Rest of Pirates Extras (Plus Edwin Moreno)

1) Craig Hansen: FB, SL, CU.
4/7: 37 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Hansen is a 6-6, 225 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle everywhere. He came from a 3/4 release working predominately from the stretch. His mechanics were pretty clean. His fastball has some cutting action in on righties. His slider is a sweeping 2-7 with good bite. Solid reliever who can battle his command. If he refines his command, he should be a solid middle guy.

7th: FB (92-94), SL (82-85) - 2 SL (Thurston - 2)

8th: FB (90-92), SL (81-84) - SL (Ankiel)

2) Tyler Yates: FB, SL, CU.

4/24: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Yates is a 6-4, 250 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release working predominately from the stretch with fairly clean mechanics. High effort delivery. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His slider is a hard 2-7 with solid bite. Solid middle guy if he recovers from his injury.

8th: FB (95-96), SL (90)

3) Edwin Moreno: FB, CU, SL, Cut.

4/24: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Moreno is a 6-1, 220 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics, though he has a head jerk. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His change has good fade from lefties and some sink. His slider has a hint of 2-7 bite. Has a shot to be an okay middle reliever.

10th: FB (90-92), CU (83-84), SL (83-84)

11th: Technical Difficulties.

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)

Pirates Extras: 9/14

1) Daniel McCutchen: 84 pitches. FB, Split, SL, CB. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, Fastball, Splitter.

• McCutchen is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out with a little room to add more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with pretty clean drop and drive mechanics. Max effort delivery. His fastball has a little run in on righties, but is fairly straight. His splitter has average dive and is his go-to offspeed offering. His slider is a 2-7 with average bite, but it is an early bite so the hitters can see it early. Profiles better as a reliever then a starter due to his max effort delivery, but lack of a strong off-speed pitch will hurt him in pen.

1st: FB (91-93), Split (81-84) - Split (Kemp)

2nd: FB (91-93), Split (81-83), SL (82-85) - FB (Furcal), SL (Garland)

3rd: FB (90-92), Split (83-85), SL (84)

4th: FB (89-92), Split (82), SL (82-83) - SL (Garland)

5th: FB (89-91), Split (81-82), SL (80)

2) Phil Dumatrait: 9 pitches. FB, SL, CU, CB. 0 strikes swinging.

• Dumatrait is a 6-2, 200 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle to the lower body. He came from an over the top release with fairly clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and a touch of sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite that is a little slurvy. His change has good diving action. Should be a solid left hander in a bullpen for someone.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (79-80), CU (81)

3) Denny Bautista: 25 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bautista is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a big frame that can add a ton of muscle and looks the same that it has for years. He came from a high 3/4 release with mechanics that kind of cut his arm off and flies his front shoulder open. His fastball has some natural run in on righties due to his arm slot. His curveball is a sharp 12-6 that can break off the table, but that he has little command of. Average depth. Should be a solid middle reliever, but been saying that for years about him.

8th: FB (92-96), CB (81-82) -

Chart Observations: 8/11 PIT @ COL

1) Ross Ohlendorf: 109 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th, 5th), 4 Sliders (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th)

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

1st: FB (92-93), SL (80-83)

2nd: FB (91-96)

3rd: FB (92-96), SL (81-82), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-96), SL (83-84), CU (84)

5th: FB (91-94), SL (81-82)

6th: FB (91-94), SL (80-81), CU (83)

7th: FB (89-93)

2) Jhoulys Chacin: 71 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 2nd), 4 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd). Frame data can be found under the Futures Game World Roster.

• Chacin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some cutting action and good sink, a change with some fade from lefties and above average sink that he will throw to righties and it can look like a slider at times. He will throw the change in 3-1 or 3-2 counts and essentially any time is what I gathered from watching this start. His curve is a 12-6 with below average depth. Chacin battled his command and his radar gun readings don't jump at you, but I like the combination of stuff he has. His change moves like his fastball, which is why it can appear to look like a slider with a little late cut. Should be a solid # 2 starter.

1st: FB (88-91), CU (83), CB (79-81)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82-86), CB (78-80)

3rd: FB (88-93), CU (81-84)

3) Josh Fogg: 68 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Cutters (6th, 7th), 4 Curveballs (2 in 5th, 2 in 7th)

• Fogg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with a little sink, a cutter with solid cut, a 12-7 curve with solid depth and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties. He also threw a 2-7 slider with some bite. He will throw the change in 2-0 counts.

3rd: FB (84-89), Cut (83-86), CB (78)

4th: FB (86-88), Cut (85-86), CB (76), CU (80)

5th: FB (86-89), Cut (84-85), CB (76-78)

6th: FB (85-89), Cut (83-86), CB (79), CU (82)

7th: Cut (83-87), CB (76-78), CU (79), SL (82)

4) Jose Ascanio: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (91-94), CU (83-85)

5) Jesse Chavez: 27 pitches. 4 strikes swinging (all in 8th). 3 Fastballs, Slider.

• Chavez came from an over the top release and showed a change with some fade from lefties with some sink, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite. He will throw the change to righties.

7th: CU (87)

8th: FB (94-97), CU (86-87), SL (91)

6) Joe Beimel: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with good depth.

8th: FB (85-90), CB (73), CU (79)

7) Matt Daley: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Daley came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with solid sink, a 2-7 curve with okay depth and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (89-93), CB (79-82), CU (82-83)

8) Evan Meek: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut.

9th: FB (93-94), Cut (92-94)

9) Joel Hanrahan: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (95-96), SL (84-86)

• Carlos Gonzalez is a 6-1, 215 pound 23 year old outfielder. The lefty/lefty has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. His stance is slightly open with his hands high and a little bat wiggle. His trigger is a moderate leg kick and a cocking of the bat. He doesn't take the best routes on defense and struggles to turn and get good bat reads, though his plus (3.9 to 1st on bunt) speed helps to make up for his early misjudgements. I like him and he appears to be a prototypical # 2 hitter, though his bat speed is great and can turn on a ball and might be able to be a # 3 hitter as his pitch recognition grows. He hit a legit fliner liner that didn't get higher then 20 feet off the ground out for a home run.

