CIN @ HOU

1) Justin Lehr: FB, Split, CB, Cut, SL

• Lehr came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a split with some dive, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

1st: FB (84-87), Split (81-82), CB (72-73)

2nd: FB (83-87), Split (81-84), CB (71-72), Cut (82-84), SL (78) - 2 Split (Blum, Paulino)

3rd: FB (83-87), Split (80), CB (69-74), Cut (83) - CB (Blum)

4th: FB (84-88), Split (79-81), CB (70), Cut (81)

5th: FB (84-87), Split (80-81), CB (70-71), Cut (80-81) - Split (Bourn)

2) Felipe Paulino: FB, SL, CU, CB. 92 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Changeups, Curveball.

• Paulino came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a 2-7 slider with some bite and in 3-1 and 3-2 counts and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (96-97), SL (87-89), CB (75) - FB (Votto), SL (Phillips)

2nd: FB (93-97), SL (87-88), CU (83) - FB (Francisco), CU (Bruce)

3rd: FB (94-96), SL (87-88), CU (85-87) - FB (Bruce), 2 CU (Votto, Francisco)

4th: FB (91-96), SL (83-88), CB (74) - FB (Janish), SL (Lehr), CB (Janish)

5th: FB (92-96), SL (85-88), CU (85-87), CB (75-78) - 2 SL (Phillips, Miller)

3) Doug Brocail: FB, SL, CB, CU, Cut. 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (89-91), SL (86), CB (77), CU (79), Cut (85-89)

4) Micah Owings: FB, SL, CU. 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Owings came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little cutting action, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (89-92), SL (72), CU (75-77) - FB (Matsui)

7th: FB (88-90), CU (76-78)

5) Tim Byrdak: FB, SL, CU, CB. 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Byrdak came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with some bite that he will throw 3-1.

7th: FB (88-92), SL (80-86), CU (81)

6) Danny Ray Herrera: FB, CU, SL, Cut. 6 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Herrera came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with some cut, a 11-5 slider with good bite, a change with plus dive that is basically a screwball, a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (86), CU (67), SL (74), Cut (81-83) - Cut (Bourn)

7) Sam Gervacio: FB, SL, CU. 13 pitches.

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

8th: FB (90-93), SL (85-86), CU (83-84) - 3 FB (Miller - 2, Stubbs), 2 CU (Nix - 2)

8) Nick Masset: FB, Cut, Split, CB. 13 pitches.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a cutter with some late cutting action,

8th: FB (96-97), Cut (90-92), Split (90) - 3 Cut (Lee - 2, Pence)

9) Jeff Fulchino: FB, SL, Split. 21 pitches. 6 strikes swinging.

• Fulchino came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-7 slider with a little bite, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (83-86), Split (85-86) - FB (Phillips, Bruce, Francisco), SL (Votto, Francisco), Split (Votto, Francisco)

10) Jared Burton: FB, Cut, SL, CU. 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (88-89), Cut (91-93), SL (83) - SL (Matsui)

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: 9/13 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: 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

ARI @ CIN

1) Dan Haren: 111 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (3rd), 4 on Cutters (3rd, 5th, 2 in 7th), 5 on Splitters (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th)

• Haren comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball that some sink and run in on righties, a cutter with some solid cut and a little sink, a split with above average dive that serves as his out pitch and a 12-7 curveball that has good depth, but has flattened out a little lately. He will also throw the occasional straight 4-seam. He will throw any pitch in any count and has plus-plus command of all his offerings, which is amazing.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (80), Split (87-89), Cut (87)

2nd: FB (90-94), CB (79-81), Cut (86-89)

3rd: FB (91-95), CB (79), Cut (87)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (78-79), Split (86), Cut (85-88)

5th: FB (91), CB (78-79), Split (85-87), Cut (86-87)

6th: FB (90-92), CB (78-79), Split (87), Cut (85-86)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (80), Cut (84-88)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 105 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th), Curveball (6th), Changeup (6th), Cutter (2nd)

• Arroyo is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release and will throw pitches anywhere from sidearm to high 3/4. He has a very quiet windup with his patented flamingo kick. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink and fade, though he will mix in a straight 4-seam on occasion. His changeup has good sink and fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and sink. He will throw frisbee sliders from sidearm and even threw 1 fastball from sidearm. His cutter has some cut, but not a ton. His curveball is a 12-7 offering with solid bite and good depth. You would think throwing every pitch known to man he would have an out pitch, but none of his pitches are very spectacular. He battled his command from hitter to hitter and I would say he is a # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-91), SL (76-77), CU (80-84)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (84-86), CB (72-74), CU (77-83), Frisbee SL (70-74)

3rd: FB (80-90, 80 to Haren when behind in the count), Cut (87), SL (74-77), CU (78), F-SL (78)

4th: FB (87-90), Cut (84-87), CB (71-75), CU (84-85), SL (75-77)

5th: FB (87-90), Cut (89), CB (70-72), CU (80-82), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (69-74), CU (80-84), SL (77)

3) Carlos Fisher: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (6th, 7th) and Slider (6th)

• Fisher comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, but is straight and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His cutter has some cut, but can sometime be tough to see with the naked eye.

