Chart Observations: 8/13 WAS @ CIN

1) Bronson Arroyo: 103 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (7th), Changeup (1st), 2 Curveballs (2nd, 8th), 2 Frisbee Sliders (3rd, 6th), 2 Sliders (7th, 8th)

• Arroyo came anywhere from a high 3/4 to sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink, a frisbee slider with good bite, a 1-7, 12-6 like curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a cutter with some cut and sink and even frisbee changeups. Arroyo will throw any pitch in any count and will add and subtract from all his offerings.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (76-84), FSL (69-75)

2nd: FB (86-90), CU (84), FSL (79), CB (69-72), SL (77)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (79-80), FSL (74-78), CB (71), SL (77)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (83), FSL (71-76), CB (73)

5th: FB (87-91), FSL (76), SL (75)

6th: FB (89-91), CU (84), FSL (74-76), CB (76), Cut (87)

7th: FB (89-91), CU (79), FSL (75), CB (72), SL (77-79), Cut (85)

8th: FB (88-89), FSL (72-75), CB (68-70), SL (75-76)

9th: FB (88-90), CU (78-84), FSL (76)

2) Collin Balester: 73 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 4th), Curveball (3rd).

• Balester came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam that has some run in on righties with some sink, a pretty straight change with a touch of fade from lefties that he will throw to righties and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth. Looks like a reliever to me, as he doesn't throw many changes and leaves his fastball in the middle of the plate quite often.

1st: FB (93-95), CB (77-79)

2nd: FB (92-94), CB (76-80)

3rd: FB (91-94), CB (78)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (91-94), CB (77-78), CU (86-87)

3) Jason Bergmann: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Bergmann came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a power 2-7 curve with solid depth and a 2-7 slider with a little bite that moves more like a cutter.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (84-88), CB (77-79)

4) Saul Rivera: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Rivera is a 5-10, 175 pound righty. The 31 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has good run in on righties and solid sink from an over the top release. His change has some fade from lefties with sink. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite while his cutter has some cut. A pitcher that succeeds more with a vast repetoire then a dominant pitch, he may be on the downslope of his career.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (85-86), Cut (90), CU (84-86)

5) Mike MacDougal: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• MacDougal came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with above average run in on righties and some sink and a 1-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (94-98), SL (86)

IronPigs Observations

We live about 5 minutes from the Phillies AAA team, so I will file some reports on them on occasion. This was my 2nd time there and my 1st was a bust (thought we would see Carrasco, saw Kendrick, awesome). Luckily, this time we got to see Carrasco and I will also give you a note on the Indian we saw oppose Kendrick from last outing.

THE PROSPECT: CARRASCO, Carlos (R/R)

Age: 3/21/87 = 22 years old

Build: 6-3, 215. Big frame that is maxed out. Very big thighs.

Delivery: Very quite delivery with hands going over his head. A little hitch from both the wind and stretch that he has to keep his weight back.

Stuff: FB, CB, SL, CU. Fastball has some armside run that he has above average command of. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch with pretty good depth that he had solid command for and is a slightly above average pitch. His slider is tight with good bite and should be a solid major league offering. His change is his breadwinner and it showed good sink and fade from righties, but may be a tad overhyped, as I think it is just slightly above average. Overall, he has above average command and was locating and keeping the ball down.

1st Inning: FB (86-92), CU (80)

Settled In: FB (88-92), SL (80-85), CB (76-79), CU (80-84)

Touched 93 and 94 once.

Outlook: Carrasco is big league ready. He has had some struggles in AAA, but there isn't much else he can learn here. What you see with him is what you get, a solid pitcher, but not a great one. His upside is that of a # 3 starter and he is probably a # 4 or 5 right now. He just needs to tighten his off speed stuff a little more and continue to develop his command.

THE PROSPECT: BALESTER, Collin (R/R)

Age: 6/6/86 = 23 years old

Build: 6-5, 200. Big frame that can add a lot more muscle and should be able to get up to atleast 235. Twig like right now and no way he could handle the rigors of starting every day in the majors and stay healthy.

Delivery: Clean windup where he only moves his hands when he kicks his leg. Doesn't look like he is comfortable doing it, but repeats it well.

Stuff: FB, CB, CU. His fastball has some run in on righties, but he left it up in this outing. They were getting great contact and were squaring it up with no problem. His curveball is his go-to offering and is a sharp 11-5 (from our angle, 1-7 to him). It has great bite and can be a knee-buckler when right. It is his out pitch, but doesn't appear to have full confidence in it. He will guide it on occasion and was scared to bounce it with runners on 3rd. He chose instead to throw fastballs, which were hit. His change is a distant 3rd offering and has some fade from lefties with sink. He will need to either develop the change more or learn a slider to remain a starter. He has good control, but needs to improve his command and the quality of strikes he throws.

1st Inning: FB (87-92), CB (73-76)

Settled In: FB (89-91), CB (71-79), CU (79-83)

Touched 92 once.

Outlook: If Carrasco is a finished product, Balester is your project. Balester has all the tools to be a # 2 starter, but his more likely potential would have him be a # 3 or # 4 starter. Balester should be able to add a couple of ticks to his fastball and sit in the low 90's if he can add some more weight to his frame. However, the guy is now 23 and has pitched in the big leagues, so you have to wonder if he will continue to get stronger. I give him about a 5 % chance of being a # 2, but a 75 % chance at being a major league starting pitcher. You will likely see him in September.

I will post my observations from my 2 charts from today after I return from our baseball game.