DET @ CLE

1) Rick Porcello: 91 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 6th), Curveball (3rd), Changeup (4th)

• Porcello is a 6-5, 200 pound righty. The 20 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215 and can add a lot more muscle everywhere. He came from an over the top release that generates easy velocity, but does have a lot of limbs moving at once. His fastball has good run in on righties and above average sink. His change has good fade from lefties with above average sink. His curve is a 12-6 with average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. Porcello isn't usually my type of pitcher, but he shows great pitchability and has confidence in himself. I don't think he has the potential to be an ace, but he can be a strong # 2. If he brings back the plus slider he had when he was drafted, I may think differently, as he is missing a true out pitch right now.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (90-94)

3rd: FB (92-93), CU (81), CB (81)

4th: FB (90-94), CU (81-82), CB (82)

5th: FB (89-94), CU (83), CB (79-81)

6th: FB (87-93), CU (78-82), CB (80)

7th: FB (88-92), CB (80-82)

8th: FB (88-91), CU (78), CB (79-83)

2) Jeremy Sowers: 95 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (5th, 2 in 6th), 3 Changeups (2 in 5th, 6th)

• Sowers came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties with a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with sink and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (85-87), SL (78), CU (78)

2nd: FB (85-91), SL (79), CU (80-81)

3rd: FB (86-90)

4th: FB (87-90), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (88-91), SL (81-82), CU (80-82)

6th: FB (87-92), SL (80), CU (79-81)

3) Justin Masterson: 46 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (8th, 9th), Slider (7th)

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

7th: FB (91-95), SL (87)

8th: FB (93-97), SL (86)

9th: FB (90-97), SL (84-88)

4) Fernando Rodney: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Rodney came from an over the top release and showed a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (96-99), CU (83-85)

5) Ryan Perry: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perry came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with above average bite.

10th: FB (94-97), SL (84-85)

6) Kerry Wood: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

10th: FB (96-98), CB (80-82)

7) Joe Smith: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Smith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82)

8) Tony Sipp: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (93), SL (83-84)

9) Bobby Seay: 14 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 3 Sliders.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties with solid sink and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (91-92), SL (80-82)

10) Jose Veras: 30 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Veras came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a big breaking 12-6 with solid depth and a split with some dive.

12th: FB (94-97), CB (78-81), Split (85-87)

11) Zach Miner: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miner came from a high 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 and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

12th: FB (90-95), CU (82)

Chart Observations: 7/25 CLE @ SEA

1) Jeremy Sowers: 103 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th), 3 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 4th), 2 on Changeups (4th, 6th)

• Sowers came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 10-4 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from righties with sink. He will throw 3-2 changeups.

1st: FB (86-89), SL (76-79)

2nd: FB (85-90), SL (77-79), CU (77-79)

3rd: FB (85-88), SL (75-79), CU (78-79)

4th: FB (85-89), SL (76-78), CU (79-80)

5th: FB (83-87), SL (76-78)

6th: FB (85-88), SL (77), CU (78-79)

7th: FB (85-89), SL (76)

2) Erik Bedard: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2 in 3rd), 3 on Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

• Bedard is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release and generates a good hip turn, maxing out his possible velocity. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His curve is a sharp, big breaking 11-5 with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. His cutter has some cut. He will drop down to 3/4 to throw curveballs and fastballs to both lefties and righties. His stuff says at least a # 2 starter, however his ability to pitch through pain and struggles with command says a # 4 or 5. I will call him a 3 and put it in the middle.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (77)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (75-80)

3rd: FB (89-93), CB (76-80), Cut (90)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 53 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Chris came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties with a little sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that could be a strikeout pitch and a change with a little fade from lefties with a little sink.

4th: FB (90-92), CB (76-77), CU (79)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (77), CU (77)

4) Garrett Olson: 61 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (5th, 7th, 3 in 8th), Curveball (8th) and Changeup (9th)

• Olson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a power 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a pretty straight change that has a little fade from righties.

5th: FB (88-90), CB (79)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (80-81)

7th: FB (88-90), CU (80-82)

8th: FB (89-91), CB (81)

9th: FB (89-90), CB (79-81), CU (80-81)

5) Winston Abreu: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (90-94), SL (82-86)

9th: FB (92)

6) Jose Veras: 18 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Veras came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a splitter with solid dive.

9th: FB (93-96), CB (78-79), Split (81)

• Michael Saunders is a 6-4, 210 pound L/R OF. The 23 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially in his legs, and should be able to get to at least 235, though it would cause the loss of speed. He has an open stance with the bat held even with his back shoulder and a little in front. He has a little bit of a bat wiggle in a circle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride to square himself up and his heel on his front foot is elevated off the ground and appears to be on his front toes. Saunders shows himself as a 5 tool guy, getting down the line on a groundout at 4.3 seconds (slightly above average) and was robbed of his 1st big league hit, a home run. He shows at least slightly above average in every tool I saw (did not see his arm) and think he is a future starting corner outfielder. Is definitely a better prospect then Wladimir Balentien was. I think worse case scenario for him is Mark Kotsay in his prime.

