Chart Observations: 10/3 SF @ SD

1) Barry Zito: 85 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 8 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, 2 Curveballs, Changeup.

• Zito is a 6-4, 215 pound lefty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is still skinny and can still add weight if he so desires. He came from a high 3/4 release with his typical mechanics and they are pretty clean. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and some sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with okay bite. His change has good fade from righties and above average sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth, but isn't as good as it used to be, though it shows flashes of that old curveball. Left the game after taking an Adrian Gonzalez liner off his throwing arm. Solid # 4 starter.

1st: FB (86-89), SL (80), CB (73-75), CU (73-76) - SL (Venable)

2nd: FB (85-88), CB (71-74), CU (72) - CB (Blanco), CU (Correia)

3rd: FB (85-87), SL (80-81), CB (71-73), CU (76) - SL (A. Gonzalez)

4th: FB (86-87), SL (77-80), CB (72-74) - SL (Venable)

5th: FB (86-88), SL (78-81), CB (74-75), CU (75-76) - SL (Cabrera), CB (Blanco)

6th: FB (86-88), SL (78-81), CB (74-75) - SL (Gonzalez)

2) Kevin Correia: 92 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU, Cut. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Correia came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a change with a little fade from lefties and a little sink.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (86-87), CB (77)

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (85-87), CB (77-78), Cut (88-89) - FB (Rowand)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (87), CB (76-79), Cut (86-89) - CB (Torres)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (85-87), CB (76-77), Cut (90) - FB (Uribe)

5th: FB (90-92), SL (86), CB (76-77), Cut (87)

6th: FB (91-92), SL (85-88), CB (76-77) - FB (Velez)

7th: FB (90-93), SL (85-86), CB (75), Cut (89), CU (85)

3) Brandon Medders: 5 pitches. Cut, CB, FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: Cut (90), FB (90), CB (69-70)

4) Ryan Webb: 23 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Webb came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink and a 1-7 slider with some bite. He has a pretty violent head jerk.

7th: FB (95-98), SL (85-89) - 2 SL (Lewis, Sandoval)

5) Daniel Runzler: 26 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Runzler is a 6-4, 230 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a big frame that is maxed out with a strong lower half. Big, strong kid. He came from a 3/4 release working predominately from the stretch. He brings the ball back in his arm action similar to that of Brad Kilby, but doesn't look too bad. High effort delivery. His fastball has a little late run in on lefties. His slider is a sharp 11-5 with good bite. He has back of the bullpen potential and was impressive despite allowing a home run to Blanco (the first run he allowed in his career, I believe about 10 innings).

7th: FB (94-97), SL (82-85) - 2 FB (Venable, Blanco), 2 SL (Venable, E. Gonzalez)

6) Aaron Poreda: 6 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Poreda came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good sink and some run in on lefties.

8th: FB (93-95)

7) Sergio Romo: 10 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Romo came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sweeping 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink. Appeared to injury his ankle during warmups and tried to pitch through it. Could have, but the Giants played it safe and pulled him.

8th: FB (89-91), SL (77-79), CU (83) - SL (A. Gonzalez)

8) Jeremy Affeldt: 11 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Fastball.

• Affeldt came from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seamer and a sweeping 11-5 curve with average depth.

8th: FB (93)

9th: FB (93-95), CB (78-81) - 2 CB (Venable, Blanco), FB (Blanco)

9) Ernesto Frieri: 13 pitches. FB, CB. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Frieri is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that appears to be able to add a little more muscle to about 210. Athletic build that can get a little bigger in the lower half. He came from an over the top release working predominately from the stretch. He has a cocking arm action at the bottom of his arm circle where he straightens his arm out and re-accelerates through to pitch. He also has a fairly violent head jerk. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curve is a sweeping 1-7 with average depth. He should be a solid middle reliever with the chance to grow into a set-up man if he refines his command. His command is average right now, but a lot of his strikes in this game were down the middle as opposed to on the corners.

9th: FB (94-95), CB (78-79) - FB (Torres)

• Buster Posey is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 22 year old righty hitter/thrower has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, but is close to maxed out. He has a slightly open, crouched stance with his hands held in a generic position just behind his head with a little bat wiggle. Similar stance to Michael Young, but a little more crouched. His trigger is a leg kick and a cocking of the bat that has a lot of action to it, that I think will leave him a little more prone to slumps. His actions are good behind the plate, but he doesn't cover his throwing hand, leaving it exposed to possible foul tips and other things catchers need to worry about. Athletic behind the plate and is quick to get out of his crouch for little squibbers in front of the plate. Appears to be an average or slightly above average arm.

