Chart Observations: 9/14 TOR @ DET

1) David Purcey: 96 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Purcey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some sink that he will throw to lefties and 2-1 counts and 2-0 counts and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (72-74), CU (80-83) - 2 FB

2nd: FB (91-93), CB (71-73), CU (77-80) - FB

3rd: FB (90-93), CB (71), CU (79-82) - CU

4th: FB (90-92), CB (76), CU (78-82) - CU

5th: FB (87-93), CB (70-75), CU (78-80)

6th: FB (89-92), CB (71), CU (79) - 2 FB

2) Justin Verlander: 104 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, SL). 12 strikes swinging. 10 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Verlander came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 11-5 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (93-97), CB (81), CU (84), SL (86)

2nd: FB (91-97), CU (81-85) - 2 FB, CU

3rd: FB (93-98), CB (80) - 2 FB

4th: FB (94-97), CB (78-79), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (95-100), CB (78-83) - 4 FB

6th: FB (93-97), CB (77-80), CU (83-84) - CU

7th: FB (94-97), CB (79), CU (84-85) - 2 FB

3) Shawn Camp: 3 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Camp came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a change with good sink and good fade from lefties.

6th: FB (90)

7th: FB (88), CU (84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 4 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Carlson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (88), SL (81)

5) Brandon League: 10 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a splitter with good dive.

7th: FB (94-96), Split (84-86)

6) Fu Te Ni: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Ni came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (88-91), SL (75-78)

7) Scott Downs: 9 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Downs came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties.

8th: FB (88-91) - FB

8) Jeremy Bonderman: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (91-94), SL (84)

9) Jason Frasor: 23 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Frasor came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a split with good dive.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (83-86), Split (84-86)

10) Ryan Perry: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

10th: FB (95-97), SL (86) - SL

11) Bobby Seay: 1 pitch. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties.

10th: FB (92)

12) Brian Wolfe: 19 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Cutter.

• Wolfe came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with some cut and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink. He will also mix in a straight 4-seamer.

10th: FB (91-96), Cut (91-93) - 2 FB, Cut.

• Kyle Phillips is a 6-1, 225 pound catcher. The 25 year old lefty hitter, righty thrower has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. Has a straight on stance with a slight crouch and almost what appears to be a hunched upper body. He has the bat held over his shoulder at about a 65 degree angle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride. Has a good looking swing that should generate at least gap power, if not home run power. He can hit plus fastballs and didn't look overwhelmed against Verlander. He was 1.7 on a stolen base and has a quick release, which helps make up for an average throwing arm.

Chart Observations: 8/31 TOR @ TEX

1) Brett Cecil: 85 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Changeup.

• Cecil came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and some sink, a change with a little run in on righties and above average sink that he will throw to lefties, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (87-89), CU (81), SL (81)

2nd: FB (87-91), CU (82), SL (82) - CU

3rd: FB (86-89), CU (82-84), SL (82), CB (79-80)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (78-80), SL (79-80)

5th: FB (85-90), CU (79-81), SL (80-82), CB (77-79) - FB, CB, SL

2) Derek Holland: 71 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 7 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Curveballs, 2 Sliders.

• Holland came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball that had a little run in on lefties, but was fairly straight, a 11-5 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a sharp 11-5 slider with solid bite. The slider serves as his out pitch and he only threw it in this outing when he had 2 strikes on a hitter.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (82-85), CB (74)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82), CB (72-75), SL (82) - SL

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (81-82), CB (72-73) - 2 FB

4th: FB (88-90), CU (82), CB (72-74), SL (77-79) - FB, 2 CB, SL

3) Doug Mathis: 50 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Mathis came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball that has some run in on righties and flashes some sink and flashes above average run and above average sink at times, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with good sink and some fade from lefties. He just peppered the outside corner to righties with his good moving fastball and they were all at the knees just on it or just off it.

4th: FB (89-90), SL (83-84)

5th: FB (88-90), SL (81-83), CB (75-77)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (83), CB (78-79), CU (81) - CB

4) Casey Janssen: 25 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, Cutter.

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

6th: FB (89-90), Cut (85-90), CB (74-76), SL (81-83) - Cut, 3 CB

5) Jesse Carlson: 21 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a change with some fade from righties with some sink that he spiked at about 45 feet.

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

7th: FB (85-88), SL (79-81), CU (80)

6) Scott Downs: 19 pitches. (FB, CB, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a 10-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a fastball with good late tailing action in on righties and some late sink.

7th: FB (87-89), CB (73)

8th: FB (86-88), CB (74)

7) Darren O'Day: 27 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 7 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 5 Sliders.

