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)

9/11: ATL @ STL

1) Jair Jurrjens: 105 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 3 Changeups, 2 Sliders.

• Jurrjens came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a good run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (88-93), CU (84)

2nd: FB (89-96), CU (83-84), SL (84-85) - FB, CU

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (82-83), SL (79-82) - SL

4th: FB (90-94), CU (82-84), SL (80-83) - 2 FB, SL

5th: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), SL (80-81)

6th: FB (90-96), CU (83-86), SL (81-82) - CU

7th: FB (88-93), CU (81-83), SL (79) - FB, CU

8th: FB (91-95), CU (80-83)

2) Joel Pineiro: 86 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, 2 Fastballs, Cutter.

• Pineiro came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth, a cutter with some cut and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (89-92), Cut (86), CB (78-80), CU (85) - CB, Cut

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (76)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CB (76-79), CU (84-85) - CB

5th: FB (88-91) - 2 FB

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), CB (76-79) - CB

7th: FB (88-92), Cut (86-88), CB (76)

3) Trever Miller: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Miller came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

8th: FB (85-88), SL (75-76), CU (79-80) - 2 SL

9th: FB (85-87), SL (77)

4) Kyle McClellan: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• McClellan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: FB (91-93), CB (75-78) - FB, CB

5) Rafael Soriano: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Soriano came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink

9th: FB (93-96) - FB

Chart Observations: 9/3 MIL @ STL

1) John Smoltz: 84 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CB, CU). 9 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, 4 Curveballs.

• Smoltz came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a split with some dive, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a sharp 1-7 curve with average depth and a straight change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (91-92), SL (83-85), Split (86-88), CB (77) - CB

2nd: FB (91-92), SL (83-85), CB (75) - 2 SL

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (82-86), CB (75-77) - SL

4th: FB (91-92), SL (82-85), Split (87-89), CB (76)

5th: FB (90-92)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (81-86), Split (86-88), CB (74-77) - 3 CB, 2 SL

2) Manny Parra: 88 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, Split, SL). 8 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Changeups, 3 Splitters, 2 Curveballs.

• Parra came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink, a splitter with good dive that can resemble a curveball at times that serves as his out pitch, a straight change with some sink and some fade from righties that he will throw 3-2 and 2-0, a 11-5 slider with okay bite and a sharp 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (90-93), CU (86-88), Split (84-85), SL (82-84) - Split

2nd: FB (91-92), CU (85-86), Split (84), CB (76-78) - CU, Split

3rd: FB (90-92), CU (83-86), CB (76-77), SL (83) - CU

4th: FB (91), CU (84), Split (83), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (87), Split (84), CB (77) - Split

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84-85), Split (83), CB (75)

7th: FB (89-93), CU (85), CB (77) - FB, 2 CB

3) Blake Hawksworth: 21 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Hawksworth came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a cutter with good cut and some sink, a 2-7 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

7th: FB (91-95), Cut (89-91), CB (75) - FB

8th: FB (90-92), CU (82-84) - CU

4) Dave Weathers: 6 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Weathers came from a 3/4 release and showed a 3-8 slider with okay bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties

7th: FB (86-87), SL (83-84)

5) Mitch Stetter: 4 pitches. (SL, FB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Stetter came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good tail in on righties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with above average bite.

7th: FB (85-86), SL (79-80)

6) Claudio Vargas: 32 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

7th: FB (92-93), SL (84)

8th: FB (90-94), SL (81-83), CU (83) - 2 FB

7) Trever Miller: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a sweeping 9-4 slider with above average bite, a fastball with good run in on righties and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (87-88), SL (74-79), CU (80) - 2 SL

8) Trevor Hoffman: 14 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball, Changeup.

• Hoffman came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a straight change with good sink that he will throw to righties that flashes excellent sink and good fade from lefties and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (86), SL (80-81), CU (73) - FB, 4 SL, CU

Chart Observations: 8/23 STL @ SD

1) Cesar Carrillo: 72 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 6 Changeups (4 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Carrillo is a 6-3, 175 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a ton more muscle. He is a very skinny kid with little definition. He came from an over the top release with a little cocking action and can rush his delivery at times, causing his arm to play catch up. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a 12-6 offering with slightly above average depth. His change has some fade from lefties with above average sink that he will throw to righties and is his best off-speed offering. He will pitch backwards and trusts himsle fot throw his change for strikes (threw 3-2 changeups to Smoltz and to Holliday with the bases loaded). His fastball command is iffy and still has a tendency to miss up in the zone. I like his stuff, and he doesn't have as much development time as his age suggests due to arm injuries. I think he could be a late bloomer and be a solid # 4 in the back of a contender's rotation.

1st: FB (90-92), CB (75-78), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (89-93), CB (75-79), CU (82-86)

3rd: FB (91-92), CB (80), CU (84-87)

2) John Smoltz: 75 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 2nd), 6 Sliders (2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 4 Splitters (both in 1st, 3rd, 5th)

• Smoltz came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a split with above average dive and a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that he likes to throw to lefties to steal a strike. In the weaker league, he should dominate. The Padres just didn't jump on his fastball and choose to either wait for an off-speed offering (bad decision) or fouled it off. The fastball got pounded in the AL and was the cause for his release and it remains to be seen if this will occur eventually in the NL.

