9/16: KC @ DET

1) Eddie Bonine: (FB, SL, CB, CU). 82 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Bonine came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and solid sink, a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink that he will throw to righties, a sharp 12-6 knuckle curve with above average depth and a

1st: FB (88-91), CU (84)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (81-84), CB (79-84) - FB (Olivo)

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (81-83), CB (78)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (80-82), CB (76-81)

5th: FB (87-89), CU (79-82), CB (77-78)

2) Lenny DiNardo: (FB, CU, CB). 104 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Changeups, Curveball.

• DiNardo is a 6-2, 220 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and doesn't look 220 at all. Looks like a stringbean and is very thin. He came from a high 3/4 release. He has a violent head jerk in his delivery, but that is the only real red flag. His change has some fade from lefties with some sink. His main fastball is a cutter with good cut and solid sink. His change is straight with a little sink. His curve is a 10-5 with average depth that can just hang at times. Likes to throw the cutter in on righties and let them roll over on it and ground out to third. Could be a back of the rotation option in the NL with a team with a good defensive SS and 3B, but that is about it.

1st: FB (81-85), CU (76-77), CB (70-72) - 2 FB (Thames - 2)

2nd: FB (84-86), CU (76), CB (70-74) - CB (Granderson), CU (Inge)

3rd: FB (82-86), CU (75-76) - 3 FB (Ordonez, Polanco, Everett), CU (Everett)

4th: FB (83-86), CU (77), CB (72)

5th: FB (83-86), CU (75-76), CB (72)

6th: FB (83-87), CU (76-78), CB (74)

3) Zach Miner: (FB, SL, CB, CU). 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and in 3-2 counts and a

6th: FB (90-93), CB (74), CU (78-80) - 2 CU (Olivo - 2)

4) Jamey Wright: (FB, CB, Cut, Split). 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Wright came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 curve with above average depth, a cutter with some cut and some sink

6th: FB (91-94), CB (80-82) - 2 CB (Huff - 2)

7th: FB (91-93), CB (76-79), Cut (86)

5) Bobby Seay: (FB, SL, CU). 22 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a 9-4 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties.

7th: FB (92-93), SL (81-82)

8th: FB (91-92), SL (80-82)

6) Roman Colon: (FB, SL, Split). 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

7th: FB (93), SL (79-82) - 2 FB (Laird - 2)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (79-82), Split (87) - SL (Everett)

7) Brandon Lyon: (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Jacobs.

• Lyon came from a high 3/4 release with a cutter with good cut and some sink and a fastball with some run in on righties

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (87-91) - FB (Jacobs)

8) Fernando Rodney: (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (93-97), CU (83-87)

Chart Observations: 8/9 DET @ MIN

1) Jarrod Washburn: 96 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 5th)

• Washburn came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some late run in on lefties, a 10-4 slider with good bite, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth. He only threw the slider to the lefties.

1st: FB (85-89), Cut (86-87), SL (80)

2nd: FB (86-88), Cut (84-87), CU (79-84)

3rd: FB (84-89), SL (79)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (82), CB (69)

5th: FB (85-89), SL (77-79), CU (80), CB (69)

6th: FB (85-89), CU (80-82), CB (68-70)

2) Scott Baker: 72 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th), Slider (4th), Curveball (5th)

• Baker came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with some sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a 2-7 slider with okay bite and a change with some fade from lefties with some sink.

1st: FB (88-93), SL (81-86), CB (75)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (80-86), CB (75-77), CU (85)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (77), CU (85)

4th: FB (88-94), SL (79-85), CB (78-79), CU (82-83)

5th: FB (90), SL (80-86), CB (78-80), CU (84)

3) Bob Keppel: 41 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Keppel is a 6-5, 215 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that can get up to 225. He came form an over the top release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite, a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth. Pitching to his potential now, which is a long reliever in the majors.

5th: FB (92-95), SL (85-88), CB (80)

6th: FB (93-94), CB (80-81)

7th: FB (93-96), SL (88-89), CB (79-80)

4) Bobby Seay: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and shwoed a fastball with some late run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (80-82)

5) Ryan Perry: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Perry came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a straight 4-seam fastball.

7th: FB (95-97), SL (85-87)

6) Matt Guerrier: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Guerrier came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth. He likes to backdoor righties with his changeup.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (86-87), CB (79-80), CU (81-83)

7) Brandon Lyon: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Lyon came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink, a cutter with solid cut and a 1-7 curve with good depth.

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (88-91), CB (78-79)

8) Fernando Rodney: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Rodney came from a 3/4 release and showed a change with above average sink and good fade from lefties and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (96-99), CU (82-86)

DET @ CLE: DET Pitchers

1) Edwin Jackson: 115 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3 in 4th), 7 on Sliders (2 in 1st, 3 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th)

• Jackson is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade and solid sink. He had solid command, but the break on his slider was inconsistent and he struggled to put hitters away, despite his gaudy swing and miss total. Last night was a bad night for him, but he still has frontline pitcher stuff.

1st: FB (93-98), SL (86-92), CU (86-87)

2nd: FB (94-99), SL (88-90), CU (87)

3rd: FB (95-99), SL (86-90), CU (86)

4th: FB (94-99), SL (84-92)

2) Zach Miner: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a change with good late fade from lefties with solid sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite. His change is his out pitch and he will throw it to righties.

5th: FB (91-94), CU (80-82), SL (82-83), CB (76)

3) Fu Te Ni: 20 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (89-91), SL (77-80), CU (81)

4) Ryan Perry: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

• Perry came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a big breaking 1-7 slider with above average bite that is more like a slurve.

