Chart Observations: 9/9 CIN @ COL

1) Jason Hammel: 101 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 11 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Curveballs.

• Hammel came from an over the top release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (92-93), CB (76), SL (83-86) - FB, SL

2nd: FB (91-93), CB (76), SL (83-84) - FB

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (84-86)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (78), CU (84) - FB

5th: FB (90-92), CB (77), SL (84-85) - FB, CB, SL

6th: FB (91-92), SL (82-85) - FB

7th: FB (92-93), CB (77-78), SL (84) - 2 CB, SL

8th: FB (91-93), CB (78), SL (83-85)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 100 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut). 9 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs, Frisbee Slider.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top release to a sidearm release and showed a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties, a frisbee 9-4 slider with good bite, a 1-7 curve with slightly below average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink that he will throw from sidearm release with 2 strikes and a cutter with some cut

1st: FB (88-90), FSL (68-72), CB (69-71), CU (74-83)

2nd: FB (88-91), FSL (74-78), CU (79)

3rd: FB (89-91), FSL (70-75), CB (70-75), CU (80-84), Cut (88) - FB, CB, 2 CU

4th: FB (88-90), FSL (78-79), CB (68-72), CU (82) - CU

5th: FB (86-91), FSL (69-76), CU (79-84) - FB, FSL

6th: FB (88-90), FSL (69-78), CB (69-71), CU (84), Cut (85)

7th: FB (88-90), FSL (74-78), CB (71-75) - 2 CB

3) Rafael Betancourt: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Betancourt 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.

8th: FB (92-94), SL (83-84) - FB

4) Joe Beimel: 4 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (88-89), CB (72-74)

5) Matt Daley: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

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

8th: FB (91), SL (77-80) - FB, SL

9th: FB (89-91), SL (78-80) - 3 FB, SL

6) Arthur Rhodes: 9 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rhodes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (80-81)

7) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CB (82-83), Split (90) - FB

8) Francisco Cordero: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

9th: FB (94-98), SL (87-91) - 2 FB

Chart Observations: 8/25 CIN @ MIL (1st 9 innings)

1) Bronson Arroyo: 116 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut, F-SL). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Frisbee Sliders, Curveball.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top to sidearm release and showed a 3-8 frisbee slider with solid bite, a change with good fade from lefties with solid sink, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that he will throw 3-0, a cutter with a little cut, a high 3/4 slider that has good bite

1st: FB (88-92), F-SL (70-72), CU (79-86), CB (72)

2nd: FB (91-92), F-SL (71-77), CB (70-73), SL (78-79), Cut (88) - FB, CB

3rd: FB (90-92), F-SL (72-77), CU (81-86), CB (70-72), Cut (88)

4th: FB (90-92), F-SL (72), CU (84), CB (70-73), SL (75-76) - FB

5th: FB (89-91), F-SL (72-78), CU (79), CB (70) - 2 F-SL

6th: FB (88-91), F-SL (73-76), CU (81-85), CB (69) - FB

7th: FB (88-91), F-SL (74-75), CU (82)

2) Jeff Suppan: 90 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

1st: FB (88-91), SL (83-87), CU (82-84) - SL

2nd: FB (86-91), SL (84-87), CU (81-83), CB (73) - FB

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (85-86), CU (81-83)

4th: FB (87-91), SL (86-87), CU (79-81), CB (73)

5th: FB (87-92), SL (87-89), CU (82-83), CB (74-75)

3) Mark DiFelice: 3 pitches. (Cut, FB, CU, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a straight 4-seam fastball.

5th: FB (87), Cut (83-84)

4) Carlos Villanueva: 25 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, Changeup

• Villanueva 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 that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 slider with good bite that looks more like a power curve and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

6th: FB (90-91), CU (82), SL (82), CB (72) - 2 SL

7th: FB (89-92), CU (82-83), SL (79-83), CB (66-73) - 3 SL, CU

5) Mike Burns: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

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

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CB (72) - 3 FB, SL

6) Nick Masset: 10 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

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

8th: FB (96-98), CB (84), Split (91) - Split.

7) Chris Narveson: 22 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, SL). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

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

9th: FB (87-92), CB (71-72), CU (79-81) - FB, CU

8) Jared Burton: 21 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Burton came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut and some sink,

9th: Cut (92-95) - Cut

9) Arthur Rhodes: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rhodes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties

9th: FB (92-94)

10) Francisco Cordero: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Cordero is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out that may have a little bit of bad weight. He came from an over the top release and showed a hard, sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (97-99), SL (91-93) - FB

Chart Observations (7/8): CIN @ PHI

Picked up this extra chart on the day of, so that is the reason I chose not to update last night (that and the fact I played tennis, but the above sounded more professional)

1) Homer Bailey: 95 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 5th)

