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 (7/3 Game): TB @ TEX

1) Scott Kazmir: 99 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 4 in 4th), 5 on Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th) and 2 on Changeups (1st, 5th)

• Kazmir is a 6-0, 190 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and get up to at least 205. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 11-5 with solid bite and his change has some run in on righties with a little sink. Solid # 2 starter and if he can ever get consistent command and pitch beyond the 5th inning consistently, he is an ace.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (80-83), CU (77-80)

2nd: FB (90-91), SL (81-84), CU (78-79)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (81-83), CU (79-80)

4th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82), CU (78-79)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (80-82), CU (78-82)

2) Tommy Hunter: 90 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 3rd, 6th), 2 on Curves (2nd, 5th), 2 on Cutters (3rd, 5th) and a Changeup (4th)

• Tommy Hunter really impressed me. The 6-3, 255 pound righty has a big frame that is maxed out. The 23 year old comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties. His cutter has some cut and sink. His curve is a sharp 2-7 with good depth and can be a strikeout pitch. His change is straight with little sink and is below average and he will throw it to righties. Likes to throw his cutter in on the hands of lefties and has a very quiet delivery with hands going over his head. I think Hunter is a # 4 right now and he has the potential to be a strong # 3 starter for a contender. I am a fan of his windup and he has a very good mound presence in my opinion. He does need to improve his change though.

1st: FB (89-92), Cut (89-91), CB (77-80)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (88-90), CB (75-81)

3rd: FB (89-93), Cut (88-90), CB (76-80), CU (81-82)

4th: FB (89-91), Cut (86-90), CB (75-79), CU (80-83)

5th: FB (86-92), Cut (86-88), CB (75-80), CU (81)

6th: FB (87-88), Cut (88), CU (81)

3) Joe Nelson: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Nelson came from an over the top release and showed a vulcan change with good sink and fade from lefties and a fastball with a little run in on righties that flashed above average sink. He really battles his command from outing to outing.

6th: FB (84-87), CU (74-75)

4) Grant Balfour: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (6th)

• Balfour came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Still haven't seen his control issues personally.

6th: FB (92-95), SL (88)

7th: FB (92-96), SL (86-91)

8th: FB (91-93), SL (90)

5) Jason Jennings: 30 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

• Jennings came from an over the top release with a fastball with good run and sink in on righties and a slider that can look like a curve with good bite.

6th: FB (88-90), SL (81-83)

7th: FB (87-90), SL (82)

6) C.J. Wilson: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Wilson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that flashes run in on righties, a sharp 11-4 slider with good bite, a cutter with good cut and a straight change with a little sink.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (84-86), CU (86), Cut (92)

7) Randy Choate: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (87-88), SL (77)

8) Dan Wheeler: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink and a loopy 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: Cut (83-84), SL (77)

9) Frank Francisco: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter

• Francisco came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a splitter with excellent dive.

9th: FB (93-96), Split (86-87)

Chart Observations: MIN @ TB

• Matt Garza is a 25 year old who stands 6-4, 215. The right hander has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but not much. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch that looks a little flatter then last year. His slider is a sharp 2-7 offering. His change shows above average fade and a little sink. Garza's windup is a step to the side, a turn of his right foot, then he kicks his leg with a good hip turn (showing his left cheek to the hitter) and then he drops his hands as the leg is going down and he drives toward the plate. Garza's fastball and slider are each above average offerings with his curveball and change slightly above average. He profiles as a # 3 starter right now with the potential to be a # 2, as he has above average command.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (85-86), CB (75-76), CU (83-85)

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (83-85), CB (74-76), CU (84)

3rd: FB (92-93), SL (82-83)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (76-77), CU (82)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (83), CB (75)

6th: FB (91-95), SL (82-86), CB (74-76), CU (82)

7th: FB (91-95), SL (85), CB (73-76)