1st: FB (92-93), SL (84-87), Split (87-88), CB (79)

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (84-85), Split (87), CB (76)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (82-85), Split (86-88)

4th: FB (90-92), SL (83-85), Split (86-88)

5th: FB (91-93), SL (83-86), Split (85-86)

3) Edward Mujica: 37 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 5th), 2 Sliders (4th, 5th), Splitter (4th)

• Mujica came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and some sink, a split with above average dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite. His 3rd inning velocity #'s are down because he came in the middle of an at-bat and had just started getting loose at the beginning of that at-bat, but Bud Black couldn't watch anymore of Carrillo.

3rd: FB (90), Split (85-87), SL (82-84)

4th: FB (92-94), Split (85-89), SL (84)

5th: FB (91-93), Split (87), SL (82-83)

4) Greg Burke: 36 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (6th, 7th), Fastball (7th)

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

6th: FB (90-94), SL (83-85)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (81-84)

5) Blake Hawksworth: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawksworth came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and good sink and a cutter with a little cut.

6th: FB (91-92), CU (80-83), Cut (86-87)

6) Dennys Reyes: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (89-90), SL (85)

7) Jason Motte: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (91-95), Cut (88)

8) Trever Miller: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miller came from a low 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a change with some fade from righties with good sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (85-87), CU (80)

8th: FB (84-85), SL (74-77)

9) Joe Thatcher: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thatcher is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with some cut.

7th: FB (86-87)

10) Luke Gregerson: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Gregerson came from a 3/4 release and showed a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-93), SL (82-85), CU (76-77)

11) Heath Bell: 18 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Bell came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a straight 4-seam fastball with some natural sink.

9th: FB (91-94), CB (81-82)

12) Ryan Franklin: 33 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Splitter.

• Franklin came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a split with good dive.

9th: FB (90-93), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79), Split (83-85)

Chart Observations: 8/17 STL @ LAD

1) Charlie Haeger: 80 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 6 Knuckleballs (2nd, 3 in 3rd, 4th, 6th)

• Haeger is a 6-1, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from an over the top release with a knuckle with good movement (that he had solid control of) and a fastball with good run in on righties. If Tim Wakefield can succeed, why can't he?

1st: KNU (65-71), FB (83)

2nd: KNU (65-74)

3rd: KNU (65-74), FB (83)

4th: KNU (66-74)

5th: KNU (65-72)

6th: KNU (67-75)

7th: KNU (66-74)

2) Chris Carpenter: 110 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2nd, 6th, 8th), 3 Curveballs (3rd, 6th, 7th), 5 Cutters (3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 8th)

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

1st: FB (88-93), CB (72)

2nd: FB (93-95), CB (72-76), Cut (85-87)

3rd: FB (92-95), CB (74-76), Cut (89)

4th: FB (94-96), CB (73-78), Cut (87-89)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (74-77), Cut (87-90)

6th: FB (92-94), CB (73-77), Cut (87)

7th: FB (92-95), CB (74-77)

8th: FB (93-96), CB (74-76), Cut (88-91)

3) Hong Chih-Kuo: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Kuo came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-95), SL (78-79)

4) Jonathan Broxton: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Broxton came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (95-98), SL (87-89)

5) Trever Miller: 1 pitch. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miller is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with some run in on lefties.

9th: FB (86)

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

• Franklin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (90-91)

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.

7/29: LAD @ STL (Cardinals Pitchers)

1) Joel Pineiro: 112 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 5th, 7th, 8th)

• Pineiro is a 6-1, 200 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties with solid sink. His curve is a 1-7 with slightly above average depth. His cutter has good cut and some sink. His change has some fade from lefties that he will throw to righties. Good # 4 starter.

1st: FB (89-91), Cut (87), CB (80)

2nd: FB (87-90), Cut (85), CB (78)

3rd: FB (90-92)

4th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), CB (80)

5th: FB (87-91), Cut (85-86), CU (83-85)

6th: FB (89-91), Cut (86-87), CB (77)

7th: FB (88-91)

8th: FB (90-92), CU (84)

2) Dennys Reyes: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Reyes came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on lefties and good sink, a change with good fade from righties with some sink and a 9-3 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (90), CU (84-85), SL (83-85)

3) Kyle McClellan: 29 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter (9th)

• McClellan came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink.

9th: Cut (86-88), FB (91-92)

10th: Cut (85-88), FB (90-92), CB (74-75), CU (84)

4) Trever Miller: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miller came from a low 3/4 and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite and a fastball with good run in on lefties.

10th: FB (86-88), SL (79)

5) Ryan Franklin: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, 2 Curveballs.

• Franklin is a 6-3, 190 pound righty. The 36 year old righty has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut, a split with above average dive, a 1-7 curve with average depth and a fastball with good run in on righties with some sink.

