Chart Observations: 9/24 BOS @ KC

1) Anthony Lerew: 108 pitches. FB, CB, SL, CU. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Fastball, Slider.

• Lerew is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release with a real quick wind-up that had no real red flags. Very fast worker that gets the ball and gets back on the rubber. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His change has good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and is his best off-speed offering. He will throw it in 2-0 counts. His slider is a 2-7 offering with a hint of bite. His curve is a 1-7 offering with below average depth. Has a shot at being a middle reliever with his sinker, but that is about it.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (83-84), SL (81)

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (81-84), SL (79-80)

3rd: FB (91-95), CU (82-85), SL (79-81) - SL (Gonzalez), CU (Gonzalez)

4th: FB (89-94), CU (80-83), SL (76-79) - FB (Ortiz)

5th: FB (87-94), CU (79-84), SL (78), CB (73) - CU (Bay)

2) Clay Buchholz: 109 pitches. FB, CU, CB, SL. 12 strikes swinging. 7 Changeups, 3 Sliders, Fastball, Curveball.

• Buchholz came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and good sink, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with okay bite that actually looked more like a cutter and a 12-6 curve with above average depth. Has he scrapped the slider in place of a cutter?

1st: FB (93-97), CU (81-83), CB (75-78), SL (87-88) - CU (Callaspo)

2nd: FB (94-98), CU (82-83), CB (78), SL (89-92) - FB (Olivo), 2 SL (Olivo, Gordon), 2 CU (Olivo, Gordon)

3rd: FB (95-97), CU (81-83), CB (78-80), SL (88-91) - SL (Maier), CB (Betancourt)

4th: FB (94-97), CU (82-84), SL (88-89) - 2 CU (Butler, Jacobs)

5th: FB (94-98), CU (80-81), CB (78-81), SL (88-89)

6th: FB (91-97), CU (83-84), CB (78-79), SL (88-90) - 2 CU (Jacobs - 2)

7th: FB (94-97), CU (82-83), CB (78-80), SL (88)

3) Yasuhiko Yabuta: 56 pitches. FB, CU, Split, SL. 5 strikes swinging. 5 Changeups.

• Yabuta came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a split with good dive, a straight change with a little fade from lefties that he will throw to righties and in 3-1 and 3-2 counts and a 2-7 slider with a hint of movement.

5th: FB (94), CU (84), Split (78-80) - CU (Reddick)

6th: FB (91-95), CU (81-87), Split (74-78), SL (86) - 2 CU (Ellsbury, Bay)

7th: FB (92-94), CU (83-87), Split (72-74), SL (85-86) - 2 CU (Kotchman - 2)

4) Kyle Farnsworth: 35 pitches. FB, Cut, SL, CU. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, Slider.

• Farnsworth came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a cutter with some cut and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (93-100), Cut (90), SL (85-87) - 4 FB (Bay - 2, Woodward, Kotchman), SL (Ortiz)

5) Ramon Ramirez: 20 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (92-95)

8th: FB (94-95), SL (89-90), CU (89-91)

6) Takashi Saito: 28 pitches. FB, SL, CB, Split. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Saito came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite and a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth.

8th: FB (91-95), SL (82-85), CB (78)

9th: FB (88-94), SL (81-83) - 3 FB (Hernandez - 2, Anderson)

7) Jamey Wright: 30 pitches. FB, CB, Cut, CU. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Wright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 11-5 curve with above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (90-94), CB (80-81), Cut (86-90), Split (86) - Cut (Reddick)

Chart Observations: 9/12 KC @ CLE

1) Luke Hochevar: 98 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 8 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, Slider.

• Hochevar came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and solid sink, a cutter with some cut that he added to his repetoire in July, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a

1st: FB (91-94), Cut (89-92), CB (78)

2nd: FB (92-94), Cut (89-91), CB (78-80), SL (84) - CB

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (91), CB (79), SL (84) - 2 FB

4th: FB (91-94), Cut (89-91), CB (76-80), SL (84) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), Cut (88-89), CB (76-77), SL (83-84), Split (85) - SL, 2 CB

2) David Huff: 109 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, 2 Curveballs.

• Huff came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite, a change with good sink and some fade from righties that he will throw 2-0 and to lefties and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (80-83)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (78), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (82-83), CB (76-77), CU (82-84) - 2 FB, SL, CB

4th: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CB (78-79) - SL, CB

5th: FB (87-91), SL (80-81), CB (77), CU (81-82) - FB

6th: FB (90-92), SL (81), CB (78), CU (81-82) - 2 FB

3) Dusty Hughes: 14 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Fastball.

