Chart Observations: NYM @ PIT: PIT Pitchers

1) Paul Maholm: 81 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), Slider (4th)

• Maholm comes from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball wtih good armside run and above average sink, a 11-4 curve with above average depth, a change with above average sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand and a sweeping 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (86-89), CB (73), CU (81-82), SL (80)

2nd: FB (87-89)

3rd: FB (86-90), CB (75), CU (82-84), SL (81)

4th: FB (87-91), CB (74-77), CU (84-85), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (74-75), CU (82-83), SL (82)

2) Jeff Karstens: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Karstens comes from an over the top release with a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with good armside and a little sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve and a change with some fade and sink from lefties.

5th: FB (87-90), SL (79), CU (79), CB (68-72)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (77), CB (69-76)

3) Evan Meek: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek is a 6-0, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. He is fairly difficult to chart, as he throws a FB, CB, Cut, SL and CU. I believe he is similar to some of these other pitchers that throw predominantly cutters, but some disagree. I believe his cutter has good cut, but the amount can be inconsistent and it can flash being straight. His 4-seam fastball has some run in on righties. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. I like him and he has plus velocity, but his command can come and go.

7th: Cut (88-94), FB (93), CB (78)

4) Steven Jackson: 33 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Sliders (8th, 2 in 9th), Changeup (8th)

• Jackson is a 6-5, 215 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that has room to add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite, but can flatten out or flash as plus. His fastball is a 2-seam with some armside run and sink. His changeup has good fade and sink that he will throw occasionally to righties. I am not a big fan of him as a 1 inning reliever, and his velocity isn't good enough to really be a guy I would be confident in as a Scot Shields type. I think he is a swingman for a contender at best.

8th: FB (88-89), SL (80-83), CU (81-83)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (80-82), CU (81-83)

5) Jesse Chavez: 1 pitch.

• Chavez threw a fastball with some movement. Got a groundout and I do like his stuff.

9th: FB (93)

6) Matt Capps: 25 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Changeup

• Capps is a 6-2, 245 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a little bit of bad weight. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider is a big breaking 2-7 with good bite, but doesn't appear to be a true strikeout pitch due to some loopy action. His change is straight with a little late fade from lefties. Solid closer, but more of a set-up guy or middle reliever on a contender.

10th: FB (91-94), SL (82-84), CU (87-88)

On a personal note, despite a (what seems like) 0-13 slump (more of a junior year slump then the senior year FLA slump, made the same adjustment I did after FLA that year and am back to hitting the ball hard by getting my stride foot down quicker, just not getting the hits to show for it yet), I have been selected to the Tri County League All Star team. The game is next Friday (July 10th) and luckily I have off work that day, so this should be interesting.

Ladies, take note. I am an All-Star. True Story. :-)