Chart Observations: 9/30: TOR @ BOS

1) Tim Wakefield: 76 pitches. KNU, FB, CB. 7 strikes swinging. 6 Knuckleballs, Fastball.

• Wakefield came from an over the top release and showed a dancing knuckleball that he could control, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a 1-7 curve with above average depth

1st: KNU (64-65), FB (72) - KNU (Overbay)

2nd: KNU (63-66), FB (70-71), CB (57-60) - KNU (Millar)

3rd: KNU (61-65), FB (70-72), CB (58) - 4 KNU (Barajas, Ruiz, Snider, Bautista), FB (Bautista)

2) Roy Halladay: 100 pitches. Cut, FB, CB, CU. 7 strikes swinging. 4 Curveballs, 3 Cutters.

• Halladay came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sweeping 1-7 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: Cut (88-92), CB (78), CU (85) - Cut (Reddick), CB (Reddick)

2nd: FB (92-93), Cut (91), CB (78-79)

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (89-92), CB (77-78) - Cut (Lowrie)

4th: FB (92-93), Cut (90-92), CB (75-78), CU (86) - CB (Ortiz)

5th: FB (91-92), Cut (90-91), CB (76)

6th: Cut (90-91), CB (77), CU (85) - Cut (Woodward)

7th: FB (92), Cut (90-91), CB (77-79), CU (83) - 2 CB (Ortiz, Kottaras)

8th: Cut (89-91), CB (78), CU (84)

9th: FB (91-93), Cut (90-91), CB (78-79), CU (84-87)

3) Fernando Cabrera: 28 pitches. FB, SL, CU, Split. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Cabrera came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sweeping 2-7 slider with above average bite, a straight 4-seam fastball and a change with good diving action.

4th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (85) - SL (Barajas)

5th: FB (86-91), SL (79-81), CU (85) - SL (Ruiz)

4) Dustin Richardson: 18 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging,

• Richardson is a 6-6, 220 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but is close to maxed out. He came from an over the top release with some interesting mechanics that are definitely max effort. He has a very exaggerated opening of his shoulder and it looks like his arm is playing catch-up. He lands hard on his front leg and puts all his body weight on this landing leg, likely something that may end up causing injury to that leg. Also has a fairly violent head jerk. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His change has good fade from righties. His curve is a good looking 11-5 with good late break and slightly above average depth. Should be a solid lefty reliever for a long time, or at least as long that he is healthy.

5th: FB (91-93), CB (76), CU (80-82)

5) Manny Delcarmen: 19 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink. Stuff has taken a step back since the beginning of the season.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (73-75), CU (80) - CB (Ruiz)

7) Hunter Jones: 23 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, Fastball.

• Jones came from an over the top release and showed a sweeping 11-5 slurve that was sharp with slightly below average depth and a straight 4-seam fastball that flashes a little cutter action.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (76-79) - FB (Wells), 2 SL (Wells - 2)

8) Hideki Okajima: 15 pitches. FB, CB, Split. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (85-89), CB (76-77), Split (81-83)

8/20: BOS @ TOR

1) Jon Lester: 105 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 7th), 3 Cutters (2nd, 4th, 6th), 3 Curveballs (3rd, 4th, 8th), 2 Changeups (6th, 8th)

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with solid cut, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with solid sink.

1st: FB (92-96), Cut (85-90), CB (78), CU (86)

2nd: FB (93-96), Cut (87-89), CB (76-78)

3rd: FB (93-96), CB (76-77), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-95), Cut (89), CB (79), CU (85)

5th: FB (93-96), CB (75), CU (85)

6th: FB (92-96), Cut (89-91), CB (78-80), CU (84-86)

7th: FB (92-95), Cut (88), CB (78), CU (83-85)

8th: FB (93-96), Cut (87-89), CB (75-77), CU (84)

2) Brett Cecil: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 3rd), 2 Sliders (both in 3rd), Changeup (5th)

• Cecil is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and straightens his arm on the backtake, almost pointing it to the SS position, which may tip his pitches to the hitter. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His change has some fade from righties with a little sink. His slider is 11-5 with good bite while his curve is 11-5 with average depth. Looks like a # 4 starter right now with the potential to be either a # 2 or a dominant lefty set-up man. I bet he becomes a solid # 3 starter.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (83-86), CU (84-86)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (84), CU (83)

3rd: FB (90-93), SL (82-87), CU (81), CB (81)

4th: FB (91-94), SL (82-87), CU (81-84), CB (81-82)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (84), CU (80-83), CB (80-82)

3) Brian Tallet: 26 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (5th, 6th), Changeup (6th)

• Tallet came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from righties with sink that he will throw to lefties, a fastball with solid run in on lefties with sink and a cutter with solid cut.

5th: FB (91), CU (84-87)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84-86), Cut (87-88)

4) Shawn Camp: 39 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups (both in 7th), Slider (8th)

• Camp came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (86-91), SL (78-82), CU (83-85)

8th: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CU (84-85)

5) Jesse Carlson: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from righties and a little sink.

9th: FB (89-91), SL (82-83), CU (83)

6) Fernando Cabrera: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Cabrera came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (81-84)

Extra Reports: Mostly BOS

1) Hunter Jones:
4/26: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.
5/3: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Jones is a 6-4, 235 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that is maxed out and has a little bad weight, resembling a little bit of Dennys Reyes (not a good thing). He came from an over the top release and has more of a leg lift then a leg kick. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam while his slider is a 11-5 offering with solid bite that looks more like a curveball. Looks more like a 4-A arm to me.

