Chart Observations: 9/18 TOR @ TB

1) James Shields: 97 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 12 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 4 Changeups, 3 Cutters, Curveball.

• Shields came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and above average sink that he will throw to righties and in 3-2 counts, a cutter with some cut and some sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (90-92), CU (81-83), Cut (87-91), CB (80) - CU (Wells), Cut (Wells)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (82-83), Cut (87-90) - 2 Cut (Barajas, Snider)

3rd: FB (91-93), CU (81-84), Cut (89-90), CB (80) - 3 FB (McDonald, Bautista - 2), 2 CU (Wells, Bautista), CB (Wells)

4th: FB (90-92), CU (81-83), Cut (88-89), CB (79) - FB (Barajas)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (81-82), Cut (87-88) - CU (Hill)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (81-82), Cut (87-89), CB (78)

2) Scott Richmond: 63 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Richmond 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 good bite, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink.

1st: FB (90-91), SL (82), CB (76-77) - FB (Longoria)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (82-84), CB (73-79) - FB (Aybar)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (81-84), CB (78-80), CU (83)

3) Brian Wolfe: 36 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Wolfe came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (78-82), Cut (91) - 2 FB (Zaun, Upton)

4th: FB (90-94), CB (79-80), Cut (90-91), CU (83)

4) Dirk Hayhurst: 57 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

4th: FB (87-90), CB (73-74), CU (79-80) - FB (Zaun)

5th: FB (87-89), CB (70-73), CU (77-79), SL (78-79) - CU (Bartlett), SL (Upton)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (72-73), CU (78-80), SL (79) - FB (Aybar), 2 CU (Crawford, Longoria)

5) Josh Roenicke: 32 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, 2 Changeups, Fastball.

• Roenicke came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

7th: FB (92-93), Cut (89), CU (84) - Cut (Gross)

8th: FB (92-93), Cut (86-88), CU (83-84), CB (79-80) - FB (Aybar), Cut (Bartlett), 2 CU (Aybar, Crawford)

6) Dan Wheeler: 17 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter, Curveball.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with a little cut and sink, a 1-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (86-90), CU (83), SL (77-80), CB (75-76), Cut (82-84) - FB (Wells), Cut (Bautista), CB (Wells)

7) Russ Springer: 8 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (92-93), Cut (85) - 3 FB (Ruiz - 3)

8) Randy Choate: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Choate 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 (87-88), SL (77-79) - FB (Snider)

9) Grant Balfour: 16 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

9th: FB (93-96), CB (82) - 2 FB (McDonald - 2)

Phillips Pop Time: 1.9

Score: 7/12 CIN @ NYM: CIN Pitchers

1) Aaron Harang: 74 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 3rd), Fastball (3rd), Changeup (3rd)

• Harang is a 6-7, 260 pound righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties with good sink. His change moves like a fastball with more sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite while his curve is a 12-6 big breaker with good depth. Would say he is a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (86-90), SL (78-80), CU (79)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (80-83), CU (79-81)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (78-84), CU (80-83), CB (72-73)

2) Josh Roenicke: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a cutter with solid cut that can move like a 2-7 slider at times.

4th: FB (92-95), Cut (84-87)

3) Danny Ray Herrera: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Herrera is a 5-6, 165 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a 9-4 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties. Solid LOOGY, but more of a # 2 lefty in a pen.

4th: FB (80), SL (73)

4) Robert Manuel: 39 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• Manuel is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He come from over the top with a little herky jerk release. He separates hands quickly and seems to try and put his lead leg on the ground as fast as possible. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His change has good sink and a little fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. Extra (4-A) arm.

5th: FB (84-87), SL (81), CU (76-82)

6th: FB (84-87), SL (78-81), CU (79-82)

5) Dave Weathers: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (83-84)

6) Nick Masset: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and quickly dispatched the Mets in the 8th.

8th: FB (92-96)

Chart Observations (7/5 Game): STL @ CIN

1) Chris Carpenter: 104 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 6 Cutters (2nd, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 3 Curves (2 in 2nd, 5th), Fastball (7th)

• Carpenter comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade with lefties with good sink that is hard, a cutter with solid cut and a little sink (not a SL as previously thought) and a sharp 12-6 curve with great depth that is his out pitch that he bounces or throws for a strike at will.

1st: FB (91-95), Cut (87), CB (75), CU (85)

2nd: FB (92-94), Cut (87-88), CB (74-76)

3rd: FB (92-94), Cut (88-91), CB (74-77)

4th: FB (93-94), Cut (86-89), CB (76-77)

5th: FB (93-96), Cut (86-90), CB (74)

6th: FB (89-95), Cut (86-87), CB (73-74), CU (86)

7th: FB (93-95), Cut (87-90), CB (75-76)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 89 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs (2nd, 4th), Changeup (4th)

• Arroyo came from an over the top release and showed a plethora of pitches. He showed a change with some fade from lefties and sink. A frisbee (read, sidearm) slider that is a 9-3 with good late bite. A 2-seam fastball with some run and sink. A rare 4-seam fastball that is straight. A sidearm fastball that is more for deception that he will throw on occasion. A 1-7 curve with good depth. And, finally, a cutter with some cut and a little sink. His curve is his out pitch and I had him for more curves then we typically had charted.

