advanced pitch-wise then fellow bullpen flamethrower Jason Motte, but his command isn't as good yet.

8th: FB (94-96), SL (83-85)

• Luis Valbuena is a 5-10, 195 pound middle infielder. The lefty hitter/righty thrower has a small frame that is close to being maxed out. The 23 year old is more effective with his glove then his bat. He has an above average arm, soft hands and very good range to his glove side. Offensively, he has a very slightly open stance and appears to be lightly holding onto the bat. The bat is a little in front of him and behind his back shoulder. His trigger is a stride where he actually brings his hands forward a little, which will severely limit his power potential. He will bunt for hits and is more of a slap hitter then a guy that hits gaps. Baseball America says he has a higher offensive upside then Asdrubal Cabrera, but I disagree. I think Valbuena's glove can play in the majors, but his bat will prevent him from being an everyday starter. Solid utility infielder though who can play SS, and those do have value.

Baseball game cancelled today. Got the Nats-Yanks (Martis vs. Sabathia) and the Angels-Giants (Santana vs. Sanchez) tomorrow. Traded out of my 8 o clock so that I could scout these games much better.