Chart Observations: LAA @ KC

1) Joe Saunders: 109 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Changeup (3rd)

• Saunders came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam with good run in on lefties with good sink, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth that may be able to be a strikeout pitch, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite. He will drop down to throw fastballs to lefties with 2 strikes. He will throw 3-2 changes. Your prototypical # 4, lefty finesse starter.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (76)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (77-81), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (82-84), SL (82)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (76), SL (81)

5th: FB (90-93), CB (78-79), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (89-92), CB (76-78), CU (82-83), SL (80)

2) Brian Bannister: 114 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Cutters (1st, 6th), 2 Curveballs (1st, 3rd), 5 on Changeups (2 in 2nd, 3rd, 2 in 4th).

• Bannister is a 28 year old righty who stands 6-2, 215. He has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and worked quickly. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His cutter has good cut and he may call it a slider, but it's action is that of a cutter. His change has good fade from lefties and is a hard change. His curve is 12-6 with excellent depth that could be a strikeout pitch when he throws it in the high 70's, not in the 60's. He will throw changes to righties and that appears to be his out pitch. I think he is a # 4 starter.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (87-89), CU (85-87), CB (77)

2nd: FB (91), Cut (87-89), CU (86-88), CB (62-78)

3rd: FB (91), Cut (86-90), CU (85-88), CB (65-77)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CU (85-88), CB (74-75)

5th: FB (90-91), Cut (86-88), CU (85-86), CB (71-78)

6th: FB (90-91), Cut (86-89), CU (86), CB (78)

7th: FB (90), Cut (87-88), CU (85-86), CB (77)

3) Justin Speier: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter (7th)

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a slider that moves like a cutter with okay bite that is pretty sharp and a split with above average dive that serves as his out pitch.

6th: FB (90), SL (87), Split (81)

7th: FB (91-92), SL (86-88), Split (82-83)

4) John Bale: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (8th)

• Bale came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 10-4 curve with solid depth that he will throw from a 3/4 release (and he will throw fastballs from this angle as well) and a change with good fade from righties with sink.

7th: FB (88-92), CB (72)

8th: FB (92), CB (71-73), CU (81)

5) Kevin Jepsen: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter

• Jepsen came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with good cut and sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. The cutter has been a difference maker pitch for him and is very impressive.

8th: FB (96-97), CB (84), Cut (90-91)

6) Roman Colon: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Splitter

• Colon came from an over the top release and shwoed a 2-7 slider with average bite, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a split that has a little dive.

8th: FB (96-98), SL (78-81), Split (86-88)

7) Jamey Wright: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wright came from an over the top release with a fastball with a little run in on righties with a little sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (91-93), Cut (89), CB (77)

8) Joakim Soria: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Soria came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with sink.

8th: FB (92-94), CB (70), CU (86-88)

9) Ron Mahay: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Changeup.

• Mahay came from an over the top release with a change with some fade from righties with sink, a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with above average bite.

9th: FB (90-92), CU (84-85), SL (80-82)

10) Brian Fuentes: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Fuentes came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some late run in on lefties and a loopy 9-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (90-92), SL (75-77)

Random Royals Bullpen Observation: This pen is very similar to those of the White Sox from 3 or 4 years ago. Most of these pitchers have major league stuff and Dayton is trusting his major league pitching coach to try and teach these guys control. Eventually, Kenny Williams pulled the plug and began to bring in solid arms with some control. I think they will be making a similar adjustment in the coming years.