PIT @ CHC: Game 2

1) Carlos Zambrano: FB, Split, SL, CB, Cut. 117 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, Splitter, Cutter.

• Zambrano came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a sweeping 2-7 slider with good bite, a cutter with some cut. a 12-6 curve with average depth and a splitter with good dive.

1st: FB (89-94), Split (84-86), SL (80-81), Cut (90-92) - 3 FB (LaRoche, Jones, Milledge), 2 SL (LaRoche - 2), Cut (Jones)

2nd: FB (87-93), Split (81), SL (77), Cut (87-90)

3rd: FB (88-91), Split (81-82), SL (75-79) - FB (LaRoche), Split (Young)

4th: FB (86-91), Split (81-85), SL (78) - FB (Karstens)

5th: FB (90-92), Split (81-84), CB (73)

6th: FB (88-93), Split (84), SL (79-81)

2) Jeff Karstens: FB, SL, CB, CU. 61 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Karstens came from an over the top release and showed a 12-6 curve with good sharpness and slightly above average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. His curve can float at times.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (76-79), CB (70-72), CU (79-80)

2nd: FB (87-90), SL (76-78), CB (72) - SL (Baker)

3rd: FB (86-89), SL (75), CB (70-72), CU (77-79) - FB (Lee)

4th: FB (85-87), SL (76), CB (71), CU (79)

5th: FB (85-86), CB (70), CU (78)

3) Donald Veal: FB, SL, CB, CU. 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Veal came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (75-79) - FB (Lee)

4) Steven Jackson: FB, SL, CU. 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jackson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink.

6th: FB (89), CU (80-81)

5) Justin Berg: FB, SL, CU. 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (89-91), SL (83-84)

6) John Grabow: FB, SL, CU. 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

7th: FB (87-90), CU (77-82), SL (82-83) - FB (Milledge)

7) Jesse Chavez: FB, SL, CU. 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Chavez came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (92-93), SL (81-83), CU (85-87) - FB (Baker), SL (Johnson)

8) Esmailin Caridad: FB, CB, CU. 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Caridad came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a straight change with a little sink and a sweeping 1-7 curve with average depth.

8th: FB (91-94), CB (76-78), CU (89) - 2 CB (McCutchen, LaRoche)

9) Virgil Vasquez: FB, Cut, CB, CU. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

• Vasquez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with above average cut, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a

8th: FB (88-91), Cut (84-86), CB (72) - FB (Hill), Cut (Hill)

9th: FB (88-91), Cut (85-87), CB (72-73)

10) Carlos Marmol: FB, SL. 21 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (92-95), SL (82-85) - SL (Vazquez)

Chart Observations: 9/22 CHC @ MIL

1) Dave Bush: 52 pitches. FB, CB, Cut, CU, SL. 3 strikes swinging. Cutter, Curveball, Slider.

• Bush is a 6-2, 205 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, but is pretty much maxed out. He came from a 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and in 3-2 counts. His slider is a 2-7 offering with some bite. His cutter has some cut. Solid # 5 starter, but that is about it.

1st: FB (87-89), CB (67-69), Cut (83), CU (81-82), SL (80-82) - Cut (Baker), CB (Baker), SL (Soto)

2nd: FB (87-89), CB (68-70), Cut (83-85), CU (79-82), SL (81)

2) Randy Wells: 89 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 8 strikes swinging. 6 Sliders, 2 Fastballs.

• Wells came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with average bite.

1st: FB (89-92), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (84-86), SL (84-87) - 3 SL (Cameron, C.Smith - 2)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (84-86), SL (85-88) - SL (Fielder)

4th: FB (89-94), SL (85-87) - FB (Gamel), SL (Escobar)

5th: FB (89-93), CU (84-86), SL (86) - FB (Fielder), SL (Fielder)

6th: FB (90-91), SL (81-87)

3) Chris Smith: 42 pitches. FB, CU, SL, CB. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider, Changeup.

• Smith came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite that he will throw 3-2, a fastball wtih some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties and a

2nd: FB (87-90), CU (73-75), SL (78-79) - SL (Ramirez)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (75-76), SL (77-79) - CU (Colvin)

4th: FB (89-91), CU (74), SL (77-78) - FB (Theriot)

4) Mike Burns: 28 pitches. FB, SL, CB, Split. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

5th: FB (89-91), SL (79-82), CB (70) - 2 FB (Fox, Baker)

6th: FB (88-90), SL (81-82), CB (70-71), Split (80-81)

5) Todd Coffey: 15 pitches. FB, SL, Split. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

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

7th: FB (94-97), SL (84-87) - FB (Fox), 4 SL (Lee, Fox - 2, Baker)

6) Sean Marshall: 19 pitches. FB, SL, CB, Cut, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth, a fastball with a little tail in on righties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (92-93), SL (85-87), CB (75-78), Cut (87-92)

7) Claudio Vargas: 15 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Vargas came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (92-93), SL (83-84)

9th: FB (91-92)

8) Esmailin Caridad: 16 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Caridad came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth

8th: FB (94-97), CB (76-79)

9) John Axford: 5 pitches. FB, CB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Axford came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a 1-7 slider with above average bite.

9th: FB (94-95), SL (84-85)

10) John Grabow: 16 pitches. FB, CU, SL. 0 strikes swinging.

• Grabow came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (91-94), CU (84), SL (85-86)

Tyler Colvin is a plus defender in center and can cover a lot of ground.

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.

Chart Observations: 9/20 CHC @ STL

1) Brad Thompson: 4 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Thompson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 curve with slightly above average depth.

