Chart Observations: 9/1 BOS @ TB

1) Jon Lester: 97 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut, CU). 12 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, 3 Cutters, Changeup

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

1st: FB (92-94), CB (77), Cut (88-89), CU (83-84) - CB, CU

2nd: FB (92-95), CB (76-80), Cut (87-90), CU (84) - FB, Cut, CB

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (87-88)

4th: FB (91-95), CB (77-79), Cut (88), CU (84) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), CB (78-79), Cut (87-90) - 2 FB, Cut

6th: FB (90-95), CB (76-78), Cut (86-88), CU (82) - Cut, CB

2) Andy Sonnanstine: 91 pitches. (Cut, FB, CB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Curveball, Slider.

• Sonnanstine came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and a touch of sink, a 12-6 curve with below average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties and a touch of sink, but it can straighten out.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (86-89), CB (75-78), SL (78-82) - Cut

2nd: FB (86-88), Cut (86-89), CB (75-77), SL (77-80)

3rd: FB (85-87), Cut (84-86), CB (73), SL (76-80)

4th: FB (85-87), Cut (84-86), CB (75), SL (76-80), CU (80) - CB, SL

5th: Cut (82-84), SL (78) - Cut

3) Brian Shouse: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Shouse came from a sidearm, almost submarine release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and good sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite.

5th: FB (79-80), SL (74)

4) Lance Cormier: 19 pitches. (Cut, FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

5th: Cut (86-87), CB (77-78)

6th: Cut (86-87), CB (76-77), FB (87-88)

5) Chad Bradford: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bradford came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties and a flat 3-8 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (79-80), SL (67), CU (73)

6) Randy Choate: 25 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

6th: FB (88-89)

7th: FB (85-88), SL (78) - SL

8th: FB (85-87)

7) Billy Wagner: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Wagner came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a sharp 10-5 slider with good bite

7th: FB (93-94), SL (80-83) - 2 FB, SL

8) Hideki Okajima: 20 pitches. (FB, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a split with a little dive.

8th: FB (85-88), CB (74-77), Split (80-83) - Split.

9) Jonathan Papelbon: 28 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Splitters.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a split with some dive.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (88) - 2 FB

9th: FB (91-95), Split (88) - 2 Split

10) Dan Wheeler: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (88-90), CU (81-83) - CU

11) Grant Balfour: 20 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Balfour 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.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (87) - 2 FB

12) J.P. Howell: 5 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Howell came from an over the top release and showed a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

9th: FB (84-86), CB (79-80)

Score Observations: TOR @ TB (7/8 Game)

1) Brian Tallet: 84 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Slider (4th), 2 Cutters (2nd), 4 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Tallet comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some sink and a little fade from righties that looks like a fastball out of his hand and serves as his out pitch, a cutter with some cut that he likes to throw in on the hands of righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite. Solid back of the rotation guy.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (87-88), CU (82-84)

2nd: FB (87-89), Cut (85-87), CU (82-84)

3rd: FB (86-89), Cut (85-86), CU (81-86), SL (79-80)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (80), SL (77)

2) Scott Kazmir: 107 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 4th, 5th), 4 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Changeup (1st)

• Kazmir 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 and sink and a 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (82), CU (79-81)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (81-82), CU (78-80)

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (80)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (80-82), CU (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (79-82)

6th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (80-81)

7th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CU (76-78)

3) Dirk Hayhurst: 44 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup (4th)

• Hayhurst came from an over the top release and is your typical 4 pitch long reliever. He features a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties. His curve serves as his out pitch. Seems to have the stuff to be a back of the rotation starter (not in the AL East) but is a guy I would target as an NL team in need of a guy to take a chance on.

4th: FB (88-89), CB (74-75), SL (80-82), CU (77-79)

5th: FB (88-89), SL (79-81), CU (77)

6th: FB (88-89), CB (74), SL (79-81), CU (78-79)

4) Grant Balfour: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, though it flashes run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. He fell behind often and was constantly 2-0 and had to throw cockshot fastballs.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (86-87)

5) Jesse Carlson: 28 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good late run in on lefties and a sweeping 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

7th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

6) Chad Bradford: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Bradford is a sidearming righty with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink and a slow 3-9 slider with good bite. The Rays gun had him at 98. Then Chad Bradford was accused of bribing the radar gun. Litigation is in progress.

