Chart Observations: 9/17 HOU @ CIN

1) Yorman Bazardo: 87 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bazardo came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some 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 that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (89-94), SL (82-87) - FB (Rolen)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (83-86)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84) - FB (Balentien), SL (Tatum)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (81-85), CU (84)

2) Justin Lehr: 99 pitches. (FB, Split, Cut, CB, SL). 10 strikes swinging. 6 Splitters, 3 Cutters, Curveball.

• Lehr is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from an over the top release with fairly clean mechanics and no real red flags. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His split has good dive. His curve is a 12-6 with slightly above average depth that is a little loopy that he will throw 3-2. His slider is a 2-7 with below average bite. His cutter has some cut and some sink. The splitter is his out pitch to both lefties and righties.

1st: FB (83-87), Split (78-80), Cut (82), CB (69-73), SL (78) - 2 Split (Bourn, Blum)

2nd: FB (84-86), Split (80-81), Cut (84), CB (71-72), SL (77) - Split (Manzella)

3rd: FB (82-87), Split (77-82), Cut (84-85), CB (70-73), SL (78-79) - Split (Blum)

4th: FB (83-87), Split (79-82), Cut (82), CB (70-73), SL (78) - Split (Pence), CB (Manzella)

5th: FB (85), Split (79-80), Cut (83-85), CB (70-72), SL (78) - Split (Blum), 3 Cut (Towles - 2, Manzella)

3) Pedro Viola: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Viola came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a straight change with some sink.

6th: FB (92-94), SL (80), CU (88)

4) Jared Burton: 18 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Burton came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

6th: Cut (91-92), CU (86-87)

7th: Cut (90-91), CU (87-88), SL (83-84) - 2 CU (Towles - 2), SL (Blum)

5) Wilton Lopez: 22 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

6th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85) - 2 FB (Tatum, Bruce)

6) Wesley Wright: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Wright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite that he will throw 3-2 and a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Jeff Fulchino: 31 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 8 strikes swinging. 4 Splitters, 2 Sliders, 2 Fastballs.

• Fulchino came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a split with good dive.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (81-85), Split (82-85) - FB (Barker), 2 Split (Francisco, Balentien)

8th: FB (93), SL (82-85), Split (82-86) - FB (Bruce), 2 Split (Bruce, Janish), 2 SL (Stubbs - 2)

8) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with some cut, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a split with some dive that can flatten out.

8th: FB (94-95), Cut (90), CB (81-84), Split (89) - CB (Coste)

9) Francisco Cordero: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (94-96), SL (87-88) - SL (Pence)

• Tommy Manzella is a 6-2, 200 pound shortstop. The 26 year old righty/righty has a medium frame that can get up to about 215 if he so desires. Athletic, skinny build. His stance is a slightly crouched, straight on stance that is fairly generic. He has a long load and cocks the bat, almost moving it a touch forward before he moves it back. He also has a step in his trigger. Has a long swing and also lacks pitch recognition, not a good combination. On defense, he has an above average arm and soft hands. Utility player who will never hit enough to be a starter.
• Juan Francisco is a 6-2, 180 pound third basemen who made a pinch hit appearance. The 22 year old lefty hitter, righty thrower has a medium frame that looks like it can add more muscle to his upper body. Strong lower half with an athletic build. He has an open stance where he is up on his front toe and has a little bit of a bat wiggle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride to square himself up. Kind of hunches over as he prepares to hit, which will limit his power production. Is a timing hitter, meaning he likes to guess and can look silly at the plate at times. Solid eye at the plate. Nothing I saw in his 1 at bat would lead me to believe he can't be an everday hitter.

Chart Observations: 9/9 CIN @ COL

1) Jason Hammel: 101 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 11 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Curveballs.