Chart Observations: CHW @ CLE

1) Jose Contreras: 110 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 2 Sliders (7th, 8th) and 8 Splitters (1st, 3rd, 3 in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th)

• Contreras is a 37 year old who stands 6-4, 255. The righty has a big frame that is maxed out with some bad weight. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink. His split has excellent dive and can look like a curveball at times. His slider is 2-7 with good bite. Splitter is his out pitch and if he gets 2 strikes on you, he will throw it. He will drop down sidearm to throw any of his pitches in any count and appears to be done at random. Will throw a rare straight change with some fade from lefties.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83-86), Split (78-80)

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (84-86), Split (79-80)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (83-86), Split (77-78)

4th: SL (81-87), Split (77-80)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (83-87), Split (78-80)

6th: FB (91-95), SL (82-85), Split (77-80)

7th: FB (90-94), SL (80-86), Split (77-78)

8th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), Split (77-78), CU (81)

2) Jeremy Sowers: 79 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), 2 Sliders (1st, 4th)

• Sowers is a 26 year old who stands 6-1, 180. The lefty has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has some weird arm action where his arm is somewhat rubbery and moves around quite a bit on the backtake and going forward, whiplike. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider has good bite and is a 10-4 offering. His change is a straight change with a little sink. He needs to throw his off-speed stuff more, as he no longer has a plus fastball.

1st: FB (86-91), SL (77-80), CU (81)

2nd: FB (87-91)

3rd: FB (87-91)

4th: FB (87-92), SL (79)

5th: FB (88-90), SL (79), CU (81-82)

6th: FB (88-92), SL (80-82), CU (79-82)

3) Jose Veras: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Veras is a 6-5, 235 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some armside run and a little sink. His splitter has some dive. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 pitch with good depth. There is a little herky-jerky in his windup and can be extremely inconsistent with his release points (anywhere from over the top to 3/4) and may help explain his command issues.

7th: FB (94-95), CB (78-80), Split (81)

4) Rafael Perez: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez is a 6-3, 195 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and he also throws a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite. He has lost any semblance of command and there isn't anything glaring mechanically. You have to wonder if it is in his head now.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (86-87)

5) Joe Smith: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (8th)

• Smith is a 6-2, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little bit more muscle. He is a sidearmer. His fastball has good armside run and some sink. His slider is a 3-8 offering with good bite. I tend to like sidearmers and Smith is no exception.

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

8th: FB (90), SL (79-83)

6) Kerry Wood: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wood is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His cutter has good cut. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curve is a power 12-6 with good depth. Can battle his command at times, but not in this outing.

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CB (81)

7) Matt Thornton: 24 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs, Cutter

• Thornton comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a somewhat loopy 10-4 slider with okay bite. He has also added a cutter (just like every other White Sox pitcher) and it has solid cut that he seems to locate fairly well.

9th: FB (96-98), Cut (89-92), SL (85)

Chart Observations: CHW vs. CLE

• Clayton Richard got the start for the White Sox, his first in at least a year. He looked good early, sitting at 91-95 with his fastball. However, once he got to the third inning, he sat at 89-91 and definitely didn't appear to be used to pitching this long. Richard also attacked hitters with a slurvy slider anywhere from 75-85, a changeup from 81-84 and a cut fastball at 85-89. Richard's fastball is plus out of the pen, but none of his other offerings do much. He is more of a sinkerballing reliever and could probably be a strong LOOGY with his slurvy slider and hard fastball. He just added the cutter this year.
• Jeremy Sowers opposed him and also struggled. Sowers has some unique arm action in that he brings his arm straight back and seems to really relax off his elbow. I don't know anything about what type of extra stress that may put on his arm. His stuff wasn't very good though. He went after the White Sox hitters with a fastball at 86-91, a slider at 76-82 and a changeup at 80-82. Sowers is not a major league pitcher, in either the rotation (for someone with such a slow fastball, he throws a lot of them, almost 75 %) or the bullpen (slider is barely average). Sowers will need to hope to have a Jamie Moyer like revelation to develop into something.
• D.J. Carrasco is back in the states and throwing strikes. He featured a cutter at 88-90, a fastball at 92, a curveball anywhere from 73-82 and he threw a sidearm fastball at 88. He likes to drop sidearm to throw both a fastball and curveball to try and get extra movement and give hitters something else to think about. Solid long reliever type guy and was moderately surprised he didn't get the spot start today.
• Matt Thornton may have the best stuff of any left handed reliever in the game right now. Yesterday, he was 93-97 with his fastball and threw one slider at 85. That type of velocity from a left hander is unheard of and he commands it very well. Could be a closer, but fits great for the White Sox as 7th inning pitcher, as a pitcher with that velocity can get out right handers as well.
• Octavio Dotel featured a fastball at 92-94 and a slider at 80-82. The slider lacked its bite that it has shown in the past and is just a tick above average now as opposed to a plus pitch. He has solid command of both his pitches and is still a quality set-up man.
• Bobby Jenks closed out the game with fastballs sitting at 93-96 and threw 1 slider at 91 and 1 changeup at 84. Another of the better closers in the game.
• Jensen Lewis pitched pretty well, featuring a fastball sitting at 89-92, a plus changeup at 78-81 and a slider at 85. Still a guy that could factor into the late innings if he develops another pitch to complement his changeup.
• Tony Sipp has not impressed me either time I have seen him. He just can't command his stuff. His fastball is an above average pitch, as it sits at 91-93 with some movement. His slider is an average pitch sitting at 80-82. His lack of command causes his pitches to play down. He definitely needs more seasoning in AAA.
• Matt Herges finished the game featuring a fastball sitting at 88-90, a curveball at 75 and a changeup at 79-81. Herges 2-seam features a lot of movement and is an above average pitch. His changeup is a tick above average and his curveball is also a tick above average. Solid reliever to have in the pen, but he is prone to allowing hits, as none of his pitches are anything a hitter hasn't seen before.