Chart Observations: 9/29 MIL @ COL

1) Jason Marquis: 85 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, Cut, CB). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, Fastball, Cutter.

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

1st: FB (90-92), SL (86), CU (84) - SL (Hart)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (86), Cut (87) - FB (Cameron), SL (Cameron), Cut (Kendall)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (86-87), Cut (86-87)

4th: FB (90-91), SL (85-86), CU (81)

5th: FB (88-92), CU (86)

6th: FB (89-91)

2) Chris Narveson: 73 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, Cut). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Narveson came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a change with good fade from righties and some sink, a 11-5 curve with average depth and a cutter with a little cut.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (73-75), CU (79-81)

2nd: FB (90), CB (74-75), CU (81-83), Cut (88) - CB (Barmes)

3rd: FB (89-90), CB (73-74), Cut (86-88)

4th: FB (88-91), CB (74), CU (83)

5th: FB (88-92), CB (71-75), Cut (88) - CB (Marquis)

6th: FB (90), CU (80), CB (74)

3) Todd Coffey: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

6th: FB (91-95), SL (79-82) - SL (Barmes)

4) Matt Daley: 9 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Daley came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (76-78), CU (83) - FB (Counsell)

5) Carlos Villanueva: 28 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a change with above average sink and some fade from lefties that he will throw 3-1, a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (86-90), SL (80-83), CU (79-84), CB (74-76) - 2 CU (Helton, Stewart)

8th: FB (87-89), SL (80-83), CU (83), CB (74-76) - 3 SL (Torrealba - 2, Smith)

6) Rafael Betancourt: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Betancourt came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball that flashed a little cut and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-95), SL (83-85) - 3 FB (Hart - 2, Fielder), 2 SL (Hart, Braun)

7) Claudio Vargas: 34 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Vargas came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little cutting action, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (83), CU (83) - 2 FB (Spilborghs - 2), CU (Helton)

10th: FB (90-94), CU (82-83) - CU (Stewart)

8) Huston Street: 17 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Street came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

9th: FB (91-94), SL (83-85), CU (83-84) - 2 SL (McGehee, Cameron)

9) Jose Contreras: 6 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Contreras came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a hard 2-7 slider.

10th: FB (95-96), SL (91)

10) Joe Beimel: 1 pitch. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties.

10th: FB (89)

11) Matt Belisle: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

11th: FB (91-96), SL (87), CB (76)

12) Dave Weathers: 18 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Weathers came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some fade from lefties and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

11th: FB (87-90), SL (83-84), CU (82) - FB (Hawpe), CU (Hawpe)

Chart Observations: 9/8 STL @ MIL (First 7)

1) John Smoltz: 83 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CB, CU). 10 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, 4 Fastballs, Splitter.

• Smoltz came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a split with good dive, a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite and a 1-7 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (87-91), Split (86-88) - 2 FB, SL, Split

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (86-89), Split (89), CB (78) - FB, 2 SL

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (84-86), CB (78-79)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (84-89) - FB, SL

5th: FB (92-93), SL (84-87), CB (76-78) - SL

2) Manny Parra: 21 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, Split, SL). 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

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

1st: FB (93-95), CU (85-88), CB (79) - CU

3) Carlos Villanueva: 47 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 8 strikes swinging. Fastball, 4 Sliders, 2 Changeups, Curveball.

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

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (81-84), CB (76) - 2 SL

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (81-85), CB (74), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (90-91), SL (81-85), CB (75-78), CU (82-84) - FB, CB, 2 SL, 2 CU

4) Mark DiFelice: 9 pitches. (Cut, FB, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut, a straight 4-seam fastball and a 12-6 curve with slightly below average depth.

5th: Cut (84-86), FB (89), CB (73-74) - 2 Cut

5) Todd Coffey: 18 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

5th: FB (96), SL (84-85)

6th: FB (95-98), SL (83-86) - FB

6) Mitch Stetter: 8 pitches. (SL, FB). 0 strikes swinging.

• Stetter came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

6th: FB (88-89), SL (80-82)

7) Kyle Lohse: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

6th: FB (92-94), SL (86), CB (77-79) - SL

8) Dave Weathers: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (87-91), SL (85), CU (83)

9) Brad Thompson: 17 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Thompson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 1-7 curve with slightly below average depth and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink

7th: FB (89-91), CB (78-82)

10) Dennys Reyes: 5 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a touch of sink and a hard 10-5 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (93), SL (87-88) - SL

Chart Observations: 9/3 MIL @ STL

1) John Smoltz: 84 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CB, CU). 9 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, 4 Curveballs.