9/22 SF @ ARI

1) Doug Davis: Cut, FB, CB, CU. 116 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Fastball, Changeup.

• Davis is a 6-4, 215 pound lefty. The 34 year old has a big frame that is still skinny, but likely won't be adding any more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with a very slow delivery with a big pause in it at the balance point. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. His change has some fade from righties and some sink. His cutter has good cut and some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with average depth. Has a tendency to miss up with his pitches. Solid # 5 starter in the NL, not too much more.

1st: FB (84-87), Cut (82-85), CU (77-78)

2nd: FB (84-86), Cut (81-84), CU (78-79), CB (67-70) - CB (Velez)

3rd: FB (85), Cut (83-84), CU (74-78)

4th: FB (83-85), Cut (81-83), CU (78), CB (68)

5th: FB (85-86), Cut (81-82), CU (78), CB (68-69)

6th: FB (85), Cut (81-83), CU (78-79), CB (67-69) - CU (Rowand)

7th: FB (82-85), Cut (79-81), CU (77), CB (68) - FB (Torres)

8th: FB (84-87), Cut (80-84), CU (77-78), CB (67-70) - CB (Uribe)

2) Matt Cain: FB, SL, CB, CU. 53 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs.

• Cain came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83-86), CB (76) - 2 FB (Young, Upton)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (82-87), CB (75-76), CU (85) - 5 FB (Parra, Ryal, Davis - 3)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (85-86), CB (77) - 2 FB (Reynolds, Upton)

3) Waldis Joaquin: FB, SL, CU. 20 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Joaquin is a 6-2, 235 pound righty. The 22 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release, though he may put a little stress on his elbow due to his shoulder flying open and leaving just his right arm to take the torque of the throw. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with some bite that can be straight and that he will throw 3-2. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. Really battles his command and is more of a thrower. Has the potential to be a late inning reliever, but will likely be a middle guy, as I have my doubts about him staying healthy and/or refining his command.

3rd: FB (94-99), SL (85-88), CU (83) - 3 FB (Ryal - 2, Young)

4) Madison Bumgarner: FB, SL, CU. 39 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

• Bumgarner is a 6-4, 215 pound lefty. The 20 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but he already has a strong lower half with an athletic frame. He came from a 3/4 release with a whipping arm action. A lot of stopping and starting in his mechanics. He has some cocking arm action and a slight pause at the balance point. I have my concerns about him being able to make 35 starts in a season consistenlty. Hides the ball well. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. Has late giddy-up to it. His slider is a sweeping 10-5 with solid bite. The slider serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties and he can add and subtract from it as he sees the hitter adjust. His change has some fade from righties and some sink. Hard to tell. Looks like a # 2 or # 3 starter, but may need to add a curve outside of his slider to have the variety of speeds. Would be a dominant reliver.

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (77-79) - SL (Upton)

4th: FB (89-91), SL (74-80), CU (82-83) - 3 SL (Reynolds - 2, Allen), FB (Reynolds)

5) Brandon Medders: FB, SL, CU, CB. 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Sliders.

• Medders came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little cutting action that also has running action in on righties at time, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

5th: FB (89-90), CB (70), CU (77)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (68-72), SL (80-82) - 2 CB (Montero, Reynolds), SL (Reynolds)

6) Randy Johnson: FB, SL, Split. 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Johnson is a 6-10, 255 pound lefty. The 46 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle, but won't. He came from a 3/4 release with his typical delivery. His slider is a 9-4 with good bite. His fastball has some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (88-90), SL (81-84) - 3 SL (Parra, Allen, Davis)

7) Juan Gutierrez: FB, SL, CB, CU. 33 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (94), SL (83-85)

9th: FB (92-95), SL (81-84), CB (78) - 2 FB (Sandoval, Uribe)

8) Merkin Valdez: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a big breaking 1-7 slider with average bite and a split with some dive.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (82-84), Split (86-87)

• Rusty Ryal is a 26 year old second basemen. The 6-2, 200 pound righty hitter/thrower has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and looks a little bit like a twig. He has an open stance with a bat wiggle and a crouch. His trigger is a stride to square himself up and a cocking of the bat. Swing is built to go opposite way. His fielding mechanics look smooth and he has a slightly above average arm. Looks to be able to handle multiple infield positions and could play in the outfield.
• Buster Posey: Pop Time - 1.5 to 3rd.