• Hughes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a straight change that may have a little fade from righties that got better as the appearance went on and showed good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties and a 11-5 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (85-91), CU (78-83), SL (83) - FB, 2 CU

4) Victor Marte: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Marte came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with good sink that had good tilt to it, a change with good fade from lefties and sink that he will throw to righties and a 12-6 curve with below average depth.

6th: FB (93-95), CB (81-83), CU (85-86)

5) Jensen Lewis: 16 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs.

• Lewis 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 some sink that he will throw to righties.

7th: FB (86-91), CU (81-83) - 5 FB

6) Bruce Chen: 20 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

7th: FB (84-90), CU (78-80), CB (76), SL (82-83) - FB

7) Jess Todd: 51 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Cutters.

• Todd came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a cutter with some cut.

8th: Cut (90-91), FB (90), SL (83-85) - Cut, 2 SL

9th: Cut (88-91), SL (82-83) - Cut, SL

8) Yasuhiko Yabuta: 20 pitches. (FB, CU, Split, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Splitters, Fastball.

• Yabuta came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that had a little run in on righties, a straight change, a split with slightly below average dive and a 2-7 slider with okay bite.

8th: FB (87-93), CU (84), Split (75-78), SL (83-85) - FB, 2 Split

9) Rafael Perez: 3 pitches. (FB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Perez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sharp 11-5 slider with slightly above average bite.

9th: SL (86-87) - SL

• Michael Brantley is a 6-2, 200 pound lefty. The 22 year old outfielder has a medium frame that should be able to get up to about 215 or 220 down the road. He has a slightly crouched stance similar to Coghlan's, but a little more crouched. His trigger is a small stride and a cocking of the bat. He has a bat tap as a timing mechanism, similar to that of Garrett Anderson.

Chart Observations: 9/2 KC @ OAK

1) Brian Bannister: 32 pitches. (Cut, CU, FB, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Bannister came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and good sink, a cutter with some cut, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink and a 12-6 curve with above average depth. He threw a lot of fastballs in this outing, more then he normally does. Hurt? And then the inning after I wrote that, he left the game due to an injury (injured neck/shoulder).

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (88-90), CU (84-85), CB (75-76) - 2 CU

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

2) Trevor Cahill: 84 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Cahill came from an over the top release with a fastball with good run in on righties and above average sink with good tilt on his fastball, a change with some fade from lefties and above average sink that he will throw to righties, a 2-7 slider with good, but inconsistent, bite.

1st: FB (91-94), CU (79-83)

2nd: FB (89-94), CU (80-82), SL (85) - 2 CU, SL

3rd: FB (90-92), CU (77-85), SL (85) - FB

4th: FB (89-92), SL (81-83) - FB

5th: FB (89-93), CU (81), SL (81-85) - SL

3) Yasuhiko Yabuta: 30 pitches. (FB, Split, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Yabuta came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a straight change with a little sink that he will throw 2-0, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a split with some dive.

2nd: FB (87-93), Split (74-79), SL (83-84), CU (81-84)

4) Bruce Chen: 70 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Chen came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties, a change with a little late fade from righties and good sink that he will throw 2-0 and 3-2 and to lefties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite that he will throw 3-1 and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

3rd: FB (85-90), CU (76-80), CB (80), SL (82-84) - SL

4th: FB (85), CU (78-80), SL (82-83)

5th: FB (86-91), CU (78-81), CB (77-80), SL (82-84) - FB

6th:FB (86-90), CU (78-81)

5) Brad Kilby: 24 pitches. (FB, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Kilby is a 6-1, 235 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a very thick lower half. He has a little bit of the Jimenez arm action on the backtake, but he almost rubs the ball along his butt before throwing it. Some weird wrist action. He came from a high 3/4, almost a 3/4 release. His fastball has a little late run in on lefties and a touch of sink. His slider is 10-5 with solid bite, though it can flatten out. Interesting guy with solid velocity for a left hander, looks like he could be a solid middle reliever or LOOGY.

6th: FB (91-92)

7th: FB (90-93), SL (82-83) - 3 FB

6) Roman Colon: 20 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Colon came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good downward action and good bite, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a splitter with some dive.

7th: FB (93-96), SL (79-84), Split (87-88) - SL

8th: FB (94-96), SL (83)

7) Jerry Blevins: 21 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Blevins is a 6-6, 180 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though his release point can drop on occasion. His cutter has some cut. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His curve is kind of a loopy 10-5 with slightly above average depth. His change has some fade from righties and some sink. More of a LOOGY candidate then full inning guy, as neither the cutter or change is good enough to get out righties consistently. Curveball can really screw with lefties.

