Chart Observations: 9/27 OAK @ LAA

1) Joe Saunders: 89 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Saunders came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 11-5 curve with average depth, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (90-92), CB (79) - FB (Garciaparra)

2nd: FB (88-93), CB (76), CU (81-83)

3rd: FB (88-92), CU (83), SL (81-84)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (76), CU (84)

5th: FB (89-92), CB (74-78), SL (81) - FB (Patterson)

6th: FB (89-91), CB (75-78), CU (83) - CB (Pennington)

7th: FB (88-93), CB (77-78), CU (81-83) - FB (Powell)

2) Edgar Gonzalez: 88 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU, Cut). 9 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Curveballs, 2 Cutters, Changeup, Slider.

• Gonzalez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a cutter with some cut, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a changeup with above average sink and a little fade from lefties that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (84-93), Cut (82-89), SL (76-79), CB (74) - Cut (Izturis), SL (Hunter)

2nd: FB (87-88), Cut (84-85), CB (72-74), CU (77) - Cut (Figgins), CB (Napoli), CU (Napoli)

3rd: FB (88-92), Cut (81-88), SL (76-80), CB (70) - 2 FB (Hunter, Guerrero)

4th: FB (84-92), Cut (80-84), SL (78), CB (71-74), CU (72-75) - FB (Aybar), CB (Hunter)

5th: FB (90-94), SL (76-77), CB (73)

3) Jon Meloan: 16 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, Cut). 0 strikes swinging.

• Meloan is a 6-3, 225 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. Strong, athletic build. He came from an over the top release working predominately from the stretch with the only real red flag being that he breaks his hands high, placing added stress on his shoulder. He has a little rock back in his delivery. His fastball has some run in on righties. His cutter has some cut. His curve is a 12-6 offering with above average depth and it serves as his out pitch. Tweener that could be a decent middle reliever, though he needs to continue to refine his control.

6th: FB (90-92), CB (77-79), Cut (88-89)

4) Darren Oliver: 9 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (90-92), SL (79)

8th: FB (91), SL (78)

5) Jerry Blevins: 20 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Blevins came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a cutter with some cut and some sink, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth

7th: FB (92-94), CB (73), Cut (84-88) - FB (Hunter)

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (85-88)

6) Kevin Jepsen: 17 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 5 Cutters.

• Jepsen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with good cut.

8th: FB (95-97), Cut (87-90) - 5 Cut (Garciaparra - 2, Kennedy, Cust - 2)

7) Brad Ziegler: 8 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Ziegler came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (84-87), SL (74)

8) Brian Fuentes: 16 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Fuentes came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a change with good fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (90-91), CU (74-77) - FB (Powell)

Chart Observations: 9/26: OAK @ LAA

1) Dana Eveland: 79 pitches. FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter, Curveball, Changeup.

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

1st: FB (89-94), Cut (86-90), CB (79), CU (84-86) - Cut (Abreu), CU (Rivera)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (86), CB (78-79), CU (84), SL (84) - CB (Izturis)

3rd: FB (88-91), Cut (86-89), CB (77-79), SL (85-86) - FB (Hunter)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (89), CB (77-79), CU (84-86), SL (83-86)

2) John Lackey: 92 pitches. FB, CB, SL, CU. 7 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, Slider.

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

1st: FB (90-95), CB (78-82), SL (81-86) - FB (Lackey), SL (Lackey)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (78-80), SL (83) - 2 CB (Davis, Kennedy)

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (79-80) - FB (Cust)

4th: FB (90-94), CB (78-82) - FB (Ellis), CB (Patterson)

5th: FB (89-93), CB (78-81), SL (84)

3) Brad Kilby: 38 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Changeup, Slider.

• Kilby came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good late bite.

4th: FB (91-94), CU (82-83) - FB (Guerrero)

5th: FB (91-95), CU (83), SL (84) - 2 FB (Mathis - 2), CU (Mathis), SL (Kendrick)

4) Darren Oliver: 28 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• Oliver came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with above average bite

6th: FB (90-92), SL (78-79) - FB (Davis), 2 SL (Pennington, Sweeney)

5) Brad Ziegler: 29 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Ziegler 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 solid sink and a 4-7 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (86-88), SL (72-74), CU (78) - 3 SL (Guerrero - 3), CU (Abreu)

7th: FB (85-89), SL (73-75), CU (77-78) - CU (Morales)

6) Jason Bulger: 22 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball, Changeup.

• Bulger came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (92-96), CB (80-84), CU (86-88) - FB (Ellis), CB (Cust), CU (Cust)

7) Kevin Jepsen: 30 pitches. FB, Cut, CB. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jepsen came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a cutter that has evolved into a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (95-100), Cut (88), CB (84-85) - FB (Davis)

8) Matt Palmer: 11 pitches. FB, Cut, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (89), CB (77-78)

9) Craig Breslow: 31 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Breslow came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 11-5 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and a straight change that kind of floated to the plate.