• O'Day came from a sidearm release and showed a 3-8 slider that has some bite that almost moves like a cutter, a fastball with good run in on righties

7th: FB (83-85), SL (76-77) - 2 FB, 4 SL

8th: FB (83-85), SL (75-77) - SL

8) Jason Grilli: 15 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Grilli came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink.

9th: FB (90-92), SL (82-83), CU (82) - SL

9) Pedro Strop: 40 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider, Splitter.

• Strop came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that flashed a little run in on righties, a sharp 1-7 slider with good bite and a splitter with some dive. Had no problems getting ahead, but then he tried to be too fine with his pitches and ended up walking guys. Struggles to throw his off-speed stuff for strikes.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (80-83), Split (84-87) - 3 FB, SL, Split

10) Jason Frasor: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Frasor came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with average bite and a split with good dive.

9th: FB (91-93), SL (83-84), Split (83-85) - FB, SL

Random Observation: Chris Davis received a steady diet of curveballs from Blue Jays pitching and even saw Jesse Carlson (the Jays LOOGY who throws primarily sliders) pulled in favor of Scott Downs (primarily curveball lefty). The reports on him are obviously that he can't hit a curve or see it well.

Chart Observations: 8/30 TOR @ BOS

1) Paul Byrd: 83 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Byrd is a 6-1, 190 pound righty. The 38 year old has a small frame that won't be adding any more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with his typical lots of moving parts delivery with a lot of unnecessary motion, but nothing that adds more stress. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties and some sink. His cutter has some cut and some sink. His slider is a sweeping 3-8 offering with okay bite. His change is just a straight change that is 7 or 8 miles per hour slower that he will throw to righties. His curve is a 1-7 offering with below average depth. Will throw any pitch in any count and am not going to break down the specifics of when he threw off-speed in fastball counts, as there are too many instances. Looks like a # 5 starter and innings eater. You don't want him starting a game in the playoffs.

1st: FB (86-88), Cut (84-88), SL (79), CU (79)

2nd: FB (85-87), Cut (86-87), SL (80), CU (79-80), CB (73-75)

3rd: Cut (85), SL (78-81), CU (79), CB (74-76)

4th: FB (86-87), Cut (86-87), SL (78-83), CU (80-81)

5th: Cut (84-87), SL (77-79), CU (78) - SL

6th: Cut (84-87), SL (79), CU (78)

2) Roy Halladay: 103 pitches. (Cut, FB, CB, CU). 10 strikes swinging. 5 Cutters, 4 Curveballs, Fastball.

• Halladay came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with above average cut, a fastball with good run in on righties and above average sink, a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (92-93), Cut (90-92), CB (78-80), CU (86) - 3 Cut

2nd: FB (92-93), Cut (88-91), CB (78-80) - FB, Cut

3rd: FB (90-92), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79), CU (85)

4th: FB (91-92), Cut (88-91), CB (77), CU (84)

5th: FB (91-93), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79), CU (85-87) - Cut

6th: FB (92-93), Cut (91), CB (78-79) - 4 CB

3) Manny Delcarmen: 12 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and good sink, a change with good late sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a sharp 1-7 curve with slightly below average depth.

7th: FB (91-96), CB (77), CU (79-80)

4) Shawn Camp: 13 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (89-90), CU (83-85), SL (80-81) - SL

5) Billy Wagner: 16 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Wagner is a 5-11, 205 pound lefty. The 38 year old has a small frame that won't be changing any. He came from a 3/4 release in his same delivery he has utilized in his career with no changes. His fastball has some run in on lefties and some sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. He looks to be back to his old self and still has all around disgusting pitches.

8th: FB (93-95), SL (83-84) - 3 FB, 2 SL

6) Jesse Carlson: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (80-83) - 2 FB, 2 SL

7) Takashi Saito: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Saito came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (91-93), SL (81-83), CB (77-78) - FB, CB

8/29: TOR @ BOS

1) Ricky Romero: 116 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 4 Changeups, Slider.

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with good fade from righties and good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand that he will throw 3-1, 3-2 and to lefties, a 11-5 slider with some bite and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth. Worked in and out of trouble in the first 2 innings, mainly due to him falling behind counts constantly. Fastball command can change from at-bat to at-bat and from inning to inning. He loses 2 or 3 miles per hour out of the stretch. Rarely throws a fastball 3-2, throwing either changeups or sliders.

1st: FB (91-95), CU (86-87) - 4 FB

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (85), SL (83-85) - 2 CU

3rd: FB (91-95), CU (84-86), SL (81-83), CB (76-80) - CU

4th: FB (88-93), CU (82-84), SL (81-83), CB (77-79) - CU

5th: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), CB (76) - SL

6th: FB (89-93), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), CB (76-78)

2) Clay Buchholz: 107 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders, 11 Changeups, Curveball.

