9/10: ATL @ HOU

1) Roy Oswalt: 71 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, 2 Curveballs, Changeup.

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

1st: FB (91-94), CB (71-76), SL (84-85), CU (83-85) - 3 FB, 2 CB

2nd: FB (90-95), CB (65-74), SL (80-81), CU (83-85) - FB, 2 SL, CU

2) Derek Lowe: 101 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, 2 Fastballs.

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

1st: FB (88-90), SL (80-82), CU (83), Cut (87) - FB

2nd: FB (88-89), Cut (86)

3rd: FB (87-89), SL (78-81)

4th: FB (87-89), SL (80-83) - FB, 2 SL

5th: FB (86-89), SL (81-84), CU (83), Cut (85-86) - 2 SL

6th: FB (88-89), SL (81-82)

3) Billy Sadler: 25 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs, Fastball.

• Sadler is a 6-0, 195 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205 at least. He came from a 3/4 release with real bizarre mechanics and is extremely herky jerky. He has a classic drop and drive, but really exaggerates his hip turn and his limbs are moving every which way. His fastball has some run in on righties. His curve is a 10-5 with average depth. His change is straight with a little sink that he will throw to righties and it is not very good. 4-A guy who just doesn't have great stuff.

3rd: FB (89-91), CB (76), CU (82) - FB, CB

4th: FB (88-91), CB (77-78), CU (79-82) - CB

4) Wesley Wright: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

4th: FB (90-91), SL (79-81) - SL

5) Wilton Lopez: 27 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Lopez is a 6-0, 200 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle to his lower half. Athletic build. He came from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery that was fairly clean. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with some bite. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. Solid middle reliever who should force a lot of groundballs.

5th: FB (90-94), SL (83-85), CU (83)

6th: FB (91-95) - FB

6) Eric O'Flaherty: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• O'Flaherty came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

6th: FB (89-92), SL (84) - SL

7th: FB (90-92), SL (83-85), CU (83-86)

7) Sam Gervacio: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Gervacio came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a tight 3-8 slider with okay bite and a

7th: FB (88-90), SL (83-85) - 2 SL

8) Peter Moylan: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (90), SL (77)

8th: FB (88-92), SL (78-80)

9) Tim Byrdak: 12 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Byrdak 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.

8th: FB (87-90), SL (81-86) - 2 SL

10) Doug Brocail: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Brocail is a 6-5, 235 pound righty. The 42 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release in fairly clean mechanics and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth. His cutter has some cut. Solid middle reliever, though this is probably his last hurrah.

9th: FB (87-91), CB (77), Cut (87) - FB

11) Mike Gonzalez: 22 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

9th: FB (93-96), SL (77-86) - 2 SL

• Chris Johnson is a 6-3, 220 pound third basemen. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He has a fairly straight up stance with a slight bent. His trigger is a shifting of weight and a cocking of the bat. Bat looks a little slow in this game, he either isn't seeing the ball well or has a slow bat. Very clean stance with little wasted motion. Looks like he should be a solid gap to gap hitter.

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.

Score Observations (7/5 Game): ATL @ WAS

1) Scott Olsen: 116 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 8 on Sliders (1st, 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 2 in 7th, 8th), 2 on Fastball (2 in 2nd) and 2 on Changeups (3rd, 8th)

• Olsen is a 6-4, 210 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle everywhere. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite that can flatten out. His change fades from righties with a little sink. Keeps some velocity in reserve for when he needs it. His strong outing was more a reflection of the anemic Braves offense then him pitching overly well. Solid # 4 starter if he can be consistent with his command.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (79-80), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (87-94), SL (81), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (79-81), CU (83-86)

4th: FB (88-92), SL (78), CU (80-82)

5th: FB (88-91), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (88-91), SL (80), CU (82)

7th: FB (86-91), SL (78-80), CU (82)

8th: FB (86-92), SL (78-83), CU (81-83)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (79), CU (81)

2) Mike MacDougal: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• MacDougal nearly blew it, but came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with good armside run and sink and a sharp 2-7 slider that moved more like a cutter, and may be a cutter.

9th: FB (96-98), SL (92)

3) Derek Lowe: 85 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 on Sliders (2nd, 6th), Fastball (2nd), Changeup (3rd)

• Lowe came from a 3/4 release and showed a sinker with above average sink and some run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade and sink from lefties. Lowe's command has been off with some bad luck on balls in play and that has been the result of the current slide he is in. He is between a # 2 and a # 3 for me.