6th: FB (96-98), SL (85-86)

7th: FB (94-96), SL (84-87)

5) Bobby Seay: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties and a little sink and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (81)

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

6) Fernando Rodney: 29 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 3 Changeups (all in 9th)

• Rodney is a 5-11, 220 pound righty. The 32 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and featured a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink and a fastball with a little run in on righties. The change is his out pitch and he will throw it to righties. When his command is right, he is a talented closer and should make some money this year in free agency.

8th: FB (95-97), CU (83-84)

9th: FB (94-97), CU (81-86)

7) Brandon Lyon: 41 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (11th), 4 Curveballs (3 in 11th, 12th)

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

10th: FB (93-94), CB (76-80), Cut (90-91)

11th: FB (92-93), CB (78-80), Cut (89-91)

12th: FB (93-94), CB (78), Cut (89-91)

8) Casey Fien: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Fien is a 6-2, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a 2-7 with above average bite and he threw quite a few of them. He seemed to have good command of his slider and has all the tools to be a solid middle reliever.

13th: FB (93-94), SL (80-82)

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.

Chart Observations: DET @ MIN

• Armando Galarraga got the start for Detroit and showed good command of his fastball-slider combination. He sat at 88-93 with his fastball and 84-88 with his slider, while throwing a changeup at 81-85. He attacks from a low 3/4 arm angle, giving his slider a little extra cut. He threw more sliders then changeups in this game and I am unsure as to whether that is typical or not. His fastball shows some good fade, but it is still just an average pitch and his slider is just an average pitch movement wise. Both these pitches play up due to his plus command and he can put the slider wherever he wants. His changeup is below average and I see him as more a # 4 starter then a solid middle of the rotation starter.
• Kevin Slowey opposed him and kept hitters off balance with a fastball sitting at 87-90, a changeup at 80-85, a cutter at 82-86, a curveball at 72-75 and a slider at 81-83. Slowey mixed his pitches very well and worked through his struggles early in the game in regards to getting the fastball down. He works fast and typically pounds the ball in the strike zone. He is likely pitching at his peak, a middle of the rotation starter that is a better fit as a # 4 then a # 3. It isn't out of the realm of possiblity to see him add some velocity due to the fact his frame is still somewhat developing.
• Ryan Perry continued to look good with his fastball, sitting at 93-98 and was usually 94-96. He threw a slider at 81-84 that is pretty fringe. He still has the same upside due to his velocity on the heater, but I doubt he makes it, as he needs a secondary pitch and command. Reminds me a lot of David Aardsma when he first came up.
• Brandon Lyon was 91-92 with his fastball and threw a 75 mile per hour curveball. He just doesn't impress me. He has good above average command, but his stuff isn't that good. He is a decent middle reliever, as the NL West helped mask a lot of his deficiencies.
• Jesse Crain struggled commanding his fastball, which sat at 93-94 and he threw one curveball at 77. Still a quality middle reliever and I actually prefer his stuff to Matt Guerrier's in regards to a set-up role, but Guerrier has much better command. Guerrier sat at 91-92 with his fastball, 84-85 with his slider and 78-79 with his curveball. Both of these guys are strong set-up men.
• Jose Mijares threw much better this outing then his previous one. He sat at 90-94 with his fastball, 81-84 with his slider and 82 with his changeup. His slider is a tick above average, his changeup is average and his fastball is above average. His command has always been his bug-a-boo and when it is on, he is a set-up type reliever who can get out right handers, but when his command isn't, he is a LOOGY who needs someone ready in case of walks.
• Joe Nathan was 92-95 with his 4-seamer, 88 with his 2-seam, 89 with his slider and 82-83 with his curveball. Great collection of pitches, as all rate at least above average and he has plus command. One of the best.

MIN @ DET

• Francisco Liriano had command and control of his 3 pitch mix (a low to mid 90's fastball, mid 80's slider, mid 80's change) and used it to keep Detroit off balance all night. He is starting to round into his old form. One more step up in his command of his off-speed stuff and he will be back to being the Johan Santana replacement the Twins thought they had.
• Edwin Jackson also looked very good. Jackson attacked hitters with a mid 90's fastball, a low 80's curveball, a high 80's slider and a mid 80's change. Jackson generates easy velocity in a clean motion. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. Jackson was I guy who I figured was primed for a breakout moving to a pitchers park in Comerica and he has not disappointed. He is a legitimate # 2 right now and I think this is his ceiling.
• Matt Guerrier attacked hitters with an average low 90's fastball, an above average mid 80's slider and an above average low 80's curve. Solid middle and set-up reliever and he also is likely pitching at his ceiling right now.
• Brandon Lyon didn't look good with his low 90's sinker and low 70's curveball. He only threw those 2 pitches (and 2 total), but hit a batter and allowed a squeeze bunt attempt.
• Clay Rapada is your typical sidearming LOOGY candidate. He features a mid 80's fastball and low 70's sweeping slider. There isn't a whole lot of difference between him and Javier Lopez except for the track record. Who knows if he can be a LOOGY? All it takes is one year of throwing well to lefties to establish a reputation. He has the talent to be one if his command can improve a little.
• Ryan Perry features a hard, high 90's fastball and a low 80's slider. The fastball is plus and his slider is a big breaker that is just average. He has some struggles with his command in the zone and his control to get the ball there. I personally think he was rushed, but Detroit is trying to win now and he is definitely one of their better relievers. If he develops his command, he is a closer. If not, he may be a Jorge Julio/Greg Aquino type reliever.
• Denard Span had a very good night at the plate, going 4-5. He has a very quiet set-up and his bat head stays in the zone for a long time. He has definitely turned a corner and can be a starting CF and lead-off hitter in this league for a long time.

Got an extra chart followed by an extra score of Houston and Washington at 12:30. Features Roy Oswalt and Scott Olsen.