• Clay came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties. Throws a lot of 1st pitch fastballs for strikes (not quality strikes, catch a lot of the plate) and will need to throw some breaking pitches for 1st pitch strikes to keep hitters off balance. After writing that, he threw a 1st pitch change to Lind that he swung right through. In the 5th inning, he lost his fastball command, but got it back in the 6th. Changeup was filthy in the 7th and 8th and he had command of it, which isn't fair for Toronto hitters. Best stuff from him I have seen all year.

1st: FB (93-95), CU (78), SL (87), CB (77)

2nd: FB (92-95), CU (78-80), SL (84-85), CB (75) - SL, CU

3rd: FB (92-94), CB (77) - FB

4th: FB (92-95), CU (79), SL (86), CB (76-77) - CB, CU

5th: FB (90-95), CU (77)

6th: FB (92-95), CU (77-79), SL (84-87), CB (77) - 2 CU, SL

7th: FB (89-93), CU (76-79), CB (75-77) - 4 CU

8th: FB (93-95), CU (78-80), CB (76-78) - 2 CU

9th: FB (92-94), CU (79), CB (75-77) - CU

3) Casey Janssen: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Janssen came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite and a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink.

6th: FB (91-92), SL (84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a 9-4 slider with good bite

6th: SL (80-82) - SL

5) Brandon League: 27 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters, 2 Sliders.

• League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite and a splitter with good dive.

6th: FB (94-96), SL (84), Split (83-84)

7th: FB (95), SL (85-86), Split (84-86) - 3 Split, 2 SL

6) Scott Downs: 26 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a sharp, sweeping 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

8th: FB (87-90), CB (75-76) - FB, CB

7) Hideki Okajima: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

9th: FB (86-87), CB (76)

8) Jonathan Papelbon: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite

9th: FB (94-95), SL (80)

8/26: TOR @ TB

1) Scott Kazmir: 15 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Changeups.

• Kazmir 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 change with some fade from righties and a little sink. Will throw 3-2 changeups. Good control, but struggles to command his stuff, causing him to lose strike calls.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (84-85), CU (81-82) - FB, SL, CU

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (82-85), CU (81) - FB, SL, CU

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CU (79-81) - CU

4th: FB (91-95), CU (82) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), SL (82-83), CU (78-79) - 3 FB

6th: FB (88-95), SL (82-84), CU (78-79) - 2 FB, SL

2) Marc Rzepczynski: 116 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 9 Sliders, Fastball, Changeup.

• Marc came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on lefties and some sink, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a change with good fade from righties and some sink. Will throw 3-2 sliders. His curve is a 11-5 with average depth that is very sharp and can look like his slider. Works on the black of the plate and is okay with giving up walks, but will not throw anything down the middle. Mixes his pitches superbly and keeps hitters off balance by throwing any pitch in any count.

1st: FB (87-89), SL (80-82), CB (78) - 2 SL

2nd: FB (87-89), SL (80-82), CB (78-80), CU (82)

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CB (76-79), CU (80-81) - FB, 2 SL

4th: FB (88-90), SL (79-81), CB (79)

5th: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CU (83-84) - 3 SL, CU

6th: FB (88-89), SL (80-82), CB (78-80), CU (83) - 2 SL

3) Jesse Carlson: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (88-90), SL (79-84) - 2 SL

4) Russ Springer: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Springer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and a little sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

7th: FB (91-94), Cut (84-85), CB (74-77) - 3 FB

5) Scott Downs: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a loopy 11-5 curve with solid depth

8th: FB (89-91), CB (75-77) - 2 Fastballs

6) Grant Balfour: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties.

8th: FB (94-97) - 2 Fastballs.

7) J.P. Howell: 35 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Curveball.

• Howell came from an over the top release and showed a 11-5 curve with above average depth that is sharp, a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink and a changeup with some fade from righties and good sink. Is uncharacteristically wild in this outing.

8th: FB (87), CB (81-82) - CB

9th: FB (85-88), CB (81-84), CU (79-83) - 2 CU

8) Brandon League: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters.

• League came from a 3/4 release with good run in on righties and a little sink, a split with solid dive and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (94-96), Split (82-85), SL (85) - 3 Split

8/20: BOS @ TOR

1) Jon Lester: 105 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 7th), 3 Cutters (2nd, 4th, 6th), 3 Curveballs (3rd, 4th, 8th), 2 Changeups (6th, 8th)

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with solid cut, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with solid sink.