8/8: STL @ PIT

1) Charlie Morton: 93 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 4th, 5th), 4 Curveballs (2nd, 3 in 4th), 3 Changeups (2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Morton came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a change that moves just like his fastball but slower that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (88-96), CU (81)

2nd: FB (88-95), CU (81-82), CB (79)

3rd: FB (86-95), CU (81-83), CB (79-82)

4th: FB (89-96), CU (81-83), CB (78-82)

5th: FB (93-96), CU (80-81), CB (76-80), SL (86)

2) Adam Wainwright: 112 pitches. 16 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 5 Cutters (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th), 6 Curveballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th), 2 Changeups (both in 6th)

• Wainwright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with some fade from lefties with sink and a cutter with good cut and sink. Very similar to Chris Carpenter now.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (75-77), Cut (84-87), CU (84)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (76), CU (83-86)

3rd: FB (90-92), CB (73-74), Cut (85)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (74-75), Cut (85-88), CU (85)

5th: FB (91-93), CB (71-76), Cut (86)

6th: FB (90-93), CB (73-77), Cut (85-88), CU (82-84)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (74-76), CU (83-84)

3) Chris Bootcheck: 30 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Bootcheck is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle everywhere, but likely won't at this stage of his career. He came from an over the top release with some cocking action. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slier is a 2-7 with good to above average bite. He had below average command and control of both offerings and did not have much of a clue where the ball would be going. Seems like an eternal 4-A guy.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (80-83)

4) Evan Meek: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Meek came from an over the top release with a 1-7 curve with good depth and a straight 4-seam fastball.

7th: FB (94-98), CB (81-86)

5) Kyle McClellan: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (90-91), Cut (86)

8th: FB (92), Cut (88), CB (76)

6) Trever Miller: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Miller came from a sidearm release with a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: SL (74-78)

7) Joel Hanrahan: 29 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 9th), 3 Sliders (2 in 8th, 9th)

• Hanrahan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with okay bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink.

8th: FB (95-96), SL (84-86)

9th: FB (94-97), SL (84-87), CU (86)

8) Dennys Reyes: 4 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Reyes came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (90-91), SL (84)

9) Jason Motte: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a split with some dive and a cutter with some cut and sink.

9th: FB (96-99), Cut (89-92), Split (78-80)

10) Ryan Franklin: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Franklin came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: Cut (88), CB (76)

• More Updates coming later tonight featuring Yorman Bazardo's season debut on Saturday and J.D. Martin's pitching performance this afternoon.

Chart Observations: STL @ PIT

1) Chris Carpenter: 111 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 4th, 2 in 8th), 3 on Curveballs (2nd, 7th, 8th), 3 on Cutters (5th, 7th, 8th)

• Carpenter came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with a little sink, a cutter with solid solid, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties.

1st: FB (90-94), Cut (84-87), CB (74-75), CU (84)

2nd: FB (91-93), Cut (87), CB (74-76)

3rd: FB (92-94), Cut (84-87), CB (74-75), CU (84)

4th: FB (90-92), Cut (85-88), CB (76)

5th: FB (92-93), Cut (84-85), CB (73-74)

6th: FB (89-94), Cut (86-87), CB (75-76), CU (83)

7th: FB (92), Cut (86-89), CB (74)

8th: FB (93-94), Cut (87-89), CB (74)

2) Paul Maholm: 99 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 4th), 3 Curveballs (4th, 2 in 5th), Changeup (1st)

• Maholm came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with sink, a 11-5 curve with solid depth and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (89-92), CB (76-77), CU (84-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (76), CU (86)

3rd: FB (88-93), CB (75-78), CU (85-86), SL (81-85)

4th: FB (88-93), CB (74-77), CU (84)

5th: FB (91-92), CB (75-77), CU (86), SL (82)

6th: FB (90-92), CB (76-77), CU (83-86)

7th: FB (89-92)

3) Jose Ascanio: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Curveballs, Changeup (All in 8th)

• Ascanio came from a 3/4 release and showed an explosive fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties and a 1-7 curve with average depth that is sharp and can be a strikeout pitch. He will throw 2-1 changeups.

8th: FB (94-97), CU (84-85), CB (78-83)

9th: FB (92-96), CU (84-86)

4) Ryan Franklin: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Franklin came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good late cut, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

9th: FB (92-93), Cut (89-92), CB (78-80)

7/31: WAS @ PIT

1) Ross Ohlendorf: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 4 Sliders (2 in 4th, 2 in 7th)

• Ross is a 6-4, 235 pound righty who really doesn't look that big. The 26 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 2-7 slider with average bite and a change with good fade lefties with sink. Back of the rotation starter and may not even be able to be that much for a contending team.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (81)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (84)

3rd: FB (90-93)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-93), SL (82), CU (82)

7th: FB (89-93), SL (78-82), CU (83)

2) John Lannan: 114 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (4th)

• Lannan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties with sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. He will throw any pitch in any count.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (81), CB (71)

2nd: FB (85-88), SL (81), CB (70), CU (83)

3rd: FB (85-87), SL (80-82), CB (71-73)

4th: FB (84-88), SL (81), CB (71-72), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (84-88), SL (79-81), CB (68-72)

6th: FB (85-88)

7th: FB (86-89), SL (78-80), CB (72-74), CU (83)

3) Jesse Chavez: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

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

7th: FB (92-93), SL (87-88), CU (81)

4) Jason Bergmann: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jason came from an over the top release with a power 1-7 curve with average depth, a fastball with good run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (89-92), SL (86-87), CB (76-79)

5) Joel Hanrahan: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (93-95), SL (85), CU (87)

6) Evan Meek: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a 12-6 curve with good bite and a cutter with some cut in addition to a fastball with a little run in on righties.

8th: FB (95), Cut (90-93), CB (78-82)

7) Matt Capps: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (93-96), SL (82-85)

7/29: PIT @ SF

1) Matt Cain: 111 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 7 Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th, 7th), Curveball (2nd), 2 Changeups (6th, 9th), Slider (9th)

• Cain came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties but fairly straight, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a change with great dive that he will throw 3-2 and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (92-93), SL (86-87), CU (88)

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (87), CU (85-88), CB (77-78)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (88), CU (86)

4th: FB (93-94), SL (86-87), CU (86-88), CB (77-79)

5th: FB (90-93), CU (85-87)

6th: FB (91-95), SL (86), CU (88)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (86), CB (76-78)

8th: FB (91-93), CU (87), CB (75)

9th: FB (92-95), SL (86-87), CU (87-88), CB (78-79)

2) Zach Duke: 87 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Changeups (4th, 6th), 2 Curveballs (5th, 7th)

• Duke came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and sink, a change that moves like his fastball, but is slower with more movement and is above average, a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth and a 11-5 slider with solid bite. He will throw his change 2-0.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (83)

2nd: FB (87-90), CU (80-81), CB (74), SL (79)

3rd: FB (87-88), CU (81), CB (73-74)

4th: FB (87-89), CU (81-82), CB (74-75)

5th: FB (87-88), CU (80-81), CB (72-73)

6th: FB (87-88), CU (79-81), CB (73)

7th: FB (85-89), CU (80-81), CB (71-74)

3) John Grabow: 20 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 on Changeups (8th, 2 in 9th).