1st: FB (85-89), F-SL (72-74), CU (77-83)

2nd: FB (88), F-SL (73-75), CU (79), CB (74-76), Cut (84)

3rd: FB (86-88), CU (83), CB (75), SL (79)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (78-83), CB (71-76)

5th: FB (87-89), F-SL (74), CU (78-83), CB (69-74), Cut (84), SL (76-77)

6th: FB (84-88), F-SL (72), CU (80-84), Cut (86), SL (78)

3) Josh Roenicke: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and some sink, a fastball with above average run in on righties with a little sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth. The best young reliever no one has heard about. Think Andrew Bailey with a little less command.

6th: FB (94-95), Cut (87-88)

7th: FB (93-95), CB (79)

4) Carlos Fisher: 42 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter (8th), Fastball (9th)

• Fisher came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties that flashes good sink, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a cutter with some cut that can be tough to see with the naked eye. Command is an issue for him due to a high effort delivery that lands hard on his front foot.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (91-93), SL (81-83)

9th: FB (92-95), SL (80-84)

5) Jason Motte: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a splitter wtih decent dive and a cutter with some cut and sink. He has no command of his offspeed pitches and has a tendency to leave his fastball up, but I like him.

8th: FB (93-96), Cut (87), Split (79-81)

6) Dennys Reyes: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a sharp 11-4 slider with good bite. He will drop down sidearm to throw sliders to lefties with 2 strike counts.

8th: FB (90), SL (79-84)

7) Kyle McClellan: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Kyle is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release with some cocking arm action. His fastball is a 2-seam with good run in on righties. His cutter has solid cut. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth.

9th: FB (90-92), CB (74-77), Cut (86-88)

• Jarrett Hoffpauir is a 5-9, 190 pound 2B who is R/R. The 26 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He has a slightly open, slightly crouhced stance with a bat tap on his shoulder. His trigger is a double step and a cocking of the bat. He showed good pull power. Wanted to give the vitals on him, but hard to get a read on a guy in 1 AB and 2 innings in the field with no grounders at him.
• Drew Sutton, with only seeing 1 at bat, is a guy I do like. The 26 year old switch hitter/righty thrower has a medium 6-3, 185 pound frame that can get up to 200. He has straight up, stand up stance with a little bat tap. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride. He is likely a super utility player who can play some short for you, but is just a tick below average there. However, he reminds me a ton of Ben Zobrist when he came up. I think he has that sort of potential and needs to get consistent at bats. His minor league #'s at AAA Louisville say I am an idiot though (.254-.388-.492) but you stat geeks will love that OBP, so maybe there is hope yet.

ARI @ CIN

1) Dan Haren: 111 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (3rd), 4 on Cutters (3rd, 5th, 2 in 7th), 5 on Splitters (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th)

• Haren comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball that some sink and run in on righties, a cutter with some solid cut and a little sink, a split with above average dive that serves as his out pitch and a 12-7 curveball that has good depth, but has flattened out a little lately. He will also throw the occasional straight 4-seam. He will throw any pitch in any count and has plus-plus command of all his offerings, which is amazing.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (80), Split (87-89), Cut (87)

2nd: FB (90-94), CB (79-81), Cut (86-89)

3rd: FB (91-95), CB (79), Cut (87)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (78-79), Split (86), Cut (85-88)

5th: FB (91), CB (78-79), Split (85-87), Cut (86-87)

6th: FB (90-92), CB (78-79), Split (87), Cut (85-86)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (80), Cut (84-88)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 105 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th), Curveball (6th), Changeup (6th), Cutter (2nd)

• Arroyo is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release and will throw pitches anywhere from sidearm to high 3/4. He has a very quiet windup with his patented flamingo kick. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink and fade, though he will mix in a straight 4-seam on occasion. His changeup has good sink and fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and sink. He will throw frisbee sliders from sidearm and even threw 1 fastball from sidearm. His cutter has some cut, but not a ton. His curveball is a 12-7 offering with solid bite and good depth. You would think throwing every pitch known to man he would have an out pitch, but none of his pitches are very spectacular. He battled his command from hitter to hitter and I would say he is a # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-91), SL (76-77), CU (80-84)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (84-86), CB (72-74), CU (77-83), Frisbee SL (70-74)

3rd: FB (80-90, 80 to Haren when behind in the count), Cut (87), SL (74-77), CU (78), F-SL (78)

4th: FB (87-90), Cut (84-87), CB (71-75), CU (84-85), SL (75-77)

5th: FB (87-90), Cut (89), CB (70-72), CU (80-82), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (69-74), CU (80-84), SL (77)

3) Carlos Fisher: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (6th, 7th) and Slider (6th)

• Fisher comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, but is straight and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His cutter has some cut, but can sometime be tough to see with the naked eye.