11th: CB (78-79) - 2 CB (Taguchi - 2)

2) Carlos Marmol: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 3-8 slider with above average bite.

11th: FB (94-97), SL (85) - FB (Schumaker)

Chart Observations: 9/20 CHC @ STL (To Top 11)

1) Adam Wainwright: 104 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 14 strikes swinging. 7 Curveballs, 4 Cutters, 2 Changeups, Fastball.

• Wainwright came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties and a cutter with good cut and some sink that he will throw in any count.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (75-76), CU (83) - CB (Scales), CU (Scales)

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (81), Cut (84-86) - Cut (Soto)

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (72-75), CU (82-83), Cut (83-87) - 2 CB (Zambrano, Scales)

4th: FB (91-92), CB (73-76), CU (82), Cut (84-86) - CB (Ramirez)

5th: FB (90-93), CB (73-76), CU (82-83), Cut (83-86) - CU (Fontenot), 2 Cut (Soto, Fukudome)

6th: FB (91-93), CB (71-75), CU (80-85), Cut (85-88) - CB (Fontenot), Cut (Soto)

7th: FB (91-94), CB (72-75), CU (80), Cut (86) - FB (Zambrano), 2 CB (Zambrano, Fukudome)

2) Carlos Zambrano: 102 pitches. (FB, Split, Cut, SL, CB). 10 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, 4 Splitters, Fastball.

• Zambrano came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a splitter with good dive that he will throw 3-2 and that serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties, a cutter with subtle cut, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a slow 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (89-95), Split (84-87), Cut (93-94)

2nd: FB (92-96), Split (84-87), SL (82-84) - 2 SL (Wainwright - 2)

3rd: FB (90-96), Split (87-89), Cut (91-94), SL (78-83), CB (68)

4th: FB (90-95), Split (84-86), Cut (91-92), SL (82) - FB (Molina), 3 Split (Ludwick - 2, Ankiel)

5th: FB (89-94), Split (82-86), Cut (90), SL (82) - Split (Holliday), 2 SL (Wainwright, Holliday)

6th: FB (89-94), Split (80-81), Cut (88), SL (84), CB (67) - SL (Ryan)

3) John Grabow: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Grabow came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

7th: FB (90-91), CU (82-84) - CU (DeRosa)

4) Kevin Gregg: 31 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, Cut, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters, Fastball, Slider.

• Gregg came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, but is pretty straight, a sharp 1-7 slider with above average bite that can resemble a curveball, a split with good dive and a cutter with some cut and some sink.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (79), Split (85)

8th: FB (90-93), SL (80-81), Split (83-86), Cut (87-89) - 3 Split (Rasmus - 2, Ludwick), FB (Ankiel), SL (Ankiel)

5) Blake Hawksworth: 14 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawksworth came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a change with good late fade from lefties and some late sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (91-95), CU (83-84)

6) Trever Miller: 1 pitch. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Miller came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties.

8th: FB (88)

7) Jason Motte: 5 pitches. (FB, SL, Cut, Split, CB). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (97-98), SL (85-86) - SL (Soto)

8) Dennys Reyes: 20 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite, a fastball with good run in on lefties and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (89-90), SL (82-85), CU (85-86) - 2 SL (Miles - 2)

9) Sean Marshall: 2 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Cut, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

9th: SL (84), CB (76)

10) Aaron Heilman: 6 pitches. (FB, CU, SL)

• Heilman came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from lefties and good sink.

9th: CU (85-86)

11) Esmailin Caridad: 16 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Caridad came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 curve with below average bite that is sharp and can look like a slider.

9th: FB (92-93)

10th: FB (92-96), CB (78) - 3 FB (Ankiel, Molina - 2)

12) Mitch Boggs: 44 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, Slider.

• Boggs came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 1-7 slider with good bite

10th: FB (96-99), SL (85-86) - 3 FB (Lee, Taguchi, Soto)

11th: FB (93-97), SL (83-86) - FB (Fukudome), SL (Theriot)

Chart Observations: 9/15 MIL @ CHC

1) Carlos Zambrano: 103 pitches. (FB, Split, Cut, SL, CB). 14 strikes swinging. 7 Splitters, 5 Fastballs, 2 Cutters

• Zambrano came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball wtih some run in on righties and some sink, a split with slightly above average dive that he will throw 3-2, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a cutter with a hint of cut

1st: FB (88-94) - 3 FB (Braun - 3)

2nd: FB (89-95), Split (87), Cut (91-93), SL (82) - 2 Split (Fielder - 2)

3rd: FB (90-95), Split (83-87), Cut (92), SL (85) - 2 FB (Hart - 2), Split (Hart)

4th: FB (90-95), Split (87-89), SL (81-82) - 3 Split (Braun, Fielder, McGehee)

5th: FB (90-94), Split (84-88), Cut (90-92) - 2 Cut (Kendall, Cameron), Split (McGehee)

2) Yovani Gallardo: 107 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 11 strikes swinging. 5 Changeups, 3 Curveballs, 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Gallardo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite that he will throw 3-2 and a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink that he will throw to righties and in 2-0 counts.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (80), SL (85-86) - 2 FB (Bradley, Theriot)

2nd: FB (90-92), CB (80), SL (86), CU (82-83) - 4 CU (Fontenot, Scales, Fukudome - 2)

3rd: FB (89-91), CB (78-80), SL (85), CU (83)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (79-81), SL (83-85), CU (81-84)

5th: FB (90-91), CB (79-80), SL (82-84), CU (83) - 2 CB (Scales - 2), SL (Soto)

6th: FB (90-93), CB (78-80), SL (83), CU (82-84) - CB (Fukudome), CU (Miles)

3) Aaron Heilman: 13 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, Fastball, Changeup.