• Grabow came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and above average sink and a 10-4 slider with above average bite.

8th: FB (90-91), CU (82-83), SL (81)

9th: FB (89-91), CU (82-83)

4) Brian Wilson: 18 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

• Wilson came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a cutter with good cut and sink.

10th: FB (94-98), Cut (87-88)

5) Matt Capps: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

10th: FB (92-95), SL (84-85)

Chart Observations: PIT @ SF

1) Tim Lincecum: 115 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 9th), 12 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 in 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th, 8th, 2 in 9th)

• Lincecum came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with above average fade from lefties with excellent sink that serves as his out pitch and a 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

1st: FB (94-96), CU (83-86), SL (82)

2nd: FB (92-94), CU (85), CB (76)

3rd: FB (92-94), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (94-95), CU (83-87), CB (74-78)

5th: FB (89-95), CU (79-85), CB (71)

6th: FB (91-94), CU (84-87), CB (76-79)

7th: FB (90-93), CU (83-85), CB (76-78)

8th: CU (83-86), CB (73-78)

9th: FB (91-95), CU (84-87), CB (77)

2) Paul Maholm: 81 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 4th), 3 Curveballs (2nd, 4th, 5th), Changeup (2nd)

• Maholm came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and above average sink, a change with good fade from righties and above average sink, a 11-5 curve with above average depth and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (88-91), CB (74), CU (84-85), SL (82)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (75-77), CU (84-85), SL (83)

3rd: FB (90), CB (73-74), CU (83-86), SL (81)

4th: FB (88-91), CB (72-76), CU (82), SL (82)

5th: FB (90), CB (73-77), CU (82-86)

6th: FB (88-90), CB (75), CU (85), SL (81-82)

3) Evan Meek: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

7th: Cut (88-94), CB (77-82)

4) John Grabow: 30 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Grabow came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good late fade from righties with sink that he will throw to lefties and in any count and a 10-4 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (88-91), CU (81-84), SL (84)

• Jesus Guzman is a 6-1, 215 pound righty hitting/throwing 1st basemen. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a very slightly open stance with a toe tap and a bat wiggle where he holds his hands a little above his back shoulder. His trigger is a big leg kick with a cocking of the bat. He didn't show too much power and looks more of a gap hitter. He was replaced for a defensive replacement in the 7th, which shows you how much they like his defense. I think he is a tweener and his only use will be as a bench bat.

Chart Observations: PIT @ PHI

1) Virgil Vasquez: 48 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), Cutter (1st)

• Vasquez is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a cutter with some cut and a little sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with above average fade from lefties with sink. He had zero command in this game and he is a guy that can't be consistently pitching behind in counts. Still looks like a back of the rotation guy to me.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (84-88), CB (71-75)

2nd: FB (86-90), CB (73), CU (79)

2) J.A. Happ: 103 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 5 on Cutters (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 5th), Changeup (6th)

• Happ came from an over the top release and showed a cutter that moves like a 11-5 slider with good bite that keeps moving down, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth, a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a change with some fade from righties with average sink. He will throw his change to lefties and will almost always follow a high fastball with a curveball and this seems to be his preferred method of setting up hitters. Probably a # 3 down the road.

1st: FB (89-91), Cut (82), CU (81), CB (73-75)

2nd: FB (87-92), Cut (79-83), CU (79), CB (71-72)

3rd: FB (88-90), Cut (79-81), CB (72)

4th: FB (86-90), Cut (81)

5th: FB (87-90), Cut (82-84), CU (80)

6th: FB (88-91), Cut (80-84), CU (79-84), CB (72-74)

7th: FB (89-92), Cut (80), CU (81), CB (71-73)

3) Jeff Karstens: 35 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (2nd), Slider (3rd)

• Karstens came from a high 3/4 release with a whipping arm action. His fastball has some run in on righties with a little sink, his curve is a big breaking 12-6 pitch with above average depth, his slider is a 1-7 that is sharp with good bite and his change has good fade from lefties with good sink.

2nd: FB (90), CB (71-73), CU (79-80)

3rd: FB (91), CB (71-73), CU (80), SL (77)

4th: FB (89-91), CB (71-73), SL (76)

5th: FB (87-92), CB (72-73)

4) Evan Meek: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut, a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

6th: Cut (90-94), FB (96), CB (81), SL (84)

5) Donald Veal: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Veal is a 6-4, 230 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 curve that starts its break early and should be easy for hitters to pick up due to that, but it would be a good pitch if it didn't do that. Don't think he will ever have the command to be a consistent major league pitcher.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (74-75)

6) Joel Hanrahan: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Hanrahan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite. This was the 1st time I have seen him with his good slider and the Pirates may have made some progress with him.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (83-84)

7) Ryan Madson: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Madson came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a cutter with good cut and some sink.

8th: FB (94-95), Cut (93)

8) J.C. Romero: 20 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs, Slider

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite that can look like a CB on occasion, a fastball with late run in on lefties with good late sink and a change with good fade from righties with a little sink. He will drop down sidearm to throw fastballs on occasion.

9th: FB (91-93), SL (78-83), CU (82)

Will have more after my baseball game, including my 1st look at Clayton Kershaw this season, as well as a report on Cardinals rookie reliever P.J. Walters.

Chart Observations (7/3 Game): PIT @ FLA

1) Chris Volstad: 47 pitches (left due to rain delay), 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups (3rd)

• Volstad came from an over the top release and showed a 2-seam fastball with sink and above average run in on righties. His offspeed stuff is a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth that can be a K pitch and a changeup with good sink and fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. Has the potential to be a # 2 starter and is a solid # 3 right now.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (80-81)

2nd: FB (90-92), CB (78-80), CU (84)

3rd: FB (90-91), CB (75-80), CU (82-84)

2) Charlie Morton: 91 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 3 Curveballs (2nd, 2 in 5th), 3 Changeups (2nd, 2 in 6th)

• Morton is a 6-4, 190 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball with slightly above average sink and run in on righties. It flashes plus every once in awhile. His change has good fade from lefties with good sink and he will throw the pitch to righties. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth and serves as his out pitch. His slider is a 2-7 offering with solid bite that he threw just once in this game. Morton's velocity was up from when I saw him late at the year and he looks like he should be a solid middle of the rotation starter. Even though his frame isn't maxed, I believe his velocity is.

