Tuesday, September 22, 2009

9/22 SF @ ARI

1) Doug Davis: Cut, FB, CB, CU. 116 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Fastball, Changeup.
  • Davis is a 6-4, 215 pound lefty. The 34 year old has a big frame that is still skinny, but likely won't be adding any more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with a very slow delivery with a big pause in it at the balance point. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. His change has some fade from righties and some sink. His cutter has good cut and some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with average depth. Has a tendency to miss up with his pitches. Solid # 5 starter in the NL, not too much more.

1st: FB (84-87), Cut (82-85), CU (77-78)

2nd: FB (84-86), Cut (81-84), CU (78-79), CB (67-70) - CB (Velez)

3rd: FB (85), Cut (83-84), CU (74-78)

4th: FB (83-85), Cut (81-83), CU (78), CB (68)

5th: FB (85-86), Cut (81-82), CU (78), CB (68-69)

6th: FB (85), Cut (81-83), CU (78-79), CB (67-69) - CU (Rowand)

7th: FB (82-85), Cut (79-81), CU (77), CB (68) - FB (Torres)

8th: FB (84-87), Cut (80-84), CU (77-78), CB (67-70) - CB (Uribe)

2) Matt Cain: FB, SL, CB, CU. 53 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs.

  • Cain came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83-86), CB (76) - 2 FB (Young, Upton)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (82-87), CB (75-76), CU (85) - 5 FB (Parra, Ryal, Davis - 3)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (85-86), CB (77) - 2 FB (Reynolds, Upton)

3) Waldis Joaquin: FB, SL, CU. 20 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

  • Joaquin is a 6-2, 235 pound righty. The 22 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release, though he may put a little stress on his elbow due to his shoulder flying open and leaving just his right arm to take the torque of the throw. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with some bite that can be straight and that he will throw 3-2. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. Really battles his command and is more of a thrower. Has the potential to be a late inning reliever, but will likely be a middle guy, as I have my doubts about him staying healthy and/or refining his command.

3rd: FB (94-99), SL (85-88), CU (83) - 3 FB (Ryal - 2, Young)

4) Madison Bumgarner: FB, SL, CU. 39 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

  • Bumgarner is a 6-4, 215 pound lefty. The 20 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but he already has a strong lower half with an athletic frame. He came from a 3/4 release with a whipping arm action. A lot of stopping and starting in his mechanics. He has some cocking arm action and a slight pause at the balance point. I have my concerns about him being able to make 35 starts in a season consistenlty. Hides the ball well. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. Has late giddy-up to it. His slider is a sweeping 10-5 with solid bite. The slider serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties and he can add and subtract from it as he sees the hitter adjust. His change has some fade from righties and some sink. Hard to tell. Looks like a # 2 or # 3 starter, but may need to add a curve outside of his slider to have the variety of speeds. Would be a dominant reliver.

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (77-79) - SL (Upton)

4th: FB (89-91), SL (74-80), CU (82-83) - 3 SL (Reynolds - 2, Allen), FB (Reynolds)

5) Brandon Medders: FB, SL, CU, CB. 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Sliders.

  • Medders came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little cutting action that also has running action in on righties at time, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

5th: FB (89-90), CB (70), CU (77)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (68-72), SL (80-82) - 2 CB (Montero, Reynolds), SL (Reynolds)

6) Randy Johnson: FB, SL, Split. 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

  • Johnson is a 6-10, 255 pound lefty. The 46 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle, but won't. He came from a 3/4 release with his typical delivery. His slider is a 9-4 with good bite. His fastball has some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (88-90), SL (81-84) - 3 SL (Parra, Allen, Davis)

7) Juan Gutierrez: FB, SL, CB, CU. 33 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Gutierrez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a power 12-6 curve with above average depth.

8th: FB (94), SL (83-85)

9th: FB (92-95), SL (81-84), CB (78) - 2 FB (Sandoval, Uribe)

8) Merkin Valdez: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

  • Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a big breaking 1-7 slider with average bite and a split with some dive.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (82-84), Split (86-87)

  • Rusty Ryal is a 26 year old second basemen. The 6-2, 200 pound righty hitter/thrower has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and looks a little bit like a twig. He has an open stance with a bat wiggle and a crouch. His trigger is a stride to square himself up and a cocking of the bat. Swing is built to go opposite way. His fielding mechanics look smooth and he has a slightly above average arm. Looks to be able to handle multiple infield positions and could play in the outfield.
  • Buster Posey: Pop Time - 1.5 to 3rd.

Cubs/Astros Extras

1) Geoff Geary: FB, SL, CB, CU
4/25: 34 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.
  • Geary is a 6-0, 180 pound righty. The 33 year old righty has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to the lower body. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics working predominately from the stretch. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite that can hang and he threw a lot of hanging sliders in this outing. His curve is a 12-6 with slightly below average depth. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties. His constant hanging of off-speed pitches is what prevents him from being a solid middle reliever.

10th: FB (91-92), SL (82-83), CB (80) - SL (Hall)

11th: FB (90-91), SL (82-83), CB (80-81), CU (82) - SL (Hart)

2) Chad Fox: FB, SL

5/7: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

  • Fox is a 6-3, 215 pound righty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that won't be adding anything to his frame. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on righties, but is fairly straight. His slider is a 2-7 offering with some bite. He is down with another serious arm injury, so his career may be over.