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

6th: FB (91-92), CU (84-86), SL (80-81) - 2 SL (Gallardo - 2), FB (Lopez), CU (Escobar)

4) Todd Coffey: 17 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Coffey came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with above average bite and a fastball with some run in on righties.

6th: FB (90-94), SL (81-84) - FB (Ramirez)

5) Carlos Villanueva: 19 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 1-7 slider with above average bite, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink and a 12-6 curve with above average depth

6th: FB (85-86), CU (80-83), SL (80) - SL (Bradley)

7th: FB (87-88), CU (81), SL (79-81), CB (70) - SL (Baker)

6) Kevin Gregg: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU, Cut). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Gregg came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a split with some dive

7th: FB (88-91), Split (82-83) - Split (Braun)

7) Chris Smith: 29 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups, Curveball.

• Smith came from an over the top release and showed a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (85-88), SL (75-77), CU (70-74), CB (73-75) - CB (Fukudome), 3 CU (Ramirez, Fontenot - 2)

8) Esmailin Caridad: 17 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Caridad came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp, sweeping 2-7 curve with below average depth.

8th: FB (89-95), CB (75-78) - 2 FB (Gamel, Rivera), CB (Escobar)

9) John Axford: 30 pitches. (FB, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Axford is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 26 year old righty has a big frame that can add a ton more muscle and he looks like a string bean. Long and lanky that needs to reall hit the weight room. Axford came from a high 3/4 release working predominately from the stretch. He has a long arm action and a cocking action that appears to add some stress to his shoulder. Is a max effort delivery with a fairly violent head jerk. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink that flashes good late tilt action to it. His curve is a 12-6 offering with slightly above average depth. Can battle his command at times, likely due to the violence in his delivery and the resulting difficulty in repeating his mechanics. Intriguing with the amount of projectability left to him, but likely just a 4-A pitcher, as he is very likely to suffer an injury.

8th: FB (92-95), CB (78-80) - FB (Scales), CB (Fukudome)

10) Jeff Samardzija: 19 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Samardzija came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a split with good diving action, a straight change that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with average bite.

9th: FB (90-95), Split (85), CU (86), SL (82) - FB (Gamel), CU (Braun)

Chart Observations: 9/13 CIN @ CHC

1) Ted Lilly: 119 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 10 strikes swinging. 7 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, Changeup.

• Lilly came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink, a sweeping 10-5 slider with solid bite that he will throw 2-0, a big breaking 12-6 curve with plus depth and a change with good fade from righties and some sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (83-87), SL (78-83), CU (76), CB (69)

2nd: FB (85-88), SL (82), CB (70) - FB, SL

3rd: FB (83-89), SL (82-83), CU (78-80), CB (67) - 3 FB, CU

4th: FB (85-89), SL (80), CU (78), CB (69) - 2 FB

5th: FB (84-89), SL (81), CU (76-81) - FB

6th: FB (85-88), SL (80-83), CU (77-80), CB (72) - SL

2) Homer Bailey: 115 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 17 strikes swinging. 16 Fastballs, Splitter.

• Bailey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite, a split with some dive and a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch that he will throw 3-2.

1st: FB (92-96), SL (87) - 3 FB

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (85-87), Split (87) - 2 FB

3rd: FB (91-96), Split (87) - 2 FB, Split

4th: FB (92-96), SL (85-87), Split (89), CB (75-79) - 7 FB

5th: FB (92-96), CB (78) - 2 FB

6th: FB (92-96), SL (86), CB (74-77)

3) Pedro Viola: 3 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.

6th: FB (91-93)

4) Jared Burton: 19 pitches. (Cut, FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Fastball.

• Burton came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink.

6th: Cut (90-91)

7th: Cut (89-91), FB (87-88) - Cut, FB

5) Esmailin Caridad: 15 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Caridad is a 5-10, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to about 205 if his listed weight is correct, which I don't think it is. Athletic build that can get stronger in the lower body. He came from a 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though he does have almost a twisting arm action which has to put extra stress on it. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a slurvy 2-7 with slightly below average depth. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties. Just a typical middle reliever who I think is pitching over his head right now.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (75-76), CU (86) - FB

6) Kevin Gregg: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, Cut, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Gregg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink and a 1-7 slider that moves more like a sharp curve with above average bite.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (81) - FB

7) Carlos Fisher: 20 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Fisher came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties and good sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (91-94), SL (82-84) - 3 FB

8) John Grabow: 15 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Grabow came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (88-91), CU (80-83), SL (82)

Chart Observations: 8/12 PHI @ CHC

1) Jeff Samardzija: 74 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 3rd), 2 Splitters (both in 3rd), Slider (3rd)

• Samardzija came form a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with good sink, a split with above average late dive when right, but can also be flat with little dive and is extremely inconsistent, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, though it isn't a big swing and miss pitch and a straight change.