1st: FB (89-95), CU (85), CB (80)

2nd: FB (90-95), CU (82-83), CB (82)

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (80-81)

4th: FB (88-94), CU (81-82), CB (78-80)

5th: FB (87-94), CU (82), CB (79-80)

6th: FB (87-93), CU (81-82), CB (78-79), SL (82)

3) Tim Wood: 36 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (5th, 6th), Slider (6th)

• Wood is a 6-1, 185 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties with solid sink. His change has excellent diving action and can look like a splitter. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good late bite. Wood has the makings of a late inning reliever, but will likely be a middle reliever.

4th: FB (92-93), SL (85-87)

5th; FB (91-93), SL (87)

6th: FB (92-94), CU (87), SL (86)

4) Chris Leroux: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Slider, Changeup.

• Leroux came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with excellent run in on righties with solid sink that looks like it would be like hitting a brick. However, the pitch can flatten out and he can also struggle with his command of it. His change shows good fade from lefties with sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite. I think Leroux is a set-up man down the road.

7th: FB (92-95), CU (87), SL (84-86)

5) Joel Hanrahan: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider

• Hanrahan came from an over the top release with a fastball that has some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Somehow, barrels keep finding his ball.

7th: FB (94-96), SL (84-86)

6) Brian Sanches: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Sanches came from a high 3/4 release and showed a splitter with good dive, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a fastball with late run in on righties.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (83), Split (79-83)

7) John Grabow: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Slider, Changeup

• Comes from a 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some late sink and a slurvy 10-4 slider with solid bite. He will throw the changeup to lefties. Solid setup guy, but better fit as a middle reliever in the 6th or 7th.

8th: FB (89-92), SL (84), CU (83)

8) Renyel Pinto: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider

• Pinto came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with good run in on righties, a straight change with some sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

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

9) Jeff Karstens: 22 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs

• Karstens comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 big breaking curve with good depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with solid fade from lefties and sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (88-91), SL (79), CU (78-79), CB (69-72)

Chart Observations: NYM @ PIT: PIT Pitchers

1) Paul Maholm: 81 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), Slider (4th)

• Maholm comes from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball wtih good armside run and above average sink, a 11-4 curve with above average depth, a change with above average sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand and a sweeping 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (86-89), CB (73), CU (81-82), SL (80)

2nd: FB (87-89)

3rd: FB (86-90), CB (75), CU (82-84), SL (81)

4th: FB (87-91), CB (74-77), CU (84-85), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (74-75), CU (82-83), SL (82)

2) Jeff Karstens: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Karstens comes from an over the top release with a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with good armside and a little sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve and a change with some fade and sink from lefties.

5th: FB (87-90), SL (79), CU (79), CB (68-72)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (77), CB (69-76)

3) Evan Meek: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek is a 6-0, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. He is fairly difficult to chart, as he throws a FB, CB, Cut, SL and CU. I believe he is similar to some of these other pitchers that throw predominantly cutters, but some disagree. I believe his cutter has good cut, but the amount can be inconsistent and it can flash being straight. His 4-seam fastball has some run in on righties. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. I like him and he has plus velocity, but his command can come and go.

7th: Cut (88-94), FB (93), CB (78)

4) Steven Jackson: 33 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Sliders (8th, 2 in 9th), Changeup (8th)

• Jackson is a 6-5, 215 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that has room to add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite, but can flatten out or flash as plus. His fastball is a 2-seam with some armside run and sink. His changeup has good fade and sink that he will throw occasionally to righties. I am not a big fan of him as a 1 inning reliever, and his velocity isn't good enough to really be a guy I would be confident in as a Scot Shields type. I think he is a swingman for a contender at best.

8th: FB (88-89), SL (80-83), CU (81-83)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (80-82), CU (81-83)

5) Jesse Chavez: 1 pitch.

• Chavez threw a fastball with some movement. Got a groundout and I do like his stuff.

9th: FB (93)

6) Matt Capps: 25 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Changeup

• Capps is a 6-2, 245 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a little bit of bad weight. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider is a big breaking 2-7 with good bite, but doesn't appear to be a true strikeout pitch due to some loopy action. His change is straight with a little late fade from lefties. Solid closer, but more of a set-up guy or middle reliever on a contender.

10th: FB (91-94), SL (82-84), CU (87-88)

On a personal note, despite a (what seems like) 0-13 slump (more of a junior year slump then the senior year FLA slump, made the same adjustment I did after FLA that year and am back to hitting the ball hard by getting my stride foot down quicker, just not getting the hits to show for it yet), I have been selected to the Tri County League All Star team. The game is next Friday (July 10th) and luckily I have off work that day, so this should be interesting.

Ladies, take note. I am an All-Star. True Story. :-)

KC @ PIT

The LAA vs. ARI game was in the FOX time slot, so it was blacked out everywhere. I just did the play by play for it. With that in mind, here is the other games observations:

1) Paul Maholm: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (both in 2nd), 1 on a Curve (4th) and 2 on Changeups (3rd, 6th)

• Maholm is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and sink. His slider is an 11-4 pitch with solid bite. His change is a straight change with some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 pitch that can be flat. He is a middle of the rotation starter (# 3, # 4) guy masquerading as an ace. Useful pitcher when he has above average defense behind him, as he won't walk many.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (80), CU (82)

2nd: FB (87-90), SL (80-81), CB (74)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (75-83), CU (84-85), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-89), CU (83-84), CB (73-75)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (81), CB (75)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (82), CU (83-85), CB (74-75)

7th: FB (89-90), CU (83-85), CB (73-74)

2) Bruce Chen (Seriously?): 76 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Changeup (4th)

• Chen is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty who has seemingly been around forever. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His 2-seam fastball has some sink and run (typically 83-86) had some run in on righties and some sink. His 4-seam (87-89) was straight. His curve was a big breaking 11-5 and his changeup was a straight change with some late fade from righties and sink. He was primarily FB-CU with a few curves mixed in. He got into a pattern of, when he threw a first pitch strike with a FB, of immediately coming back with a changeup. He works fast and has above average command. Basically, he will be hammered by AL teams that have an idea at the plate. Emergency arm.

