Chart Observations: 8/14: BOS @ TEX

1) Jon Lester: 117 pitches. 19 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 3 in 4th, 6th), 10 Cutters (4 in 1st, 4th, 5th, 4 in 6th), 2 Curveballs (1st, 6th), Changeup (3rd)

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a cutter with solid cut, a change with some fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth. He likes to throw the cutter in on rigthies.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (77-79), Cut (87-90), CU (84)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (77), Cut (87-89), CU (82)

3rd: FB (91-95), Cut (87-89), CU (84)

4th: FB (90-95), CB (76-80), Cut (85-90)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (76), Cut (85-87), CU (81-85)

6th: FB (89-94), CB (78-79), Cut (85-89), CU (83-84)

2) Kevin Millwood: 110 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (3 in 1st, 3rd, 4 in 4th), Slider (4th)

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

1st: FB (88-92), SL (83-84), CB (73-74)

2nd: FB (86-91), SL (83-86), CU (82)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (83-85), CB (72-75)

4th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CB (71-75)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CB (73), CU (83-85)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (85)

3) Eddie Guardado: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Guardado came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a change with some fade from righties with sink.

6th: FB (85-86), CU (76)

4) Darren O'Day: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• O'Day came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with a little fade from lefties and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (84-87), SL (76-78)

5) Daniel Bard: 24 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bard came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 1-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (93-97), SL (80-83)

6) Takashi Saito: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

8th: FB (89-92), SL (81-83), CB (76)

7) C.J. Wilson: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Slider.

• Wilson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good late cut, a fastball with some tail in on righties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (80-86), Cut (88-92)

8) Frank Francisco: 34 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Francisco came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a splitter with solid dive and a 1-7 curve with solid depth.

9th: FB (92-95), Split (82-86), CB (79-80)

9) Jason Jennings: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jennings came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink.

9th: FB (88-90)

10) Jonathan Papelbon: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a split with above average dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite. I worry that Papelbon may be pitching through a minor injury, as his fastball was slow and he appeared to be nursing through his pitches.

9th: FB (90-93), Split (89), SL (82)

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.

HOU @ TEX

• Russ Ortiz comes from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a slider with some good bite and is a 2-7 type pitch, a change with some sink and fade, a cutter with some cut and bite and a curveball that is a 12-5 pitch with good depth. His change can be just a floater at times. He pitched out of the stretch the entire time. He will also throw a 2-seam fastball with some fade and a little sink. Swingman.

1st: FB (88-89), CB (75-77), SL (84), Cut (87), CU (82)

2nd: FB (88-89), CB (76), Cut (87-88), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (88-89), CB (76-77), SL (85), Cut (85-86), CU (83)

4th: FB (87-89), CB (77), Cut (86-87), CU (81-84)

5th: FB (86-90), CB (77), SL (84-85)

6th: FB (86-89), CB (73-80), Cut (85-86), CU (81-83)

• Matt Harrison, a 6-4, 225 pound lefty, opposed him. The 23 year old has a big frame that is close to maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His tempo has slowed back down between pitches, but still moves quickly in his motion. His command was off tonight again and may be because of a bad tempo, or he just may struggle to throw strikes period. His fastball is a straight 4-seam with a little run. His change is a straight change with some sink and fade and looks like a fastball out of his hand and is his best off-speed pitch. His cutter has some cut. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 pitch with okay bite. He will also throw a 2-seam fastball with some sink. Likes to throw the cutter in on righties. # 4 starter now and has the potential to be a # 3 depending on how much command he can learn.

1st: FB (90-94), CU (81-82), Cut (88)

2nd: FB (89-93), SL (77-79)

3rd: FB (88-91)

4th: FB (88-93), CU (80-81), SL (76-79)

5th: FB (87-92), CU (79-82), SL (75-79), Cut (86)

• Jason Grilli comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball that is a straight 4-seam and a slider that is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. Command is still an issue.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (84-87)

• Darren O'Day is a 6-4, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He is a sidearmer and almost comes submarine. His fastball has good run and sink and his slider just keep moving away from righties and has some bite (3-8 pitch). It is a sweeping slider that he can throw to both corners. He has plus command of his stuff. Solid middle reliever. Think Chad Bradford in his prime.

7th: FB (83-87), SL (76-79)

• Chris Sampson is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some sink and fade. His curveball is a 2-8 pitch with some depth. His slider is a 2-7 pitch that is more downward movement and has some good bite. I would rather see him as a swingman and don't like him as a 1 inning reliever.

7th: FB (86-88), CB (77), SL (82)

• Eddie Guardado is a 6-0, 225 pound lefty. The 38 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a slurvy 11-4 slider with solid bite and a straight change that isn't anything special. He has plus command, but even with that command he can't get hitters out. He's done in my opinion.

8th: FB (84-88), SL (78-79), CU (82)

• LaTroy Hawkins comes from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slider that could be sharp or flat and was very inconsistent tonight. Solid middle reliever and can set up and close on occasion.

