Chart Observations: 9/22 SD @ COL

1) Jorge De La Rosa: 63 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Changeups, Curveball, Slider.

• De La Rosa came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties, a 11-5 curve with above average depth, a change with some fade from righties and good sink that he will throw in 3-2 counts and a sharp 11-5 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (91-97), CU (85-87), SL (89), CB (74-77) - 2 CU (Salazar, E. Gonzalez), CB (Cabrera)

2nd: FB (90-95), CU (86-87), SL (86), CB (78) - 2 CU (Cabrera - 2), SL (Gwynn)

3rd: FB (88-96), CU (85-87), SL (85)

2) Edward Mujica: 66 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Splitters, 2 Sliders.

• Mujica came from a high 3/4 release and showed a splitter with good dive, a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (89-93), SL (81-84), Split (82-88) - 2 Split (Tulowitzki - 2)

2nd: FB (91-93), Split (84-89) - 2 Split (De La Rosa, Smith)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (81-82), Split (84-86) - 2 SL (Belisle - 2)

3) Matt Belisle: 33 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Belisle 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 some sink, a 12-6 curve with below average depth and a 2-7 slider with okay bite.

3rd: FB (90-91), CU (85)

4th: FB (91-92), CB (77), SL (86)

5th: FB (91-94), CU (86), SL (86-89) - FB (Salazar)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (77-78), SL (87) - FB (E. Gonzalez), CB (Blanco)

4) Cesar Ramos: 39 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Ramos is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle in his lower half, but is pretty close to maxed out. Strong, athletic build. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on lefties and a little sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with average bite. His curve is a 11-5 pitch with below average depth that is pretty flat. His change is straight and looks like a fastball out of his hand. 4-A guy, one without the stuff to be a starter or the dominant out pitch to be a reliever. Safer bet is a # 5 starter.

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (81-82), CB (72) - SL (Smith)

4th: FB (89-93), SL (83-84), CB (74), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (89-93), SL (84), CB (73) - 2 FB (Barmes, Smith)

5) Luis Perdomo: 38 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Perdomo came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink that has good tilt, a 2-7 slider with okay bite and a straight change with a little sink.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (84-88), CU (89) - SL (Torrealba)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (87-89), CU (87) - FB (Barmes)

6) Randy Flores: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (88-90), SL (82-83)

7) Aaron Poreda: 27 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Poreda came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some cut and a 11-5 slider with some bite that he will throw 3-2.

7th: FB (89-93), SL (78) - FB (Fowler)

8th: FB (86-92), SL (74-78) - 2 FB (Hawpe - 2)

8) Huston Street: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CU (83) - SL (Eckstein)

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

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a sweeping 11-5 curve with below average depth.

7th: FB (85-88), CB (73)

10) Greg Burke: 18 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (88-91), SL (81), Split (86) - SL (Torrealba)

11) Juan Rincon: 23 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (90-95), SL (85-88) - SL (Blanco)

12) Franklin Morales: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Morales came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: FB (93-95), CB (73-74)

13) Matt Daley: 10 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (87-90), SL (75-77), CU (81) - SL (Headley)

8/30: SD @ FLA

1) Sean West: 89 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• West came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties and some sink that can also show some tail in on righties, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from righties and some sink that he will throw 3-2 and to righties.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (82-85), CU (83-85) - FB

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (80-82) - FB

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CU (82-85) - FB, SL, CU

4th: FB (87-91), SL (80-83), CU (84-86) - 2 FB, SL

5th: FB (87-90), SL (83), CU (82-84)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (82), CU (81-82) - FB, SL, CU

2) Mat Latos: 80 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 3 Changeups, 2 Sliders.

• Latos came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a change that has a little sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand, a hard 2-7 slider with good bite. The ball explodes out of his hand and even when hitters sit on his fastball, they struggle to catch up to it and end up fouling it off or swinging through it. Struggles to throw the slider for strikes, but can bounce it well. Inability to throw off-speed stuff for strikes means he falls behind and has to come to hitters when behind in the count with fastballs and hitters adjust the more they see it.

1st: FB (95-96), SL (88), CU (81-83) - FB, CU

2nd: FB (95-97), SL (86-89) - 2 FB, SL

3rd: FB (93-96), SL (88-91), CU (84) - FB, CU

4th: FB (92-95), SL (83-89), CU (81-84) - SL, CU

3) Edward Mujica: 49 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Splitters, Fastball.

