Score Observation (7/11): KC @ BOS: BOS Pitchers

1) John Smoltz: 97 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 7 on Sliders (1st, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 3 in 5th), Fastball (2nd), Splitter (2nd)

• Smoltz is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 42 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 will good bite that is very tight. His splitter has okay dive. He struggled to command his fastball in the zone. His slider is back to where it was with the Braves, as was his fastball velocity, he just needs a little more fine tuning.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (86-88), Split (86-87)

2nd: FB (91-92), SL (83-87), Split (86)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (85-87)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (84-86), Split (86-87)

5th: FB (90-92), SL (83-86), Split (86)

2) Justin Masterson: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Masterson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with sink and a loopy 3-8 slider he uses as a get-me over pitch and a sharper one as a strikeout pitch. He battled his command and left quite a few sliders and sinkers over the middle of the plate.

6th: FB (90-96), SL (82-87)

3) Manny Delcarmen: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with some late fade from lefties with sink and a 12-6 curve with okay depth.

6th: FB (91-96), CU (80), CB (78)

4) Hideki Okajima: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with solid depth and a split with okay dive. Gets by on deception more then stuff now.

6th: FB (88-89), CB (77)

7th: FB (88-89), CB (76-77), Split (83-84)

5) Daniel Bard: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (3 in 8th) and a Slider (7th)

• Bard came from a high 3/4 and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (98-99), SL (84-85)

8th: FB (96-99), SL (85-86)

6) Takashi Saito: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Saito came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a fastball that was pretty straight and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (92-93), SL (82-83), Split (89)