4/26:

6th: FB (87-89), SL (77)

5/3:

7th: FB (85-86), SL (71-72)

8th: FB (85), SL (70-73)

2) Michael Bowden:

4/26: 31 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (3 in 7th, 8th)

• Bowden is a 6-3, 215 pound righty. The 22 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He is a big, muscular kid with a strong lower body and big thighs. He has interesting mechanics. His leg comes straight up and he breaking into cocking his arm, showing the ball to the hitter for a period of time. He holds his glove under his chin and it may touch his chin. He is classic drop and drive with his legs. While his mechanics are a little bizarre, doesn't appear to be any extra stress put on his arm. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has a little late run in on righties, but his command of the pitch can be spotty and he will miss up in the zone with it. His change has a little fade from lefties with okay sink and is a late moving offering. Hard to get a read on him, since this was a 2 IP relief appearance, but looks to be a guy that can be a factor, as the hitters didn't look comfortable in the box against him.

7th: FB (90-92)

8th: FB (90-92), CU (81-83)

3) Mark Melancon:

4/26: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (8th)

8/6: 28 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (7th)

• Melancon is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 230 and he really doesn't look 6-2. He stays real scrunched up until break and his front knee stays bent the whole time. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes some cut and or sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 pitch with above average depth and is a true out pitch. His change has okay fade from lefties and okay sink that he will throw to righties. I like him as a late inning option due to the dominant curveball, but he will need to improve the command of his fastball to be a closer or setup man due to its straightness.

4/26

7th: FB (93-95)

8th: FB (92-94), CB (82-84)

8/6

7th: FB (92-96), CB (84)

8th: FB (92-96), CB (84), CU (85-87)

4) Javier Lopez:

4/8: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

4/14: 25 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Lopez is a 6-4, 220 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially in the lower half. He is a sidearmer. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and a little sink and his change moves just like his fastball, just a little slower. He will drop down to submarine to throw sliders, which is a 9-4 offering with okay bite. He tipped the slider in the 4/8 game by dropping that low everytime and in the 4/14 game he threw from that release point every pitch. Only chance is as a LOOGY and could probably be successful outside the AL East.

4/8

9th: FB (86-90), SL (73-77), CU (81)

4/14

12th: FB (83-87), SL (73-78), CU (83)

5) Dana Eveland:

4/14: 108 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), Slider (1st), Changeup (3rd)

• Eveland is a 6-1, 225 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and may have some bad weight. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with solid sink and solid cut and he also threw a 2-seamer that had some run in on lefties and a straight 4-seamer. His slider is 11-5 with good bite. His change was straight with some sink and he will throw it in 3-2 counts. His curveball is a sharp 11-5 with average depth. Eveland looks like his upside is that of a # 5 starter and if he can't succeed in Oakland, he likely won't succeed anywhere.

1st: FB (86-91), SL (81-84), CU (81-82)

2nd: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (80-81), CB (77-78)

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (80-84), CU (81-83)

4th: FB (88-89), SL (80-83), CU (81-82), CB (78)

5th: FB (87-88), SL (81-82), CU (82), CB (77-79)

6) Sean Gallagher:

4/14: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Gallagher is a 6-2, 235 pound righty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and solid sink and a 2-7 slider with okay bite. Gallagher was acquired by the Padres and looks to be a solid shot to be a big leaguer in some role.

12th: FB (91-93), SL (85)

7) Billy Traber:

8/6: 70 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups (5th), Slider (5th)

• Traber is a 6-5, 205 pound lefty. The 29 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 225. He is real long and lanky and is really herky jerky with arms and everything bounces up and down. He is a sidearmer with a 3-8 slider with okay bite, a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a change with a little fade and sink from righties. 4-A arm for sure.

4th: FB (85-88), SL (81-82), CU (74-77)

5th: FB (82-86), SL (79-81), CU (73-76)

6th: FB (82-85), SL (79-81), CU (73-75)

7th: FB (82-84), SL (80), CU (74-77)

8) Anthony Claggett:

8/6: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Claggett is a 6-3, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 215. He has real long arms and is lanky with skinny legs. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite, but it can be flat and extremely hittable at times. His change is straight with a little sink. Claggett has solid stuff, but the results have not been there in those appearances. I think he could be a guy who does have some success, but he likely will need to get out of the pressure cooker that is New York to gain that success.

9th: FB (89-93), SL (83-86), CU (83-85)

9) Enrique Gonzalez:

8/8: 43 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Gonzalez is a 5-10, 225 pound righty. The 27 year old has a small frame that is maxed out and definitely has some bad weight in the mid section and is almost a Rich Garces wanna-be frame wise. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with solid sink and some run in on righties. His slider is a 2-7 with okay bite. His change has some fade from lefties with a little sink. He is a 4-A guy.

7th: FB (90-93), SL (88-89)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (84-88), CU (83-86)

10) Fernando Cabrera:

8/13: 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• Cabrera came from a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle and get up to 235. He sets his hands over his head and comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and his slider is a 2-7 with good bite. He has a max effort delivery that will make it difficult to consistently throw strikes. Command, not stuff, has always been the question about Cabrera and he could still be a quality middle reliever in the bigs.

9th: FB (91-93), SL (82-83)