1st: FB (92-96), Cut (85-90), CB (78), CU (86)

2nd: FB (93-96), Cut (87-89), CB (76-78)

3rd: FB (93-96), CB (76-77), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-95), Cut (89), CB (79), CU (85)

5th: FB (93-96), CB (75), CU (85)

6th: FB (92-96), Cut (89-91), CB (78-80), CU (84-86)

7th: FB (92-95), Cut (88), CB (78), CU (83-85)

8th: FB (93-96), Cut (87-89), CB (75-77), CU (84)

2) Brett Cecil: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 3rd), 2 Sliders (both in 3rd), Changeup (5th)

• Cecil is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and straightens his arm on the backtake, almost pointing it to the SS position, which may tip his pitches to the hitter. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His change has some fade from righties with a little sink. His slider is 11-5 with good bite while his curve is 11-5 with average depth. Looks like a # 4 starter right now with the potential to be either a # 2 or a dominant lefty set-up man. I bet he becomes a solid # 3 starter.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (83-86), CU (84-86)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (84), CU (83)

3rd: FB (90-93), SL (82-87), CU (81), CB (81)

4th: FB (91-94), SL (82-87), CU (81-84), CB (81-82)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (84), CU (80-83), CB (80-82)

3) Brian Tallet: 26 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (5th, 6th), Changeup (6th)

• Tallet came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from righties with sink that he will throw to lefties, a fastball with solid run in on lefties with sink and a cutter with solid cut.

5th: FB (91), CU (84-87)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84-86), Cut (87-88)

4) Shawn Camp: 39 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups (both in 7th), Slider (8th)

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

7th: FB (86-91), SL (78-82), CU (83-85)

8th: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CU (84-85)

5) Jesse Carlson: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from righties and a little sink.

9th: FB (89-91), SL (82-83), CU (83)

6) Fernando Cabrera: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

9th: FB (90-93), SL (81-84)

7/31: TOR @ OAK

1) Dallas Braden: 106 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 3rd), Changeup (7th)

• Braden is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has some late run in on lefties with sink. His change has some fade from righties and above average sink. His cutter has some cut while his slider is a 11-5 with solid bite that can look like a change at times. He will throw his change to lefties. Solid back of the rotation guy, probably a # 4 for a contender.

1st: FB (87-91), CU (75), Cut (84-87)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (71-73)

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (70-73), Cut (84-85), SL (74)

4th: FB (87-89), CU (71-73), Cut (83)

5th: FB (82-90), CU (72-74), Cut (82), SL (73-74)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (71-74), SL (73)

7th: FB (85-91), CU (63-75), Cut (84), SL (75)

2) Scott Richmond: 86 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd), Curveball (1st), 2 Changeups (both in 3rd)

• Richmond came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from righties with good sink. He will throw 3-2 curves.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84-86), CB (78-81)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (82-85), CB (80), CU (85)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (86), CB (77-79), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (90-92), CU (83)

3) Brian Tallet: 59 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (4th, 2 in 6th) and 5 Changeups (4 in 4th, 5th)

• Tallet came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a cutter with good cut. He will throw his change to lefties.

4th: FB (88-91), Cut (88), SL (81), CU (82-85)

5th: FB (88-90), Cut (86), CU (81-83)

6th: FB (87-90), Cut (88), CU (82-84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (88-89), SL (81-84)

5) Russ Springer: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter

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

7th: FB (92-93), Cut (85)

6) Brad Ziegler: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a 4-7 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (85-87), SL (73)

7) Shawn Camp: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Camp came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with above average run in on righties and good sink and a change with above average fade from lefties with good sink.

8th: FB (87-90), CU (78-84)

8) Andrew Bailey: 13 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

• Bailey came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with great cut and flashes sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (87-91), CB (79)

Score Observations: TOR @ TB (7/8 Game)

1) Brian Tallet: 84 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Slider (4th), 2 Cutters (2nd), 4 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Tallet comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some sink and a little fade from righties that looks like a fastball out of his hand and serves as his out pitch, a cutter with some cut that he likes to throw in on the hands of righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite. Solid back of the rotation guy.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (87-88), CU (82-84)

2nd: FB (87-89), Cut (85-87), CU (82-84)

3rd: FB (86-89), Cut (85-86), CU (81-86), SL (79-80)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (80), SL (77)

2) Scott Kazmir: 107 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 4th, 5th), 4 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Changeup (1st)

• Kazmir came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with some fade from righties and sink and a 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (82), CU (79-81)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (81-82), CU (78-80)

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (80)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (80-82), CU (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (79-82)

6th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (80-81)

7th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CU (76-78)

3) Dirk Hayhurst: 44 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup (4th)

• Hayhurst came from an over the top release and is your typical 4 pitch long reliever. He features a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties. His curve serves as his out pitch. Seems to have the stuff to be a back of the rotation starter (not in the AL East) but is a guy I would target as an NL team in need of a guy to take a chance on.