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

4th: FB (92-94), Split (85-88) - FB

5th: FB (91-93), Split (85-89) - Split

6th: FB (93-94), Split (84-88), SL (81-84) - 3 Split

4) Renyel Pinto: 27 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

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

7th: FB (88-92), CU (81-85) - CU

5) Ryan Webb: 27 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Webb is a 6-6, 215 pound righty. The 23 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to his upper half and appears to have an athletically built lower half. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good downward bite that he will throw as a get ahead pitch and as a strikeout pitch. Can really battle his fastball command. He looks like he could be a solid middle reliever, but his control needs to be refined.

7th: FB (92-96), SL (81-87) - SL

6) Matt Lindstrom: 13 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Splitter.

• Lindstrom came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a split with some dive that can be just a straight change at times

8th: FB (94-97), Split (88) - FB, Split

7) Greg Burke: 28 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (88-91), SL (81-83) - FB

8) Leo Nunez: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (92-96), CU (84-88)

Chart Observations: 8/23 STL @ SD

1) Cesar Carrillo: 72 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 6 Changeups (4 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Carrillo is a 6-3, 175 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a ton more muscle. He is a very skinny kid with little definition. He came from an over the top release with a little cocking action and can rush his delivery at times, causing his arm to play catch up. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a 12-6 offering with slightly above average depth. His change has some fade from lefties with above average sink that he will throw to righties and is his best off-speed offering. He will pitch backwards and trusts himsle fot throw his change for strikes (threw 3-2 changeups to Smoltz and to Holliday with the bases loaded). His fastball command is iffy and still has a tendency to miss up in the zone. I like his stuff, and he doesn't have as much development time as his age suggests due to arm injuries. I think he could be a late bloomer and be a solid # 4 in the back of a contender's rotation.

1st: FB (90-92), CB (75-78), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (89-93), CB (75-79), CU (82-86)

3rd: FB (91-92), CB (80), CU (84-87)

2) John Smoltz: 75 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 2nd), 6 Sliders (2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 4 Splitters (both in 1st, 3rd, 5th)

• Smoltz came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a split with above average dive and a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that he likes to throw to lefties to steal a strike. In the weaker league, he should dominate. The Padres just didn't jump on his fastball and choose to either wait for an off-speed offering (bad decision) or fouled it off. The fastball got pounded in the AL and was the cause for his release and it remains to be seen if this will occur eventually in the NL.

1st: FB (92-93), SL (84-87), Split (87-88), CB (79)

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (84-85), Split (87), CB (76)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (82-85), Split (86-88)

4th: FB (90-92), SL (83-85), Split (86-88)

5th: FB (91-93), SL (83-86), Split (85-86)

3) Edward Mujica: 37 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 5th), 2 Sliders (4th, 5th), Splitter (4th)

• Mujica came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and some sink, a split with above average dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite. His 3rd inning velocity #'s are down because he came in the middle of an at-bat and had just started getting loose at the beginning of that at-bat, but Bud Black couldn't watch anymore of Carrillo.

3rd: FB (90), Split (85-87), SL (82-84)

4th: FB (92-94), Split (85-89), SL (84)

5th: FB (91-93), Split (87), SL (82-83)

4) Greg Burke: 36 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (6th, 7th), Fastball (7th)

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

6th: FB (90-94), SL (83-85)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (81-84)

5) Blake Hawksworth: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawksworth came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and good sink and a cutter with a little cut.

6th: FB (91-92), CU (80-83), Cut (86-87)

6) Dennys Reyes: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (89-90), SL (85)

7) Jason Motte: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a cutter with some cut.

7th: FB (91-95), Cut (88)

8) Trever Miller: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miller came from a low 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a change with some fade from righties with good sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (85-87), CU (80)

8th: FB (84-85), SL (74-77)

9) Joe Thatcher: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thatcher is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with some cut.

7th: FB (86-87)

10) Luke Gregerson: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (90-93), SL (82-85), CU (76-77)

11) Heath Bell: 18 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Bell came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a straight 4-seam fastball with some natural sink.

9th: FB (91-94), CB (81-82)

12) Ryan Franklin: 33 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Splitter.