8th: FB (91-93), CB (72-73), Cut (85-88), CU (85) - FB

8) Dana Eveland: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Eveland came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink and a little late fade from righties, a 11-5 curve with average depth and a 11-5 slider with good bite. Got screwed over on the run he allowed, as Rajai Davis misplayed a fly ball out into a double.

9th: FB (88-91), SL (85), CB (79) - SL

Royals Extras (and Carlos Silva)

1) Sidney (Prince of Aruba) Ponson: FB, SL, CU, CB
5/6: 85 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Ponson is a 6-1, 260 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a lot of bad weight in the lower body and he has an extremely thick lower half. Also appears to have a little bit of a gut. He came from a high 3/4 release in a fairly clean delivery, though he lands hard on his front foot which isn't a good thing at his weight. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with average depth that has good downward action to it. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. He throws a lot of 2-seamers and doesn't throw many off-speed offerings. His change has some fade from lefties and a touch of sink. Ponson generated virtually zero swinging strikes, meaning he wasn't fooling anybody. His fastball is solid, but none of his other off-speed offerings are very good. I would like to see him as a 1-inning reliever and given a shot there, but he just may get arrested if I told him that because he would probably punch me.

1st: FB (92-95), CB (78)

2nd: FB (91-94)

3rd: FB (91-94), CB (77), SL (81-83)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84-85) - FB

5th: FB (90-95), SL (81-83), CU (82)

6th: FB (92), SL (83), CU (84-86)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82)

8th: FB (89-91), CB (75)

2) Carlos Silva: FB, CU, SL

5/6: 70 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Silva is a 6-4, 250 pound righty. The 30 year old has big frame that is maxed out with some definite bad weight. He has a classic drop and drive delivery that is real slow in the beginning, but no real red flags mechanically. His fastball has good run in on righties and good sink. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and his go-to offspeed offering. Almost looks like he guides the ball in there and that there may be some more velocity there in shorter spurts. His command is not as good as it used to be and catches a lot of the middle of the plate with his sinkers. He can still force a lot of groundballs. Silva's best case is a # 5 starter for a great infield defensive team, so the Mariners are his best fit to have a chance at salvaging his career.

1st: FB (88-91), CU (80-81)

2nd: FB (86-91), CU (81) - FB, CU

3rd: FB (87-92), CU (78-83) - FB, CU

3) Horacio Ramirez: FB, SL, CU, Cut, CB

5/6: 9 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

5/22: 30 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ramirez is a 6-1, 220 pound lefty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics from the stretch. His slider is a 11-5 with average bite. His fastball has a some run in on lefties and a little sink. His change has a little fade from righties and a little sink. His cutter has a little cut. Just a 4-A pitcher. Not enough stuff to start and doesn't have a dominant pitch to be a solid reliever. Can't be a LOOGY, as his slider just isn't good enough and there is little deception in his delivery.

5/6

8th: FB (90-92), SL (79-80) - 2 FB, SL

5/22:

7th: FB (90-92), SL (83), CU (84), Cut (90)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (79-83), CU (84), Cut (88)

4) Robinson Tejeda: FB, SL, CU

8/29: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Tejeda is a 6-3, 250 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that looks lighter then his listed weight. He has a thick lower half and has a little bit of a gut. He came from a 3/4 release with pretty clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 pitch with slightly below average bite. His change is fairly straight with a little sink that he will throw to righties. Looks like his current role as a long man is best, as he doesn't have an off-speed offering that is real swing and miss and can battle his command at times. Low leverage situation reliever.

5th: FB (91-96), SL (83-86), CU (83-85) - SL

6th: FB (91-95), CU (82-85) - FB

5) Doug Waechter: FB, SL, CU

8/6: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Waechter is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to his upper body, but has a built lower half. He came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release and breaks his hands high, adding extra strain to his shoulders. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His change is straight and flashes some fade from lefties with some sink. Waechter looks like a 4-A pitcher, as his stuff did not look very good.

9th: FB (89-91), CU (82-84)

6) Yasuhiko Yabuta: FB, Split, SL

8/29: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Yabuta is a 6-2, 190 pound righty. The 36 year old has a medium frame that can add a litt more muscle, but I would not count on it. Typical japanese build. Over the top release with the typical japanese scrunch up when pitching with everything in towards his chest. He has a mini pause at the balance point, but nothing crazy. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam that flashes some run in on righties. His slider is 2-7 with some mythical bite, as it sure looked pretty straight... His splitter has above average fade from lefties and a little sink. Another 4-A reliever whose combo of straight pitches will not allow him to get major league hitters out.

7th: FB (88-92), Split (75), SL (82)