1st: FB (84-88), CU (76-77), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (84-88), CU (76-77)

3rd: FB (83-89), CU (76-79)

4th: FB (84-89), CU (76-77), CB (74-79)

5th: FB (83-88), CB (73-77)

6th: FB (85-88), CB (76-79)

7th: FB (84-86), CU (76)

3) Roman Colon: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good downward bite, though he will hang them. His fastball command was also off and he showed his Jekyll and Hyde side in this game.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (80-82)

4) John Grabow: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, 1 Changeup.

• Grabow is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is an 11-5 offering with good bite that is slightly above average when on, but it can be flat. His change showed some fade from righties and a little sink. Solid full inning lefty reliever.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82-84), CU (83-84)

5) John Bale: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, a slurvy 10-5 curve with solid depth and bite and a straight change. He will also throw pitches from a high 3/4 release.

8th: FB (87-89), CB (70-72), CU (78-80)

6) Jeff Karstens: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (on a debatable check swing)

• Karstens is a 6-3, 185 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205. He comes from an over the top release that hides the ball well, as his glove hand breaks high and covers the spot where he will be releasing it, a la Jair Jurrjens. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite and his curve is a 12-6 with good depth. He lost his job in the rotation and is more of a swingman and is a borderline 4-A arm.

9th: FB (87-91), SL (79), CB (71)

2 charts and a baseball game tomorrow.

Chart Observations: DET @ PIT

• Zach Duke is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink. His change has more fade and sink then his fastball. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 offering with good depth. His slider is an 11-4 offering with good bite that he prefers to throw to lefties. Duke is a good # 4 starter when he is throwing strikes with his curve and is a 4-A arm if he isn't.

1st: FB (89-90), CB (74), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (89-90), CB (74-76), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (73-74), CU (82-83)

4th: FB (87-89), CB (73-75), CU (80-81), SL (80)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (74), CU (82-83), SL (80)

6th: FB (88-89), CB (72), CU (81-82)

7th: FB (87-88), CB (72), CU (80), SL (78)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (72-74), SL (77)

• Armando Galarraga, a 6-4 180 pound righty, opposed him. The 27 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and a little sink. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite. He will throw get me over sliders and sharper sliders for strikeouts. His change shows some fade, but is pretty straight. Galarraga is a # 5 starter right now, as he consistently falls behind hitters and really is just FB-SL and neither pitch is good enough to be a 2-pitch pitcher (FB is slightly above average, SL is above average, CU is below average). Perhaps the worst sign for him is that he has lost the confidence of his manager.

1st: FB (88-92), SL (81-86)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CU (84-86)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (82-85), CU (84)

• Nate Robertson is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows some late fade and sink. His slider is a slurvy 11-4, though he will throw a sharper slider with good bite at different times. His change is a straight change that shows some run and sink. He is your typical swingman, someone to throw long relief or start on occasion, but not really good enough to be a short reliever or a # 5 starter. My, his star has fallen.

3rd: FB (86), SL (80), CU (81-82)

4th: FB (85-88), SL (80-83), CU (80-84)

• Ryan Perry is a 6-4, 200 pound righty. The 22 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with very little sink and fade. His slider is a 12-6, 1-7 type pitch that can be a little loopy and is still a work in progress. His change has good sink and a little fade. He is FB-SL to righties and FB-CU to lefties (at least in this game, I imagine he throws the SL to lefties as well). His upside is that of a closer with his velocity, but he is more likely to be a set-up man due to his command issues and the needed development of his secondary pitches. Right now, he is a 9th or 10th guy on a staff.

5th: FB (94-96)

6th: FB (94-97), SL (81-85), CU (87)

• Bobby Seay is a 6-2, 235 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He is a sidearmer that has a 4-seam fastball with good run and a sweeping 9-3 slider with good bite. He is an above average LOOGY and can be the # 1 lefty in a pen.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (81-82)

• Brandon Lyon is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some fade and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth and a cutter that shows decent cut. I think he is more of a middle reliever then a late inning guy, as he lacks that real out pitch.

8th: FB (92), CB (76-77), Cut (90)

• Jesse Chavez comes from an over the top release with a fastball that shows some fade, a hard change with good fade and some sink and a sharp slider with good bite. Set-up man ceiling who can probably occasionally close some games.

9th: FB (94-96), SL (90), CU (87)

• Andrew McCutchen is a 5-11, 175 pound center fielder. The 22 year old is a righty hitter/thrower and has a small frame that can add a lot more muscle (at least 190). He has a slightly open stance with a little bat tap. His trigger is a stride and shifting of his weight to his back leg. He has an above average arm with plus speed, giving him the potential to be a plus defensive centerfielder. McCutchen is more of a gap to gap hitter now and I don't think he will ever be a huge home run guy, but 15-20 in his prime isn't out of the question. He shows a solid eye at the plate and he has an aura about him. Watching him play, it is almost as if he knows he is better then everyone else and needs to prove it to everyone else. I like the kid and think he is a quality top of the order bat in development.

Another Opinion on the McLouth Trade

Why not, I have a forum to utilize. Take my opinion as the same you would Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, etc., as I know as much as they do in regards to this trade and who won, nothing.

Braves Side:
So many Pirates fans are going to be up in arms over the loss of Nate McLouth, a "5-tool player" who was an All-Star last season. In looking at Nate's numbers from last season (,276-.356-.497, 26 HR's -94 RBI's, 23/26 SB's) he was an All-Star. You do have to remember that McLouth played half his games last season in a park designed for lefties (where he slugged 20 points better, I admittedly thought it would be higher). In the 2nd half last season, he hit .270-.355-.426. This season he is hitting .256-.349-.470 with 9 HR's and 34 RBI's and is 7-7 on steals. He was a gold glove defender last year, but I personally think Schafer is better defensively. McLouth gives the Braves a legitimate CF bat which they haven't had yet this year and they have him under control for awhile (I believe 3 years). If Schafer can figure things out, McLouth can move to an OF corner and maintain average production for the position.

Pirates Side:
Pittsburgh seems to value quantity over quality. In their big deal at the deadline last season, they seemed to focus on getting raw numbers back. In this deal, they picked up Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and, the main guy, Gorkys Hernandez. The Pirates really could have used picking up a potential ace (especially since the ace they picked up in the Bay deal, Bryan Morris, is not expected to start pitching until late June due to significantly restricted range of motion in his right shoulder), but teams are shying away from dealing their young pitching. The Pirates have appeared to focus on getting close to major league ready arms, take a flier on a guy in the low minors and get toolsy outfielders.

Morton did not impress me in his brief major league debut last season. The right hander has pitched very well at Gwinnett (AAA) however, going 7-2, 2.51 with 55 strikeouts and 16 walks. He is 6-4, 190, so he still has room to grow and his upside is that of a middle of the rotation (# 3 starter).

