Chart Observations: 9/6 LAA @ KC

1) Joe Saunders: 103 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Saunders came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a sharp 11-5 curve with average depth, a change with some run in on righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (90-93), CU (84), CB (76-80)

2nd: FB (89-94), CU (83-85), CB (80-81), SL (83) - CB

3rd: FB (89-94), CU (81-83), CB (77-82)

4th: FB (88-93), CB (77-81)

5th: FB (90-94), CU (83), CB (75-80)

6th: FB (89-93), CB (76-80)

2) Luke Hochevar: 71 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

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

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84), CB (77-79) - SL

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CB (74-77)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (84), Split (83) - FB

4th: FB (88-93), SL (82-84), CB (77-78) - 3 SL

3) Dusty Hughes: 62 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Hughes is a 5-10, 185 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to his lower half. Fairly athletic build that is fairly built. He came from a classic drop and drive delivery with a little cocking action with his arm. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and some sink. His change has some fade from righties with some sink that he will throw 2-0 and 3-2 and he will throw it to lefties. His slider is a 11-5 pitch with okay bite. His curve is a 11-5 offering with slightly below average depth. 4-A pitcher.

4th: FB (89), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (88-93), CU (81-82), SL (83-84), CB (73) - CU, SL

6th: FB (89-93), CU (79-81), SL (81-85) - SL

7th: FB (89-92), CU (78-81), SL (84-85) - CU, SL

8th: FB (88-90), CU (76-84)

4) Jason Bulger: 6 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bulger came from an over the top release with a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a fastball with some run in on righties.

6th: FB (94-95), CB (80-84)

5) Matt Palmer: 35 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Curveball.

• Palmer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth, a cutter with some cut

7th: FB (91-92), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79) - 2 Cut, CB

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (89), CB (75)

6) Jose Arredondo: 11 pitches. (FB, Split, SL). 1 strike swinging.

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

9th: FB (92-95), Split (83-85), SL (85) - Split

7) Victor Marte: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Curveball, Changeup.

• Marte is a 6-2, 265 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He does have some bad weight. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics, though it is a max effort delivery. His fastball has some run in on righties, but can straighten out. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. He has a power 12-6 curve with below average depth that is sharp. He has the looks to be a solid middle reliever, though his fastball command isn't very good.

9th: FB (95-97), CU (87-88), CB (82-85) - CB, CU

Chart Observations: 8/30 OAK @ LAA

1) Vin Mazzaro: 99 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider, Changeup.

• Vin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw 2-0, a 1-7 curve with average depth and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (85-86), CB (82), CU (86)

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (85-87), CU (86-87)

3rd: FB (92-95), SL (84-86), CB (81-82)

4th: FB (92-96), SL (85-87), CU (86-88), CB (81-82) - 2 FB, SL, CU

5th: FB (92-94), SL (87), CB (80-82)

2) Jered Weaver: 119 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 8 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 5 Changeups.

• Weaver came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little cut action that he can also make have some run in on righties with some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 1-7 slider with good bite that he will throw 3-2 and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand that he will throw to righties and will throw 3-2, 2-0. Fastball up appears to be his go-to 0-2 pitch.

1st: FB (89-93), CU (77-80), SL (80-81), CB (71) - 2 FB, 2 CU

2nd: FB (87-91), CU (76-80), SL (77-79), CB (71)

3rd: FB (87-90), CU (76-79), SL (77-79), CB (69-70) - CU

4th: FB (87-91), CU (76-77), SL (76-78)

5th: FB (86-88), CU (76-79), CB (71) - CU

6th: FB (86-89), CU (73-79), SL (78-79), CB (70) - FB, CU

3) Jeff Gray: 19 pitches. (FB, SL, CB). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Gray came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a sharp 2-7 slider.

6th: FB (92-97), SL (87-89), CB (80-81) - FB

4) Brad Ziegler: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink.

7th: FB (85-87) - FB

5) Jose Arredondo: 19 pitches. (FB, Split, SL)

• Arredondo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a split with good bite

7th: FB (91-94), Split (82-85) - FB, Split

6) Rafael Rodriguez: 38 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Rodriguez is a 6-1, 175 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, especially in the lower body. He came from a high 3/4 release and had a somewhat max effort delivery with breaking his hands high and lands hard on his front leg. His slider is a 2-7 offering with above average bite. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His change has good fade from lefties and good sink. He will throw 3-2 sliders.