1st: FB (93-96), SL (80-82), Split (83-85)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (78)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (79-82), Split (82-86), CU (86)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (78-82), Split (83-85)

2) Pedro Martinez: 99 pitches. 14 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballls (1st, 3 in 4th, 2 in 5th), 3 Cutters (1st, 2nd, 3rd), 5 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th, 5th)

• Pedro is a 5-11, 195 pound righty. The 37 year old has a small frame that won't be adding any more muscle. He came anywhere from high 3/4 to low 3/4. His fastabll has some run in on righties with a little sink and flashes above average movement. His change has good fade from lefties with solid sink that he will throw to righties and serves as his go-to pitch. His cutter has above average cut and can look like a slider at times and he will backdoor lefties with it. His curve is a 1-7 offering with average depth. Solid back end starter, though he is likely only going to give you 5 or 6 innings an outing.

1st: FB (87-92), CU (78-80), Cut (82-83)

2nd: FB (87-92), CU (77-80), Cut (81-84), CB (72-73)

3rd: FB (87-92), Cut (80-85), CB (74)

4th: FB (88-89), CU (77), Cut (78-79), CB (69-75)

5th: FB (86-92), CU (78), Cut (78-83), CB (73)

3) Sean Marshall: 84 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 6 Curveballs (4th, 3 in 5th, 2 in 7th), 2 Cutters (4th, 5th), Slider (7th)

• Marshall came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with some bite, a cutter with some cut and a little sink, a fastball with a little tailing action, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth and a change with a little fade from righties that he will throw to lefties.

4th: FB (87-89), SL (82-85), CB (72-75), Cut (85-89)

5th: SL (81-82), CB (71-74), Cut (86-87), CU (82)

6th: SL (80-83), CB (71-73), Cut (86-87), CU (80)

7th: SL (80-84), CB (71-73), Cut (84-85)

4) Chan Ho Park: 26 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs (6th, 8th), Slider (8th), 2 Changeups (both in 8th)

• Park came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with some fade from lefties with sink, a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Will throw both get me over curveballs and out pitch curveballs.

6th: FB (89-91), CU (83), CB (80)

7th: FB (88-93), CB (73)

8th: FB (90-91), CU (80-86), CB (79), SL (85)

5) Aaron Heilman: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (8th)

• Heilman came from a 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink, a fastball with good run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (91-92), CU (81), SL (82)

8th: FB (91-93), CU (83), SL (82-83)

6) Carlos Marmol: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a 3-8 slider with above average bite.

9th: FB (93-94), SL (82-85)

7) Chad Durbin: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Durbin came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with a little fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a cutter with some cut and sink.

9th: FB (87-90), Cut (87), CU (81-84)

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: CHC @ WAS

1) Randy Wells: 85 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (1st), Fastball (3rd)

• Wells came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite that serves as his out pitch and a change with above average sink with solid fade from lefties that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (83), CU (82-84)

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (84-85), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (88-91), SL (83-84), CU (83)

4th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CU (83-86)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (83-84), CU (85)

2) Jordan Zimmermann: 100 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 9 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 4th, 5th) and a Changeup (4th)

• Zimmermann is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has a little late run in on righties and a little sink. His curve is a power 12-6 with above average depth and is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. He will throw the pitch on a 3-2 count. His slider is a sharp 2-7 that can get show above average bite, but it can also flatten out to look like a bad cutter. His change has above average fade from lefties with solid sink. He works extremely fast on the mound and has good tempo.

1st: FB (93-96), CB (80)

2nd: FB (93-94), CB (78-79)

3rd: FB (92-95), CB (76-79), SL (84-86)

4th: FB (93-94), CB (77-80), SL (86-87), CU (84-86)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (76-78)

6th: FB (91-94), CB (78-79), SL (86)

3) Angel Guzman: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Cutter.

• Guzman is a 6-3, 200 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good late run in on righties and good sink. His cutter has solid cut and some sink. His curve is a sharp 1-7 with average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. I have always liked him and think he can be a set-up man if he refines his command a little.

6th: FB (94-97), Cut (90-93), CB (80-81)

4) Sean Marshall: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (7th)

• Marshall came from an over the top release and showed a big breaking 11-5 curve with excellent depth, a fastball with some sink and tailing action, a 11-4 slider with good bite and a cutter with some cut.

6th: FB (91), CB (74-75)

7th: FB (88-90), CB (74-76), Cut (88-90), SL (85-86)

5) Sean Burnett: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Burnett is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, maybe 205. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties. Middle reliever is his likely ceiling.

6th: FB (90-92)

6) Jason Bergmann: 37 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (both in 7th), 3 on Cutters (2 in 7th, 8th) and a Curveball (8th)

• Bergmann came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with solid sink, a 12-6 curve with below average depth, a cutter with some cut, not much that he may call a slider and a change that has early fade and above average sink.

7th: FB (91-94), Cut (86-88), CB (78-81)

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (84), CB (78-81), CU (85)

7) Carlos Marmol: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release and shwoed a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a fastball with marginal run in on righties.

7th: FB (93-96), SL (81-83)

8) Aaron Heilman: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

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

8th: FB (92-94), CU (85-87), SL (83)

9) Kevin Gregg: 29 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Gregg came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a solid 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (91-94), SL (83)

9th: FB (92-93), SL (80-82)

10) Joe Beimel: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a 11-4 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade and sink.