1st: FB (87-89), SL (81-82)

2nd: FB (87-89), SL (81), CU (85)

3rd: FB (87-89), SL (80-82), CU (84)

4th: FB (87-88), SL (79-81), CU (82)

5th: FB (88), SL (80-82), CU (84)

6th: FB (87-88), SL (81-83)

4) Boone Logan: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Logan is a 6-5, 215 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 225. He comes from a low 3/4 release. His fastball has some late run in on lefties and his slider is a sharp 10-4 with okay bite. Got to like his velocity and hate his command. Potential to be a # 1 lefty.

6th: FB (93), SL (77-81)

5) Manny Acosta: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Came from an over the top release and showed a 12-6 curve with solid depth.

6th: CB (78-79)

6) Kris Medlen: 33 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Changeups (2 in 7th, 2 in 8th), Fastball (7th)

• Medlen is a 5-10 (uh huh, I am sure he is..., probably 5-6, 5-7) 190 pound righty. The 23 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with okay depth. His change looks like a fastball out of his hand and has above average fade and sink. He will throw the pitch when behind in the count. His fastball has some late run in on righties. I believe this is Medlen's role. He needs to tighten his curve to be a back of the rotation starter, but I think he has more value as a long reliever. Solid command, but needs to improve that as well to be a starter.

7th: FB (89-91), CB (75-78), CU (80-82)

8th: FB (88-91), CB (76-80), CU (80-83)

ATL @ BOS

• Josh Beckett is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 29 year old has a big frame that can get up to 230. He comes from a 3/4 release. Simply put, Beckett had no-hit type stuff tonight. He featured a 4-seam fastball that flashed run that he was hitting corners with all night. His curveball was a power 2-7 pitch with good depth and it starts on the same plane as his fastball. His change is a hard change with good fade and sink. He threw a cutter with good cut and sink to Yunel Escobar, who flailed badly. Beckett is a true ace.

1st: FB (96-97), CB (77-80), CU (90-92)

2nd: FB (94-96), CB (78), CU (91)

3rd: FB (95-96), CB (75-79)

4th: FB (93-96), CB (76-77)

5th: FB (95-96), CB (76-77), CU (89-91)

6th: FB (95-96), CB (78-79), CU (90)

7th: FB (93-96), CB (77-79), CU (90), Cut (90)

8th: FB (92-95), CB (76), CU (90)

9th: FB (95-96), CU (91)

• Derek Lowe comes from a high 3/4 releae and showed a fastball with some run and sink and a 2-8 slider with some bite. He did a great job of keeping the ball down and getting groundball outs. Solid # 2 starter.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (81)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (83-85)

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (82)

4th: FB (89-91), SL (82)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (82-84)

6th: FB (89-90), SL (82-84)

7th: FB (88-90), SL (82-84)

• Jeff Bennett comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink that flashes run and a 2-7 slider with decent bite. His command continues to be erratic.

7th: FB (93-95), SL (86-88)

• Eric O'Flaherty came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (84)