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

9th: FB (90-93), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79), Split (83-85)

Chart Observations: SD @ MIL

1) Clayton Richard: 90 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (4th)

• Richard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with a little run in on lefties with a little sink, a change with good sink and good fade from righties that he will throw to lefties, a straight 4-seam fastball he liked to throw high with 2 strikes, a 10-4 slider with good bite and a cutter with some cut.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (85)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (85)

3rd: FB (90-96), CU (84-85), SL (83)

4th: FB (89-95), CU (84-85), SL (80-85), Cut (89)

5th: FB (89-94), CU (81-85), SL (79-80)

6th: FB (89-91), CU (84), SL (76)

2) Mike Burns: 102 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 6th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 6th), Curveball (2nd), Changeup (3rd)

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

1st: FB (87-90), SL (79-81), CB (71)

2nd: FB (86-88), SL (79), CB (70), CU (81-82)

3rd: FB (87-89), CB (69-71)

4th: FB (86-89), SL (78-80), CB (69-70)

5th: FB (85-89), SL (80-81), CB (71), CU (78-82)

6th: FB (86-90), SL (78-80), CB (69-70)

3) Greg Burke: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Burke came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with below average bite and a fastball with some run in on righties and sink.

6th: FB (91-94), SL (82-86)

4) Mitch Stetter: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Stetter came from a sidearm release and showed a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties.

6th: FB (84), SL (78-79)

7th: FB (84-87), SL (79)

5) Luke Gregerson: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Gregerson came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-8 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties with good sink.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), CU (81)

6) Mark DiFelice: 13 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Cutters.

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

7th: Cut (81-83), CB (76)

7) Claudio Vargas: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (89-92), SL (79-82)

8) Mike Adams: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Adams came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a cutter with some cut and a change with plus fade from righties with above average sink.

8th: FB (93-95), Cut (90), CU (84)

9) Heath Bell: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Bell came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with some natural run in on righties and some sink and a sharp 1-7 curve with above average depth that is a strikeout pitch.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (79-82)

Playoff Game cancelled, so I am going to be working on the relief pitcher study since I already traded my game away.

Score (7/26): SD @ WAS

1) John Lannan: 81 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th)

• Lannan came from an over the top release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good run in on lefties with okay sink (also throws a cutter, but it is indistinguishable to my rookie eyes), a 11-5 slider with good bite, a change with some fade form righties with okay sink and a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth. Generates a lot of groundballs and if he was behind an above average defense, his #'s would be even better.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (81-83), CU (81)

2nd: FB (86-89), CB (71)

3rd: FB (86-90), CB (72)

4th: FB (87-89)

5th: FB (87-88), CB (71)

6th: FB (86-88), SL (79), CB (69)

7th: FB (84-87), CU (79)

8th: FB (86-88), SL (78-81), CB (70)

2) Chad Gaudin: 98 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th)

• Gaudin came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with solid fade from lefties with a little sink that almost moves like a splitter.

1st: FB (87-93), SL (79-84)

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (77-82)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (78-84)

4th: FB (85-92), SL (79-82)

5th: FB (86-90), SL (78-83), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (80-82), CU (83)

7th: FB (85-91), SL (78-81)

3) Luke Gregerson: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Luke came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties and above average sink, a 2-7 slider that is sharp with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CU (83)

4) Mike Adams: 16 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Changeup.

• Adams came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with solid sink, a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink, a cutter with good cut and a straight 4-seam fastball. He will throw changeups to righties and it appears to be his out pitch.

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (89), CU (82-83)

5) Mike MacDougal: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

9th: FB (94-97)

10th: FB (95-96), SL (87)

6) Joe Beimel: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (85-87), CB (71), CU (77-78)

7) Greg Burke: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (91-92), SL (81-84)

7/24 Score: SD @ WAS

1) Mat Latos: 94 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 5 Sliders (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 2 in 6th), Changeup (5th)

• Latos came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change that flashes plus, but is more commonly below average with some fade from lefties that he has a tendency to hang. He will throw 3-2 changeups to righties. Has the early makings of an ace (Plus fastball, above average off-speed offering) and the development of his change will be key. He had solid command of his fastball. Refer to the Futures Game coverage for his frame and other data.

1st: FB (93-96), CU (80-81)

2nd: FB (93-96), SL (81-83)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (80-82), CU (82)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (93-95), SL (81-84), CU (81)

6th: FB (92-96), SL (79-82), CU (81-83)

2) Garrett Mock: 90 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Sliders (1st, 6th)

• Mock came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Could be a # 4, but his struggles with his command will impede his progress.

1st: FB (89-93), CB (75-77), SL (83-84)

2nd: FB (89-90), CB (75-76), CU (77)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (82-84), CU (79)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (74), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (89-91), CB (75-79), SL (81-83), CU (79)

6th: FB (89-93), CB (76), SL (81-84), CU (78)

3) Jason Bergmann: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter (6th)

• Bergmann came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut, a fastball with run in on righties with good sink and a power 12-6 curve that can be a strikeout pitch.

