9/29: HOU @ PHI

1) J.A. Happ: 119 pitches. (FB, Cut, CU, CB). 11 strikes swinging. 7 Fastballs, 2 Cutters, 2 Changeups.

• Happ came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand that he will throw in 2-0., 3-0 and 3-1 counts, a cutter with good downward action to it and a 11-5 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (89-92), Cut (81-83), CU (80-81) - FB (Matsui), Cut (Berkman)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (84-85), CU (78-81), CB (74) - 2 FB (Pence - 2), Cut (Michaels)

3rd: FB (87-89), Cut (81-83), CU (79-80), CB (72)

4th: FB (88-92), Cut (81-83), CU (79-81) - CU (Michaels)

5th: FB (87-91), Cut (81-83), CU (79-81) - 2 FB (Matsui, Keppinger)

6th: FB (88-91), Cut (80), CU (79-80) - 2 FB (Johnson, Matsui), CU (Johnson)

2) Wilton Lopez: 57 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Lopez came from a high 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 with a little bite.

1st: FB (90-94), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (90-95), CU (85) - 3 FB (Howard - 2, Ibanez)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (89-93), CU (82-85), SL (83-84)

3) Wesley Wright: 27 pitches. (FB, SL, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Wright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a sharp 11-5 curve with slightly below average depth.

4th: FB (91)

5th: FB (90-93), SL (84-86), CB (81-82) - 2 FB (Howard, Werth)

4) Chad Paronto: 19 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Paronto is a 6-5, 285 pound righty. The 34 year old righty has a big frame that is maxed out with quite a bit of bad weight and he has a gut. He probably needs to get his weight down to about 270. He came from a high 3/4 release working predominately from the stretch with solid mechanics. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with a hint of bite. His change has some fade from lefties and a little sink. 4-A pitcher at best. Left the game with an apparent knee injury.

6th: FB (87-90), SL (83)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (81-85), CU (83)

5) Jamie Moyer: 24 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• Moyer came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with some late fade from righties and some sink and a cutter with good cut. Left the game with an apparent groin injury.

6th: FB (83-84), CU (77)

7th: FB (79-84), CU (74-77), Cut (77-82)

6) Jeff Fulchino: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Fulchino came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a splitter with some dive.

7th: FB (94-95), Split (85-87) - Split (Ibanez)

7) Ryan Madson: 27 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Madson came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a cutter with some cut and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (95-97)

9th: FB (94-97), Cut (90), CU (83) - FB (Lee)

8) Sam Gervacio: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (89-92), SL (83-86), CU (84) - SL (Bako)

Chart Observations: PIT @ PHI

1) Virgil Vasquez: 48 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), Cutter (1st)

• Vasquez is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a cutter with some cut and a little sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with above average fade from lefties with sink. He had zero command in this game and he is a guy that can't be consistently pitching behind in counts. Still looks like a back of the rotation guy to me.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (84-88), CB (71-75)

2nd: FB (86-90), CB (73), CU (79)

2) J.A. Happ: 103 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 5 on Cutters (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 5th), Changeup (6th)

• Happ came from an over the top release and showed a cutter that moves like a 11-5 slider with good bite that keeps moving down, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth, a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a change with some fade from righties with average sink. He will throw his change to lefties and will almost always follow a high fastball with a curveball and this seems to be his preferred method of setting up hitters. Probably a # 3 down the road.

1st: FB (89-91), Cut (82), CU (81), CB (73-75)

2nd: FB (87-92), Cut (79-83), CU (79), CB (71-72)

3rd: FB (88-90), Cut (79-81), CB (72)

4th: FB (86-90), Cut (81)

5th: FB (87-90), Cut (82-84), CU (80)

6th: FB (88-91), Cut (80-84), CU (79-84), CB (72-74)

7th: FB (89-92), Cut (80), CU (81), CB (71-73)

3) Jeff Karstens: 35 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (2nd), Slider (3rd)

• Karstens came from a high 3/4 release with a whipping arm action. His fastball has some run in on righties with a little sink, his curve is a big breaking 12-6 pitch with above average depth, his slider is a 1-7 that is sharp with good bite and his change has good fade from lefties with good sink.

2nd: FB (90), CB (71-73), CU (79-80)

3rd: FB (91), CB (71-73), CU (80), SL (77)

4th: FB (89-91), CB (71-73), SL (76)

5th: FB (87-92), CB (72-73)

4) Evan Meek: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut, a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

6th: Cut (90-94), FB (96), CB (81), SL (84)

5) Donald Veal: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Veal is a 6-4, 230 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 curve that starts its break early and should be easy for hitters to pick up due to that, but it would be a good pitch if it didn't do that. Don't think he will ever have the command to be a consistent major league pitcher.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (74-75)

6) Joel Hanrahan: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Hanrahan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite. This was the 1st time I have seen him with his good slider and the Pirates may have made some progress with him.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (83-84)

7) Ryan Madson: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (94-95), Cut (93)

8) J.C. Romero: 20 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs, Slider

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite that can look like a CB on occasion, a fastball with late run in on lefties with good late sink and a change with good fade from righties with a little sink. He will drop down sidearm to throw fastballs on occasion.

9th: FB (91-93), SL (78-83), CU (82)

Will have more after my baseball game, including my 1st look at Clayton Kershaw this season, as well as a report on Cardinals rookie reliever P.J. Walters.

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.

NYM @ PHI

• Chan Ho Park was sadly everything I thought he would be. He had some major control issues (walking 6 in 4 and 2/3) and some hit issues (8 allowed). Hope the Phillies get Carlos Carrasco ready b/c Park does not belong in a big league rotation. He throws a lot of pitches, but none of them are real good and he has to be better then the sum of his parts. He continues to prove that he can only pitch in Los Angeles.
• Mike Pelfrey is an enigma. He has 2 pitches with plus velocity (a mid 90's sinker and a high 80's slider) but can't strike anyone out. While his pitches have plus velocity, none of them have real plus movement. The movement on the sinker is erratic and is nowhere near the level of a sinker of a Brandon Webb or even a Rick Porcello. His slider has very little movement, but just enough to not have balls get hit off the barrel. He also has some control issues. Has the chance to be a # 2, but I think he is a middle of the rotation guy.
• Pedro Feliciano is death to left-handers (outside of a home run he allowed tonight to Chase Utley). He has a solid enough fastball (low 90's) and an above average slide piece from a low 3/4 release. My numbers said that he may regress, but that will likely occur only if his arm decides to break during the course of the season, as his stuff appears fine.
• J.A. Happ was just there. Nothing too incredible out of him. Seems like an extra arm in the pen or a back-end starter, though he can sit at the low 90's with his fastball.
• Why does Jerry Manuel like Omir Santos so much better then Ramon Castro? I have watched Santos play twice and have seen a back-up catcher who is taking advantage of the fact no scouting reports are out on him. If the Mets keep Santos as a back-up and allow Castro to walk, I think Castro will catch on somewhere and make them regret it.

Not too much to report. Pretty boring teams to watch in my opinion (prefer young guys, these teams pretty much don't have those) and I am scheduled for a chart and a score tomorrow. Scoring the Astros-Braves game (Oswalt and Jurrjens, phenomenal matchup) at 3:30.

Also scheduled to have baseball practice tomorrow (which I haven't decided if I will be attending or not due to work). For those interested, in the scrimmage I went 5-6 at the plate with a homer and on the bump, I fired 3 innings, allowing 0 hits, walking 2 and striking out 7.