9th: FB (85-90), CB (74), CU (78)

Chart Observations: 7/12: STL @ CHC

1) Kyle Lohse: 96 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 3rd, 5th), 3 on Sliders (1st, 2 in 5th), Changeup (1st)

• Lohse is a 6-2, 210 righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add very little more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a sinker with some run in on righties and good sink and good late movement. His change has good fade from lefties with good sink. His slider is a 2-7 with okay bite. He will throw his change to righties. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (82-84), CU (82-84), CB (76)

2nd: FB (87-89), SL (82-84)

3rd: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (82-83)

4th: FB (86-89), SL (83), CU (82), CB (74)

5th: FB (85-89), SL (83-85), CU (81-83)

2) Carlos Zambrano: 94 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 5th, 2 in 6th), 2 on Cutters (1st, 3rd), 4 on Splitters (3 in 3rd, 4th), 1 on a Slider (5th)

• Zambrano came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has a little sink and some run in on righties, a cutter with solid cut, a split with average dive that serves as his out pitch and he can bounce whenever he wants and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (83-93), Split (85-87), Cut (85-91)

2nd: FB (86-91), Cut (86-89)

3rd: FB (88-93), Split (84-87), Cut (87-92)

4th: FB (84-87), Split (84-85), Cut (88-92)

5th: FB (92-95), Split (83), Cut (90-91), SL (83-85)

6th: FB (88-92), Cut (90-91)

3) Jason Motte: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball.

6th: FB (93-96)

4) Todd Wellemeyer: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wellemeyer is a 6-3, 225 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seamer with run in on righties and sink and his slider is a 2-7 with good bite.

7th: FB (85-90), SL (78)

5) P.J. Walters: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Changeup (7th), Fastball (8th), Slider (8th)

• Walters is a 6-4, 200 pound righty. The 24 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215. He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite. He throws a ton of changeups and will throw 3-2 changeups. A tweener who is going to need to pick up velocity or tighten his slider to be succesful.

7th: FB (86-91), CU (75-78)

8th: FB (86-90), CU (76-78), SL (76-77)

6) Sean Marshall: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• He came from a high 3/4 release with a 11-4 curve with above average depth, a slider that is 11-4 with good bite that is a sweeping slider with a cutter that has good cut.

7th: Cut (87-91), SL (84-86), CB (73-76)

7) Carlos Marmol: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• He comes from a 3/4 release with a sharp sweeping 2-8 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on righties.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (79-83)

8) Kevin Gregg: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Gregg is a 6-6, 240 pound righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties and a 2-7 slider that is a big breaker with above average bite.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (79-80)

Chart Observations (7/5 Game): MIL @ CHC

1) Ted Lilly: 112 pitches. 14 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (2 in 3rd, 2 in 5th, 3 in 6th, 7th), 3 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 6th), 2 on Sliders (4th, 5th), Curveball (5th)----Someone's curve didn't generate many swings and misses... :-)

• Lilly came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a 11-4 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with above average sink and good late fade. He will throw changeups to lefties. He will also drop down sidearm to throw curves to lefties with 2 strikes.

1st: FB (86-90), SL (82-84), CU (78), CB (71)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (84), CU (77-79)

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (83-85), CU (76)

4th: FB (84-91), SL (82-85), CU (79), CB (73-75)

5th: FB (86-91), SL (83-85), CU (76-79), CB (73)

6th: FB (86-91), SL (82-85), CU (77-81), CB (71-72)

7th: FB (86-90), SL (81-82), CU (76-79), CB (72)

2) Mike Burns: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (3rd, 4th, 5th), Curveball (4th), Splitter (4th)

• Burns came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a split with a little dive but not much and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth. His best role would be one where he only has to go through an order once, but he is a 4-A arm.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (78-81), CB (69)

2nd: FB (85-87), SL (77-79), CB (69-71)

3rd: FB (85-89), SL (76-78), CB (69), Split (79)

4th: FB (86-88), SL (77-80), CB (68), Split (77-78)

5th: FB (84-88), SL (77-78), CB (68)

3) Mark DiFelice: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice is a 6-2, 190 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He came from a low 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and some sink. Solid middle reliever with plus command and does a good job of getting out with what he has.

5th: Cut (79-82)

4) Chris Narveson: 24 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups

• Narveson came from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with good late run and sink and a big breaking 11-4 curve with good depth.

6th: FB (85-90), CB (73-74), CU (80-81)

5) Chris Smith: 11 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Smith is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with good run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite. His change has a little run in on lefties with a little sink. It flashes above average fade and above average sink. Another guy who is a middle reliever at best, but doesn't have the command of a DiFelice.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (77-79), CU (73-76)

6) Aaron Heilman: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (92), CU (84)

8th: FB (90-94), CU (84-86), SL (81)

7) Todd Coffey: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Coffey came from a high 3/ release and showed a fastball with some late run in on righties and a little sink, a splitter with some dive that is an average offering and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (82), Split (87-89)

8) Carlos Marmol: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite that can look like a cutter. Still haven't seen his control issues yet personally either.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (79-83)

Score Observations (7/4 Game): MIL @ CHC

1) Rich Harden: 52 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), Changeup (2nd)

• Harden is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His change has good fade and sink and does appear to be his only off speed offering and it flashes plus, but not consistent. His fastball has some run in on righties. Someone should tell Harden that since he abandoned his other pitches to stay healthy, that he has been pretty worthless lately throwing just 2 pitches.

1st: FB (89-94), CU (82-84)

2nd: FB (88-94), CU (81-86)

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (83)

2) Braden Looper: 112 pitches. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 4th), Splitter (3rd)

• Looper came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and sink in on righties, a split with solid dive and 2-7 slider with some bite. Anytime he gives you 5 innings, it's a win for the Brewers, as I have no idea how he gets guys out.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (85-87), Split (82-85)

2nd: FB (89-90), SL (85-86), Split (82-84)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (83-86), Split (82-85)

4th: FB (87-90), SL (84-85), Split (80-83)

5th: FB (87-88), SL (81-84), Split (82-83)

6th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), Split (79-82)

3) David Patton: 37 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (4th)

• Patton came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a power 1-7 curve with good depth.