• Nick Blackburn, a 27 year old who stands 6-4 225, opposed him. The right hander has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. Blackburn takes a step to the side, turns his right foot, take a straight leg kick with little hip turn and doesn't start his hand separation until his leg is nearly halfway down (hands never move until this point), his legs then just hangs there as his release comes through and he fires. His fastball is a 2-seam with good fade and sink. His cutter shows adequate cut across the plate, though he didn't use it as much today. His curveball is a 11-6 offering with decent bite. His change showed good fade and sink. Blackburn is a good # 4 starter, one that won't walk many guys with plus command and will be an innings eater most days. His fastball, cutter, changeup and curveball are slightly above average.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (81-85), CU (80)

2nd: FB (88-91), CB (75-76)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (80), CB (74)

4th: FB (88-89), Cut (82-85), CU (79), CB (74-76)

5th: FB (87-91), Cut (83-85), CU (79), CB (74-78)

6th: FB (88), CB (73-76), CU (80)

• Joe Nelson is a 34 year old who stands 6-1, 205. The right hander features a medium frame that looks to be maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release with a big leg kick that is similar to that of Orlando Hernandez. He throws the vulcan change and it shows good fade and some sink, though his command of the pitch can be very inconsistent. His fastabll is a 2-seam that shows good fade and a little sink. He likes to throw high fastballs in 0-2 counts. Solid middle reliever, just not a set-up man as some thought based off of last season.

8th: FB (86-87), CU (76-77)

• Jason Isringhausen is back. The 36 year old who stands 6-3, 230 has a medium to big frame that is maxed out and may be carrying some bad weight. The right hander has an over the top release. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 pitch. His cutter shows decent cut, but not like it did in his prime. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. It looks like a battle for him to throw, as he labors through his mechanics. 2 of the 3 at-bats against him went 6 and 10 pitches respectively, raising a red flag on whether he has a true out pitch. Seems like a solid middle reliever, as he didn't show any of the command issues he had been having. But, he no longer has an out pitch and will need to pitch to contact more then he used to.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (88-89), CB (76)

9th: FB (91-92), Cut (86-90)

• J.P. Howell is a 26 year old who stands 6-0, 180. The left hander has a medium frame that can add more muscle. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink and fade. His curveball is a big breaking 11-4 pitch that is a plus offering. His change is a straight change with a little sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand. Howell is a good setup man, but his lack of velocity doesn't really endear me to him as a closer. He has plus command.

9th: FB (86-88), CB (81-83), CU (81)

• Sean Henn is a 28 year old who stands 6-4, 225. The left hander has a big frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. He showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 10-5 slider with good bite that looks like a fastball out of his hand, but just keeps biting. A 12th or 13th guy in a bullpen and he can have his uses as a 2nd lefty in a pen. He did show a little command issues, but nothing major.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (80-82)

• Matt Guerrier is a 30 year old who stands 6-3, 195. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle, though only in the upper body. He comes from an over the top release, almost high 3/4. His slider is a 1-8 offering wtih good depth and bite. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6. His change shows great fade and a little sink. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink. He has above average command. The more I see him, the more I think he could be a Braden Looper like transformation and become a solid back of the rotation starter. He is valuable as the Twins main set-up man, but his repetoire of 4 above average pitches seems to profile fairly well as a starter. Just saying.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (83), CB (75-77), CU (80)

8th: FB (90), SL (83-85), CB (77-78)

• Jose Mijares is a 24 year old who stands 6-0, 230. The left hander has a medium frame that is maxed out and there is some definite bad weight there. He looks like he would be a much better pitcher down to around 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release, almost over the top. His fastball is a 4-seam that has good run. His slider is a sweeping 10-4 pitch with good bite. Solid reliever who has the potential to be a set-up man. You also have to worry about him eating himself out of the game.