7th: FB (90-93), SL (84-85), CU (76) - FB (Matthews Jr.)

8th: FB (88-94), SL (84-88), CU (81) - FB (Hunter), SL (Guerrero)

10) Sean O'Sullivan: 20 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• O'Sullivan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and good sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

9th: FB (91-94), CB (80-83), CU (81) - 2 FB (Davis, Cust), CB (Davis)

11) Andrew Bailey: 20 pitches. FB, Cut, CB, CU. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Bailey came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little natural cut, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a cutter with above average cut and some sink

9th: FB (93-96), Cut (89), CB (78-79) - FB (Morales)

8/25: DET @ LAA

1) Jarrod Washburn (I apparently can't get enough of him): 107 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (all in 5th), Curveball (3rd), Changeup (5th)

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

1st: FB (86-90), CU (81-82), SL (80)

2nd: FB (87-89), CU (80-81)

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (81-82), SL (77), CB (68-70)

4th: FB (86-90), CU (82-83), CB (66-68)

5th: FB (87-91), CU (80-81)

6th: FB (85-90), CU (78-82), Cut (83)

2) John Lackey: 117 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2nd, 5th, 6th), 3 Sliders (2 in 4th, 5th), 3 Curveballs (2 in 1st, 2nd), 2 Changeups (2nd, 3rd)

• Lackey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (91-94), CB (80-82)

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

3rd: FB (91-94), CB (80-81), SL (84), CU (86-87)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (78-80), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (91-93), CB (78-81), SL (82-83), CU (84)

6th: FB (91-92), CB (78-80), SL (83), CU (82)

7th: FB (91-92), CB (77-78)

3) Jason Bulger: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bulger came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

7th: FB (95-97), CB (83)

4) Darren Oliver: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (7th, 2 in 8th)

• Oliver came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (77-81)

8th: FB (90-91), SL (77-78)

9th: FB (88-90)

5) Zach Miner: 42 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 7th, 8th), Changeup (7th)

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

7th: FB (92-96), CU (81-82), SL (80-85)

8th: FB (90-95), CU (82), SL (80-85), CB (72-77)

6) Bobby Seay: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties.

8th: FB (93)

7) Fernando Rodney: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Rodney came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from lefties and above average sink, a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam that has good run in on righties and some sink. He will throw 3-1 changeups.

9th: FB (94-100), CU (85-88)

Chart Observations: LAA @ TEX

1) Sean O'Sullivan: 90 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 6 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 3 in 3rd, 4th), Curveball (6th)

• He came from an over the top release with a fastball that is a 2-seam with good sink and a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with excellent fade from lefties and some sink. He will throw his change to righties and it is his out pitch. His velocity was down from his MLB debut and looks to project now to a # 4 as opposed to # 3 if he loses the weight.

1st: FB (86-91), CB (77-79), CU (75-76)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (76-78), CU (76)

3rd: FB (87-90), CB (75-78), CU (75-77)

4th: FB (85-87), CB (76), CU (75)

5th: FB (86-88), CB (75-76), CU (72-75)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (75-79), CU (74-75)

2) Vicente Padilla: 97 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th), Splitter (4th), Curveball (3rd)

• Padilla is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a little bit of bad weight. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink and he will also throw a straight 4-seamer. His split has some dive and can also move like a change. His curveball is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with great depth that is pretty much an eephus pitch. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with pretty good bite. He will throw his split to righties and will also drop down sidearm (once) to throw a curveball that moves like a frisbee slider. Solid # 4 starter who would be much better if he could ever get out of Texas.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (76), Split (83)

2nd: FB (86-91), CB (61)

3rd: FB (85-91), CB (58-72)

4th: FB (87-94), CB (60-73), Split (75-82)

5th: FB (87-93), Split (78-81)

6th: FB (87-91), Split (81)

3) Jason Jennings: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Jennings came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good downward bite, a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run in on righties and a change that showed good fade and sink.

6th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (80-81), CU (82)

4) Darren Oliver: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Oliver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (77-78)

5) Jason Grilli: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Grilli came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some marginal sink on righties and a slider that is an average 2-7.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Justin Speier: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a sharp slider that moved more like a cutter, a fastball with some run in on righties and a splitter that has some dive.

8th: FB (85-91), SL (82-85), Split (81-82)

7) Eddie Guardado: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Guardado came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slurvy 10-4 slider with okay bite.