Locke was one of the pitchers I saw when I worked for Columbus last season and I wasn't that impressed. The hitters in high A haven't been impressed either, as Locke went 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA at Myrtle Beach, though he does have 43 strikeouts (against 26 walks) in 45 and 2/3 innings. I personally thought Locke was a fringe major leaguer, but I admit seeing him before I really focused on scouting guys.

Hernandez is the prize of this deal. Another 5 tool outfielder, he was hitting .316-.361-.387 at the time of the trade in AA Mississippi. He is very raw, as he is 10/18 on steals and has 15 walks against 54 strikeouts in 212 at bats. His lack of power has to be a little disturbing due to the other players the Pirates have coming up (more on that below), but he should be a major leaguer and that is as far as I can go on him, as I have never seen him play and am going off what I read.

Pittsburgh now has the potential to run out an OF of Andrew McCutchen (.303-.361-.493 at AAA prior to his call-up with 10 stolen bases), Hernandez and Jose Tabata (.250-.324-.297 at AA Altoona) in the next year and a half if all goes according to plans. All are fast, but all have question marks in regards to power. With the game shifting towards a speed based, defense oriented team, this looks like an outfield designed to save a lot of runs.

Truly Starters? Check 2

About a month through the season, let's go and check on the players from the Sally League that I thought could turn into at least major league starters (5.0 or higher):
8.0 (Superstars)
Angel Villalona: San Jose (A+): .292-.330-.439. 171 At-bats. 6 HR's, 24 RBI's. 7 BB, 38 K
David Price: Durham (AAA): 1-4, 3.93. 8 G, 8 GS. 34.1 IP-28 H-18 BB-35 K
Tampa Bay: 0-0, 5.40. 1-1. 3.1-4-5-6

7.0 (Multiple All Stars, # 2 Starters)
Jason Heyward: Myrtle Beach (A+): .295-.373-.561. 139 At-bats. 9 HR's, 22 RBI's. 16 BB, 24 K
Madison Bumgarner: San Jose (A+): 3-1, 1.48. 5-5. 24.1-20-4-23
Connecticut (AA): 3-0, 0.50. 3-2. 18.0-10-4-21

6.0 (A Few All-Stars, Strong # 3 Starters)
Jesus Montero (6.5): Tampa (A+): .338-.392-.569. 160. 7-34. 14-25.
Mike Stanton (6.5): Jupiter (A+): .288-.371-.562. 153. 10-31. 20-37
Felix Doubront (6.5): Portland (AA): 3-2, 3.57. 9-9. 40.1-38-18-41
Wilkins De La Rossa: Tampa (A+): 1-0, 1.29. 3-3. 14-9-4-17
Trenton (AA): 1-2, 4.57. 4-4. 21.2-24-10-22

5.0 (Major League Starters, Mid-Rotation Starters)
Freddie Freeman (5.5): Myrtle Beach (A+): .289-.363-.436. 149. 4-22. 10-21
Che-Hsuan Lin (5.5): Salem (A+): .207-.313-.286. 140. 1-14. 20-29
Yamaico Navarro (5.5): Salem (A+): .286-.286-.571. 7. 0-0. 0-1
Nick Noonan (5.5): San Jose (A+): .244-.306-.351. 168. 2-20. 13-42
Charlie Culberson: Augusta (A): .233-.324-.277. 159. 0-9. 20-43
Michael Jones: Salem (A+): .288-.351-.381. 139. 2-16. 12-21
Chris Nash: Lake County (A): .214-.282-.282. 131. 1-21. 11-31
Thomas Neal: San Jose (A+): .310-.399-.538. 158. 7-31. 18-35
Andrew Walker: West Virginia (A): .207-.333-.299. 87. 0-10. 15-20
Deunte Heath: Mississippi (AA): 2-3, 3.35. 9-9. 51-51-27-42
Joey Mahalic: Lake County (A): 0-1, 1.91. 6-6. 28.1-20-9-22
Kinston (A+): 0-1, 19.64. 1-1. 3.2-7-8-0
Duke Welker: West Virginia (A): 0-5, 4.50. 9-9. 44-43-20-29

PIT @ WAS

• Craig Stammen made his major league debut tonight. The 24 year old stands 6 foot 3 and 210 pounds. The strike thrower (only 8 walks and 14 strikeouts in 40 innings at AAA Syracuse) featured a fastball at 88-92, a curveball at 78-81 and a changeup at 81-85. He has a medium to big frame that has a lot of projectability left. He attacks from an over the opt release and some cocking action in his arm right before the release. His fastball is a moving 2-seam that has good sink and helps him force groundballs. His change also features good sink and fade and is an above average offering. His curveball is a 12-6 that is more of an early strike pitch then an out pitch. Above average offering as well. His command was plus, as he showed an ability to move the ball in and out and up and down all night until the 7th. He shows a very clean delivery apart from the cocking arm and is very projectable there as well. It isn't inconceivable to see him sitting at 90-92 and touching 94 in a couple years. Overall, he is a back of the rotation starter right now with the potential to be a middle of the rotation starter if he adds some more velocity or develops a true out pitch, as his strikeout numbers show an inability to finish hitters.
• Ian Snell opposed him. The 5 foot 11, 200 pounder featured a fastball at 90-95, a slider at 81-88 and a changeup at 84-85 from a high 3/4 release. He has a smaller frame that is maxed out. He has almost a whip-like type arm action. His slider is sharp with good late bite and the bottom falls out of it. A true 2-plane pitch when on and it is a plus offering. His changeup has a little fade, flashes sink and is more of a show pitch then a pitch to get hitters out. It is an average offering and does look like a fastball when it comes out of his hand. Fastball has a little movement, but not much. He struggles with his command from batter to batter. First strike is very important for him and he tends to fall behind guys 2-0 or 3-1 and puts them in fastball counts. Overall, he is a middle of the rotation starter right now and if he can refine his command issues and also make a little bit more development in his changeup and gain that as a consistent pitch, then he can be an average # 2 starter.
• Jason Jaramillo is a 26 year old who stands 6-0 and weighs 200 pounds. The switch hitting catcher has a medium frame that still has some projection to it. He has a very quiet setup and stance and keeps his hands still throughout. His trigger is just a toe turn. He will never hit more much, if any, power. He shows some ability as a catch and throw and also an ability to hit for a little average from both sides of the plate. He is a career backup and the question the Pirates will be asking themselves when Ryan Doumit comes off the DL is whether or not to keep him or Robinzon Diaz with the big club.
• Julian Tavarez is a 35 year old who stands 6-2 and weighs 195 pounds. He has a high 3/4 release and attacked hitters with a 2-seam fastball at 88-92, a slider at 79-83 and a changeup at 82-85. Tavarez still gets plus movement to his 2 seam and continues to generate groundballs. His changeup shows good fade, but his slider has flattened out and is a below average offering. Tavarez is teetering between the brink of being a mop-up reliever and being retired.
• Tom Gorzelanny is back in the big leagues as a reliever. The 6-2, 200 pound 26 year old featured a fastball at 91-94, a slider at 79-82, a curveball at 76 and a changeup at 83-85. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his change shows good fade and is an average offering. His slider showed some decent late break and his 1 curve had decent bite. Really, his fastball is above average and all his other pitches are average offerings, with the changeup showing a little better. He comes from a high 3/4 release and kicks his right foot out as he comes down from his balance point. He also really battles his command from pitch to pitch and batter to batter and looks to be like someone who throwing strikes will always be an issue for. He profiles best as a multiple inning reliever if he can get his command sorted out, but should be a good 1 inning reliever (was good in his first inning, but got knocked around in the 2nd). I think his upside is that of a Rafael Perez when he was having good years.
• Jesse Chavez is a 25 year old who stands 6-2 and weighs 170 pounds. He has a medium frame that still has a little projection left to it. From a high 3/4 release, he attacked hitters with a fastball at 94-96, threw 1 slider at 90 and a changeup at 85-86. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His changeup features some fade and sink and is a tick above average. His slider is a 2-plane breaker and is also above average. When I saw him 2 years ago, I thought his upside was that of a middle reliever. But, his fastball has jumped from 92-93 to 94-96 and is now looking at being a set-up man and potential closer. Chavez does battle his command every once in awhile, but it should come around, as his mechanics are very clean. Probably will settle in as a 7th inning reliever for a contender.
• Joel Hanrahan got the save and is a 6 foot 4, 250 pound behemoth on the mound. The 27 year old featured a straight, hard 4-seam fastball at 95-96 and a slider that was unusually flat at 85-86. He still looks like a closer to me.