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (77-78)

4th: FB (88-91), CB (76-79)

4) Jeff Samardzija: 45 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• The NFL must really want this guy, because someone stole his stuff and they are the prime culprit. He comes from an over the top release with a fastball with good run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a solid splitter. Not impressed with what he worked with.

5th: FB (90-92), Split (82-84), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (79-81)

7th: FB (89-94), Split (83-84), SL (79-81)

5) Carlos Villanueva: 7 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup, Slider.

• Villanueva came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand and has good late from lefties with sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (85-88), CU (79), SL (79)

6) Todd Coffey: 9 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Coffey came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-93), SL (81-83)

7) Kevin Hart: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (9th), Curveball (9th)

• Hart came from an over the top release with a fastball with good run in on righties with sink, a cutter with good cut that flashes 2-7 slider movement and a 1-7 curve with solid depth.

8th: FB (91-93), Cut (87-88), CB (79)

9th: FB (91-93), Cut (85), CB (78-80)

8) Chris Narveson: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball

• Narveson is a 6-3, 205 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He has a couple of pauses in his delivery and holds the break of his hands for a little while. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his curve is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth. 4-A guy.

9th: FB (87-90), CB (73)

Chart Observations: CHC @ CHW

1) John Danks: 110 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (1st, 2nd), 6 on Cutters (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 5th, 6th, 7th) and 7 on Changeups (2 in 1st, 4th, 4 in 6th)

• Danks comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties, a change has good fade and sink, a cutter that has above average cut and some sink and a curve that is a big breaking 11-4. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (87-93), Cut (87-88), CU (82-85)

2nd: FB (87-92), Cut (86-87), CU (83), CB (76)

3rd: FB (87-91), Cut (85)

4th: FB (91-93), Cut (88), CU (79-84)

5th: FB (88-91), Cut (85-87), CB (75-77)

6th: FB (89-91), Cut (84-87), CU (80-84), CB (75)

7th: FB (91-92), Cut (86-87), CU (81-82)

2) Carlos Zambrano: 97 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (3rd, 2 in 4th), Cutter (4th)

• Zambrano is a 6-5, 255 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has good run in on righties, a split that shows good fade to lefties and sink that he will throw to righties and likes to use as his out pitch. His cutter has some cut, but not much. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite that he will hang. More of a # 2 starter now.

1st: FB (87-92), Split (86)

2nd: FB (89-93), Split (84-85), Cut (87-93)

3rd: FB (91-95), Split (84-87), Cut (87), SL (80-85)

4th: FB (87-92), Cut (88-92)

5th: FB (88-92), Split (82-85), Cut (88-91), SL (80)

6th: FB (88-91), Cut (87-88)

3) David Patton: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (6th)

• Patton comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and sink, a power 12-6 curve with solid depth and his change has good fade from lefties and some sink. Solid middle reliever.

6th: FB (90-92), CB (80)

7th: FB (90-93), CB (77-80), CU (86)

4) Scott Linebrink: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (8th), Changeup (8th)

• Linebrink comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball that has some run but is fairly straight. His change has some fade and sink from lefties and his splitter moves like a curveball and has excellent dive.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (83-84), Split (80-81)

9th: FB (92-94), CU (82-84), Split (81)

5) Kevin Hart: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Hart is a 6-4, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a little herky-jerky action in his break, which he tries to do as fast as possible it appears. He comes from an over the top release. He has a straight 4-seam fastball and also throws a 2-seamer that shows some run and sink. His change has some fade and sink from lefties. His cutter has some cut and a little sink while his curve is a 12-6 with solid depth. He has a good fastball, but none of his off-speed pitches grade as more then above average. Looks like he could be a solid bullpen arm.

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (86-88), CB (78-80), CU (88-89)

Chart Observations: CHC @ CHW

1) Mark Buerhle: 108 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Slider (4th), 3 Changeups (1st, 2nd, 5th) and 2 on Cutters (2nd, 4th)

• Buerhle is a 6-2, 230 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His 4-seam fastball is straight. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His change has good sink and a little fade away from righties. His curve is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth. His cutter moves a little bit like a slider and is a 10-4 offering. He has plus command and can locate all his pitches. He is a guy dealing with an incredibly small margin of error, especially with his home ballpark. When he starts slipping, it will be an instant. But, he could also be a Jamie Moyer who pitches until he is 40.

1st: FB (85-88), Cut (82-87), CU (78-80), CB (72)

2nd: FB (85-87), Cut (84-87), CU (77-79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (86-89), Cut (82-84), CU (79-81)

4th: FB (85-86), Cut (80-83), CU (77-78), SL (83)

5th: FB (85-88), Cut (82-86), CU (77-81)

6th: FB (83-85), Cut (82-86), CU (76)

2) Ryan Dempster: 104 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (4th, 2 in 5th)

• Dempster is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He has a glove wiggle to mask him setting up his splitter. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He shows a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. His split has solid dive.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (84-86), Split (82)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (82-87)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (84), Split (81-82)

4th: FB (90-92), SL (83-86), Split (79)

5th: FB (88-93), SL (83-86), Split (82-83)

3) Aaron Heilman: 39 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (6th, 7th), 2 Sliders (7th), 2 Changeups (7th)

• Heilman comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run in on righties and a little sink. His change shows good fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite. He will throw his change to righties. Still has a dominant FB-CU combination.