9th: FB (93-94), SL (82-84)

3) Neal Cotts: FB, SL, CU

5/25: 25 pitches. FB (88-91), SL (81-86)

  • Cotts is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle everywhere and get up to about 215. He came from a high 3/4 release with pretty clean mechanics working predominately from the stretch. His fastball has a little run in on lefties, but is a pretty straight offering. I believe Cotts is throwing both a cutter and a slider. His cutter has some cut and a little sink while his slider is a 10-5 offering with okay bite. I think he can still help someone as a full inning reliever, but he needs to starter proving it.

6th: FB (88-91), SL (81-84), Cut (84-86)

4) Jason Waddell: FB, CB, SL

5/31: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

  • Waddell is a 6-2, 200 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle to his frame. Athletic build. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties. His mechanics were pretty clean and he worked predominately from the stretch. His curve is a 11-5 offering with good depth. I feel he can help someone as a LOOGY, but he can't face too many righties. His fastball has good movement that is tough on lefties and his curve does enough to be an out pitch to them.

6th: FB (87-90), CB (73-75) - 2 FB (Milton, Furcal)

5) Mitch Atkins: FB, SL, CB

7/30: 13 pitches. FB (89-90), SL (83-87), CB (75-76)

  • Atkins is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. Strong, athletic build. He came from a high 3/4 release with pretty clean mechanics. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with average depth. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His cutter has some cut. Looks like a 4-A pitcher to me, as he does not have an above average pitch.

8th: FB (89-90), Cut (83-87), CB (75-76)

Chart Observations: 9/21 CHC @ MIL

1) Braden Looper: 69 pitches. (FB, Split, SL). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters, Slider.
  • Looper came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider that can back up on him at times that has average bite and a split with average dive.

1st: FB (90-93), Split (84-86), SL (87-90) - Split (Hill)

2nd: FB (91-92), Split (82-86), SL (87) - Split (Gorzelanny)

3rd: FB (89-91), Split (82-85), SL (82-87) - SL (Colvin), Split (Colvin)

4th: FB (89-92), Split (84-85), SL (85-87)

2) Tom Gorzelanny: 88 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 11 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 4 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

  • Gorzelanny came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little late run in on lefties, but pretty straight, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a straight change with some fade from righties, a sharp 11-5 slider with okay bite and a

1st: FB (92-95), CU (86-87), SL (84-85) - 2 SL (Fielder - 2)

2nd: FB (92-95), CU (87), SL (81)

3rd: FB (92-96), CU (87), SL (81-85) - 2 FB (Looper, Fielder), SL (Hart)

4th: FB (92-95), CU (86-87), SL (82-84) - FB (Lopez), SL (McGehee)

5th: FB (91-95), CU (85-88), SL (81) - 2 FB (Hart, Braun), 2 CU (Hart, Braun)

3) Mitch Stetter: 16 pitches. (SL, FB). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

  • Stetter came from a sidearm release and showed a 9-4 slider with solid bite and a fastball with some tail in on righties. Against righties, he comes from a high 3/4 release with his fastball.

5th: FB (85-87), SL (79-82) - 3 SL (Baker, Gorzelanny - 2)

4) Seth McClung: 27 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

  • McClung came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a hard 2-7 slider with a little bite.

6th: FB (91-96), CB (76-78), SL (86-89) - FB (Fukudome), SL (Lee)

5) Aaron Heilman: 28 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

6th: FB (93-96), CU (86-89), SL (82-83) - FB (Cameron)

7th: FB (94-95), CU (84-87), SL (80)

6) Josh Butler: 36 pitches. (FB, CB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

  • Butler is a 6-5, 200 pound righty. The 24 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. Very skinny, athletic frame. He came from a 3/4 release with a cocking action that puts a lot of extra stress on his shoulder. His fastball has solid run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with average depth. His change has good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw 3-2 and to righties. Can battle his command at times. Keep in mind this gun runs fast, so he was likely throwing in 89-91 range. I see the potential for a sinkerballing middle reliever, but he is nowhere near ready. He needs to refine his command on all his offerings and tighten his curve a little more.

7th: FB (91-94), CB (81-83) - CB (Hill)

8th: FB (91-94), CB (80-81), CU (85)

7) Justin Berg: 25 pitches. (FB, SL). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Berg is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He a strong, athletic muscular build. He came from a high 3/4 release with pretty clean mechanics working predominately from the stretch. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink and is a sinker. His slider is a 2-7 offering with some bite. I see a 4-A reliever, one who just doesn't have the stuff to be a full time middle reliever.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (89) - 2 FB (Cameron, Gamel)

9th: FB (90-93), SL (86)

8) John Axford: 20 pitches. (FB, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Curveball, Slider.

  • Axford came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a straight change with some fade from lefties.

9th: FB (95-97), CB (80-81), SL (84-86), CU (88) - CB (Scales), SL (Fukudome)

  • Tyler Colvin is a 6-3, 190 pound CF. The 24 year old lefty hitter/thrower has a medium frame that can still add a lot more muscle, probably to about 205 at least with out losing any speed. He has a crouched stance that looks a little uncomfortable. Has a little hunch in his upper body. Trigger is a cocking of the bat and a very small step that looks like it could just be a toe turn. Front shoulder tends to fly open, causing him to get under the ball. Has some struggles with pitch recognition right now, causing him to flail at off-speed pitches out of the zone early in the count and get him into bad counts. 4.1 down the line as a lefty. I see a 4th OF, as his swing appears to have a lot of holes that major league pitchers should be able to exploit.