• Bailey is a 23 year old who stands 6-3, 210. The righty has a medium frame that can get up to 220. He comes from an over the top release with a little Ubaldo Jimenez like arm action where he likes to straighten the arm on the backtake, but fairly quiet delivery. He throws 2 different types of fastballs, a 4-seam that is fairly straight and a 2-seam that can flash above average run in on righties with some sink, but it can flatten out. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His split has some dive, but can look more like a straight change and it served as his out pitch to lefties early until he realized it literally wasn't moving... His slider is a hard, sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Bailey will never reach the expectations he has had, but it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to be a middle of the rotation guy. He threw all 3 of his off-speed pitches between 5 and 10 % of the time and will always rely on his fastball, which he had good command of. I think he will be an above average # 3 starter in about 3 or 4 years.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (76-78), Split (87)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (76), SL (86)

3rd: FB (92-95), SL (85-86), Split (86-89)

4th: FB (91-96), CB (76), SL (85-87), Split (86-89)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (78-79), SL (86-88), Split (89-90)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (76-77), SL (86-88)

2) Rodrigo Lopez (He's Back!): 69 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 2 on Sliders (1st, 2nd)

• Lopez is a 6-1, 185 pound righty. The 33 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His change has some fade from lefties with some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. His cutter has some cut that he can throw to either corner, but prefers to throw it in on the hands of lefties. He will throw his change to righties. Won't kill you in the NL as a 5th starter.

1st: FB (86-90), CU (83-84), SL (81-84), Cut (89)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (85), SL (80-84), Cut (88-91)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (80), Cut (89)

4th: FB (86-91), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), Cut (88-89)

5th: FB (82-84) *left the game following this inning due to an injury and his arm speed was noticeably slower.

3) Chad Durbin: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters (6th, 7th)

• Durbin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink.

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (87-89), CB (77), CU (80)

7th: FB (89-93), Cut (86-89), CB (77-78), CU (80)

4) J.C. Romero: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (90-91)

5) Nick Masset: 15 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball, 4 Splitters.

• Masset is a 6-4, 235 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has good run in on righties with good sink. His splitter has above average dive and is a late breaking pitch. I am a huge fan of him and think he can be utilized similar to Scot Shields was with the Angels.

7th: FB (93-96), Split (88-90), SL (86)

6) Arthur Rhodes: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Rhodes is a 6-2, 210 pound lefty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite. Solid lefty setup man.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (80-84)

7) Dave Weathers: 28 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (8th)

• Weathers is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties and solid sink. Another solid set-up guy.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (83-85)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (82-85), CU (85-86)

8) Ryan Madson: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (96-98), CU (84-85), Cut (93)

9th: FB (94-96), CU (83), Cut (90-93)

STL @ CIN

• Johnny Cueto is a very talented pitcher, but he is not better then Edinson Volquez. Cueto works with a fastball in the low to mid 90's, a solid average slider in the mid 80's and a decent change in the mid 80's. He has much better command then Volquez (probably above average), but Volquez's stuff is much better. Cueto is a very good # 3 starter and if he can tighten his slider a little more, he is a # 2. I think his ceiling is that of a # 2 for a contender.
• Joel Pineiro is a very useful starter to have at the back-end if your a contender. He attacks hitters with a high 80's fastball, mid 80's slider that moves like a cutter, mid to high 70's curve and mid 80's change. None of his pitches are great and he has occasional command problems, but he finds the "pitchability" to get hitters to put the ball in play weakly. He is pitching at his ceiling now and if he can maintain strong command, he should be a solid # 5 starter.
• Chris Perez lacked the explosive stuff I thought he had. He threw a low 90's fastball and mid 80's slider with some command issues. He still has the upside of a closer, but he seems to be a set-up man with his current offerings. He needs to refine his command tighten his slider a little bit more to reach his ceiling.
• Brad Thompson is an extra arm for a bullpen that can give you multiple innings. As long as he is earning the minimum, he is a good guy to have in a pen. If he is earning more, you are vastly overpaying. He attacks with a high 80's fastball and low 80's slider.
• Arthur Rhodes just keeps getting the job done. It appears he has lost very little from his fastball and he commands it so well that he doesn't need his mid 80's slider to be amazing. His fastball sat in the low 90's tonight.
• When Dave Weathers is missing in the zone, he is in trouble, as he throws a high 80's fastball and mid 80's slider. He typically has plus command, but you always have to wonder about a reliever his age and his ability to maintain his stuff for the season.
• Jared Burton got out his one guy. Burton attacks with a high 80's to low 90's cutter (Mariano style), a low 80's slider and a low 90's fastball.
• Francisco Cordero was great, with a mid 90's fastball and disappearing mid to high 80's slider. Is a legit closer for a contender and is pitching extremely well right now.
• Not sure why Tony La Russa stole Joe Thurston in the 9th. That was just bad baseball. Even if he makes it, you don't gain much. The only explanation would be stay out of the double play.

2 Charts tomorrow, with a baseball practice.