• Smoltz came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a split with some dive, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a sharp 1-7 curve with average depth and a straight change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (91-92), SL (83-85), Split (86-88), CB (77) - CB

2nd: FB (91-92), SL (83-85), CB (75) - 2 SL

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (82-86), CB (75-77) - SL

4th: FB (91-92), SL (82-85), Split (87-89), CB (76)

5th: FB (90-92)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (81-86), Split (86-88), CB (74-77) - 3 CB, 2 SL

2) Manny Parra: 88 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, Split, SL). 8 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Changeups, 3 Splitters, 2 Curveballs.

• Parra came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink, a splitter with good dive that can resemble a curveball at times that serves as his out pitch, a straight change with some sink and some fade from righties that he will throw 3-2 and 2-0, a 11-5 slider with okay bite and a sharp 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (90-93), CU (86-88), Split (84-85), SL (82-84) - Split

2nd: FB (91-92), CU (85-86), Split (84), CB (76-78) - CU, Split

3rd: FB (90-92), CU (83-86), CB (76-77), SL (83) - CU

4th: FB (91), CU (84), Split (83), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (87), Split (84), CB (77) - Split

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84-85), Split (83), CB (75)

7th: FB (89-93), CU (85), CB (77) - FB, 2 CB

3) Blake Hawksworth: 21 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

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

7th: FB (91-95), Cut (89-91), CB (75) - FB

8th: FB (90-92), CU (82-84) - CU

4) Dave Weathers: 6 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (86-87), SL (83-84)

5) Mitch Stetter: 4 pitches. (SL, FB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Stetter came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good tail in on righties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with above average bite.

7th: FB (85-86), SL (79-80)

6) Claudio Vargas: 32 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Vargas came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and a touch of sink and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (92-93), SL (84)

8th: FB (90-94), SL (81-83), CU (83) - 2 FB

7) Trever Miller: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a sweeping 9-4 slider with above average bite, a fastball with good run in on righties and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (87-88), SL (74-79), CU (80) - 2 SL

8) Trevor Hoffman: 14 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball, Changeup.

• Hoffman came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a straight change with good sink that he will throw to righties that flashes excellent sink and good fade from lefties and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (86), SL (80-81), CU (73) - FB, 4 SL, CU

Chart Observations: 8/15 HOU @ MIL

1) Brian Moehler: 104 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 5th), 2 Changeups (3rd, 5th)

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

1st: FB (88-90), CU (79)

2nd: FB (87-90), CU (80-81), SL (78-82), Cut (87-88)

3rd: FB (87-90), CU (80-81), SL (78-84), Cut (85-89)

4th: FB (88-90), CU (81), SL (78), Cut (84), CB (77-78)

5th: FB (88-92), CU (80-81), SL (80-84), Cut (88-89)

2) Mike Burns: 90 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 6th), 4 Sliders (1st, 4th, 2 in 7th), Curveball (1st)

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

1st: No Gameday

2nd: FB (86-90), Split (77)

3rd: FB (88-90), Split (78-82)

4th: FB (88-92), Split (83), SL (82), CB (70)

5th: FB (88), SL (80-82), CB (70-71)

6th: FB (87-92), Split (79-81), SL (83-85), CB (72)

7th: FB (86-91), Split (81), SL (77-81), CB (70)

3) Alberto Arias: 21 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball

• Arias came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with some sink and a power 12-6 curve with good depth.

6th: FB (94-96), CB (82-85)

4) Tim Byrdak: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Byrdak came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 10-4 slider with good bite and a fastball with a little run in on lefties.

6th: FB (91), SL (85-86)

5) Samuel Gervacio: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging (4 of the pitches were intentional balls)

• Gervacio is a 6-0, 175 pound righty. The undersized 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, maybe up to 185. He came from a 3/4 release and bounces up and down while waiting to come set until he finally comes set and it amazes me that they don't call a balk everytime. He showed a fastball with some run in on righties and solid sink and a 3-8 slider with solid bite. He threw 2 legit pitches, so I am not sure how I would grade him.

6th: FB (93), SL (85)

6) Yorman Bazardo: 25 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (7th, 8th)

• Bazardo came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with above average sink and good fade from lefties and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (80-84), SL (81-82)

8th: FB (91-94), CU (82-85), SL (83-84)

7) Dave Weathers: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (88-90), CU (85)

8) Todd Coffey: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

9th: FB (96-97), SL (85)

Score: 7/12 CIN @ NYM: CIN Pitchers

1) Aaron Harang: 74 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 3rd), Fastball (3rd), Changeup (3rd)

• Harang is a 6-7, 260 pound righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties with good sink. His change moves like a fastball with more sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite while his curve is a 12-6 big breaker with good depth. Would say he is a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (86-90), SL (78-80), CU (79)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (80-83), CU (79-81)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (78-84), CU (80-83), CB (72-73)

2) Josh Roenicke: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a cutter with solid cut that can move like a 2-7 slider at times.

