TB @ CWS

1) Jeff Niemann: 100 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (2nd, 5th), 6 on Curveballs (2nd, 5th, 2 in 7th, 2 in 8th) and a Slider (4th)

• Niemann came from an over the top release and showed a fastball that is very straight that may have a little cut to it, a sharp, big breaking 12-6 curve with excellent depth that can be a strikeout pitch (and serves as his out pitch) and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. He straightens his arm behind him on the back take before beginning his acceleration through. Very impressive tonight and his curveball was plus for most of this outing.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84), CB (79)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (77)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (84)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (85), CB (77-80)

5th: FB (92-95), CB (77-80)

6th: FB (92-94), CB (77-80)

7th: FB (90-95), CB (77-79)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (82), CB (76-80)

2) Clayton Richard: 116 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd) and 4 on Changeups (2 in 6th, 2 in 7th)

• Richard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand with good sink and fade form righties, a cutter with some cut in on righties and a 11-4 slider with above average bite. He also showed a straight 4-seam fastball and he has an excellent pick off move. He sold me tonight and retired the last 15 hitters he faced. Definite shot at being a # 2, but more likely to be a # 4.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (84), Cut (84-88)

2nd: FB (91-96), CU (85), SL (79)

3rd: FB (90-95), CU (82-86), SL (81)

4th: FB (91-96), CU (86), Cut (87), SL (79)

5th: FB (90-95), CU (86), SL (82-85)

6th: FB (90-94), CU (84-86), Cut (88), SL (77-83)

7th: FB (90-95), CU (84-87)

8th: FB (89-94), CU (81)

3) Bobby Jenks: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jenks came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch, a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties. Battled his command tonight.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (87-90), CB (84), CU (83-84)

4) J.P. Howell: 12 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Curveballs, Changeup.

• Howell came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with above average fade from lefties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

9th: FB (85-87), CB (82-83), CU (79)

Traded my games for Wednesday, so I have the day off. My first real day off (no baseball game, no work) in atleast 2 months. Looking forward to it.

DOR Re-Eval

Changed Sean Runyan from Somewhat Worse to Worse (150) in 1998.

Changed Rod Beck from Somewhat Worse to Worse (65) in 1998.

Changed Eddie Guardado from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (37) in 1998.

Changed Kelly Wunsch from Somewhat Worse to Worse (111) in 2000.

Added Jeff Fassero to 2001.

Changed Steve Kline from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (32) in 2001.

Changed Felix Rodriguez from Somewhat Worse to Worse (69) in 2004.

Added Ron Villone to 2005.

Changed Duaner Sanchez from Somewhat Better, Better, to Worse (63), Worse in 2005.

Changed Salomon Torres from Somewhat Better to Worse (73) in 2006.

Changed Jose Mesa from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47) in 2006.

Added Heath Bell to 2007.

Pitches Per Inning Re-Eval

Changed Chuck McElroy from N/A, N/A to Somewhat Better, Better in 1999.

Changed Shigetoshi Hasegawa from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (40) in 2000.

Changed Paul Shuey from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (74), Worse in 2000.

Changed John Rocker from Somewhat Better to Worse (87) in 2001.

Chaned Armando Almanza from Better to Somewhat Worse (52) in 2001.

Changed Gabe White from Better to Somewhat Worse (50) in 2001.

Changed Kevin Gryboski from Better to Somewhat Worse (31) in 2002.

Changed Todd Van Poppel from Better, Same to N/A, N/A in 2002.

Changed Stephen Randolph from N/A, N/A to Worse, Worse in 2003.

Changed Brian Fuentes from Somewhat Worse, Same to Worse (69), Worse in 2003.

Changed Felix Rodriguez from Somewhat Worse to Worse (69) in 2004.

Changed Mike Gonzalez from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (37) in 2005.

Changed Tyler Johnson from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (48) in 2006.

Changed Randy Messenger from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47) in 2006.

