Chart Observations: LAA @ KC

1) Joe Saunders: 109 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Changeup (3rd)

• Saunders came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam with good run in on lefties with good sink, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth that may be able to be a strikeout pitch, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 10-4 slider with good bite. He will drop down to throw fastballs to lefties with 2 strikes. He will throw 3-2 changes. Your prototypical # 4, lefty finesse starter.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (76)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (77-81), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (82-84), SL (82)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (76), SL (81)

5th: FB (90-93), CB (78-79), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (89-92), CB (76-78), CU (82-83), SL (80)

2) Brian Bannister: 114 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Cutters (1st, 6th), 2 Curveballs (1st, 3rd), 5 on Changeups (2 in 2nd, 3rd, 2 in 4th).

• Bannister is a 28 year old righty who stands 6-2, 215. He has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and worked quickly. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His cutter has good cut and he may call it a slider, but it's action is that of a cutter. His change has good fade from lefties and is a hard change. His curve is 12-6 with excellent depth that could be a strikeout pitch when he throws it in the high 70's, not in the 60's. He will throw changes to righties and that appears to be his out pitch. I think he is a # 4 starter.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (87-89), CU (85-87), CB (77)

2nd: FB (91), Cut (87-89), CU (86-88), CB (62-78)

3rd: FB (91), Cut (86-90), CU (85-88), CB (65-77)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CU (85-88), CB (74-75)

5th: FB (90-91), Cut (86-88), CU (85-86), CB (71-78)

6th: FB (90-91), Cut (86-89), CU (86), CB (78)

7th: FB (90), Cut (87-88), CU (85-86), CB (77)

3) Justin Speier: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter (7th)

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a slider that moves like a cutter with okay bite that is pretty sharp and a split with above average dive that serves as his out pitch.

6th: FB (90), SL (87), Split (81)

7th: FB (91-92), SL (86-88), Split (82-83)

4) John Bale: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (8th)

• Bale came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 10-4 curve with solid depth that he will throw from a 3/4 release (and he will throw fastballs from this angle as well) and a change with good fade from righties with sink.

7th: FB (88-92), CB (72)

8th: FB (92), CB (71-73), CU (81)

5) Kevin Jepsen: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter

• Jepsen came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with good cut and sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. The cutter has been a difference maker pitch for him and is very impressive.

8th: FB (96-97), CB (84), Cut (90-91)

6) Roman Colon: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Splitter

• Colon came from an over the top release and shwoed a 2-7 slider with average bite, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a split that has a little dive.

8th: FB (96-98), SL (78-81), Split (86-88)

7) Jamey Wright: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wright came from an over the top release with a fastball with a little run in on righties with a little sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (91-93), Cut (89), CB (77)

8) Joakim Soria: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Soria came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with sink.

8th: FB (92-94), CB (70), CU (86-88)

9) Ron Mahay: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Changeup.

• Mahay came from an over the top release with a change with some fade from righties with sink, a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with above average bite.

9th: FB (90-92), CU (84-85), SL (80-82)

10) Brian Fuentes: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Fuentes came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some late run in on lefties and a loopy 9-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (90-92), SL (75-77)

Random Royals Bullpen Observation: This pen is very similar to those of the White Sox from 3 or 4 years ago. Most of these pitchers have major league stuff and Dayton is trusting his major league pitching coach to try and teach these guys control. Eventually, Kenny Williams pulled the plug and began to bring in solid arms with some control. I think they will be making a similar adjustment in the coming years.

Chart Observations: LAA @ TEX

1) Jered Weaver: 96 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 4th, 5th, 6th), 2 on Sliders (1st, 6th) and 2 on Changeups (5th, 6th).

• Weaver is a 6-7, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. He has a fairly violent delivery after his break with a little head jerk and an arm action that appears to put a lot of pressure on his shoulder. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes a little late run in on righties and gets some natural sink due to him generating a good downhill plane for his pitches. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite that flashes plus bite. He will be like his borther and drop down sidearm to throw frisbee sliders. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has some fade from lefties and he will throw the pitch to righties. Was FB-SL with some CB's the first time through the order and then began to be more FB-CU the 2nd time through. I am unimpressed with his change and don't think it is good enough to be thrown as much as he does. Solid middle of the rotation starter, but looks to be pitching a little over his head right now.

