Chart Observations: 9/13 CIN @ CHC

1) Ted Lilly: 119 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 10 strikes swinging. 7 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, Changeup.

• Lilly came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink, a sweeping 10-5 slider with solid bite that he will throw 2-0, a big breaking 12-6 curve with plus depth and a change with good fade from righties and some sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (83-87), SL (78-83), CU (76), CB (69)

2nd: FB (85-88), SL (82), CB (70) - FB, SL

3rd: FB (83-89), SL (82-83), CU (78-80), CB (67) - 3 FB, CU

4th: FB (85-89), SL (80), CU (78), CB (69) - 2 FB

5th: FB (84-89), SL (81), CU (76-81) - FB

6th: FB (85-88), SL (80-83), CU (77-80), CB (72) - SL

2) Homer Bailey: 115 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 17 strikes swinging. 16 Fastballs, Splitter.

• Bailey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite, a split with some dive and a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch that he will throw 3-2.

1st: FB (92-96), SL (87) - 3 FB

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (85-87), Split (87) - 2 FB

3rd: FB (91-96), Split (87) - 2 FB, Split

4th: FB (92-96), SL (85-87), Split (89), CB (75-79) - 7 FB

5th: FB (92-96), CB (78) - 2 FB

6th: FB (92-96), SL (86), CB (74-77)

3) Pedro Viola: 3 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.

6th: FB (91-93)

4) Jared Burton: 19 pitches. (Cut, FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Fastball.

• Burton came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink.

6th: Cut (90-91)

7th: Cut (89-91), FB (87-88) - Cut, FB

5) Esmailin Caridad: 15 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Caridad is a 5-10, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to about 205 if his listed weight is correct, which I don't think it is. Athletic build that can get stronger in the lower body. He came from a 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though he does have almost a twisting arm action which has to put extra stress on it. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a slurvy 2-7 with slightly below average depth. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties. Just a typical middle reliever who I think is pitching over his head right now.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (75-76), CU (86) - FB

6) Kevin Gregg: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, Cut, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Gregg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink and a 1-7 slider that moves more like a sharp curve with above average bite.

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

7) Carlos Fisher: 20 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (91-94), SL (82-84) - 3 FB

8) John Grabow: 15 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Grabow came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (88-91), CU (80-83), SL (82)

Chart Observations (7/8): CIN @ PHI

Picked up this extra chart on the day of, so that is the reason I chose not to update last night (that and the fact I played tennis, but the above sounded more professional)

1) Homer Bailey: 95 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 5th)

• Bailey is a 23 year old who stands 6-3, 210. The righty has a medium frame that can get up to 220. He comes from an over the top release with a little Ubaldo Jimenez like arm action where he likes to straighten the arm on the backtake, but fairly quiet delivery. He throws 2 different types of fastballs, a 4-seam that is fairly straight and a 2-seam that can flash above average run in on righties with some sink, but it can flatten out. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His split has some dive, but can look more like a straight change and it served as his out pitch to lefties early until he realized it literally wasn't moving... His slider is a hard, sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Bailey will never reach the expectations he has had, but it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to be a middle of the rotation guy. He threw all 3 of his off-speed pitches between 5 and 10 % of the time and will always rely on his fastball, which he had good command of. I think he will be an above average # 3 starter in about 3 or 4 years.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (76-78), Split (87)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (76), SL (86)

3rd: FB (92-95), SL (85-86), Split (86-89)

4th: FB (91-96), CB (76), SL (85-87), Split (86-89)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (78-79), SL (86-88), Split (89-90)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (76-77), SL (86-88)

2) Rodrigo Lopez (He's Back!): 69 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 2 on Sliders (1st, 2nd)

• Lopez is a 6-1, 185 pound righty. The 33 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His change has some fade from lefties with some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. His cutter has some cut that he can throw to either corner, but prefers to throw it in on the hands of lefties. He will throw his change to righties. Won't kill you in the NL as a 5th starter.

1st: FB (86-90), CU (83-84), SL (81-84), Cut (89)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (85), SL (80-84), Cut (88-91)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (80), Cut (89)

4th: FB (86-91), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), Cut (88-89)

5th: FB (82-84) *left the game following this inning due to an injury and his arm speed was noticeably slower.

3) Chad Durbin: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters (6th, 7th)

• Durbin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink.

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (87-89), CB (77), CU (80)

7th: FB (89-93), Cut (86-89), CB (77-78), CU (80)

4) J.C. Romero: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good late run in on lefties.

7th: FB (90-91)

5) Nick Masset: 15 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball, 4 Splitters.

• Masset is a 6-4, 235 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has good run in on righties with good sink. His splitter has above average dive and is a late breaking pitch. I am a huge fan of him and think he can be utilized similar to Scot Shields was with the Angels.

7th: FB (93-96), Split (88-90), SL (86)

6) Arthur Rhodes: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Rhodes is a 6-2, 210 pound lefty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite. Solid lefty setup man.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (80-84)

7) Dave Weathers: 28 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (8th)

• Weathers is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties and solid sink. Another solid set-up guy.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (83-85)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (82-85), CU (85-86)

8) Ryan Madson: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Madson came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink.

8th: FB (96-98), CU (84-85), Cut (93)

9th: FB (94-96), CU (83), Cut (90-93)