9th: FB (84-87), SL (77)

8) Doug Mathis: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Mathis is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame with the room to add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with a little sink and run in on righties. His curve is his best off-speed pitch and is a big breaking 12-6 with a little bite. His slider is a sharp 1-7 type pitch with some bite. More of a middle reliever who you don't want to pitch while winning and is a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (75-77), SL (83)

9) Brian Fuentes: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Fuentes is a slinger from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run in on righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (88-90), SL (76)

• Julio Borbon made his major league debut last night. The 6-1, 180 pound lefty is 23 years old. He has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He has a slightly open stance and is slightly crouched. He has a little bat wiggle and his trigger is a cocking of the bat and a step where he stands on his toe a little bit. He is a gap to gap hitter who supposedly has good speed (he DH'd and never hit the ball on the ground, striking out twice and popping out) and his swing can get long. He also has some strides to make in regards to pitch recognition, as he flailed at O'Sullivan's change. He showed a good ability to command the strike zone in AAA (25 BB, 29 K in 302 at bats) so he will likely just need time to do that in the majors. I don't think he will ever hit for much power. Not sure where he fits defensively since I haven't seen him, but his bat will likely only play in center.

Chart Observations: SEA @ LAA

• Felix Hernandez is a 23 year old standing 6-3, 225. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His changeup shows average fade and a little sink. His fastball is a 2-seam with good fade and sink. He will also mix in a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 2-7 offering with good depth. His curveball is a 12-6 offering with great bite and drops off the table. Still an ace.

1st: FB (93-97), CU (88), SL (86-89)

2nd: FB (94-96), CU (87-89), SL (87-88), CB (82-83)

3rd: FB (92-95), CU (87-89), SL (87-90)

4th: FB (94-95), CU (88-90)

5th: FB (94-95), CU (90), CB (85)

6th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (88-89), CB (86)

7th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (86), CB (85)

• Matt Palmer, a 6-2 225 pound 30 year old, opposed him. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with above average fade and a little sink. His cutter is his main fastaball and it shows solid cut. He has tremendous command of this pitch and can start it on the outside corner at will. His curveball is a sharp 1-8 offering that shows good bite and can be a strikeout pitch. His change moves similar to his 2-seam with above average fade and some sink. Was FB-CB the 1st time through the order, and then worked the cutter-CB combo with the occasional 2-seam. Solid back of the rotation starter due to his plus command of slightly above average stuff.

1st: FB (88-90), Cut (87-90), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (88-89), CB (75-76), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-89), Cut (87-89), CB (74-75), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (87-89), Cut (85-88), CB (72-75)

5th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (76)

6th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (73-77), CU (82)

7th: FB (86-88), Cut (86-87), CB (75-76), CU (83)

• Mark Lowe is a 25 year old reliever standing 6-3, 210. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid depth and is an above average offering. Lowe has the upside of a closer, though he is more likely to settle in as a set-up man.

7th: FB (96-98), SL (85)

• Darren Oliver is a 38 year old who stands 6-2, 200. The lefty has a medium frame that is maxed out and comes at you from a 3/4 release. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 offering with good depth and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. Good reliever to have in a pen that can fill a multitude of roles (long, LOOGY, short spurts)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (77-78)

• Brandon Morrow is a 24 year old who stands 6-3, 195. The righty has a medium to big frame that has room to add another 10-15 pounds of muscle. He comes at you from an over the top release. His change will flash great fade and a little sink, but it can be inconsistent. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam. His curveball is a 12-6 offering that flashes plus, but is also inconsistent. Morrow needs to gain consistency to reach his ceiling as a closer.

8th: FB (93-96), CU (88-89), CB (81)

• Brian Fuentes is a 38 year old who stands 6-4, 230. The left hander has a big frame that is maxed out and attacks from a sidearm release with a little bit of cocking action. His changeup has good sinking action and some run. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. He struggled to command his change, having it go armside and high almost every time. He got blooped and then blasted by Jose Lopez. Good set-up man, but he doesn't strike out enough guys for me to be comfortable with him as a closer.

9th: FB (89-91), CU (72-74)

• Miguel Batista is a 38 year old who stands 6-1, 210. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and good sink. His cutter has decent cut and some sink. His split showed great dive and fade. May have been wrong on him and he can indeed be a reliable reliever for a contender, though I still wouldn't have him setup.

9th: FB (85-92), Cut (84-85), Split (85)

• Jose Arredondo is a 25 year old who stands 6-1, 205. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has some fade and a little sink from an over the top release. His splitter is erratic in both break and command, but it flashes as plus with great dive and fade. Still think he is a future closer, but he is not yet ready and needs to refine his splitter.

10th: FB (90-94), Split (81-86)

• David Aardsma is a 27 year old who stands 6-4, 205. The righty has a big frame that can add more muscle. He attacks from an over the top release with some cocking action. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good depth. His splitter showed good dive and fade. He may be able to close, as he hasn't shown many of his old command issues when I have seen him.

10th: FB (93-95), SL (84), Split (89)

Stay tuned for my chart observations on the Rays-Twins, featuring the 11 strikeout performance of David Price. I will take care of that after I return from my baseball game tonight.