6th: FB (91-94), CU (84-85)

7th: FB (91-93), CU (83-86), SL (80-83)

4) D.J. Carrasco: 30 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), 2 Cutters (6th, 7th)

• Carrasco came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in righties. He will throw his sidearm frisbee slider as his out pitch and a cutter that shows good late cut and some sink. His curve is a solid 12-6 pitch with good depth. Solid long reliever.

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (88-89), SL (71)

7th: FB (89-91), Cut (89-90), SL (79-80)

8th: FB (90), Cut (88-90), CB (79)

5) Carlos Marmol: 26 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good sink and run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. None of his command issues cropped up in this game.

8th: FB (90-94), SL (80-84)

6) Aaron Poreda: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Poreda came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and sink in on righties.

8th: FB (92-94)

7) Octavio Dotel: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider

• Dotel came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some good cut, sink and some late life, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a loopy 2-8 curve.

8th: FB (91-94), SL (81-82), CB (77)

8) Bobby Jenks: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Jenks came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that had some run in on righties and a little sink, a hard, sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a sharp 11-5 curve.

9th: FB (91-98), SL (89), CB (84-86)

9) Sean Marshall: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 11-5 cutter that just keeps going down, a big breaking 11-5 curve with good depth and a sharp 11-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (91), SL (85), Cut (85-90), CB (74-76)

10) Jose Ascanio: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Ascanio is a 6-0, 170 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a curve that moves the same, but is slower.

9th: FB (94-97), CB (79), SL (87)

CHC @ HOU

• Ted Lilly is a 33 year old who stands 6-1, 190. The lefty has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release with a classic drop and drive delivery with a good hip turn that helps him hide the ball. His fastball shows some fade and sink and he will add and subtract from it. His slider shows good bite, but it can also hang. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 while his change shows good fade and sink. Classic # 4 starter and a good innings eater.

1st: FB (86-91), SL (82-84), CU (81), CB (72-73)

2nd: FB (84-89), SL (80-85), CU (81), CB (71)

3rd: FB (85-91), SL (82-85), CB (72)

4th: FB (89-90), CU (79-81), CB (69-71)

5th: FB (82-87), SL (84-85), CU (82-84), CB (66-70)

6th: FB (86-91), SL (82-85), CU (81), CB (72-75)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (77-85), CU (80-81)

• Brian Moehler, a 6-3, 225 pound righty opposed him. The 37 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and sink. His change shows some sink and fade. His curveball is a 12-6 offering with okay depth. His cutter has some cut and sink. He battled his command a little bit in this outing, but did get hit around. He is a swingman who works best bouncing between roles. Sadly, the Astros have to many of these.

1st: FB (85-88), Cut (84-88), CU (78-80), CB (75-79), SL (78-82)

2nd: FB (86-88), Cut (83-87), CU (79-80), CB (75-78), SL (82)

3rd: FB (86-88), CB (77)

• Brandon Backe comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some fade and a little sink, a slider that is a 2-7 offering with good bite, a 12-6 curve with okay depth and a cutter that has little visible cut. Another swingman.

4th: FB (89-91), SL (83-84), CB (78), Cut (88-91)

5th: FB (87-92), SL (82-84), CB (74-79), Cut (87-90)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (81-83), CB (70-73), Cut (86-88)

• Alberto Arias comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has good fade and sink and a power curve with good downward action that is a 1-8 offering. He is the only for sure major leaguer I saw from the Astros pitching tonight that I would want in my pen. His fastball command can be spotty.

7th: FB (90-94), CB (80-82)

8th: FB (91-94), CB (81-82)

• Tim Byrdak finished the game for the Astros. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some fade, a change with some fade and sink and a sweeping 3-9 slider. He struggled to command his pitches and was missing down and appeared to be nibbling. Useful as a 2nd lefty, but that is about it.

9th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CU (82-87)

• Aaron Heilman is a 30 year old who stands 6-5, 225. The right hander has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows good fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering that shows good bite. His change shows good fade and sink and generates weak contact, as it looks like a fastball out of his hand. Good multi-inning reliever who can serve as a bridge to your closer with his ability to get out both lefties and righties.

7th: FB (93), SL (82-84)

8th: FB (92-93), SL (81-84), CU (83-87)

• Sean Marshall is a 26 year old who stands 6-7, 220. The lefty has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade. His slider is a 10-4 offering with decent bite and his curve is a big breaking 11-5 offering. Major league pitcher, just don't know what role. He doesn't have a wipeout breaking pitch, so I think he would fit better as a # 5 starter.

9th: FB (87-89), SL (84-85), CB (73-75)

Off tomorrow.

Brief Extra Report: 5/1 FLA @ CHC

• Graham Taylor is a 6-3, 225 pound lefty. The 25 year old lefty has a medium to big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 to high 3/4 release and threw pitches at both points. He straightens his arm on the backtake ala Ubaldo Jimenez. His fastball has some sink and run. His slider shows some bite, but not much and is average. His change has some run and sink. 4-A arm and that is why I only watched an inning

1st: FB (83-85), SL (76-80), CU (79)

• Jeff Samardzija is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 24 year old has a big frame that is close to being maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His split shows good fade and sink while his fastball has excellent fade and a little sink. I think he profiles better as a reliever in the Justin Masterson mold.

4th: FB (90-91), Split (82-83)

• David Patton is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium to big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has late fade and sink, a power curveball that is a 12-6 type offering and a change with some sink and fade. Maybe a 12th guy in a pen, but I wasn't impressed.