11th: FB (91-92), Cut (87-90), CB (77-78), Split (84)

6) Jason Motte: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Splitter.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam (94-98) with a little run in on righties, a 2-seam with some sink in addition to run (89-92) and a split with okay dive.

12th: FB (89-98), Split (78-81)

7) Blake Hawksworth: 47 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (13th), 2 Changeups (both in 14th)

• Hawksworth is a 6-3, 195 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 210. He came from a 3/4 release with a max effort delivery that appears to put extra pressure on his shoulder. His fastball has some late run in on righties with sink. His cutter has good cut. His change has some fade from lefties with sink and he will throw it to righties. I think he fits best as a reliever and may be able to hold up in 2 inning outings and be a bridge to your setup men as a middle reliever.

13th: FB (91-95), Cut (87-89)

14th: FB (91-95), Cut (88), CU (82-84)

15th: FB (91-94), Cut (85), CU (82-84)

Chart Observations: COL @ STL

• Jorge De La Rosa got the start for the Rockies. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, though he will mix in a 2-seam with some fade every once in awhile. His slider is a sweeping 10-4 offering. His change looks like a fastball out of his hand and and shows some fade and sink. He appears able to add and subtract from the pitch to make it sink more. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 offering. He threw very well in this game and was primarily FB-CU, as he usually is. His command was solid and he was able to hit spots and get ahead of most hitters.

1st: FB (90-96), CU (84-85), SL (85-86)

2nd: FB (92-94), CU (84-85), CB (76)

3rd: FB (92-96), CU (81-87), CB (75-78)

4th: FB (93-95), CU (84-86), SL (83), CB (74-76)

5th: FB (93-95), CU (83-85), SL (83), CB (80)

6th: FB (93-94), CU (84), SL (82-83), CB (77-78)

7th: FB (91-94), CU (83-85), SL (81-85), CB (75-78)

• Adam Wainwright opposed him. The 6-7, 230 pound right hander has a big frame that still has room to add a lot more muscle. The 27 year old comes from a 3/4 release. His change shows decent fade and a little sink. His curveball is a sharp 3-9 offering with good depth. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink. His slider is a 3-9 offering that is more side to side then down. He has a conventional wind-up where he brings his hands over his head. He has plus command of his stuff, but will leave a pitch up once in awhile. His slider will flash a 2-7 offering with good bite. A # 3 starter and he has the potential to be a strong # 2 if he can increase his fastball velocity a little more.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (75), CU (81-82)

2nd: FB (89-94), SL (81-87), CB (73-75), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (90-93), SL (85-88), CB (73-76), CU (82)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (71-75), CU (82)

5th: FB (88-91), SL (84), CB (74)

6th: FB (88-92), SL (85-87), CB (72-74), CU (80)

7th: FB (87-89)

• Josh Fogg finished the game for the Rockies. He showed a 2-seam fastball that ahd some fade and sink, a cutter with good cut, a slider that was a big breaking 2-7 pitch and a change with good fade and a little sink.

7th: FB (89), Cut (85-86)

8th: FB (86-87), Cut (83-85), SL (77)

9th: FB (86-88), Cut (85), CU (79-80)

• Dennys Reyes is a 32 year old left hander who stands 6-3, 250. He has a medium to big frame that is maxed out and there may be some bad weight there. He comes from a high 3/4 release, almost 3/4. His fastball has good hard fade in on the hands of lefties. He had no command in this outing and even walked De La Rosa with the bases loaded on 5 pitches. Everything was missing gloveside or down and appeared to be flying open.

7th: FB (89-91)

• Jason Motte is a 26 year old who stands 6-0, 195. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle in the lower body. He has a high 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery where he jumps at hitters. It is max effort that helps him generate his plus velocity and the mechanics are similar to those of Tim Lincecum from the stretch, but to a lesser extent. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His cutter could be a hard SL, but it has little downward movement but moves across half the plate. His slider was a spinner with a little bite. Still a future closer in my eyes with his velocity, but he needs to find a consistent off-speed offering. He has slightly above average command.

7th: FB (94-98), Cut (91-92), SL (80)

• Jess Todd made his major league debut last night. The 23 year old who stands 5-11, 210 has a small frame that appears to be maxed out. He comes at you from a 3/4 release. His primary fastball was a cutter that has good cut and a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with decent bite and can be anywhere from below average to plus. He will over throw the pitch and this will cause it to flatten out. He has a drop and drive delivery in a high effort delivery with his back leg generating a lot of his velocity. Set-up man potential, but he came up as a starter (and has a sinker and change that he didn't show) and I would think the Cards would give him every chance to succeed.

7th: Cut (90-92), SL (84-85)

8th: Cut (88-91), SL (82-85)

• Trever Miller is a 36 year old who stands 6-3, 200. The left hander has a medium to big frame that can add more muscle if he wants to. He comes from a 3/4 release, almost sidearm. His slider is a 9-4 offering that is a frisbee slider. His fastball is a 2-seam with some sink. His change is a straight offering, just a touch slower.

8th: FB (87), SL (74-77)

9th: FB (86-88), CU (83)

Scherzer vs. Correia tonight after a baseball game.

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.