8/21: SF @ COL

1) Aaron Cook: 47 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 3rd)

• Cook came from an over the top release and showed a sinker with good run in on righties and good sink that was hard, a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite and a 12-6 curve with below average depth. He left the game with an injury, which shouldn't surprise you looking at his velocities.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (82-88), CB (78)

2nd: FB (85-91), SL (84)

3rd: FB (86-89)

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

2) Jonathan Sanchez: 91 pitches. 14 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs (4 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th), 5 Sliders (1st, 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th)

• Sanchez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 9-4 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from righties with sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (80-84), CU (87)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (81-82)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (78-81)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (81-82)

5th: FB (90-93), SL (78-82)

3) Josh Fogg: 45 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 6th), 6 Cutters (4th, 4 in 5th, 6th), 2 Changeups (4th, 6th), Curveball (6th)

• Fogg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with some cut, a change with some fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

4th: FB (86-88), Cut (84-86), CU (82-84)

5th: FB (88), Cut (84-87), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (87-88), Cut (83-86), CU (82-83), CB (74)

4) Brandon Medders: 29 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Medders came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some cut to it, a slow 12-6 curve that can just hang that he will throw 3-2, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink.

6th: FB (88-91), CB (69-72), SL (79-86)

7th: FB (89-90), CB (70-71), CU (78-79)

5) Sergio Romo: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (91-92), SL (75-79)

6) Jeremy Affeldt: 28 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Curveballs (all in 8th)

• Affeldt came from an over the top release and showed a sweeping 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth, a change with some run in on righties and some sink and a straight 4-seam fastball.

7th: FB (95-96), CB (80-81)

8th: FB (94-96), CB (80-81), CU (88)

7) Adam Eaton: 42 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (7th), 2 Cutters (both in 8th), Changeup (8th), Slider (8th)

• Eaton came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with some cut, a change with a little fade from lefties, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (88-90), Cut (85-87), CB (72-74), CU (82-83), SL (80)

8th: FB (88-91), Cut (84-89), CB (70-76), CU (82-83), SL (79-81)

8) Joe Beimel: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

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

9th: FB (85-89), CB (74), CU (78)

9) Brian Wilson: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Wilson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and sink and a cutter with good cut and sink.

9th: FB (93-99), Cut (86-91)

Chart Observations: SF @ ATL

Who needs a full day off?

1) Derek Lowe: 92 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 3rd, 5th, 6th), 2 on Cutters (2nd, 3rd), 2 on Changeups (both in 1st) and a Slider (5th)

• Lowe came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sinker with some run in on righties and above average late sink, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink. He also has returned to throwing his cutter apparently, throwing about 9 with an intended location of in on lefties.

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

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (82), CU (84), Cut (86)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (81-83), CU (84), Cut (86-87)

4th: FB (88-90), CU (83), Cut (86)

5th: FB (87-90), SL (81-82), Cut (85-87)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (80)

2) Ryan Sadowski: 75 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 3rd), 2 on Cutters (1st, 3rd), Curveball (4th).

• Sadowski is a 6-4, 195 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, at least to 210. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties with average sink. He will also mix in a rare straight 4-seam fastball. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. His cutter has some cut and some sink and he likes to throw the pitch in on the hands of lefties as an out pitch. His change is straight with a little sink and is below average. Basically, he has 3 average offerings and profiles as no better then a # 5.

1st: FB (88-92), Cut (87-89), CB (74-77)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (77)

3rd: FB (88-90), Cut (85-87), CB (76)

4th: FB (85-89), Cut (81-87), CB (76-77), CU (79)

3) Justin Miller: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Splitters (4th), Fastball (5th)

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with average dive.

4th: FB (86), SL (78-79), Split (77-78)

5th: FB (86-88), SL 76-77), Split (78)

4) Merkin Valdez: 34 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (7th), Slider (6th)

• Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a split with average dive and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

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

7th: FB (94-97), SL (83-85), Split (85)

5) Brandon Medders: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Medders came from an over the top release with a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch and a fastball with some cut to it.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (83), CB (69-73)

6) Peter Moylan: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Moylan came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite and a change that moves just like his fastball, but slower.

7th: FB (89-92), SL (78-79), CU (80)

7) Eric O'Flaherty: 14 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• O'Flaherty came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good sink and some run in on righties, a 11-5 slider with above average bite and a straight change with some late fade from righties.