8th: FB (89-94), SL (80-82)

• Joe Nathan is amongst the best. The righty is 34 years old and stands 6-4, 225. He has a big frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp offering with good bite. His curveball is a 12-7 offering with good downward bite and is somewhat late breaking.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (87-89), CB (83)

Chart Observations: OAK @ TB

• James Shields started for the Rays and had exquisite command of his stuff. Shields featured a fastball at 88-92, a changeup at 80-84, a cutter at 83-86 and a curveball at 74-78. Shields attacks hitters from an over the top release and, as with many who come from that release, shows an above average curveball. His change is a plus-plus pitch that I didn't think he threw enough in this game (but still fired 8.1 shutout innings) and his cutter is just average. His fastball is above average due to his command. He is a # 2 for a contender.
• Josh Outman opposed him and featured a fastball at 91-94, a slider at 80-83, a changeup at 79-86, a soft curveball at 72-75 and a hard curveball at 76-81 from a high 3/4 release that is almost over the top. Outman liked to use the soft curve early in counts to try and get a cheap strike and would use the hard curve as more of a strikeout pitch. Outman has shown himself very well the 2 times I have seen him, but has left early in both outings due to a high pitch count. Outman has good control, but struggles to command his stuff within the strike zone, causing him to pitch behind and rack up big pitch counts. Potential to be a # 2 starter with a big bump in command, but probably settles in as a middle of the rotation starter.
• Michael Wuertz was 89-90 with his fastball and 82-86 with his slider from an over the top release. Wuertz's slider is a plus pitch due to it's sharp, late breaking action making it difficult for hitters to square or recognize quickly.
• Andrew Bailey was 91-95 with his fastball, 88-92 with his cutter and 75-77 with his curveball from an over the top release. The curveball is an above average offering. This is the 1st time I have seen him where he has thrown more curves then cutters.
• Santiago Casilla was 92-95 with his fastball, 83-86 with his slider and threw a change at 86 from a 3/4 release. Casilla has a max-effort delivery and relies on his strong legs to generate velocity. His slider is an above average pitch that has flashed plus due to it's sharp late break, but he has had some issues commanding it. His change is more of a show-me pitch then anything that can get hitters out and is a below average offering. Casilla's fastball is above average and features a little tailing action as well. Solid middle reliever who, if he can refine his command, could be a set-up guy.
• Russ Springer was 89-91 with his fastball, 84 with the 2 cutters he threw and a curveball at 79 from a high 3/4 release. Solid middle reliever.
• J.P. Howell was at 85-88 with his fastball, 79-81 with his curveball and threw a changeup at 80 from an over the top release. Howell is unique in that his fastball is just average, but he could be a set-up guy due to his plus-plus curveball and above average change. He also has plus command of all his pitches and looks ready to continue building on his breakout year last year. Solid set-up guy. Only worry is that when he doesn't have great command of his off-speed stuff, he is very hittable, as his deception can only help so much.
• Dan Wheeler faced 2 hitters and was 87-88 with his fastball, 80 with his slider and 75 with his curveball. The slider and curve are above average offerings and he is another Tampa Bay reliever who gets by more on command then stuff. Don't know how long he can keep this up as he is another whose fastball will get pounded if there is any regression to the off speed stuff.
• Joe Nelson featured a fastball at 85-87 and a vulcan changeup at 75-78. He is another one of those command and control guys and his change didn't have the same break as it usually does. He also struggled to get ahead of hitters and his deception did not help him when hitters know an 85-87 mile per hour fastball is coming. Solid middle reliever, but I think he is a little over extended as a guy that comes in to hold a lead.
• Aaron Cunningham is a 5-11 205 pound 23 year old outfielder. He is a right handed hitter and has a fairly prototypical stance with a slight crouch and is a little open. He also has a little bat wiggle and for a trigger, he strides and moves his hands back. Very conventional hitter. He has a medium frame that is maxed out. He is not plus on any tool, but is no worse then average on any tool. He has average power potential, he shows an ability to be able to put the ball in play. He is an above average runner. If this sounds like the profile to a 4th OF, it is. He doesn't have the speed to play CF consistenly or the power to play a corner.