4th: FB (88-89), CB (74-75), SL (80-82), CU (77-79)

5th: FB (88-89), SL (79-81), CU (77)

6th: FB (88-89), CB (74), SL (79-81), CU (78-79)

4) Grant Balfour: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, though it flashes run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. He fell behind often and was constantly 2-0 and had to throw cockshot fastballs.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (86-87)

5) Jesse Carlson: 28 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good late run in on lefties and a sweeping 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

7th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

6) Chad Bradford: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Bradford is a sidearming righty with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink and a slow 3-9 slider with good bite. The Rays gun had him at 98. Then Chad Bradford was accused of bribing the radar gun. Litigation is in progress.

8th: FB (77-79), SL (65-67)

7) Randy Choate: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate is a sidearming lefty with a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (77-78)

8) Joe Nelson: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Nelson came from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties while his vulcan change is his main pitch and has good fade from lefties with solid sink and he will throw it to righties.

8th: FB (85-89), CU (78)

9) Jason Frasor: 43 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 2 Sliders (8th, 9th), 2 Splitters (8th, 9th)

• Frasor came from an over the top release and showed a fastball that is a pretty straight 4-seam, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with above average late dive. He will throw either of his off-speed pitches in a 3-2 count with something taken off.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (79-84), Split (83-87)

9th: FB (91-93), SL (81), Split (83-85)

10) J.P. Howell: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Howell comes from an over the top release, almost high 3/4. His change is a straight change with some sink. He also throws a fastball with some run in on lefties and good sink and a 11-4 curve with good depth. He has great command and will throw any pitch in any count.

9th: FB (84-85), CU (77-80), CB (81-82)

11) Scott Downs: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a curve that is a sharp 11-5 with good depth.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (76-77)

This was a 4-hour 9 inning game. Good for my paycheck.

Chart Observations (7/4 Game): TOR @ NYY: TOR Pitchers

1) Roy Halladay: 108 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 on Curves (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th), 3 on Cutters (1st, 3rd, 5th) and a Fastball (1st)

• Halladay is a 6-5, 225 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that is maxed out, maybe a little more muscle in the upper body. He comes from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball has good sink and run in on righties. His cutter has good cut and he can throw it to either corner of the plate consistently. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has good fade from lefties with sink. True ace.

1st: FB (89-93), Cut (90-92), CB (78)

2nd: FB (93-95), Cut (90-93), CB (78)

3rd: FB (93-94), Cut (91-93), CB (76-80)

4th: FB (94), Cut (90-92), CB (79), CU (86-87)

5th: FB (91-94), Cut (91-93), CU (86)

6th: FB (93-94), Cut (90-92), CB (78-80)

7th: FB (91-94), Cut (91-92), CB (78)

2) Brandon League: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• League comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with excellent run in on righties and some sink and a split with excellent late dive. Watching him pitch, you always how wonder how his stats are as bad as they are. If he can find command, he can be a dominant closer.

8th: FB (95-96), Split (84-86)

3) Jeremy Accardo: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Accardo came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a cutter with solid cut and some sink.

9th: FB (93-96), Cut (87-91), SL (84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a sweeping 10-4 slider.

9th: FB (93-96), Cut (87-91), SL (84)

5) Shawn Camp: 44 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups.

• Camp came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with excellent run in on righties with sink, a change with good fade from lefties with sink and a sweeping 2-7 slider with good bite. He threw a ton of changes in this game.

10th: FB (87-88), SL (79-80), CU (81-85)

11th: FB (86-89), CU (83-86)

12th: FB (85-88), CU (79-84)

TOR @ WAS

• Ricky Romero comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and sink and some run in on lefties. His change shows good fade and sink and is his best off-speed pitch. It is his out pitch and flashes excellent sink. It looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider can be loopy/slurvy or it can be sharp and somewhat resemble his change. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 with good depth. Solid # 3 starter who could be a 2.

1st: FB (89-93), CU (82-85), SL (81-82)

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (82-87), CB (76-79)

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (83-85), SL (81-84), CB (75-77)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (84), CB (76)

5th: FB (91-93), CU (83-85), SL (83-85), CB (78)

6th: FB (88-93), CU (80-84), CB (74-79)

7th: FB (89-94), CU (82-84), SL (83-85), CB (76)

• Shairon Martis came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good run and sink, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand until it drops off the table and it shows excellent sink and some fade, though it can be inconsistent and a 2-7 slider with some bite. His command can be erratic and he is no better then a # 4 starter for both now and the future.

1st: FB (88-93), SL (82-83), CU (81-87)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (84-86), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (88-91), SL (84), CU (82)

4th: FB (86-90), SL (81-83), CU (79-83)

5th: FB (87-91), SL (86), CU (80-82)

• Jesus Colome came from a 3/4 release with a fairly straight 4-seam fastabll that flashed some late run to righties and a 2-7 slider with okay bite. Could pitch for the Nats, Padres and maybe Indians.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (84-89)

• Kip Wells came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some late run and sink. His change is a straight change with some sink that he will throw to righties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with some bite.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (85-87), SL (85-86)

8th: FB (91-94), CU (86-87)

• Jeremy Accardo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good fade and sink. After battling his way back from injury and the minors, he went down with what appeared to be maybe a back injury to my un trained eye.