8th: FB (89-93), SL (82-83), CU (83)

8) Manny Acosta: 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball

• Acosta came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (93-95), CB (81-84), CU (85)

2 Charts tomorrow.

LAA @ SF: Pitchers

• Jonathan Sanchez is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame taht can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and his stuff is nowhere near where it was last year. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that appears to have lost a couple miles per hour of velocity. His slider is a 9-4 pitch that no longer has great bite and is more slurvy. His change shows some fade and sink and is now his best off-speed pitch. He can battle his command from pitch to pitch and outing to outing. The Giants may need to sell now while he still has value, as he is now just a # 5 starter. He could be a dynamite reliever if he returns to the mid 90's with his fastball.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (80-83), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (79-82), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (78-82), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (88-91), SL (79-82), CU (84-85)

• Sean O'Sullivan was very impressive in his major league debut. He is a 6-2, 230 pound righty. The 21 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and he is carrying some bad weight. He may have a gut and needs to work some of that bad weight off and he will likely see his velocity rise. He comes from an over the top release. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a moderate head jerk. His fastball is a 2-seam sinker with some sink and fade and is more comparable to Mike Pelfrey as opposed to Brandon Webb. His slider or curveball (it is one pitch, just not sure which one), is a 3-9 type pitch with good bite, though it can also just float to the plate. His changeup shows great fade and sink and will throw it to both righties and lefties and even throw it inside to lefties. It flashes plus. He did an excellent job of keeping the ball down at the knees all night and rarely missed up. A guy that could grow into being a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79), CU (77-78)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (77-82)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (77-79), CU (77-78)

5th: FB (90-91), SL (77-81)

6th: FB (88-93), SL (79-83), CU (75-77)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (78-81), CU (75-76)

• Justin Miller is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade and sink, a 2-7 slider with decent bite and a split with some good dive and is average. Solid reliever, but more of a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

4th: FB (87), Split (80)

5th: FB (87-89), SL (79-81), Split (79-81)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (78-79), Split (79-80)

• Brandon Medders is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some sink and fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and his curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. Borderline major league pitcher.

7th: FB (88-89), CB (70-72), SL (82-84)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (70-71), SL (80-82)

• Justin Speier is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 35 year old has a medium to big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade and sink. His slider is a 3-9 offering with good side to side movement. His splitter shows good dive and he has solid command of it. Solid middle reliever.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (84), Split (81-82)

• Jason Bulger is a 6-4, 210 pound righty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some fade and sink. His curveball is a power 12-7 pitch with good depth. His change has some sink and a little fade. The command of all his pitches are very inconsistent. Middle reliever is his upside and he is close to it now. He is a major league pitcher if he is throwing strikes.

9th: FB (92-96), CB (78-80), CU (83-85)

• Jeremy Affeldt is a 6-5, 225 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add quite a bit more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade, a 11-4 curveball with good depth and a straight change with some sink. Good middle reliever who can face both righties and lefties.

9th: FB (92-94), CB (75-78), CU (86-89)