8th: FB (77-79), SL (65-67)

7) Randy Choate: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate is a sidearming lefty with a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (77-78)

8) Joe Nelson: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Nelson came from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties while his vulcan change is his main pitch and has good fade from lefties with solid sink and he will throw it to righties.

8th: FB (85-89), CU (78)

9) Jason Frasor: 43 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 2 Sliders (8th, 9th), 2 Splitters (8th, 9th)

• Frasor came from an over the top release and showed a fastball that is a pretty straight 4-seam, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with above average late dive. He will throw either of his off-speed pitches in a 3-2 count with something taken off.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (79-84), Split (83-87)

9th: FB (91-93), SL (81), Split (83-85)

10) J.P. Howell: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Howell comes from an over the top release, almost high 3/4. His change is a straight change with some sink. He also throws a fastball with some run in on lefties and good sink and a 11-4 curve with good depth. He has great command and will throw any pitch in any count.

9th: FB (84-85), CU (77-80), CB (81-82)

11) Scott Downs: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a curve that is a sharp 11-5 with good depth.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (76-77)

This was a 4-hour 9 inning game. Good for my paycheck.

Chart Observations: TOR @ TB

1) Marc Rzepczynski: 105 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th), 3 on Sliders (1st, 2nd, 6th) and 2 on Changeups (1st, 6th)

• Marc (not even going to try and respell or pronounce this cats name) is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is close to being maxed out. He has a drop and drive delivery with a 3/4 release. He puts a lot of pressure on his back leg and pushes off very well. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 with solid bite. He throws 2 different types of fastballs: a straight 4-seam and a 2-seam with great run in on lefties and solid sink. His change has great sink and a little run in on righties, but it's break can be inconsistent and it can be straight. He has a lot of confidence in himself, willing (and preferring) to throw 3-2 sliders. He can struggle to finish his pitches and leave any of his pitches in the armside batters box. He has good stuff, but did start to tire as the game went deeper. He has flown through the Jays system, pitching all last season at low A and pitched at AA and AAA before making the bigs this year. I think his ceiling is that of a # 4 starter, but I think his best role is as a LOOGY, as the Rays lefties were extremely uncomfortable in the box against him.

1st: FB (87-88), SL (79-81), CU (83)

2nd: FB (86-88), SL (79-82)

3rd: FB (85-88), SL (79-80), CU (80)

4th: FB (86-88), SL (78-80), CU (81)

5th: FB (85-88), SL (78-80), CU (81)

6th: FB (86-88), SL (79-80), CU (81-82)

2) James Shields: 105 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 5th), 3 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 5th), Cutter (4th)

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a cutter with good cut and a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with above average sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth. He will throw his changeup to righties.

1st: FB (90-92), CU (82), Cut (83-86), CB (78)

2nd: FB (89-91), CU (83), Cut (84-88), CB (74)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (85-87), CB (77-78)

4th: FB (89-91), CU (82), Cut (85-86), CB (76-77)

5th: FB (89-92), CU (81), Cut (86-87)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (82), Cut (86-88), CB (77)

7th: FB (87-91), CU (82-83), Cut (83-87), CB (75)

8th: FB (89-90), Cut (84-85)

3) Shawn Camp: 29 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (7th), Fastball (9th)

• Camp came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a fastball with good run in on righties and sink and a change he will throw to righties with good fade from lefties with sink.

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

8th: FB (85-87), SL (79), CU (81-84)

9th: FB (84-88), SL (79), CU (80-84)

4) Randy Choate: 1 pitch.

• Choate threw a fastball that had some run in Adam Lind.

8th: FB (85)

5) Chad Bradford: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bradford is a 6-5, 215 pound 34 year old. The sidearming righty has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has good run in on righties with a little sink.

8th: FB (78)

6) J.P. Howell: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Howell came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His curveball is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth. His fastball has some run in on lefties with a little sink and his change is a straight change with some sink.

8th: FB (82-84), CB (76-80)

9th: FB (82-84), CB (80-81), CU (79)

7) Dan Wheeler: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (88-89), CU (84), Cut (82)

11th: FB (86-88), CU (82-84), Cut (81), SL (77-81)

8) Brandon League: 31 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters (10th, 2 in 11th)

• League came from a 3/4 release and showed a split with excellent dive, a fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

10th: FB (94-95), Split (84-87)

11th: FB (95-97), Split (85-87), SL (87)