2 scores tomorrow. Got the Mets (Santana) vs. Red Sox (Matsuzaka) and the Diamondbacks (Buckner) against the Athletics (Cahill).

STL @ PIT

Had an extra game tonight and for once it didn't go to extra innings or rain delay or both!

• Zach Duke started for the Pirates and looked magnificent. This is the 1st time I have actually watched him pitch and he looked good. Now, his stuff will never wow people, as his fastball was 87-91, his curveball from 69-74, his changeup was 78-82 and his slider was 84-85, which he only used against left handers, but when he is throwing his curveball for strikes, he is a quality middle of the rotation starter. He has a Jamie Moyer like motion from a high 3/4 release. His upside is that of a middle of the rotation starter, but I think he is more of a back-end guy unless he can consistenly throw his above average curveball for strikes, as the difference in velocity really screws with a hitter. His fastball is fringe average, his changeup is above average and his slider is a tick above average, so he doesn't have too many weapons when he struggles with his curve.
• Todd Wellemeyer underwent a transformation tonight from a FB-SL-CU pitcher to a FB-CUT-CU-SL-CB pitcher. It didn't look too good, as his cutter has good cut, but he was leaving it belt high. He sat at 88-93 with his fastball, 87-91 with the cutter, 80-84 with the changeup, 75-78 with his curveball and 77-80 with the slider. It is possible he has completely scrapped the slider for the cutter and these are really curveballs. Same opinion as before, solid back-of-rotation starter for a contender and will likely not post a sub 4 ERA again.
• Matt Capps made the 9th inning exciting, loading the bases before getting out of it without allowing a run (for what it's worth, 2nd straight game I have done where the bases got loaded in the 9th). He attacked hitters with a 4-seam fastball at 93-96, a slider at 85-86 and a changeup at 86-87. He still has the look of a frontline closer when he is throwing strikes, but his frame is one that doesn't look very athletic and you have to wonder how about his recent durability issues.
• Blaine Boyer went after guys with a fastball at 90-91, a curveball at 72-77 and a cutter at 83-85. Should still be a solid guy to have in a bullpen, just not one you want pitching with a lead.
• Trever Miller showed he can get out right-handers as well, as he featured a fastball at 85-87, his frisbee slider at 73-77 and a changeup at 81-85. Very useful pitcher with his command of his secondary pitches, just got to wonder how much longer he can keep doing this.
• Brad Thompson threw 2 innings and was sitting at 86-88 with his 2-seam fastball, 77-78 with his slider, 81-82 with his changeup and 75-78 with his curveball. No real plus offering and is a guy that just tries to mix speeds and get you to hit the ball on the ground. My opinion of him hasn't changed from before. When his service time starts making raises happen, he loses a lot of his value, as a lot of guys in AAA can do what he is being asked to do.
• Tyler Greene, a 6-2 190 pound 25 year old, got another start, this one at 3B. He is showing better to me, as this is the 3rd time I have seen him. He has average power (probably a little above average for a SS) and might be able to stick as a utility infielder who can play SS (and that is very valuable to Tony La Russa). Another con to Greene though is the fact that he was almost over-aggressive in his attempts to hit the 1st pitch fastball. He swung at the 1st pitch 3 times and looked very bad when Capps threw him a 1st pitch slider. If that report gets out and teams start feeding him off-speed, we will know for sure if he is a late-bloomer utility infielder Wilson Betemit style.
• Robinzon Diaz, a 5-11 220 pound 25 year old, is a catcher who is getting his first real legitimate chance at playing time. He doesn't appear to have an above average tool, as he has some power, but wouldn't hit more then 10 home runs as a regular. He is solid defensively, but isn't someone that will just shut down a running game. He has a squatty catcher frame and he features a slightly open stance where he is standing somewhat straight up. In my eyes, it's a coinflip between him and Jason Jaramillo for the backup job when Ryan Doumit returns. It may come down to options.
• Andy LaRoche, a 6-1 210 pound 25 year old, was the main major league ready guy (with Brandon Moss) that Pittsburgh got in the Jason Bay trade. LaRoche just doesn't profile very well to me. His frame is close to maxed out and he will never have more then average power for a 3rd basemen. He has a slightly open stance with a toe turn and he has shown a hole in his swing to inside fastballs when I have seen him. For a player known for his bat when he was coming up, it looks like it may need to be his defense to carry him. His bat may barely play at 3B.
• Colby Rasmus, a 6-2 200 pound 22 year old, came in when Ryan Ludwick appeared to pull a hamstring attempting to make a catch. Rasmus is St. Louis' top prospect and you can see what they like. I was skeptical of him, as he hadn't yet proven himself in AAA, but he has a slightly open stance with a nice swing that doesn't have any real apparent holes. He still has some strides to make with pitch recognition and his ability to hit left-handers, but he does look like a guy who can be a starting CF, though I think putting him as one of the top 10 prospects in baseball may be a little immature, as I don't know if anything about him screams All-Star. Looked like above average speed and didn't do anything either bad or great in CF.
• In addition to the comments I made earlier about Shane Robinson, he is 24 years old and has just an average (and may be below average) arm from center field. He played RF after Ludwick left, but his arm will not play there and that greatly reduces his value. He has a nice looking line drive swing and will need to fight to become a 4th OF in the mold of an Endy Chavez.