8th: FB (92-93)

• Brandon League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run and some sink and a split with great dive that is his out pitch. He is an enigma, as he has swing and miss stuff but struggles to consistently get hitters out.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (83-85)

• Joel Hanrahan came from an over the top release and struggled. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, his slider is a 2-7 pitch that has flattened out and his change is a straight change with some sink. I still like him due to his fastball velocity, but his slider needs to come back.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (82-85), CU (85)

• Jesse Carlson also struggled. The sidearming lefty showed a fastball with good late sink and a 10-5 slider with good downward bite. He also threw a change with some fade and sink. He left too many belt high fastballs in to the Nats hitters and they made him pay.

9th: FB (87-89), SL (78-81), CU (82)

• Jason Frasor comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball that flashes some run and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

9th: FB (94-95), SL (85-86)

Off tomorrow. We play the other supposed top team in our baseball league for the 1st of 3 straight times tomorrow.

TOR @ PHI: TOR

• Brad Mills is a 5-11, 185 pound left hander who made his major league debut. The 24 year old has a small frame that should be able to get up to 200. He comes from an over the top release from a herky-jerky windup. He looks away and his glove hand comes up above his head right before his release. He has limbs going everywhere and almost looks to try and go as fast as possible from the beginning of his wind-up to the end. He works very fast and generates good deception. He has the arm action of a Ubaldo Jimenez, straightening it on the backtake and accelerating forward with some cocking action. His fastball is a 4-seam that has a little sink and run. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5, 12-6 pitch with good depth, but is not an out pitch. His change is a straight change that can float at times. He tends to miss up in the zone, which is not good for a pitcher of his stuff. He is primarily CB-CU with some fastballs mixed in. He will throw 3-2 changes and threw one with the bases loaded. His command is erratic. Think a left handed Josh Geer and that is what you see. # 5 starter at best who needs to refine his command.

1st: FB (86-89), CU (73-76), CB (70-75)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (73-76), CB (71-73)

3rd: FB (85-87), CU (72-75), CB (68-73)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (74-76), CB (70-71)

• Shawn Camp comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball with good sink and run, a change with good sink and fade and a sweeping 3-8 slider with solid bite. Solid middle reliever.

4th: FB (87-89), SL (79-80), CU (80-82)

• Dirk Hayhurst is a 6-2, 195 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release where his arm appears to be dragging. His slider is a 1-8 pitch with good bite. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that he hides well. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth and his change shows some good sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. More of a swingman then an inning reliever.

5th: FB (88-89), CB (73-75), CU (76-78), SL (81-83)

• Jesse Carlson is a sidearmer whose fastball has good run in on righties and some sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite. Good # 1 lefty.

6th: FB (88-89), SL (78-85)

• Brandon League comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run, a 2-7 slider with great bite and a splitter with excellent dive.

7th: FB (96-97), SL (85-87), Split (85-88)

8th: FB (96-97), Split (86-88)

• Jason Frasor comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some run, a split with good dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (85), Split (87)

• B.J. Ryan comes from a high 3/4 release with a 11-4 slider that has good bite and a straight 4-seam fastball. He has been reduced to LOOGY duty.

9th: FB (87), SL (80-83)

• Jeremy Accardo is a 6-1, 190 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that can have some cut and his slider is a 2-7 offering with decent bite. He has a herky-jerky delivery with limbs flying everywhere. Hard to tell if he is still a big league pitcher.

9th: FB (90-91), SL (85)