5th: FB (87-89)

6th: FB (88-91), CB (75-79), CU (83)

CHC @ SD

• Josh Geer was on the mound for the Padres and the 25 year old has a 6-3, 195 pound frame that has room to add more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 83-88 (sat at 86-87), a slider at 77-81 and a changeup at 73-76. His fastball is a 2-seam with plus sink and fade. His changeup moves similar to his fastball. Slider is loopy and almost looks like a CB. Works primarily on the outside with almost all his offerings, but will come inside every once in awhile. Still a back-end/spot starter type.
• Randy Wells saw his scoreless streak finally end. The 26 year old who is 6-3 230 has a frame that can still add some muscle. From an over the top release, he featured a fastball at 88-92, a slider at 82-87 and a changeup at 82-86. His fastball is a 2-seam that has solid sink and fade. HIs changeup is a plus pitch and has great sink and fade and looks like a FB out of his hand. His slider is a solid average to above average offering with good bite and depth. Very clean delivery and uses his frame to generate a great downhill plane for his pitches. He is likely a ceiling as a # 4 starter, and likely settles in as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter for the Cubs.
• Greg Burke is a 6-4, 215 pound 26 year old who has a big frame that can still add more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 90-91, a slider at 81-82 and a changeup at 84. His slider has good bite, but is very inconsistent with it's bite. His fastball shows some fade, but not much. The change was a show pitch that did almost nothing. All his offerings are average and he has above average command, so if he was going to stick in the majors with a team, it would have to be the Padres with their massive park.
• Bobby Scales is a 31 year old who stands 6-0 and weighs 185 pounds. The switch-hitting righty thrower has a medium frame with room to add more muscle. He has a fairly straight-up stance and wiggles most of his body and the bat casually as he waits for the pitcher to begin his wind up. Utilizes a toe turn for his trigger. Is a hustle guy who can play a lot of positions in the field. He is a temporary filler (AAA emergency guy) type who could probably be a decent hitter (.260), but will add no power and not a whole lot of speed. Classic tweener whose age will work against him in attempts to land a utility job. Closest comparison is also his highest upside in my eyes: Marco Scutaro.
• Luke Gregerson is a 25 year old who stands 6-3, 200. He has a big frame that still has ability to add muscle. From a low 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 90, a changeup at 78 and a slider at 82-84. His slider has good depth and bite and shows late break making it an above average (and flashing plus) pitch. His fastball moves like a 2-seam and shows good fade with the changeup being nearly identical, just slower. A guy who impressed me tonight throwing above average slider after above average slider, he has a ceiling of a set-up man.
• Carlos Marmol is a 26 year old who stands 6-2, 180. His medium frame has a lot of room to add more muscle, especially in the lower part. From a low 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 94-96 and a slider at 83-85. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider has great late bite and is very sharp, a true plus pitch. He is a future closer if he stays healthy.
• Edward Mujica is a 25 year old who stands 6-3, 215. His medium frame can add a little bit more muscle, but not much. He showed a fastball at 93-94, a slider at 82-83 and a splitter at 88. His slider was flat in this outing while his splitter also did nothing. What gets him by is plus command of a plus 4-seam fastball. Set-up guy is his top potential, but would expect him to settle in as a middle reliever.

2 charts tomorrow. Still haven't decided about going to church (which means I am probably going to sleep in sadly).

Chart Observations: CHC @ STL

Not much to report here:

• Ted Lilly attacked hitters with a fastball at 82 (YES, 82) to 91, a slider at 81-85, a changeup at 76-83, a soft curve at 71-74 and threw 1 harder curve at 79. Lilly likes to add and subtract to his fastball to keep hitters off balance. The 82 mile per hour fastball was a 3-1 pitch to Joe Thurston, a lefty stick, so it would make zero sense for it to be a change and had someone else double check my thought on that. Lilly really doesn't have a real plus pitch. His slider is average and sometimes acts more like a cutter. His changeup is also average and has some sink to it. His curveball is above average, but is more of a strike throwing pitch then a swing and miss pitch. His command is above average and allows him to get more out of his stuff. That being said, he can be very erratic from hitter to hitter in both velocity (whether planned or not) and his ability to hit his spots. A solid middle of the rotation starter, but he is a guy that there isn't any in between with. When he's done, the hitters will be jumping all over him.
• Kevin Gregg pitched the 8th and showed a fastball at 92-94, a slider at 80-84 and a splitter at 86. Gregg was acquired for Jose Ceda, who features lights out stuff as a reliever with command questions. I was a big Ceda fan, but watching Gregg makes me understand why the Cubs made the deal. Gregg's fastball is above average and his slider is a plus pitch that flashes plus plus, as it is a sharp breaker with good late bite. He made Albert Pujols look silly and that is very difficult to do. Gregg's splitter is just an average offering that is more of a show pitch to lefties. Solid set-up guy, but I would prefer a guy like Carlos Marmol as the closer with Gregg's above average command of his stuff setting him up.
• Joel Pineiro fired a 92 pitch complete game. He showed a fastball at 88-91, a slider at 84-88, a changeup at 84-85 and a curveball at 78-80. I have no idea how the Cubs didn't get more then 3 hits off of him. His fastball is above average due to its good movement. His slider was also above average and showed some good late break. his changeup and curveball are average offerings that flash above average. He has above average command, but it's not like he was painting the corners and was leaving quite a few pitches in the middle of the plate. His movement allowed him to get away with quite a bit, but it is still difficult to be consistenly successful when pitching in the middle of the plate as much as he did. A solid back of the rotation starter (# 4), but don't be expecting more complete game shutouts.