Chart Observations: TOR @ ATL

• Casey Janssen, a 6-3 225 pounder, made his return to the big leagues last night after being away for over a year due to injury. Formerly a reliever, the 27 year old has come back as a starter, which he was when he first came up. Janssen has a medium to big frame that looks like it can still add muscle. His mechanics are very similar to those of Jordan Zimmermann of the Nats, but is slower through them. He attacked from a high 3/4 release with a fastball at 89-92, a cutter at 87-91, a curveball at 73-76, a changeup at 79-82 and a slider at 81-82. His main pitch was the cutter to the lefty heavy Braves order he faced. His cutters shows good cut and he will throw it to both sides of the plate. His fastball is a 2-seamer with some good fade to it. The sliders shows a lot of downward bite, but not much in regards to side-to-side movement. His curveball is a 12-6/11-7 type offering with good movement and is a big breaker. It is more of a pitch to get an early strike with then to rack up strikeouts, but he likes to throw it with 2 strikes. Changeup shows good fade and sink and is somewhat late breaking. His cutter will occassionally show some good downward movement. His pitches (and mostly his cutter) appeared to start playing down in the third and they lost some movement. He is a back of the rotation starter who has a shot to be a solid # 3. He features 3 above average offerings in his arsenal (cutter, change - needs to throw more, curveball) and his fastball and slider are average. He also has plus command. This is the mold Toronto tends to develop pitchers in and a season similar to that of Shaun Marcum or Dustin McGowan from last season isn't out of reach.
• Derek Lowe opposed him and is really paying off for the Braves. The 35 year old who stands 6-6, 230 has a big frame that could still add muscle, but no sense in projecting a 35 year old. He featured a fastball at 85-89 and a slider at 79-83. His fastball is a dynamite sinker that is just a tick below Brandon Webb's and he also has great command of the pitch, able to start it off the outside corner so it comes back or start it on the outside corner at the knees and have it break out of the zone. His slider is a 3-7 type pitch that has good late break and has good depth. Lowe is a solid # 2 starter, but would ideally be a # 3 starter. His plus sinker and above average slider help him get out most teams with good defenses behind him and he has proved his durability over the years. He is a big body though, so you have to wonder just how much longer he can do this.
• Diory Hernandez is a 25 year old shortstop who stands 6-0, 185. His medium frame can add a little more muscle, but appears to be close to maxed out. He has soft hands with an above average arm and has very good fielding mechanics and is very smooth. He features a fairly straight-up stance and bounces the bat off his shoulder as he waits for the pitcher to begin his motion. A slightly open stance, he takes a double step, stepping in and then towards the pitcher. On a team full of utility infielders, he is another. His bat appears to be fringy, as he struggled badly against the Blue Jays arms. He looks like, at best, a gap hitter who could hit .280. He will never hit for a lot of power, but did appear to have above average speed. A utility player who won't hit enough to beat out the likes of Omar Infante or Martin Prado, but one that can fill in ably.
• Jordan Schafer is a 22 year old who stands 6-1, 200. He has a medium frame with room to add a lot more muscle. He has a fairly straight-up stance and triggers with a toe turn. Hands never really move in the trigger. He is still learning how to command the strike zone and not swing at pitches he can't do anything with. He is an interesting guy. I saw him in AA and saw a 4th OF. He has improved since then mechanically, but his latest struggles make him difficult to analyze. He has a strong swing from the left side of the plate, allowing you to project him to hit 15-20 home runs a season down the road. He has above average speed and is above average defensively. His ability to hit for average will need to be answered though (and it should be once he learns to command the zone). He should be a guy that hits .280-.400-.450 in his prime and shows a good eye right now. Those are valuable numbers and he profiles decently as an everyday player in CF. Another knock may be a need for a platoon partner against hard throwing lefties.
• B.J. Ryan is a 33 year old who stands 6-5, 250 pounds. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 87-89 and a slider at 79-83. Put simply, his days in the back end of a bullpen are over. His big frame is maxed out and his arm hasn't recovered from his latest couple of injuries. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and 87-89 is a big difference from the 93-95 he used to be at. His slider is a 10-4 breaker that is just an average offering now. Still a solid lefty to have in the pen, just don't want him to the be the ONLY lefty you have in the pen. Solid 2nd lefty, which isn't what Toronto is paying him big bucks for.
• Peter Moylan is a 30 year old who stands 6-2, 200. The sidearmer was 89-91 with his fastball. His medium frame is maxed out. His fastball showed good fade, but not much in regards to sink. He has good velocity for a sidearmer, but it is hard to make a read on him without seeing an off-speed offering.
• Brian Wolfe is a 28 year old who stands 6-2, 230. He has a medium frame that is close to being maxed out, but may be able to add another 5 or 10 pounds of muscle to his lower half. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 91-96, a cutter at 92 and a curveball at 80-81. Wolfe's fastball is explosive and teases you with great downward bite and fade, but isn't consistent with the movement, as it sometimes flattens out. His curveball is a hard-breaking 12-6. His cutter has some action in to lefties, but not much. Solid middle reliever.
• Mike Gonzalez is a 31 year old who stands 6-2, 215. His medium frame is maxed out. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 92-93 and a slider anywhere from 80-85. He rocks back and forth on the rubber as he is getting the sign to make the hitter not feel very comfortable in the box and when to start his trigger. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a 10-5 type pitch that has gotten a little loopy and is just an above average offering as opposed to the plus offering it used to be. It does have good downward movement and depth. More of a set-up guy to me then a closer.
• Rafael Soriano is a 29 year old who stands 6-1, 220. He has a medium frame that is maxed out. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 92-93 and a slider at 80-83. His fastaball is a straight 4-seam while his slider is a 3-7 pitch that has good depth and is somewhat late breaking. I think he profiles better as a closer then Gonzalez, but neither is a real lockdown guy and he is another who is better off in a setup role.