6th: Cut (85-87)

7th: FB (91-92), Cut (85-86), CB (79)

4) Luke Gregerson: 24 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (7th)

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

6th: FB (90), SL (82)

7th: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CU (80-81)

5) Ron Villone: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Villone came from an over the top release and shwoed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (87-89), CU (81), SL (84)

6) Mike Adams: 18 pitches. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Adams is a 6-5, 205 pound righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His cutter has some cut and sink. His curve is a 12-6 with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. His change has some fade from lefties with solid sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (87-89), CB (81), CU (83)

7) Sean Burnett: 8 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

8th: FB (90-91), SL (77-83)

8) Logan Kensing: 13 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Cutter.

• Kensing is a 6-1, 185 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 195. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut.

9th: FB (94-96), Cut (88-89)

9) Greg Burke: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Burke came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

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

Chart Observations: SD @ SEA

1) Chad Gaudin: 113 pitches, 15 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 11 Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th, 4 in 7th) and 1 Changeup (1st)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball that he has better command of, a change with excllent fade and alte sink and a 3-8 slider that can have good late bite or can move like a cutter with little downward action. He spotted his slider very well and started it on the outside corner to righties and let the movement take it out of their swing path. Another 11 strikeout game that wasn't dominant.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (79-82), CU (86)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79-83), CU (87)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (81), CU (87)

4th: FB (91-92), SL (81-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (88-94), SL (80-83)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (78-82)

2) Garrett Olson: 82 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 1 on Curveball (3rd) and 1 on Fastball (5th)

• He is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 25 year ol has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties and flashes some late sink, but is inconsistent and most of the time is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a sharp 11-5 wtih good depth and late bite. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw 2-0, but he doesn't have good command of it. He shows good command of his fastball-curveball combo, but doesn't have a true 3rd pitch. Swingman.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (80)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (79)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (79-81)

4th: FB (89-90), CB (80), CU (82)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (76-81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81)

3) Roy Corcoran: 35 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He is a 5-10, 185 pound righty. The 29 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth, but it can hang and it can also flash slider like movement. He has zero command of his stuff and appears to try and nibble, living on the corners and at the knees. Not a major league pitcher.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (80-83)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (81-83)

4) Miguel Batista: 24 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties and a cutter with good cut and some late sink that will flash movement like a 2-7 slider.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-89)

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (88)

5) Greg Burke: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• He came from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball showed good run in on righties and some sink and his slider was a flat 2-7 with marginal bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Edward Mujica: 3 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (92), Split (86), SL (81)

7) Heath Bell: 29 Pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Both on Curveballs.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run and sink and a 12-7 curve with great depth. He was leaving his curve up and left his fastball in the middle of the plate, a terrible combination.

9th: FB (91-96), CB (79-83)

• Everth Cabrera is a 5-10, 175 pound 22 year old. The switch hitter/righty thrower has a small frame that can add a little more muscle, but not too much. As a righty, he leans back on his back leg with a slightly bent front leg that is similar to Gerardo Parra's stance but not as upright. His trigger is a slight cocking of the bat and a step to straighten himself out, as he is slightly open. From the left side, his stance is similar, but no leaned back as far or open as much. Shows a somewhat quick bat, but one designed to slap the ball around. Plus runner that will look to bunt for hits, he stole 2 bases back to back and was 3.0 from 2nd to 3rd on his steal and neither time was close to getting caught. Best case is a Chone Figgins like career. Worse case is Luis Ugueto. He probably settles in the middle as a super utility guy who can play SS and will hit for little power.
• Kyle Blanks is a massive 6-6, 285 pound righty hitter/thrower. The 22 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He has a fairly straight on stance and he holds the bat in front of him and a little in front of his back shoulder. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He looks like a guy that will struggle to hit plus fastballs and his swing can get a little long. He has a fly ball swing, a terrible fit for PETCO. He has a tendency to roll his wrists too early, causing would-be line drives to turn into groundouts to short. He showed better speed then I anticipated, as he was 4.3 and 4.4 down the line to first. He is in a bad situation, as he isn't going to beat out Adrian Gonzalez at 1st and is trying to play LF. He DH'd in this game. He should be a productive hitter down the road, but think Kevin Kouzmanoff type production, not Adam Dunn. PETCO will be a serious obstacle for him to try and overcome.

SD @ LAA

• Joe Saunders comes from a high 3/4 release and features a 4-seam fastball with some natural sink and it flashes fade, a slurvy 11-4 curveball with some depth, a harder curve that he uses more to strike hitters out while the slurvy one is a steal strike type pitch, a slider that is a harder curve movement wise with good bite and a change that shows good fade and sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand. He keeps everything down and rarely misses up in the zone and he has above average command. Solid # 4 starter.