6th: FB (94-96), SL (82-84), Cut (90-92)

7th: FB (94-97), SL (81-84), Cut (89-93)

4) Jared Burton: 23 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Sliders, 2 on Cutters.

• Burton came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a hard change that has a little fade from lefties.

8th: Cut (87-89), CU (85), SL (82-83), FB (90-92)

5) Tony Pena: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Pena came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite. His command continues to be a question mark and is extremely erratic from his max effort delivery.

8th: FB (94-96), SL (87-89)

6) Scott Schoeneweis: 1 pitch. No, he hit it.

• Scho comes from a high 3/4 release and threw a straight 4-seam fastball to Joey Votto. He hit it hard for a single.

8th: FB (89)

7) Jon Rauch: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging.

• Rauch comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball with some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite. He will also throw a straight 4-seam and mix in a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (85), Cut (88-89)

8) Josh Roenicke: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Roenicke comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a power 12-6 curve (not a slider as I originally had considered, thanks BA Prospect Handbook) and a cutter with some cut and some sink. Watch this kid, he has the looks of a strong major league reliever.

9th: FB (92-95), Cut (86-88), CB (78-79)

9) Chad Qualls: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with excellent run in on righties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (85-88)

• Danny Richar was once the jewel of the Diamondbacks system and now finds himself as a bench player for the Reds. The 6-1, 195 pound lefty hitter, righty swinger has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. The 26 year old has a crouched stance that is similar to Phillips (though not in hand placement). He has a little bat wiggle and doesn't do much for a trigger, just cocking the bat. He is a gap to gap hitter who doesn't show much power. He showed slightly above average speed and looks to have the upside of that of a utilityman, as he just won't have the power or pitch recognition to play everyday.

Chart Observations: ATL @ CIN

• Tommy Hanson came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch that can be inconsistent with its break and can flatten out. His curveball is a 12-6, 1-7 pitch with good depth and good late break that is sharp. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw to righties. His slider really flattened out in the 6th.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (84-87), CB (75-77), CU (82)

2nd: FB (91-95), SL (83-86), CB (76-77), CU (84)

3rd: FB (93-95), SL (82-83), CB (75), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-95), SL (79-81), CB (75), CU (83)

5th: FB (90-95), SL (80-83), CB (74-75), CU (87)

6th: FB (92-95), SL (82-84), CB (75-77), CU (84)

• Matt Maloney is a 6-4, 220 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 230. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He has classic drop and drive mechanics and kicks his stride leg out a little farther then most. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run. His change is a straight change with some sink and is his best pitch that he will throw to lefties. It has excellent late sink and run and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider is an 11-4 offering with okay bite. His curveball is an 11-4 with good depth. I believe his slider is just a power curve, as they have similar movement. He looks to me like a # 5 starter or long reliever/swingman.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (78-81), SL (77), CB (71)

2nd: FB (87-88), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (78-79), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (78-79), SL (77), CB (69-71)

5th: FB (87-90), CU (77-78), SL (76-77), CB (70)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (79-80), CB (69)

• Carlos Fisher is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and takes a giant stride to the plate and it appears his arm lags behind at times. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run and his slider appears to be more of a curve with okay bite and is a 12-6 type offering. He throws to the middle of the plate too much and his command can be erratic. He has the tools to be a solid middle reliever down the road, but isn't quite ready.

6th: FB (92-96), SL (79)

7th: FB (92-97), SL (83-85)

• Peter Moylan is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with excellent run and some sink and a 9-3 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (91-94), SL (79-82)

• Josh Roenicke, a 6-3, 195 pound righty, made his season debut in this game. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has some cocking action and almost short arms the ball from an over the top release. His fastball has some run and sink. His slider is a slurvy 1-7 offering with some late break and some bite that resembles a curve. His cutter is a 1-7 pitch with good late bite that moves like a slider. He has the tools to pitch in the back of a pen someday, but will likely be a middle reliever.

8th: FB (94-97), Cut (89), SL (79-81)

• Mike Gonzalez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink, a 11-4 slider that he will add and subtract from depending on the count and a straight change.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (76-86), CU (79)

• Jared Burton is a 6-5, 230 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to the lower body. His cutter shows good cut and a little sink and his slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite from an over the top release. Serviceable middle reliever.

9th: Cut (88-93), SL (83)

• Rafael Soriano comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run and sink.

9th: FB (90-95)

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.

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.