Chart Observations: ATL @ TOR

• Jair Jurrjens is a 23 year old who stands 6-1, 200. His medium frame has room to add a little more muscle. From an over the top release, he featured a fastball at 87-95 (sat at 90-92), a changeup at 78-83 and a slider at 77-80. He has very clean mechanics is deceptive. He brings his hands slightly over his head and also hides the ball by having his glove hand separate high and cover his release point until the last second. His changeup has excellent fade and a little sink. It isn't a strikeout pitch, but will cause the balls to be hit in play lightly. An above average pitch that is borderline plus. His fastball has a little fade and some sink and is slightly above average. His slider is more of an up and down pitch and is a solid 3rd pitch and also slightly above average. He is a strong # 3 starter and think he is pitching to his upside right now, as his frame doesn't show a ton of projection left and he already has plus command.
• Scott Richmond is a 29 year old who stands 6-5, 215. He has a big frame that can add more muscle and get to at least 230 if he so desires. From an over the top release, he showed a fastball at 87-92, a slider at 82-85, a curveball at 74-78 and threw 1 change at 85. He has a classic drop and drive delivery. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 pitch that can freeze hitters. Above average pitch, but does have a tendency to allow home runs on it (2 in the first inning on the CB). His slider is a 2-7 offering and is above average with good depth. Likes to start it on the outside corner and let it break off, causing many swinging strikes and weak contact. He generates a good downhill plane for his pitches and his fastball has natural sink. His changeup is a pretty straight offering and is just a show pitch.
• Jesse Carlson is a 28 year old who is 6-0, 160. Medium frame with long legs and has room to add more muscle. The sidearming left hander showed a fastball at 89 and a slider at 81-83. The slider is a sweeping pitch with some downward movement and cuts across most of the plate. His fastball also has good side to side movement with a little sink. He throws across his body, allowing him to generate even more deception.
• Peter Moylan showed a fastball at 86-89 and a slider at 76-78. His fastball has great fade and a little sink. His slider doesn't have a ton of break either way. It can be somewhat sharp, but is just an average offering. He generates good deception and is more of a submariner then a sidearmer. He really battled his command today. He looks like he could be a solid ROOGY with his release, but he looks more like a 10th or 11th man in the pen.
• Eric O'Flaherty is a 24 year old who stands 6-2, 220. The left hander has a medium frame with room to add more muscle, mostly in his lower half. From a high 3/4 release, he featured a fastabll at 92, a slider at 83-85 and a changeup at 82. His slider is a 10-5 offering and is a sweeping slider with great downward movement, bite and depth and is close to being a plus pitch. His changeup has some sink, but no fade and is fringy. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. Is a solid LOOGY to have in a pen and looks like he could be good enough to be the # 1 lefty in a pen.
• Jeff Bennett is a 28 year old who stands 6-3, 200. He has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. From an over the top release, he showed a fastball at 92 and a slider at 87. His fastball shows some good fade. His slider was a 1-7 type pitch that hung more then it broke. This guy looks done from the two outings I have seen.
• Shawn Camp is a 33 year old who stands 6-0, 205. He has a medium frame that looks to be maxed out. From a low 3/4 release, he featured a fastball at 86-87, a slider at 78-80 and a changeup at 81. He has some whipping arm action. His slider is sharp, but doesn't have a lot of movement. His fastball has above average fade and some sink. His changeup moves just like his fastball and is an average offering. He is a guy who looks to be a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.
• Jason Frasor is a 31 year old who stands (shockingly) at 5-9, 175. He has a small frame that looks to be maxed out. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 92-94, a slider at 84-86 and a splitter at 84-86. He has a drop and drive delivery from the stretch with a leg kick. Fastball has a little fade to it, but not a whole lot. His split shows some sharp break and good fade. Slider is a sharp 2-8 offering. Decent depth and more downward movement then side-to-side. Solid right handed reliever who is best in a middle relief role, but won't kill you as a setup guy.
• Rafael Soriano showed a straight FB at 90-93 and a 2-7 slider at 81. from a high 3/4 release. His slider was decent, but not as sharp as two nights ago.
• Brandon League is a 26 year old who stands 6-2, 200 pounds. He has a medium frame with room to add more muscle, especially in the lower half. From a low 3/4, almost sidearm, release he showed a fastball at 94-96, a slider at 85-87 and a changeup at 83-85. His changeup shows very good fade and a little sink and is an above average offering. His slider is a sharp 3-7 offering with good depth and is a tick above average. His fastball has decent fade, but not much sink, though it has a lot of action out of his hand. Solid middle reliever right now and if he can continue to work through his command (a tick above averaeg right now), he could be a set-up man.
• Manny Acosta is a 28 year old who stands 6-4, 170 pounds. He has a long and lean frame with room to add a ton more muscle. From an over the top release. he showed a fastball at 91-97 (sat at 94-95), a curveball at 78-83 and a changeup at 84. His fastball is a 4-seam with natural sink due to him generating a good downhill plane through his delivery. His curveball is an 11-5 offering with good sink, but doesn't appear to be a strikeout pitch. His changeup has good depth and fade and is an above average offering. He adds and subtracts velocity from his curveball depending on what he wants it to do. Solid middle reliever who still has the look of a set-up man to me.
  

