Chart Observations: 9/29 MIL @ COL

1) Jason Marquis: 85 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, Cut, CB). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, Fastball, Cutter.

• Marquis came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a cutter with some cut and some sink and a

1st: FB (90-92), SL (86), CU (84) - SL (Hart)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (86), Cut (87) - FB (Cameron), SL (Cameron), Cut (Kendall)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (86-87), Cut (86-87)

4th: FB (90-91), SL (85-86), CU (81)

5th: FB (88-92), CU (86)

6th: FB (89-91)

2) Chris Narveson: 73 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, Cut). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Narveson came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a change with good fade from righties and some sink, a 11-5 curve with average depth and a cutter with a little cut.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (73-75), CU (79-81)

2nd: FB (90), CB (74-75), CU (81-83), Cut (88) - CB (Barmes)

3rd: FB (89-90), CB (73-74), Cut (86-88)

4th: FB (88-91), CB (74), CU (83)

5th: FB (88-92), CB (71-75), Cut (88) - CB (Marquis)

6th: FB (90), CU (80), CB (74)

3) Todd Coffey: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

6th: FB (91-95), SL (79-82) - SL (Barmes)

4) Matt Daley: 9 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Daley came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (76-78), CU (83) - FB (Counsell)

5) Carlos Villanueva: 28 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a change with above average sink and some fade from lefties that he will throw 3-1, a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (86-90), SL (80-83), CU (79-84), CB (74-76) - 2 CU (Helton, Stewart)

8th: FB (87-89), SL (80-83), CU (83), CB (74-76) - 3 SL (Torrealba - 2, Smith)

6) Rafael Betancourt: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Betancourt came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball that flashed a little cut and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-95), SL (83-85) - 3 FB (Hart - 2, Fielder), 2 SL (Hart, Braun)

7) Claudio Vargas: 34 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Vargas came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little cutting action, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (83), CU (83) - 2 FB (Spilborghs - 2), CU (Helton)

10th: FB (90-94), CU (82-83) - CU (Stewart)

8) Huston Street: 17 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Street came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

9th: FB (91-94), SL (83-85), CU (83-84) - 2 SL (McGehee, Cameron)

9) Jose Contreras: 6 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (95-96), SL (91)

10) Joe Beimel: 1 pitch. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (89)

11) Matt Belisle: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

11th: FB (91-96), SL (87), CB (76)

12) Dave Weathers: 18 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Weathers came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some fade from lefties and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

11th: FB (87-90), SL (83-84), CU (82) - FB (Hawpe), CU (Hawpe)

7/29: CHW @ MIN

1) Jose Contreras: 112 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters (1st, 2nd, 4th), Fastball (1st), Slider (1st), Changeup (2nd)

• Contreras came anywhere from 3/4 to over the top and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a splitter with excellent dive and a change with some sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (89-94), SL (83-86), Split (74-79)

2nd: FB (89-93), SL (79-85), Split (74-78), CU (85)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (81-84)

4th: FB (90-91), SL (82), Split (76-77)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (84-85), Split (75-78)

6th: FB (89-92), SL (82-85)

2) Brian Duensing: 64 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Curve (2nd), Slider (3rd), Changeup (5th)

• Duensing is a 5-11, 195 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and looked just like he did 2 years ago for Rochester. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His curve is an 11-5 with solid depth. His slider is an 11-5 with good btie. His change has some fade from righties and some sink and will throw the pitch 3-1. You could do worse as a # 5 starter.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (82), CB (73), CU (83)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (81-83), CB (70-72), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (80-81), CB (70), CU (83)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (79-83), CU (82-86)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (78-81), CB (72), CU (83-85)

3) Jesse Crain: 22 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Crain is a 6-1, 215 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has a little run in on righties, but is fairly straight. His curve is a 12-6 with excellent depth and is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite. Solid middle reliever and I still think has the stuff to close in spots.

6th: FB (95-97), SL (87-89), CB (75)

7th: FB (94-95), CB (75)

4) Randy Williams: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Williams is a 6-3, 190 pound lefty. The 33 year old has a big frame that can get up to 205, but likely won't and this was his first big league action since 2005. He came from a high 3/4 release and his fastball has a little tail in on righties and his cutter has solid cut. I think he can be a Matt Thornton type, but one with a above average fastball vs. a plus one and is a good 2nd lefty for a pen.

6th: FB (92-95)

7th: FB (93), Cut (84-87)

5) Tony Pena: 16 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders (8th)

• Pena came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from lefties with some sink.

7th: SL (85-88)

8th: FB (94-96), SL (88-89), CU (89-90)

6) Matt Guerrier: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Guerrier came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

8th: FB (90-93), SL (85-86), CB (77-79)

7) Joe Nathan: 20 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

9th: FB (91-94), SL (87-88)

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)

Sunday Tidbits

• Props to Tony Fiammetta for getting drafted by the Panthers. He should have a pretty good NFL career.
• Charted Anthony Ortega's major league debut and was fairly unimpressed. The kid is your protypical RH starter. He had a high 80's to low 90's 2-seam fastball with some movement, but he had some issues commanding it within the strike zone. He has a plus changeup, but struggled to get ahead in counts to really utilize it. Also features an average curveball that he showed some ability to throw for strikes, but definitely could bury it when he wanted to. With some command help, he could be a middle of the rotation starter, but he is probably a back-end guy.
• Mariner's bullpen may be coming back to earth now. David Aardsma finally allowed a hit and, while he still features a plus fastball, has enough command issues to not really be a great late game option. Mark Lowe struggled to command his off-speed stuff (which is nothing new) and Miguel Batista was a fastball-cutter pitcher for his 2 innings. Once the scouting reports get out on at least these 3, I think they will return to their established career norms.
• Yuniesky Betancourt has zero plate discipline. Zero. It really is quite impressive to watch.
• I am a Howie Kendrick fan, and he has started to show signs of breaking out of his slump. I love his line drive swing and his track record as a hitter through the minors and I still believe in his ability to be an above average stick at the keystone while be an average defender.
• Jose Contreras threw well today. After a rough 1st inning (2 bloops and then a shot for a double off the bat of Adam Lind), he really settled down and matched Roy Halladay pitch for pitch. Contreras really had good command and movement on his splitter today which helped him counteract some of Toronto's quality left handed sticks. Is this an aberration or will he return to his old form? Only time can tell.
• Speaking of Halladay, EVERYTHING he throws, moves. The more amazing part is that he great command of it.
• Color me impressed with the work of the Toronto Blue Jays. Their offense has been dynamic despite the early struggles of Alex Rios (.247-.300-.370). They have gotten a huge boost from Marco Scutaro (.413 OBP out of the leadoff spot) and the return of Aaron Hill from injury (.376-.407-.624). While this offense will likely not last, it doesn't have to. The Jays likely need this offense to last another 2 or 3 weeks, when they are then primed to get rookie sensation Ricky Romero (no overwhelming pitch, but is a middle of the rotation starter for a contender) and Jesse Litsch (who threw off a flat mound yesterday and is hopeful to begin a rehab assignment) back from injury and that will take a lot of burden off the offense. The Jays bullpen also has been utilized tremendously by Cito Gaston, who today utilized Jason Frasor to get out Carlos Quentin and then used Jesse Carlson to get out both Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye. Scott Downs has been incredible in the early going and is a massive upgrade over B.J. Ryan (who was sitting at 87 in his last appearance against Texas) and may even keep the job when Ryan returns from the DL.
• Speaking of Cito Gaston, why did it take so long for him to get another job after leading the Jays to back-to-back championships in the early 90's?