Changed Frank Francisco from Worse (IP), Worse to Somewhat Better, Better in 2007.

Changed Scott Eyre from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (73), Worse in 2007.

Changed Luis Vizcaino from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (64), Worse in 2007.

Changed Scott Proctor from Somewhat Worse, Same to Worse (68), Worse in 2007.

Added Ron Villone to 2005.

CIN @ LAD

1) Jason Schmidt: 91 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Curveball (4th)

• Jason is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 36 year old has a big frame that can get up to about 235, but likely won't. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His split has some dive, but not a ton. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and that he can throw for strikes at will. Don't really know how the Reds didn't hit him harder after the 1st. He did a great job of living on the edges and throwing his slow curve for strikes, but his velocity is nowhere near where it used to be. A guy who profiles as, at best, a # 5 and that may even be a stretch.

1st: FB (86-89), Split (82-84), CB (71-73)

2nd: FB (86-88), Split (84), CB (70-73)

3rd: FB (85-87), CB (71-72)

4th: FB (85-88), Split (82-84), CB (69-73)

5th: FB (84-87), CB (69-70)

2) Micah Owings: 96 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (both in 1st), 3 on Sliders (all in 5th) and a Change (1st)

• Owings is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to about 235. He comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some cut, a change with good diving action from lefties that he will throw to righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite. Said it before, but he needs to make a transformation to a hitter.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (81-83), CU (78-80)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (80-83), CU (78-80)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (81-84), CU (77-79)

4th: FB (86-88), SL (81-84), CU (76-79)

5th: FB (85-87), SL (79-84), CU (77-80)

3) James McDonald: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 7th)

• James came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with excellent depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a change with some fade from lefties.

6th: FB (93-95), CB (77)

7th: FB (93-95), CB (77-78)

8th: FB (91-94), CU (74)

4) Carlos Fisher: 26 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (all in 7th), Fastball (6th)

• Fisher came from an over the top release with a fastball with a little run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a cutter with some cut and sink.

6th: FB (92-95), SL (82-84)

7th: FB (91-95), SL (82-85), Cut (91)

5) Danny Ray Herrera: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Herrera came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 11-4 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from righties with great sink that looks like a screwball.

8th: FB (84-87), SL (75-77), CU (64-69)

6) Ramon Troncoso: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Troncoso came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with good sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

8th: FB (90-93), CB (79)

7) Jonathan Broxton: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Broxton came from an over the top release with a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (98-100)

Chart Observations: CHC @ WAS

1) Kevin Hart: 83 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Cutters (2nd, 5th), Fastball (3rd)

• Hart came from an over the top release with a fastball with good run in on righties with solid sink, a cutter with good cut and sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. I like him better as a reliever and wonder if he can hold up for a full season, as he has that rubbery arm action where his wrist joins in making an arm circle.
  

1st: FB (88-93), Cut (85-86)

2nd: FB (90-94), Cut (87), CB (80-81)

3rd: FB (91-94), Cut (87-89), CB (77-80)

4th: FB (90-94), Cut (86-88), CB (77-79)

5th: FB (87-94), Cut (83-87), CB (79)

2) Garrett Mock: 63 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th), 3 on Curveballs (all in 2nd)

• Mock is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run in on righties with good sink. His change moves like his fastball, but slower. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and he has shown an ability to bounce it or throw it for strikes. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite. His stat line looked ugly, but he has good pure stuff. His command is a severe question mark though and he constantly fell behind. Another guy I think I would prefer as a reliever.

1st: FB (90-91)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (73-76), CU (77-78)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (83)

4th: FB (88-92), CB (74-76), CU (78), SL (81)

3) Julian Tavarez: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Tavarez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a sharp 2-7 slider that can be flat and a chnage with some fade from lefties with above average sink. He was released after this game and I have been saying this (as many others have said) that he should have been released a while ago.