6th: FB (94-96), SL (82-84), Cut (90-92)

7th: FB (94-97), SL (81-84), Cut (89-93)

4) Jared Burton: 23 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Sliders, 2 on Cutters.

• Burton came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a hard change that has a little fade from lefties.

8th: Cut (87-89), CU (85), SL (82-83), FB (90-92)

5) Tony Pena: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Pena came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite. His command continues to be a question mark and is extremely erratic from his max effort delivery.

8th: FB (94-96), SL (87-89)

6) Scott Schoeneweis: 1 pitch. No, he hit it.

• Scho comes from a high 3/4 release and threw a straight 4-seam fastball to Joey Votto. He hit it hard for a single.

8th: FB (89)

7) Jon Rauch: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging.

• Rauch comes from an over the top release with a 2-seam fastball with some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite. He will also throw a straight 4-seam and mix in a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (85), Cut (88-89)

8) Josh Roenicke: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Roenicke comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a power 12-6 curve (not a slider as I originally had considered, thanks BA Prospect Handbook) and a cutter with some cut and some sink. Watch this kid, he has the looks of a strong major league reliever.

9th: FB (92-95), Cut (86-88), CB (78-79)

9) Chad Qualls: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with excellent run in on righties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (85-88)

• Danny Richar was once the jewel of the Diamondbacks system and now finds himself as a bench player for the Reds. The 6-1, 195 pound lefty hitter, righty swinger has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. The 26 year old has a crouched stance that is similar to Phillips (though not in hand placement). He has a little bat wiggle and doesn't do much for a trigger, just cocking the bat. He is a gap to gap hitter who doesn't show much power. He showed slightly above average speed and looks to have the upside of that of a utilityman, as he just won't have the power or pitch recognition to play everyday.

Chart Observations: ATL @ CIN

• Tommy Hanson came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch that can be inconsistent with its break and can flatten out. His curveball is a 12-6, 1-7 pitch with good depth and good late break that is sharp. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw to righties. His slider really flattened out in the 6th.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (84-87), CB (75-77), CU (82)

2nd: FB (91-95), SL (83-86), CB (76-77), CU (84)

3rd: FB (93-95), SL (82-83), CB (75), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-95), SL (79-81), CB (75), CU (83)

5th: FB (90-95), SL (80-83), CB (74-75), CU (87)

6th: FB (92-95), SL (82-84), CB (75-77), CU (84)

• Matt Maloney is a 6-4, 220 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 230. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He has classic drop and drive mechanics and kicks his stride leg out a little farther then most. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run. His change is a straight change with some sink and is his best pitch that he will throw to lefties. It has excellent late sink and run and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider is an 11-4 offering with okay bite. His curveball is an 11-4 with good depth. I believe his slider is just a power curve, as they have similar movement. He looks to me like a # 5 starter or long reliever/swingman.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (78-81), SL (77), CB (71)

2nd: FB (87-88), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (78-79), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (78-79), SL (77), CB (69-71)

5th: FB (87-90), CU (77-78), SL (76-77), CB (70)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (79-80), CB (69)

• Carlos Fisher is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and takes a giant stride to the plate and it appears his arm lags behind at times. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run and his slider appears to be more of a curve with okay bite and is a 12-6 type offering. He throws to the middle of the plate too much and his command can be erratic. He has the tools to be a solid middle reliever down the road, but isn't quite ready.

6th: FB (92-96), SL (79)

7th: FB (92-97), SL (83-85)

• Peter Moylan is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with excellent run and some sink and a 9-3 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (91-94), SL (79-82)

• Josh Roenicke, a 6-3, 195 pound righty, made his season debut in this game. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has some cocking action and almost short arms the ball from an over the top release. His fastball has some run and sink. His slider is a slurvy 1-7 offering with some late break and some bite that resembles a curve. His cutter is a 1-7 pitch with good late bite that moves like a slider. He has the tools to pitch in the back of a pen someday, but will likely be a middle reliever.

8th: FB (94-97), Cut (89), SL (79-81)

• Mike Gonzalez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink, a 11-4 slider that he will add and subtract from depending on the count and a straight change.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (76-86), CU (79)

• Jared Burton is a 6-5, 230 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to the lower body. His cutter shows good cut and a little sink and his slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite from an over the top release. Serviceable middle reliever.

9th: Cut (88-93), SL (83)

• Rafael Soriano comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run and sink.

9th: FB (90-95)