1st: FB (88-92), SL (78-79)

2nd: FB (88-91), SL (75-81), CB (71), CU (80)

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (80), CB (72), CU (80-82)

4th: FB (87-90), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (78), CB (74), CU (79)

6th: FB (88-90), SL (77-79), CB (70-73), CU (78-81)

2) Kevin Millwood: 104 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 5th), Slider (5th) and 3 on Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 5th)

• Millwood is a 6-4, 230 pound righty. The 34 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. He showed a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink. His slider is a 1-7 pitch with good bite. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. He throws both a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam with some run in on righties and good sink and is his primary fastball. His curveball served as his out pitch and his slider flashed plus with excellent bite. He preferred to throw sliders in on lefties rather than throw changeups away. Another guy I view as a middle of the rotation starter and would probably be a # 2 if he got out of Texas for a year or two.

1st: FB (87-89), SL (83-84), CB (71), CU (79)

2nd: FB (88-91), SL (82-83), CB (72-73)

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (82-85), CB (71), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (88-90), SL (83-85)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (83-85), CB (71-74)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (84-85)

7th: FB (87-90), SL (84-86), CB (68)

3) Kevin Jepsen: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jepsen comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with good cut that can flash 2-7 slider movement and a power 12-6 curve. This appeared to be the 1st outing he showed his cutter.

6th: FB (95-97), CB (83-84), Cut (92-93)

4) Matt Palmer: 26 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 on Curveballs (8th) and 2 on Cutters (8th)

• Palmer is back in the pen and did not pick up velocity as so many other have. He comes from a high 3/4 with a 2-seam fastball that has good run in on righties, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a cutter with good cut and he will drop down sidearm to throw curves. Used the curveball as his out pitch.

7th: FB (88-90), Cut (88), CB (74)

8th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CB (71-75)

5) Darren O'Day: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• O'Day is a sidearming, almost submarine righty who showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (83-84), SL (76-77)

6) C.J. Wilson: 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider, Cutter

• Wilison came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a sharp 10-4 slider with good late bite and a cutter that moves similar to his slider, but at a higher velocity.

8th: FB (92-95), SL (83-85), Cut (88-90)

7) Frank Francisco: 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Splitter

• Francisco came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some late sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth. His fastball can flatten out and be dead straight. His split had okay dive and wasn't as good as I had seen it previously. He can throw a bad split that can resemble a slider. He really battled his command.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (80), Split (85-87)

8) Justin Speier: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some armside run, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite or could just be a spinner and a splitter with solid dive.

9th: FB (87-90), SL (84-87), Split (81)

Chart Observations: LAA @ TEX

1) Sean O'Sullivan: 90 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 6 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 3 in 3rd, 4th), Curveball (6th)

• He came from an over the top release with a fastball that is a 2-seam with good sink and a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with excellent fade from lefties and some sink. He will throw his change to righties and it is his out pitch. His velocity was down from his MLB debut and looks to project now to a # 4 as opposed to # 3 if he loses the weight.

1st: FB (86-91), CB (77-79), CU (75-76)

2nd: FB (87-90), CB (76-78), CU (76)

3rd: FB (87-90), CB (75-78), CU (75-77)

4th: FB (85-87), CB (76), CU (75)

5th: FB (86-88), CB (75-76), CU (72-75)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (75-79), CU (74-75)

2) Vicente Padilla: 97 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th), Splitter (4th), Curveball (3rd)

• Padilla is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a little bit of bad weight. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink and he will also throw a straight 4-seamer. His split has some dive and can also move like a change. His curveball is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with great depth that is pretty much an eephus pitch. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with pretty good bite. He will throw his split to righties and will also drop down sidearm (once) to throw a curveball that moves like a frisbee slider. Solid # 4 starter who would be much better if he could ever get out of Texas.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (76), Split (83)

2nd: FB (86-91), CB (61)

3rd: FB (85-91), CB (58-72)

4th: FB (87-94), CB (60-73), Split (75-82)

5th: FB (87-93), Split (78-81)

6th: FB (87-91), Split (81)

3) Jason Jennings: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Jennings came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good downward bite, a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run in on righties and a change that showed good fade and sink.

6th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (80-81), CU (82)

4) Darren Oliver: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (86-89), SL (77-78)

5) Jason Grilli: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Grilli came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some marginal sink on righties and a slider that is an average 2-7.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Justin Speier: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders

• Speier came from a 3/4 release and showed a sharp slider that moved more like a cutter, a fastball with some run in on righties and a splitter that has some dive.

