Chart Observations: 9/17 HOU @ CIN

1) Yorman Bazardo: 87 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bazardo came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (89-94), SL (82-87) - FB (Rolen)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (83-86)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84) - FB (Balentien), SL (Tatum)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (81-85), CU (84)

2) Justin Lehr: 99 pitches. (FB, Split, Cut, CB, SL). 10 strikes swinging. 6 Splitters, 3 Cutters, Curveball.

• Lehr is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from an over the top release with fairly clean mechanics and no real red flags. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His split has good dive. His curve is a 12-6 with slightly above average depth that is a little loopy that he will throw 3-2. His slider is a 2-7 with below average bite. His cutter has some cut and some sink. The splitter is his out pitch to both lefties and righties.

1st: FB (83-87), Split (78-80), Cut (82), CB (69-73), SL (78) - 2 Split (Bourn, Blum)

2nd: FB (84-86), Split (80-81), Cut (84), CB (71-72), SL (77) - Split (Manzella)

3rd: FB (82-87), Split (77-82), Cut (84-85), CB (70-73), SL (78-79) - Split (Blum)

4th: FB (83-87), Split (79-82), Cut (82), CB (70-73), SL (78) - Split (Pence), CB (Manzella)

5th: FB (85), Split (79-80), Cut (83-85), CB (70-72), SL (78) - Split (Blum), 3 Cut (Towles - 2, Manzella)

3) Pedro Viola: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Viola came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a straight change with some sink.

6th: FB (92-94), SL (80), CU (88)

4) Jared Burton: 18 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Burton came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

6th: Cut (91-92), CU (86-87)

7th: Cut (90-91), CU (87-88), SL (83-84) - 2 CU (Towles - 2), SL (Blum)

5) Wilton Lopez: 22 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Lopez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85) - 2 FB (Tatum, Bruce)

6) Wesley Wright: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Wright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite that he will throw 3-2 and a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Jeff Fulchino: 31 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 8 strikes swinging. 4 Splitters, 2 Sliders, 2 Fastballs.

• Fulchino came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a split with good dive.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (81-85), Split (82-85) - FB (Barker), 2 Split (Francisco, Balentien)

8th: FB (93), SL (82-85), Split (82-86) - FB (Bruce), 2 Split (Bruce, Janish), 2 SL (Stubbs - 2)

8) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with some cut, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a split with some dive that can flatten out.

8th: FB (94-95), Cut (90), CB (81-84), Split (89) - CB (Coste)

9) Francisco Cordero: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Cordero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (94-96), SL (87-88) - SL (Pence)

• Tommy Manzella is a 6-2, 200 pound shortstop. The 26 year old righty/righty has a medium frame that can get up to about 215 if he so desires. Athletic, skinny build. His stance is a slightly crouched, straight on stance that is fairly generic. He has a long load and cocks the bat, almost moving it a touch forward before he moves it back. He also has a step in his trigger. Has a long swing and also lacks pitch recognition, not a good combination. On defense, he has an above average arm and soft hands. Utility player who will never hit enough to be a starter.
• Juan Francisco is a 6-2, 180 pound third basemen who made a pinch hit appearance. The 22 year old lefty hitter, righty thrower has a medium frame that looks like it can add more muscle to his upper body. Strong lower half with an athletic build. He has an open stance where he is up on his front toe and has a little bit of a bat wiggle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride to square himself up. Kind of hunches over as he prepares to hit, which will limit his power production. Is a timing hitter, meaning he likes to guess and can look silly at the plate at times. Solid eye at the plate. Nothing I saw in his 1 at bat would lead me to believe he can't be an everday hitter.