• Hammel came from an over the top release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (92-93), CB (76), SL (83-86) - FB, SL

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

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

4th: FB (90-93), CB (78), CU (84) - FB

5th: FB (90-92), CB (77), SL (84-85) - FB, CB, SL

6th: FB (91-92), SL (82-85) - FB

7th: FB (92-93), CB (77-78), SL (84) - 2 CB, SL

8th: FB (91-93), CB (78), SL (83-85)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 100 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut). 9 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs, Frisbee Slider.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top release to a sidearm release and showed a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties, a frisbee 9-4 slider with good bite, a 1-7 curve with slightly below average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink that he will throw from sidearm release with 2 strikes and a cutter with some cut

1st: FB (88-90), FSL (68-72), CB (69-71), CU (74-83)

2nd: FB (88-91), FSL (74-78), CU (79)

3rd: FB (89-91), FSL (70-75), CB (70-75), CU (80-84), Cut (88) - FB, CB, 2 CU

4th: FB (88-90), FSL (78-79), CB (68-72), CU (82) - CU

5th: FB (86-91), FSL (69-76), CU (79-84) - FB, FSL

6th: FB (88-90), FSL (69-78), CB (69-71), CU (84), Cut (85)

7th: FB (88-90), FSL (74-78), CB (71-75) - 2 CB

3) Rafael Betancourt: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Betancourt came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-94), SL (83-84) - FB

4) Joe Beimel: 4 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 curve with average depth and a fastball with some tail in on righties.

8th: FB (88-89), CB (72-74)

5) Matt Daley: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

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

8th: FB (91), SL (77-80) - FB, SL

9th: FB (89-91), SL (78-80) - 3 FB, SL

6) Arthur Rhodes: 9 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (90-92), SL (80-81)

7) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with some cut, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth and a splitter with good dive.

8th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CB (82-83), Split (90) - FB

8) Francisco Cordero: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Cordero came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on righties.

9th: FB (94-98), SL (87-91) - 2 FB

Chart Observations: 8/25 CIN @ MIL (1st 9 innings)

1) Bronson Arroyo: 116 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut, F-SL). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Frisbee Sliders, Curveball.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top to sidearm release and showed a 3-8 frisbee slider with solid bite, a change with good fade from lefties with solid sink, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that he will throw 3-0, a cutter with a little cut, a high 3/4 slider that has good bite

1st: FB (88-92), F-SL (70-72), CU (79-86), CB (72)

2nd: FB (91-92), F-SL (71-77), CB (70-73), SL (78-79), Cut (88) - FB, CB

3rd: FB (90-92), F-SL (72-77), CU (81-86), CB (70-72), Cut (88)

4th: FB (90-92), F-SL (72), CU (84), CB (70-73), SL (75-76) - FB

5th: FB (89-91), F-SL (72-78), CU (79), CB (70) - 2 F-SL

6th: FB (88-91), F-SL (73-76), CU (81-85), CB (69) - FB

7th: FB (88-91), F-SL (74-75), CU (82)

2) Jeff Suppan: 90 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Suppan 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 that he will throw to righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (83-87), CU (82-84) - SL

2nd: FB (86-91), SL (84-87), CU (81-83), CB (73) - FB

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (85-86), CU (81-83)

4th: FB (87-91), SL (86-87), CU (79-81), CB (73)

5th: FB (87-92), SL (87-89), CU (82-83), CB (74-75)

3) Mark DiFelice: 3 pitches. (Cut, FB, CU, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a straight 4-seam fastball.

5th: FB (87), Cut (83-84)

4) Carlos Villanueva: 25 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, Changeup

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 slider with good bite that looks more like a power curve and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

6th: FB (90-91), CU (82), SL (82), CB (72) - 2 SL

7th: FB (89-92), CU (82-83), SL (79-83), CB (66-73) - 3 SL, CU

5) Mike Burns: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

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

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CB (72) - 3 FB, SL

6) Nick Masset: 10 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a split with good dive.

8th: FB (96-98), CB (84), Split (91) - Split.

7) Chris Narveson: 22 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, SL). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

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

9th: FB (87-92), CB (71-72), CU (79-81) - FB, CU

8) Jared Burton: 21 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Burton came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut and some sink,

9th: Cut (92-95) - Cut

9) Arthur Rhodes: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rhodes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties

9th: FB (92-94)

10) Francisco Cordero: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Cordero is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out that may have a little bit of bad weight. He came from an over the top release and showed a hard, sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (97-99), SL (91-93) - FB

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.