8th: FB (85-91), SL (82-85), Split (81-82)

7) Eddie Guardado: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Guardado came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slurvy 10-4 slider with okay bite.

9th: FB (84-87), SL (77)

8) Doug Mathis: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Mathis is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame with the room to add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with a little sink and run in on righties. His curve is his best off-speed pitch and is a big breaking 12-6 with a little bite. His slider is a sharp 1-7 type pitch with some bite. More of a middle reliever who you don't want to pitch while winning and is a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (75-77), SL (83)

9) Brian Fuentes: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Fuentes is a slinger from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run in on righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (88-90), SL (76)

• Julio Borbon made his major league debut last night. The 6-1, 180 pound lefty is 23 years old. He has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He has a slightly open stance and is slightly crouched. He has a little bat wiggle and his trigger is a cocking of the bat and a step where he stands on his toe a little bit. He is a gap to gap hitter who supposedly has good speed (he DH'd and never hit the ball on the ground, striking out twice and popping out) and his swing can get long. He also has some strides to make in regards to pitch recognition, as he flailed at O'Sullivan's change. He showed a good ability to command the strike zone in AAA (25 BB, 29 K in 302 at bats) so he will likely just need time to do that in the majors. I don't think he will ever hit for much power. Not sure where he fits defensively since I haven't seen him, but his bat will likely only play in center.

LAA @ SF: Pitchers

• Jonathan Sanchez is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame taht can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and his stuff is nowhere near where it was last year. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that appears to have lost a couple miles per hour of velocity. His slider is a 9-4 pitch that no longer has great bite and is more slurvy. His change shows some fade and sink and is now his best off-speed pitch. He can battle his command from pitch to pitch and outing to outing. The Giants may need to sell now while he still has value, as he is now just a # 5 starter. He could be a dynamite reliever if he returns to the mid 90's with his fastball.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (80-83), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (79-82), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (78-82), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (88-91), SL (79-82), CU (84-85)

• Sean O'Sullivan was very impressive in his major league debut. He is a 6-2, 230 pound righty. The 21 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and he is carrying some bad weight. He may have a gut and needs to work some of that bad weight off and he will likely see his velocity rise. He comes from an over the top release. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a moderate head jerk. His fastball is a 2-seam sinker with some sink and fade and is more comparable to Mike Pelfrey as opposed to Brandon Webb. His slider or curveball (it is one pitch, just not sure which one), is a 3-9 type pitch with good bite, though it can also just float to the plate. His changeup shows great fade and sink and will throw it to both righties and lefties and even throw it inside to lefties. It flashes plus. He did an excellent job of keeping the ball down at the knees all night and rarely missed up. A guy that could grow into being a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79), CU (77-78)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (77-82)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (77-79), CU (77-78)

5th: FB (90-91), SL (77-81)

6th: FB (88-93), SL (79-83), CU (75-77)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (78-81), CU (75-76)

• Justin Miller is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade and sink, a 2-7 slider with decent bite and a split with some good dive and is average. Solid reliever, but more of a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

4th: FB (87), Split (80)

5th: FB (87-89), SL (79-81), Split (79-81)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (78-79), Split (79-80)

• Brandon Medders is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some sink and fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and his curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. Borderline major league pitcher.

7th: FB (88-89), CB (70-72), SL (82-84)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (70-71), SL (80-82)

• Justin Speier is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 35 year old has a medium to big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade and sink. His slider is a 3-9 offering with good side to side movement. His splitter shows good dive and he has solid command of it. Solid middle reliever.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (84), Split (81-82)

• Jason Bulger is a 6-4, 210 pound righty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some fade and sink. His curveball is a power 12-7 pitch with good depth. His change has some sink and a little fade. The command of all his pitches are very inconsistent. Middle reliever is his upside and he is close to it now. He is a major league pitcher if he is throwing strikes.

9th: FB (92-96), CB (78-80), CU (83-85)

• Jeremy Affeldt is a 6-5, 225 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add quite a bit more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade, a 11-4 curveball with good depth and a straight change with some sink. Good middle reliever who can face both righties and lefties.

9th: FB (92-94), CB (75-78), CU (86-89)