Tomorrow is a busy day for me, as I have 2 charts (1 of which is an extra), a baseball practice and the 8:05 SEA-TEX game featuring Jarrod Washburn and Brandon McCarthy.

Chart Observations: PIT @ STL

• Got to watch Todd Wellemeyer and he continued to show his plus command of all his pitches. He was primarily FB, SL, CU and mixed in a few curveballs. Hasn't faced the best lineups, but is a middle of the rotation starter for a contender (decent 3, strong 4).
• Ross Ohlendorf opposed him. Ohlendorf attacked hitters with a low to mid 90's sinker, low 80's slider and low 80's changeup. Nothing about him is above average (including his command) and is a protypical RH. His ceiling is that of a back-end starter for a contender, as if his command improves, he should have the stuff (and the ability to pitch to contact) to be a solid # 4 or # 5.
• Blaine Boyer retired the only batter he faced, Craig Monroe, with a diet of plus curveballs and average fastballs. Still think he is a solid middle guy.
• Trever Miller is a good LOOGY to have in the pen. He features a high 80's fastball and a frisbee slider in the mid 70's. No reason to think he can't keep having success.
• Evan Meek could throw 3 pitches or he could throw 5. No one is really sure. He throws a fastball in the mid 90's (93-95) that has a lot of cutting action, a cut fastball in the high 80's to low 90's, a slider in the mid 80's, a curveball in the mid 70's to low 80's and a changeup (which I didn't see). No one is sure if the breaking pitch is the same pitch (I thought it was) or if he throws only cutters or if the action on the ball is just natural. That being said, he has the future to be a back-end reliever. He needs to tighten a breaking ball, as his fastball is his only real plus pitch. Think the ceiling is a closer if he develops the breaking pitch further, but is more likely to settle in as a quality middle reliever.
• Shane Robinson made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter. He is a small guy (5-9, 160) with a small frame. I thought he was African-American, but he is white. He is known as a speedster with little power and I gathered that much from his stance. He has one of those stances with the bat resting on his shoulder until he triggers, where everything works to get himself ready. He takes the bat off his shoulder and cocks it and also strides. He will never have much power hitting that way. With a whole sample size of 1 AB, I think his ceiling is as a 4th OF who can CF (those are fairly valuable) but one that will struggle to hit above .250 and provide zero power. Maybe Robinson can learn from Skip Schumaker and make himself into a super-utility guy by learning 2B.

Got the Reds-Cardinals game tonight featuring Johnny Cueto and Joel Pineiro.

Sorry about no comment on the Reds-Brewers game, but here are some from what I remember (went out last night and didn't get back to the apartment until 230)

• Braden Looper showed an inability to command his stuff last night and when he struggles like that, he will get hit (even by a Reds lineup that had 2 of their 3 best hitters sitting due to the flu). He features a high 80's to low 90's sinker/fastball, a low 80's slider and a low 80's splitter.
• Micah Owings upside is that of a # 5 starter. Just not much left there to work with. I think he needs to start focusing on his hitting and become an OF.
• Mark DiFelice continues to baffle hitters and people who like radar gun readings, as he continues to get people out. He primarily throws a low 80's cutter and a low 80's changeup. Who knows if he can keep this up? He has excellent command (and good thing b/c he is going to need it once the scouting reports are out).
• Nick Masset flashed some of his old command problems, but looks like a very capable pitcher to bridge the gap to the Reds set-up core.
• Thought Dusty made a bad decision by leaving in Arthur Rhodes to face the right handers. Turns out I am a moron.

Score Impressions: PIT @ MIL

• Paul Maholm had some issues with his control. He was also left in the game too long in my opinion, but he continues to show solid average stuff. His fastball sat in the high 80's, but he showed a quality changeup, quality slider and quality curveball. Can he maintain his current level of performance with low K numbers (12 in 32 IP)? I think it may be a stretch, but he is a solid middle of the rotation starter (and Pitt is chock full of them).
• Dave Bush pitched the same game in my opinion as his last start. He still showed solid command of his stuff, he just didn't elicit many swings and misses. He also showed some of his Jekyll and Hyde stuff, as he struck out the first 2 batters, hit the next 2, allowed a 2-run double, then struck out the last hitter. He worked a good curveball in this outing, but seemed to struggle with his cutter.
• Prince Fielder's downward trend against lefties continues. He really struggled last night against Maholm and Sean Burnett. These lefties fed him sliders on the outside part all night and he couldn't make an adjustment to drive them the other way yet at this stage of the season. Given the struggles he had last season against left handers, this has to be a little concerning to Brewers fans.
• Jesse Chavez is still a solid middle reliever in my mind (believed this when I saw him in Indianopolis). Mixes a low to mid 90's fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Is greater then the sum of his parts.
• Rickie Weeks has turned a corner. The guy hit every ball hard last night and may be slowly converting myself into a believer. Do I believe 2B is his best position? No. I think once Mike Cameron's contract expires, they may move Weeks to CF and put Alcides Escobar (after getting a year apprenticeship in AAA) at 2B (especially with the news that Lorenzo Cain, their CF of the future, may be done for the year).
• Pittsburgh didn't do anything too impressive offensively. Was shocked they called off a sac bunt attempt in the top of the ninth. They may have been playing a bit over their head, but if they continue playing great defense, their pitchers are ones to allow hits in play and be beneficiaries of it.

Got 2 live scoring assignments tonight (Bedard and Floyd, Paulino and Volquez) and will relay what I see here later tonight.

Want me to talk about something else? Get an opinion on a player you are curious about? Let me know and I will find tape and look at him.