1st: FB (88-92), CB (75-76), SL (83)

2nd: FB (88-91), CB (71), SL (78), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (78), SL (79-81), CU (82)

4th: FB (90-91), CB (74), CU (81-83)

5th: FB (89-91), CB (73-78), SL (83), CU (82)

6th: FB (88-90), CB (75-76), SL (80), CU (82)

7th: FB (88-90), CB (73), SL (79-81), CU (81)

8th: FB (87-90), SL (82), CU (79-82)

9th: FB (87-89), CB (73-75), SL (80-81), CU (80-82)

• Josh Geer opposed him and I could write his scouting report in my sleep. He attacks from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that shows good fade and sink, a change that mvoes like his fastball but on a greater level and a 1-7 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (82-87), SL (76-81), CU (74-77)

2nd: FB (85-87), SL (77-81), CU (74-76)

3rd: FB (84-87), SL (79-82), CU (74-76)

4th: FB (84-86), SL (81), CU (72-76)

5th: FB (83-87), SL (81), CU (75-77)

6th: FB (83-87), SL (77-80), CU (74-76)

• Joe Thatcher is a sidearming lefty who features a fastball with some run and a little sink and a sweeping 9-3 slider that is average.

6th: FB (86), SL (76)

7th: FB (85-87), SL (75-77)

• Greg Burke comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good fade and sink and a 2-7 slider with decent bite.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (82-83)

• Kevin Jepsen is a 6-3, 215 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. I was hoping to see him, as I heard he had a plus fastball and he disappointed me a little bit. His fastball is a 4-seam with some fade and will flash run at other times (meaning I saw 2 fastballs, one had some fade, one ran). His curve is a power curve that is a 12-6 pitch with good depth, though it didn't appear to be a great K pitch (the one I saw). Too early to tell, but looks like a set-up man ceiling. Hope to see him some more.

9th: FB (93-94), CB (83)

• Sean Rodriguez is a 6-1, 215 pound 23 year old. The righty hitter/thrower got a pinch hit appearance. He has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle if he wants to move to a corner (probably to 225), but not if he wants to stay in the middle due to the loss of mobility he would suffer. He has a straight on stance with his weight on his back leg and holds the bat in front of him a little behind his back shoulder. He has a little bit of a bat wiggle and his trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. His single was a seeing eye single in the 5-6 hole that wasn't well hit. Looked good defensively at 2B and made a nice play. Another guy I won't even try to venture a guess at until I see him in a full game.

Played 1 of the games (other got rained out) and my body is kind of beat up. In the game, I got cleated, but somehow it is towards the upper middle part of my leg. Tried to turn a double play and I guess he came in cleats up. Then, the kid that hit that grounder tried to steal and we caught him, but he decided to pull an olympic like slide and put his hand up in the air and clocked me in the face. If one more thing like that would have happened in that game, I would have went off.

Got a chart and the Nats-Rays tomorrow featuring James Shields and Ross Detwiler.

Chart Observations: SD Pitchers

• Josh Geer got the start and came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seamer with excellent fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering that is very loopy. His change shows good fade and sink. Geer likes to pitch backwards, showing sliders to lefties and changes to righties the first time through the order. He will mix in a straight 4-seam, but not too often due to his velocity on his pitches. He lost his command in the 5th and got knocked around a little bit. Geer's best case scenario places him as a 5th starter. He is attempting to be a right handed Jamie Moyer and we all know the success rates those types of emulators have.

1st: FB (83-87), SL (77), CU (75)

2nd: FB (84-87), SL (80), CU (74-76)

3rd: FB (84-87), SL (76-79)

4th: FB (84-87), SL (78-80), CU (74-75)

5th: FB (83-87), SL (77-80), CU (74-75)

• Joe Thatcher is a 6-2, 230 pounder left hander. The 27 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a sidearm, almost submarine release. His fastball has some natural cut as well as some sink. His slider is a sweeping 9-3 offering. His change shows some fade and a little sink. He is a LOOGY wannabe who needs better command and needs to tighten his slider to be consistently successful against lefties.

6th: FB (86-89), SL (76-77), CU (77)

• Greg Burke came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good fade and sink, a solid 2-7 slider and a change with similar movement to his fastball.