8th: FB (91-95), SL (87-90)

• C.J. Wilson is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 225. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows good run and sink. His slider is a 11-4 pitch with good late bite and is more of a downward action pitch. His cutter has some cut and sink and his change is a straight change with some sink. Good late inning reliever who has appeared to put his control issues in the past.

9th: FB (91-94), SL (83), CU (86), Cut (89)

10th: FB (93-94), SL (81-86), Cut (88)

• Jose Valverde is a 6-4, 280 pound behemoth righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is maxed out with some bad weight. He comes from an over the top release and has some cocking arm action. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His splitter shows good dive and is an above average pitch. He is just an average closer now.

9th: FB (93-96), Split (84-86)

• Jeff Fulchino comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball and an average 2-7 slider with okay bite that he can subtract from to make it look like a curveball. Middle reliever.

10th: FB (89-94), SL (81-83)

2 charts (1 extra) and the Blue Jays game featuring the MLB debut of Brad Mills.

SEA vs. TEX

• Jarrod Washburn started for the Mariners and featured his 5 pitch mix of a fastball at 84-89, a cutter at 84-87, a changeup at 77-84 (2nd most thrown pitch), a slider at 74-80 that he used to lefties and righties to get ahead or put away and a curveball at 66-68 that he threw on the 1st pitch to get a cheap strike. No change on my opinion of him, but the lack of velocity on his fastball is concerning.
• Brandon McCarthy opposed him and he disappointed me. He has lost a lot of fastball velocity since he was a reliever for the White Sox. McCarthy showed a fastball at 87-90, a hard curveball from 76-81, a soft curveball from 72-75 and a changeup at 76-79. McCarthy's curveball is plus, but it isn't a strikeout pitch. His fastball is merely average and his changeup is a tick above average. If he can throw strikes with the curveball, he can be a middle of the rotation starter. If he doesn't, he is a back-end starter at best. He attacks hitters from straight over the top and showed above average command of all his pitches tonight.
• David Aardsma was 91-95 with his fastball and threw one slider at 81 that hung. His fastball is plus, but you have to wonder how long he can get away with it being his only pitch.
• Eddie Guardado is done in my opinion. Tonight, he was 84-86 with his fastball, 76-79 with his slider and threw a changeup at 77. Having 3 lefties (Guardado, Wilson and Derek Holland) is a luxury that this team needs to correct, especially since Guardado has had struggles this season.
• Darren O'Day is a side-arming, ground ball forcing right hander who has been phenomenal since coming over. He sat at 84-86 with his fastball and his slider was 76-77. He looks like a legitimate major league ROOGY (and even struck out Russell Branyan). It appears the Mets allowed another one to get away. I think he profiles very well as a right handed middle reliever, with his main role being to get out tough righties or to get double plays.
• Sean White showed a fastball at 90-92, an average slider at 83-86 and a plus changeup at 80-82. He needs to throw the change more, as this was his best off-speed pitch in my opinion. He may be getting the message, as he used it to strike out Marlon Byrd, a right hander.
• C.J. Wilson was in line to take the loss before Brandon Morrow's struggles, but he pitched well. He showcased a fastball at 91-93, a slider at 81-86 and a changeup at 83-85. He was over exposed as a closer, but he is a quality setup guy, as his fastball velocity is plus. His slider and changeup are both a tick above average. He showed strong command tonight as well.
• Garrett Olson made an appearance tonight and was in line to get the win. Olson attacked hitters with a fastball at 87-90, a curveball at 79-80 that moves more like a slider and a changeup at 80-82. Olson definitely doesn't have the stuff to be a starter and I don't think he has the stuff to be better then a long reliever/mop-up guy. He needs to further refine his command and his off-speed offerings.
• Brandon Morrow took the loss after allowing a shot to Hank Blalock that I thought was gone off the bat. He showed a plus fastball at 94-98 and plus curveball at 83-84. He should have had Josh Hamilton struck out looking on a great curveball, but the home plate umpire couldn't pull the trigger. He has great potential, but his command has a ways to go until you can feel confident when he is out there. Right now, every save will be an adventure.
• Elvis Andrus is a 20 year old who stands 6-0, 185 pounds. He has a medium frame with the room to add quite a bit more muscle, probably at least 10 pounds. He features a fairly straight up stance and holds the bat above his shoulder at a 45 degree angle. He shows a little bat wiggle. He seems to bring all his weight forward when he strides, limiting the time to make a decision to swing or not. He is a very aggressive hitter. He is a special fielder, one with great hands and an above average accurate arm. He has plus range to his right. He is a plus runner with borderline 75 speed. His worst case scenario in my opinion is a career like Omar Vizquel's, as he is close to the same class of fielder potentially. Best case? He is 20 and playing in the majors. The sky is the limit for this kid, though he will likely never be more then a 20 home run guy.

Tomorrow I have an extra chart and will see the same 2 teams again with a match-up of Felix Hernandez and Matt Harrison.