7th: FB (93), SL (86)

8th: FB (90-93), SL (84-87), CU (88-89)

9th: FB (91-94), SL (83-85) - SL

7) Michael Wuertz: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

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

8th: FB (91-94), SL (86-88) - 3 SL

8) Andrew Bailey: 12 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bailey came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little cut action, a cutter with above average cut and good sink and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

9th: FB (94-96), Cut (88-89), CB (80)

Chart Observations: SEA @ LAA

• Felix Hernandez is a 23 year old standing 6-3, 225. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His changeup shows average fade and a little sink. His fastball is a 2-seam with good fade and sink. He will also mix in a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 2-7 offering with good depth. His curveball is a 12-6 offering with great bite and drops off the table. Still an ace.

1st: FB (93-97), CU (88), SL (86-89)

2nd: FB (94-96), CU (87-89), SL (87-88), CB (82-83)

3rd: FB (92-95), CU (87-89), SL (87-90)

4th: FB (94-95), CU (88-90)

5th: FB (94-95), CU (90), CB (85)

6th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (88-89), CB (86)

7th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (86), CB (85)

• Matt Palmer, a 6-2 225 pound 30 year old, opposed him. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with above average fade and a little sink. His cutter is his main fastaball and it shows solid cut. He has tremendous command of this pitch and can start it on the outside corner at will. His curveball is a sharp 1-8 offering that shows good bite and can be a strikeout pitch. His change moves similar to his 2-seam with above average fade and some sink. Was FB-CB the 1st time through the order, and then worked the cutter-CB combo with the occasional 2-seam. Solid back of the rotation starter due to his plus command of slightly above average stuff.

1st: FB (88-90), Cut (87-90), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (88-89), CB (75-76), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-89), Cut (87-89), CB (74-75), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (87-89), Cut (85-88), CB (72-75)

5th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (76)

6th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (73-77), CU (82)

7th: FB (86-88), Cut (86-87), CB (75-76), CU (83)

• Mark Lowe is a 25 year old reliever standing 6-3, 210. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid depth and is an above average offering. Lowe has the upside of a closer, though he is more likely to settle in as a set-up man.

7th: FB (96-98), SL (85)

• Darren Oliver is a 38 year old who stands 6-2, 200. The lefty has a medium frame that is maxed out and comes at you from a 3/4 release. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 offering with good depth and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. Good reliever to have in a pen that can fill a multitude of roles (long, LOOGY, short spurts)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (77-78)

• Brandon Morrow is a 24 year old who stands 6-3, 195. The righty has a medium to big frame that has room to add another 10-15 pounds of muscle. He comes at you from an over the top release. His change will flash great fade and a little sink, but it can be inconsistent. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam. His curveball is a 12-6 offering that flashes plus, but is also inconsistent. Morrow needs to gain consistency to reach his ceiling as a closer.

8th: FB (93-96), CU (88-89), CB (81)

• Brian Fuentes is a 38 year old who stands 6-4, 230. The left hander has a big frame that is maxed out and attacks from a sidearm release with a little bit of cocking action. His changeup has good sinking action and some run. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. He struggled to command his change, having it go armside and high almost every time. He got blooped and then blasted by Jose Lopez. Good set-up man, but he doesn't strike out enough guys for me to be comfortable with him as a closer.

9th: FB (89-91), CU (72-74)

• Miguel Batista is a 38 year old who stands 6-1, 210. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and good sink. His cutter has decent cut and some sink. His split showed great dive and fade. May have been wrong on him and he can indeed be a reliable reliever for a contender, though I still wouldn't have him setup.

9th: FB (85-92), Cut (84-85), Split (85)

• Jose Arredondo is a 25 year old who stands 6-1, 205. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has some fade and a little sink from an over the top release. His splitter is erratic in both break and command, but it flashes as plus with great dive and fade. Still think he is a future closer, but he is not yet ready and needs to refine his splitter.

10th: FB (90-94), Split (81-86)

• David Aardsma is a 27 year old who stands 6-4, 205. The righty has a big frame that can add more muscle. He attacks from an over the top release with some cocking action. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good depth. His splitter showed good dive and fade. He may be able to close, as he hasn't shown many of his old command issues when I have seen him.

10th: FB (93-95), SL (84), Split (89)

Stay tuned for my chart observations on the Rays-Twins, featuring the 11 strikeout performance of David Price. I will take care of that after I return from my baseball game tonight.