7th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85), CU (85)

• Cla Meredith is a 26 year old who stands 6-0, 190. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He is a sidearmer and featured a fastball with good fade and sink and a sweeping 3-9, 3-8 type slider with decent bite. PETCO forgives a lot of his mistakes and is your protypical ROOGY.

8th: FB (85-86), SL (78-80)

• Luis Perdomo is a 25 year old who stands 6-0, 170. The diminuitive righty has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a max effort delievery. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink and is a pretty good looking 2-seamer. The slider is a sharp 2-7 that can be above average or can be below average, where it is flat. I like this kid and think he can be a solid middle reliever in the bigs. He needs to improve his command and refine his slider.

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

• Heath Bell comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has a little fade and natural sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve. His fastball's fade is late and allows him to avoid the barrel of the bat consistently.

10th: FB (90-95), CB (80-82)

11th: FB (93-95), CB (81-83)

• Edward Mujica is Bell's primary set-up man and came from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball shows good fade while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good late bite and his splitter shows good fade and dive.

12th: FB (92-93), Split (86)

13th: FB (92-95), Split (88), SL (80-83)

• Luke Gregerson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some fade and sink and a sharp 2-7 slider that generates a ton of swings and misses. I am starting to come around to the sinker/slider reliever and he has the ability to continue to succeed in the majors as a set-up man down the line.

14th: FB (89-91), SL (81-84)

15th: FB (89-90), SL (78-83)

• Chad Gaudin's day was up for bullpen work I guess and he got 2 innings in. The 5-10, 190 pound righty has a small frame that can add a little bit more muscle (maybe 5 pounds). The 26 year old comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade and sink and his change moves the same way. Gaudin's slider is a loopy 3-8 offering that can be sharp and flashes as above average. I think he is a better fit for the pen, but he can eat innings as a # 5 starter.

16th: FB (89-91), SL (76-79), CU (86)

17th: FB (88-93), SL (79-81), CU (83-86)

Josh Wilson also pitched (and took the loss) and he was FB-CB-CU, but why would you care?

PHI @ SD

Am supposed to make my Happ report detailed. As if my scouting reports aren't detailed enough...

• J.A. Happ is a 26 year old who stands 6-6, 200. The left hander has a big frame that can add a ton more muscle and can probably get up to 215 very comfortably. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He pauses when he is at the bottom of the arm circle with a straight arm. His arm action is similar to that of Ubaldo Jimenez, though not to as big of an extent. His fastball is a straight 4-seam with a little run, though he will also mix in a 2-seamer with a little fade. His cutter is similar to Jamie Moyer's, in that it moves and looks more like a slider on most occasions. It can be anywhere from a 2-7 to a straight side to side pitch. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 offering that he didn't throw much, but is a pitch he will need to be succesful as a starter. His changeup looks like a fastball out of his hand with good sink and fade, but he didn't throw any after Nick Hundley singled off it. His cutter looks like a fastball out of his hand, but keeps going down. His cutter is his out pitch, but it isn't a swing and miss offering. Likes to throw high fastballs with an 0-2 count or throw a cutter. Looks like he could be a back of the rotation starter, as his frame shows the ability to add a ton more muscle and add velocity. Strikes me as a classic pitching tweener though, one who doesn't have enough pitches to be a starter and no true out pitch to be a strong reliever.

1st: FB (88-90), Cut (82-84), CB (73)

2nd: FB (89-92), Cut (83-85), CU (79-81)

3rd: FB (88-92), Cut (82-85)

4th: FB (88-91), Cut (82-85)

5th: FB (88-91), Cut (80), CB (75)

6th: FB (88-92), Cut (83-85)

7th: FB (87-91), Cut (81-82)

• Chris Young is a 30 year old who stands 6-10, 280. The right hander has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. His gloves goes really high after separation, way over his head. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some cutter movement to it while his slider is a 2-7 pitch that can be inconsistent break-wise. He can hang some spinning sliders. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 pitch that he doesn't throw enough, though it is a little loopy. His command can be inconsistent and he can leave fastballs up. PETCO forgives a lot of his mistakes and I believe he could only be a major league starter playing half his home games at PETCO.

1st: FB (85-89), SL (78-79), CU (79), CB (70)

2nd: FB (85-87), SL (75-78), CU (79)

3rd: FB (85-87), SL (77-78), CU (75-77), CB (68)

4th: FB (84-87), SL (75-76)

5th: FB (85-86), SL (74-78), CU (73-75)

6th: FB (84-86)

• J.C. Romero is a 33 year old who stands 5-11, 205. This was the left hander's first appearance since being suspended for steroids. He has a small frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release, though he will drop down to 3/4 and will go sidearm to throw 0-2 sliders to lefties. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and sink. His change shows some fade and sink. His slider is a 10-4 offering that can be slurvy. He has a classic drop and drive delivery as a reliever. Solid reliever who can bounce between quite a few roles in a pen.