4th: FB (90-92), SL (80-85), CU (83-84)

4) Ron Villone: 46 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), 2 Sliders (both in 6th)

• Villone came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties, a loopy 11-4 slider with good bite and a change with late fade from righties.

5th: FB (88-89), SL (78-85), CU (83)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (78-86), CU (82)

5) Jeff Samardzija: 41 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (6th, 7th), 3 on Splitters (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Jeff came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a split with average dive that has good late action and flashes above average dive and a big breaking 2-7 slider with good bite that appears to be a curve-slider hybrid.

6th: FB (93-96), Split (84)

7th: FB (93-96), Split (85-86), SL (82)

8th: FB (92-94), Split (85-86), SL (81)

6) Tyler Clippard: 20 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Clippard is a 6-3, 200 pound righty. The 24 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He came from an over the top release with a lot of herky jerky action and a cocking arm action. His fastball has some run in on righties. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. His change is straight and looks like a fastball out of his hands with some fade fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite and he will throw 3-2 changeups. Clippard is likely going to be a solid middle reliever, but he isn't going to be a guy who dominates and middle reliever is his likely ceiling.

7th: FB (90-92), CU (80-81), CB (75-76), SL (83)

7) Sean Burnett: 18 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Burnett came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (77-81)

8) Mike MacDougal: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Mike came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties.

9th: FB (94-97)

9) Jeff Stevens: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Stevens is a 6-2, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 210. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. His elbow is bent from when he starts his delivery until he finishes the pitch and I don't know if this takes away or adds stress to it. His command was a little bit of a question mark and looks like a 4-A guy to me.

9th: FB (91-93), CB (73)

Chart Observations: BOS @ TOR

1) Roy Halladay: 105 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 on Cutters (1st, 2 in 2nd, 5th), 2 on Fastballs (4th, 5th) and 2 on Curveballs (4th, 7th)

• Halladay came from an over the top release with a cutter that has solid cut, a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink that he will throw to righties. He has plus command that causes his pitches to play up. Don't listen to Buster Olney about fastballs, his main pitch is his cutter, though it can look like his fastball at times. It is amazing how often he stays away from the middle of the plate and generates weak contact with cutters on his gloveside (in on lefties, away from righties).

1st: Cut (92-93), FB (94), CB (80)

2nd: Cut (92-93), FB (94), CB (80)

3rd: Cut (91-93), FB (94-95), CU (85-87)

4th: Cut (92-93), FB (92-94), CB (77-81), CU (85)

5th: Cut (92-93), FB (94-95), CB (80-81)

6th: Cut (93-94), FB (94-95), CB (80), CU (87)

7th: Cut (90-93), FB (95), CB (79-81), CU (86)

8th: Cut (91-93), FB (94), CB (80), CU (87)

9th: Cut (92-93), FB (94-95), CB (79-82), CU (86)

2) Jon Lester: 112 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 4th), 6 on Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2 in 5th, 6th), Changeup (2nd), Cutter (2nd).

• Lester is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He comes from an over the top release. His 4-seam fastball has some tail to it. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on lefties. His change has some sink and fade from righties. His cutter has good cut and some sink. His curve is an 11-5 with above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. He likes to throw 2-seams in and 4-seams away from lefties and cutters in and changeups away to righties. Bona fide ace.

1st: FB (95-97), Cut (89), CB (78-79), CU (86-88)

2nd: FB (92-96), Cut (88-89), CB (77-82), CU (87)

3rd: FB (90-97), Cut (88-90), CB (77-80), CU (86)

4th: FB (93-96), Cut (88-90), CB (78-79), CU (86-88)

5th: FB (92-96), Cut (89), CB (78-80)

6th: FB (93-96), Cut (86), CB (76-80), CU (87)

7th: FB (93-95), Cut (87), CB (78-79)

3) Manny Delcarmen: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• He comes from an over the top release with a change with excellent fade from lefties with above average sink and a fastball with above average run in on righties.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (76-82)