Chart Impressions: CLE @ TOR

• Took a little while to try and get the hang of Brett Cecil, as I went in expecting him to be mostly fastball-slider, as that was his MO. However, Cecil featured a high 80 to low 90's 2-seamer (and sat at 93-95 in the 1st when his adrenaline was running), a mid 80's slider and a mid 80's change, as well as throwing 2 low 80's curveballs. Cecil likes to use his slider inside on right handers and throw the change away. His fastball is probably a tick above average with his velocity from the left side. His slider looked like an average pitch, as he struggled to really bury it and was living up in the zone. His change was an above average pitch and he has obviously made a lot of progress with this pitch since last season. Having this changeup (and assuming that his slider is in fact plus and he didn't have a feel for it today) he has the potential to be a # 2 starter. He is currently a middle to back end guy right now, as he has pretty solid command, but want to see the true can't miss pitch that the slider was. Cecil also has an interesting mechanical thing as he brings his left arm back straight whereas most people have it a little cocked. This does worry me, as it puts extra stress on the shoulder (especially since it goes back more towards SS then 2nd base). I had this problem when I pitched and that led to a bunch of shoulder problems.
• Anthony Reyes is no longer a top prospect. He sat in the high 80's with his 4-seam fastball in addition to his mid 70's change and high 70's curveball. He only has average command and don't really see any more upside to him, as he is a kind of stout guy and his frame seems to be fairly maxed. He is a # 5 starter who probably doesn't have the ability to be a reliever. If he can find a way to improve his command, he can be a # 4.
• Jason Frasor attacked hitters with a solid low 90's 4-seamer, a changeup in the mid 80's and a mid 80's slider. Nothing about him jumps out as a plus-plus pitch, but his command has improved enough for him to be a solid option as a 7th or 8th inning guy, as all his pitches are a tick above average. Look for him to return to his career norms as the season goes on.
• Jesse Carlson struggled to command his mid 80's slider from his sidearm angle last night. His fastball is in the high 80's and he threw an 85 mph change, but he lives and dies with his ability to command his slider. A solid LOOGY, I don't know that he has the pitches to be able to consistenly get out right handed hitters.
• Brian Wolfe features a very easy motion, generating mid 90 fastballs. Wolfe also threw a high 80's cutter (moved like a slider, but he calls it a cutter) and a low 80's curveball. The curveball flashed plus and is an above average pitch right now (though he only shows the ability to bury it as opposed to throwing it for a strike). He looks like a guy that could be a late inning reliever with another bump in his command.
• Scott Downs threw a low 90's fastball and high 70's curveball. The fastball is above average due to his ability to command it and the curveball is plus in my eyes due to his ability to command it. He could do whatever he wanted with the curveball, whether throwing it for strikes, back-dooring or burying it. There have been worser closers and he is a definite upgrade over B.J. Ryan. He has been doing this for the last couple of years, so no reason to not expect him to continue getting people out.
• Rafael Perez was missing up in the zone with his low 90's fastball (a little cutting action) and his mid 80's slider. His slider has seem to regressed a bit the past couple of years and is merely a tick above average. His command has also struggled and he is no longer a set-up man, but rather a decent middle reliever who may be able to get out right handers for you.
• Vinnie Chulk is trying to be like Kiko Calero, featuring a low 90's fastball and a high 70's to low 80's slider. The problem is he doesn't have the command and his slider is just average. He is a guy that may be bouncing around for the next couple of years to teams looking for relief help (he could probably close in Houston with Jose Valverde out)...
• Tony Sipp features a low 90's fastball and low 80's slider. The slider looked just average and got pounded today, as he allowed the go-ahead home run to Adam Lind on a slider. He also has some interesting cocking action to his arm, which allows hitters to see the ball a little longer. He is a LOOGY candidate, as I don't see him being able to get out RH's. He is still young and if he can tighten the slider a little more, he should be a solid option in the bullpen.
• Jensen Lewis is your atypical changeup (low 80's), fastball (low 90's) and slider (low 80's) reliever. His changeup is plus, but neither his fastball or slider give hitters too much else to worry about and it isn't good enough to be the lone pitch hitters need to worry about. The changeup had good fade to it, though it didn't show too much sink. His slider has potential to be an above average pitch. He is a guy who is a solid middle guy and who could grow into a bigger role depending on how he develops his pitches.
• Masa Kobayashi (remember when he was being talked about as a closer?) features a low 90's fastball, mid 80's slider and mid 80's splitter. The split is nothing special and the slider is an average pitch as well. Solid middle reliever, but don't rely on him with a lead. More of a filler guy.
• Got to watch Matt LaPorta at the plate and he just doesn't look comfortable. He is leaning and almost appears to be cheating to hit fastballs. I think he is just pressing and will be okay as he gets into the swing of things, as he is a very built baseball player who has a ton of raw power. His setup is quiet and nothing appears to be overly wrong with his swing. Just a matter of time for him to start hitting.
• The Indians understand the value of getting hit by a pitch. They are tied for the MLB lead with 18 and you could see all their hitters not turning away from inside pitches, but rather letting it hit them (they have to act a little to get out of the way). If you watch closely, they also throw their limbs out at the ball (elbows, knees). Get on base any way you can.