8th: FB (91-94), SL (80-83), CU (78-81)

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

• Ryan Madson finished the game for the Phils. The right hander showed a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and one changeup that was in the dirt.

9th: FB (95-96), CU (83)

• Greg Burke attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good fade and movement. His slier is a 2-7 offering that is average. He is your classic sinker/slider reliever. He did not have his best command tonight and got hit harder then he had been.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (82-83)

• Luke Gregerson attacked from a 3/4 release with a fastball that showed excellent fade and sink, a sharp 2-7 slider and a changeup with good fade and sink.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (81-85), CU (80)

• Edward Mujica attacked from a 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with above average fade and sink. He had good command of his off speed stuff for the most part tonight, though struggled to hit spots with his fastball.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (81-86), Split (87-88)

• Will Venable has returned to the big leagues. The 26 year old who stands 6-2, 210 has a medium frame with room to add more muscle. The lefty hitter/swinger has a slightly open stance. He just doesn't look comfortable in the box. He holds his hands a little behind him and a touch in front of his body. His trigger is a little toe turn. He has an average arm and average speed. He has a double trigger in his swing, as he cocks the bat twice and his swing can get long as a result. He dropped a ball in LF and missed a mistake pitch that he should have hammered. A 4th OF who will need to show a lot more to stick in the bigs.

SD vs. ARI

• Jake Peavy is a 28 year old who is 6-1, 195. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. From a 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 89-93, a slider at 80-85, a curveball at 78-80, a change at 81-86 and a cutter at 84-86. His slider shows good late bite and flashes as a plus 2-7 pitch. His fastball shows above average fade and is a hard 2-seamer. His change shows decent fade and sink. His cutter has some cut, but not a whole lot. His curveball is a mini 12-6 that is fairly sharp. He has a high effort delivery and will also drop down and throw fastballs and sliders from sidearm. In my eyes, Jake Peavy is no longer a # 1. He has settled in as a very good # 2 starter and he isn't a good fit for bandboxes. Still a good pitcher, just not an ace.
• Billy Buckner attacked hitters from an over the top release with a fastball at 85-91 (sat at 88-90), a curveball at 75-82 and a change at 80-86. His fastball has above average fade and some sink. His change shows good fade and sink and looks to be an above average offering. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch that he struggled to get a feel for early (threw quite a few hangers), but was able to command it better later. He will throw any of his pitches to any batter in any count. Still looks like a back of the rotation starter to me.
• Clay Zavada attacked from a 3/4, almost low 3/4 release with a fastball at 87-89, a slider at 74 and a change at 77-81. His change is a straight change with some sink and was his main off-speed pitch tonight. His fastball has a little run, but not much. His slider is a frisbee 10-4 pitch. His command was somewhat spotty as well. Still think he could be a decent inning reliever, but the lack of velocity on his fastball will always be hurting him and he doesn't have a real go-to pitch against lefties.
• Leo Rosales is a 27 year old who stands 6-1, 205. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. From an over the top release, he showed a fastball at 86-89, a slider at 80-85 and a change at 79-83. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider has good downward bite and is an 11-7 offering. His changeup shows good fade and movement and is slightly above average. Rosales can have very spotty command and this is what got him in trouble tonight. A middle reliever if he can be consistent with his command and a 4-A player if he doesn't, it really is that simple.
• Luke Gregerson attacked from a low 3/4 with a fastball at 89-91 and a slider at 80-81. His fastball is a 2-seam with good fade while his slider showed good downward movement.
• Drew Macias is a 26 year old outfielder who is 6-3, 200. The lefty hitter and thrower has a medium to big frame with room to add a little more muscle. He has a slightly open stance that is very similar to that of Chris Coghlan. He moves the bat in a circle a little bit as he waits for the pitcher to deliver. Macias looks like a 4th OF, as his swing doesn't have great power potential and he was unable to show any speed as he struck out in his only plate appearance.
• Esmerling Vasquez showed a fastball at 93-96, a slider at 79-80 and a changeup at 83-88 from a high 3/4 release. The fastball is a straight 4-seam. The slider is a 2-7 type pitch that showed good bite, but not great. The changeup is fairly straight with some sink and used it to battle the Padres lefty sticks. His slider is his most promising off-speed offering and he will need to further develop it to reach his potential. He showed average command and pitched to the middle of the plate a little too much.
• Edward Mujica showed a fastball at 91-94, a slider at 82-85 and a splitter at 87-88 from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His split showed great bite and solid fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with decent bite. He needs another pitch to complement his fastball and his splitter looks like his best option. Both his off-speed pitches are inconsistent with break and command. He has above average command of his fastball.
• Jon Rauch showed a fastball at 88-93 (mostly at 91), a slider at 82, a curveball at 73-74 and a changeup at 86. His fastball has good sinking movement and some fade. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch that is a little loopy. His slider is a 1-7 offering that goes nearly straight downward. He also threw a straight change. Solid middle reliever, but not a set-up man, as he has no true out pitch.
• Greg Burke featured a fastball at 89-91 and a slider at 81-83. His fastball shows great late and a little sink and he has plus command with it, as he peppered the outside corner at the knees with it. His slider is a little loopy for my taste and is a 3-8 offering. He needs to get more consistent with his slider.
• Heath Bell is a 6-3, 250 pound behemoth for a closer. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. From an over the top release, he threw 2 pitches: a fastball at 93 and a curveball at 83. The curveball was a 12-6 pitch that was very sharp. His fastball was a straight 4-seam.