NYM @ SF

• I got to watch Johan Santana pitch for the 1st time in about 2 years and he is definitely amongst the best pitchers in the majors. He was at 89-93 with his fastball, 79-84 with his changeup and 82-86 with his slider. The bad part of this is the Mets seem to take off everyday he pitches, making errors or just not hitting, or both. His fastball is above average due to his plus command, his changeup is plus-plus and his slider was above average. He mainly was FB-CU and had guys way out in front or swinging over the top of his change. If the Mets can ever play defense behind him, his pitch counts would become much more manageable. A legit # 1.
• Randy Johnson has lost some stuff. He was 88-94 with his fastball, 84-88 with the slider and 83-86 with the splitter. Johnson's slider is now merely a plus pitch and his fastball is slightly above average. The splitter is just an average offering. He still has plus-plus command, but now gets punished when he misses in the zone or teams bloops fall in and both happened to him today. He is a back of the rotation starter for a contender though with his ability to eat up innings and is a valuable pitcher.
• Justin Miller was picked up by the Giants from the Marlins. He features a fastball at 87-91 and a slider at 78-82. Nothing about this guy is plus. He struggled with his command (I would say it is below average), his fastball is average and his slider may be a tick above average. He has a slight amount of extra movement in his stretch, as the lead foot comes down, then out. Not sure if its anything, but it is a different thing. He seems to be in the mold of Vinnie Chulk or Kiko Calero, but just doesn't have the stuff to be that. Organizational reliever.
• Merkin Valdez demonstrated his plus arm featuring a fastball at 95-97 and a slider at 85. Valdez was once a top prospect before he had multiple arm surgeries, but he has a plus fastball and a plus slider with average command from a high 3/4 release point and you have to think the more innings he throws, the more his command will develop. I think this kid is a future closer, though he will need to be quick to shed his injury-prone label and show an ability to pitch on back-to-back days.
• Pat Misch is another reliever who didn't show much. From a 3/4 release, he was 85-89 with his fastball, 84 with his slider, 75-78 with his curveball and 80-82 with his changeup. I liked his curveball, but when you sit at 85-89 with your fastball and only show a little above average command, your error zone gets a lot smaller. I think he is a long reliever in a pen, but he isn't a guy who has LOOGY potential, as his curveball isn't a true out or plus pitch, but just above average. His changeup was also a touch above average, making him a good candidate to face both righties and lefties.
• Bobby Parnell was another lightning arm on display this afternoon. He was 94-98 with his fastball and 81-85 with his slider. His slider is average, though it has flashed above average a few times I have seen him and his command is also just average. I wouldn't expect him to maintain a sub 2 ERA all season, but it isn't out of the question for a sub 3 ERA and being a solid 7th inning guy if he doesn't get victimized too badly by the Mets defense or balls in play. Parnell's upside is that of a closer, though I think he will settle in as a set-up man.
• Brandon Medders finished the game for the Giants and got hit around a little bit. Once a hard throwing right hander in the Diamondbacks system, he has made himself into a command and control type pitcher (whether it's an upgrade or not is debatable). He featured a cut fastball at 88-91 (may just be natural cut, but it is a cutter), a curveball at 68-70 and a slider at 80-83. Only the cutter was a real above average pitch and that is only due to the fact he can typically spot it. He only has above average command, so he does tend to leave pitches out over the plate and with his new velocity, he gets hit. His curveball is a plus offering, but is no out pitch, as it is too slow and easy to fight off. Another guy who features best as a 10th or 11th guy in the pen. He will likely continue riding the bus to Fresno and back.
• J.J. Putz got the save for the Mets and featured his 4-seam fastball at 94-96, a slider at 82 and a splitter at 84-86. The splitter had very good bite today. When the splitter doesn't have good bite, he is forced to rely on his fastball to left handers and that is how he gets hit. His slider is above average and his fastball is also above average. His command is above average, but when he misses with the fastball, he tends to miss up. If he can continue to be consistent with his splitter, he is a luxury for the Mets, as he is a closer pitching the 8th inning.
• Manny Burriss, a 6-0 190 pound 23 year old, is a switch hitter with a small frame that can add quite a bit more muscle (though if he does, he likely loses some speed). From the right side, he features a crouched stance. He is a plus runner who understands his strengths and looks to pound the ball on the ground. He moves his weight back as the pitcher is about to release. From the left side, he features a crouched stance, but also opens himself up to see the ball better. He may be a tad overexposed as a starting 2Bmen, though he fits their park very well with his speed. I think he winds up being a super utility guy that can play everywhere (he came up as a SS) and being the top guy off a bench for a contender. A career like Chone Figgins also isn't out of question.
• Pablo Sandoval, a 5-11 245 pound 22 year old, is a switch hitter with a squatty build and a body that would be described by scouts as bad. He has huge thighs, which have to worry you as he ages. His frame is currently maxed out (hard to tell if it is good or bad). He shows a fairly stright up stance and takes a big leg kick right before the pitcher release. He is a below average runner. He is more or of a line drive gap hitter then a masher. His upside is likely close to that of a starting 3B. If he was able to catch everyday, he would be immensely more valuable. The only problem with his as a corner infielder is I don't believe he will show the power needed from those positions and doesn't offer too much defensively. He is the classic defensive tweener, as he can't play OF, can play manageable corner infield spots, but you wish you had someone better there and he can spot catch, but you don't want him catching everyday. I think he is good enough to establish himself as an everyday 3B for a team that gets its power elsewhere (like Philly) and is a guy that will be a .280-.330-.440 guy in his prime. Very aggressive hitter that won't walk much.
• Travis Ishikawa, a 6-3 225 pound 25 year old, has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He features a slightly open stance that is nearly identical to that of teammate Fred Lewis. You would think he would have power his frame, but he also appears to be another gap-hitting San Francisco corner infielder. He is a tweener to me, but a tweener in the sense I think he is a 4-A player. He doesn't offer much in regards to batting average (probably about a .260 hitter), power (maybe 15 home runs, that's the max), defense (kind of lead footed and doesn't have great hands) or speed (just an average runner). Sounds like a 4-A player to me. John Bowker is hitting .317 in AAA. Sounds like its his turn again in the "Who Wants to Play First Base for the Giants And Not Be Worthless?" gameshow.
• Bengie Molina's catch and throw ability has really deteriorated. He is slow in his exchange, it appears his arm angle has dropped causing the ball to tail towards second base and his arm is just average. However, he is their best hitter, so he will continue to play. It actually scares me to what Sandoval's defensive is like back there, as I would think playing Molina at 1B could be a better option (who knows at this point, he has to be better then John Bowker).