TB @ CWS

1) Jeff Niemann: 100 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (2nd, 5th), 6 on Curveballs (2nd, 5th, 2 in 7th, 2 in 8th) and a Slider (4th)

• Niemann came from an over the top release and showed a fastball that is very straight that may have a little cut to it, a sharp, big breaking 12-6 curve with excellent depth that can be a strikeout pitch (and serves as his out pitch) and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. He straightens his arm behind him on the back take before beginning his acceleration through. Very impressive tonight and his curveball was plus for most of this outing.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84), CB (79)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (77)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (84)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (85), CB (77-80)

5th: FB (92-95), CB (77-80)

6th: FB (92-94), CB (77-80)

7th: FB (90-95), CB (77-79)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (82), CB (76-80)

2) Clayton Richard: 116 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd) and 4 on Changeups (2 in 6th, 2 in 7th)

• Richard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand with good sink and fade form righties, a cutter with some cut in on righties and a 11-4 slider with above average bite. He also showed a straight 4-seam fastball and he has an excellent pick off move. He sold me tonight and retired the last 15 hitters he faced. Definite shot at being a # 2, but more likely to be a # 4.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (84), Cut (84-88)

2nd: FB (91-96), CU (85), SL (79)

3rd: FB (90-95), CU (82-86), SL (81)

4th: FB (91-96), CU (86), Cut (87), SL (79)

5th: FB (90-95), CU (86), SL (82-85)

6th: FB (90-94), CU (84-86), Cut (88), SL (77-83)

7th: FB (90-95), CU (84-87)

8th: FB (89-94), CU (81)

3) Bobby Jenks: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jenks came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch, a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties. Battled his command tonight.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (87-90), CB (84), CU (83-84)

4) J.P. Howell: 12 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Curveballs, Changeup.

• Howell came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with above average fade from lefties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

9th: FB (85-87), CB (82-83), CU (79)

Traded my games for Wednesday, so I have the day off. My first real day off (no baseball game, no work) in atleast 2 months. Looking forward to it.

Extra Reports: 5/23: TB @ FLA

• Jeff Niemann is a 6-9, 260 pound behemoth at the age of 26. The right hander hsa a big frame that looks to be maxed out. He kicks his front foot out in his delivery and really jumps at the hitters. He has a high 3/4 release and has some cocking action in his arm. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 pitch with good bite, but is more of a get ahead pitch then an out pitch. His deuce does go from the letters to the dirt, so he can probably get some strikeouts with it. His fastball was a 4-seam that flashes fade. His slider is just a harder curve that has less break, but is sharper and was a 2-7 type offering. His slider can break, or it can just hang there. His fastball command can be inconsistent and he went through innings where he left all his pitches up around the letters. His shoulder will fly open on occasion. His changeup showed a little fade, but was a below average offering. He is a little slow to the plate, clocking at 1.3 and 1.2 on stolen bases on fastballs. Niemann profiles best as a # 4 starter, as there is no projection left and what you see with him is what you get. The only improvement he could make are being more consistent with his command and trying to refine his slider and change. But, a solid # 4 starter as he is now.
  

Niemann Inning By Inning:

1st: FB (91-94), CB (74-75)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (74), SL (80-84)

3rd: FB (88-94), CB (75), SL (82)

4th: FB (91-94), CB (75-77), SL (80-82)

5th: FB (89-93), CB (74-76), SL (78-79), CU (82)

6th: FB (90-93), SL (84-85)

• Sean West is a 22 year old who is another behemoth on the mound, standing 6-8, 200. The left hander has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially to his lower half. From a high 3/4 release, he is able to generate very easy velocity. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His wind-up looks fairly clean and is a good drop and drive delivery, but he does look to land hard on his front leg and has some whipping-like arm action. He gets his entire frame into his mechanics, allowing him to max out his velocity. His softer slider is a loopy 10-4 offering that is more of a slurve. His hard slider is a 11-4 breaker that is fairly sharp and gets good bite and depth. His changeup is a straight change that doesn't move much, but it looks like a fastball out of his hand and he liked to use it in fastball counts and get hitters out on their front legs. He will work his fastball inside and outside on hitters. His slider was anywhere from fringe average to above average. He has a tendency to not finish his slider, causing it to hang up in the zone. He prefers to backdoor sliders then throw the hard inside slider to righties. His command of all his pitches is inconsistent as a whole, but looks to be average right now. His command with his fastball gets into trouble as he occassionally will try to guide it into the strike zone, causing it to go off the plate to his armside. His command started to go away in the 4th. West looks to be a solid # 4 starter right now and he, unlike Niemann, has some projection left. West can add some more muscle and it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to sit at 92-94 for an entire game. West's slider needs to be refined and his command needs to improve, but he has a ceiling of a # 2 starter (with a more likely ceiling being a slightly above average # 3).

West Inning By Inning:

1st: FB (92-95), SL (81-86)

2nd: FB (92-93), CU (85), SL (81-83)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (80-82)

4th: FB (89-91), CU (83), SL (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), CU (83), SL (79-82)

• Burke Badenhop is a 25 year old reliever who stands 6-5, 220. The right hander has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. The right hander is a sinker balling reliever, featuring a fastball with above average fade and some sink. His slider is a 3-9 pitch that is putrid. This was the worst slider I have seen thus far this year. His changeup moves similar to his fastball with some fade. He was 1.1 to the plate on 2 stolen bases. Badenhop is a AAA reliever with little upside.

Badenhop Inning By Inning:

1st: FB (87-89), SL (78-80)

2nd: FB (86-89), SL (79-82), CU (81)

• Pop Times for Catchers on Stolen Bases:

Ronny Paulino: 1.9, 2.0

Michel Hernandez: 1.9, 1.8

• Times to 1st:

Emilio Bonifacio: 4.0 (LH)

Jeremy Hermida: 4.5 (LH)

Chris Coghlan: 4.2 (LH)

Michel Hernandez: 4.6

B.J. Upton: 4.5

Evan Longoria: 4.5