Will only be doing reports on the starting pitchers tomorrow so I can get through all the games.

CHC @ SD

• Josh Geer was on the mound for the Padres and the 25 year old has a 6-3, 195 pound frame that has room to add more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 83-88 (sat at 86-87), a slider at 77-81 and a changeup at 73-76. His fastball is a 2-seam with plus sink and fade. His changeup moves similar to his fastball. Slider is loopy and almost looks like a CB. Works primarily on the outside with almost all his offerings, but will come inside every once in awhile. Still a back-end/spot starter type.
• Randy Wells saw his scoreless streak finally end. The 26 year old who is 6-3 230 has a frame that can still add some muscle. From an over the top release, he featured a fastball at 88-92, a slider at 82-87 and a changeup at 82-86. His fastball is a 2-seam that has solid sink and fade. HIs changeup is a plus pitch and has great sink and fade and looks like a FB out of his hand. His slider is a solid average to above average offering with good bite and depth. Very clean delivery and uses his frame to generate a great downhill plane for his pitches. He is likely a ceiling as a # 4 starter, and likely settles in as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter for the Cubs.
• Greg Burke is a 6-4, 215 pound 26 year old who has a big frame that can still add more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 90-91, a slider at 81-82 and a changeup at 84. His slider has good bite, but is very inconsistent with it's bite. His fastball shows some fade, but not much. The change was a show pitch that did almost nothing. All his offerings are average and he has above average command, so if he was going to stick in the majors with a team, it would have to be the Padres with their massive park.
• Bobby Scales is a 31 year old who stands 6-0 and weighs 185 pounds. The switch-hitting righty thrower has a medium frame with room to add more muscle. He has a fairly straight-up stance and wiggles most of his body and the bat casually as he waits for the pitcher to begin his wind up. Utilizes a toe turn for his trigger. Is a hustle guy who can play a lot of positions in the field. He is a temporary filler (AAA emergency guy) type who could probably be a decent hitter (.260), but will add no power and not a whole lot of speed. Classic tweener whose age will work against him in attempts to land a utility job. Closest comparison is also his highest upside in my eyes: Marco Scutaro.
• Luke Gregerson is a 25 year old who stands 6-3, 200. He has a big frame that still has ability to add muscle. From a low 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 90, a changeup at 78 and a slider at 82-84. His slider has good depth and bite and shows late break making it an above average (and flashing plus) pitch. His fastball moves like a 2-seam and shows good fade with the changeup being nearly identical, just slower. A guy who impressed me tonight throwing above average slider after above average slider, he has a ceiling of a set-up man.
• Carlos Marmol is a 26 year old who stands 6-2, 180. His medium frame has a lot of room to add more muscle, especially in the lower part. From a low 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 94-96 and a slider at 83-85. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider has great late bite and is very sharp, a true plus pitch. He is a future closer if he stays healthy.
• Edward Mujica is a 25 year old who stands 6-3, 215. His medium frame can add a little bit more muscle, but not much. He showed a fastball at 93-94, a slider at 82-83 and a splitter at 88. His slider was flat in this outing while his splitter also did nothing. What gets him by is plus command of a plus 4-seam fastball. Set-up guy is his top potential, but would expect him to settle in as a middle reliever.

2 charts tomorrow. Still haven't decided about going to church (which means I am probably going to sleep in sadly).

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.