4th: FB (92-95), Cut (84-87)

3) Danny Ray Herrera: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Herrera is a 5-6, 165 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a 9-4 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties. Solid LOOGY, but more of a # 2 lefty in a pen.

4th: FB (80), SL (73)

4) Robert Manuel: 39 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• Manuel is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He come from over the top with a little herky jerk release. He separates hands quickly and seems to try and put his lead leg on the ground as fast as possible. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His change has good sink and a little fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. Extra (4-A) arm.

5th: FB (84-87), SL (81), CU (76-82)

6th: FB (84-87), SL (78-81), CU (79-82)

5) Dave Weathers: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Weathers came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a changeup with good fade from lefties with sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (83-84)

6) Nick Masset: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and quickly dispatched the Mets in the 8th.

8th: FB (92-96)

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)

Chart Observations: CIN @ SD

Yep, charted the 16 inning game from last night/this morning.

• Edinson Volquez started for the Reds and had some struggles with his command, especially with his fastball. He also appeared to be throwing a lot more offspeed stuff then he typically did. He left the game in the bottom of the 6th with a back injury, but it didn't appear to be serious. Volquez featured a fastball at 88-96, a changeup at 77-82, a curveball at 74-79 and a slider at 75-81.
• Josh Geer opposed him and is your prototypical finesse right hander. He features a fastball from 83-88 (usually sits at 86-88), a slider at 76-80 and a changeup at 73-76 from a 3/4 release point. His fastball is a 2-seamer that has very good downward movement and bite, but his command is only above average, resulting in him leaving hittable pitches available for hitters in the zone. In evaluating Geer, I think his upside is that of a back of the rotation starter and he is just an extra arm for a contender. His flyball arsenal may be able to play in the bullpen, but who knows?
• Mike Lincoln featured a fastball at 89-90 and a curveball at 77. He only faced 2 batters. Looked to me like an extra arm in the pen and not someone that is one that will put up big numbers.
• Arthur Rhodes featured a fastball at 91-93 and a slider at 81-82. Solid left-handed setup man as long as his velocity stays in the low 90's and his command doesn't take any further drops.
• David Weathers really struggled with his command again. He featured a fastball at 88-90, a slider at 82-85 and a changeup at 82-84. As I said before, he needs to watch out, as these command issues may be a career ender.
• Daniel Ray Herrera is a small (5-9) left hander who features a slider at 74-76, a fastball at 83 and what appeared to be a screwball at 66. He has a unique repetoire of pitches and seems to have enough to not have hitters focused on other pitches. Debatable if he can consistenly get out right handers due to less then ideal velocity, but at worst he is a quality LOOGY.
• Jared Burton featured a fastball at 90-92, a cutter at 90-92, a slider at 82-83 and a changeup at 80-83. Another guy who profiles as just a middle reliever, as he has only average command and none of his pitches are plus. His primary pitch is the cutter and it didn't have as much cut on it as it had previously last night.
• Micah Owings finished the game featuring a fastball at 85-91, a slider at 79-83 and a changeup at 76-80. He has a slight chance of a future as a reliever with his fastball-change combination, but even that is a stretch at this point.
• Joe Thatcher is a side arming LOOGY who struck out Laynce Nix with fastballs at 87-88 and a slider at 76. He appears to be a guy that will always be battling his command. He profiles very well as a LOOGY if he has command and is a AAA pitcher if he doesn't have command.
• Greg Burke made his big league debut last night. He featured an above average moving 2-seam fastball at 91-93 and threw one slider at 84 from a high 3/4 release. The one slider was average. His command appeared to be above average and his mechanics were fairly clean. This is his shot at sticking with a big league team.
• Cla Meredith's slider has lost a lot. He sat with a fastball at 85-87 and his slider was 76-80. What was once a plus pitch is now barely league average and his fastball isn't enough to serve as a ROOGY. He may be in for a long season as a sidearmer.
• Heath Bell went after guys with a fastball at 92-96 and a curveball at 79-82 from an over the top release. His curveball didn't have great bite and he struggled to command it. He is still a quality closer, but is likely in that 3rd tier of elite closers.
• Edward Mujica showed a fastball at 93-95, a slider at 81-82 and a split at 87. Both off-speed pitches are below average and he really can't command them. His ability to spot his fastball can only work for so long before teams sit solely on it and start gripping and ripping.
• Luke Gregerson featured a fastball at 89-92, a slider at 83-86 and a changeup at 78-84 from a low 3/4 release. Gregerson appears to just be another middle reliever with his moving 2-seam fastball. His 2-seamer is above average, but the slider and change are just average offerings and he also showed just average command. He profiles best as a middle reliever, but will likely always be battling to be on a roster.
• Luis Perdomo still tantalizes myself with his stuff. Last night, he featured a moving 2-seamer at 91-93 and a slider at 87-89. He will need to refine his command and become more consistent with his stuff to succeed.

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.