Chart Observations: 9/12 KC @ CLE

1) Luke Hochevar: 98 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 8 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, Slider.

• Hochevar came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and solid sink, a cutter with some cut that he added to his repetoire in July, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a

1st: FB (91-94), Cut (89-92), CB (78)

2nd: FB (92-94), Cut (89-91), CB (78-80), SL (84) - CB

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (91), CB (79), SL (84) - 2 FB

4th: FB (91-94), Cut (89-91), CB (76-80), SL (84) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), Cut (88-89), CB (76-77), SL (83-84), Split (85) - SL, 2 CB

2) David Huff: 109 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, 2 Curveballs.

• Huff came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite, a change with good sink and some fade from righties that he will throw 2-0 and to lefties and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

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

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (78), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (82-83), CB (76-77), CU (82-84) - 2 FB, SL, CB

4th: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CB (78-79) - SL, CB

5th: FB (87-91), SL (80-81), CB (77), CU (81-82) - FB

6th: FB (90-92), SL (81), CB (78), CU (81-82) - 2 FB

3) Dusty Hughes: 14 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Fastball.

• Hughes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a straight change that may have a little fade from righties that got better as the appearance went on and showed good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties and a 11-5 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (85-91), CU (78-83), SL (83) - FB, 2 CU

4) Victor Marte: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Marte came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with good sink that had good tilt to it, a change with good fade from lefties and sink that he will throw to righties and a 12-6 curve with below average depth.

6th: FB (93-95), CB (81-83), CU (85-86)

5) Jensen Lewis: 16 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs.

• Lewis 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 some sink that he will throw to righties.

7th: FB (86-91), CU (81-83) - 5 FB

6) Bruce Chen: 20 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Chen 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 with good sink, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

7th: FB (84-90), CU (78-80), CB (76), SL (82-83) - FB

7) Jess Todd: 51 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Cutters.

• Todd came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a cutter with some cut.

8th: Cut (90-91), FB (90), SL (83-85) - Cut, 2 SL

9th: Cut (88-91), SL (82-83) - Cut, SL

8) Yasuhiko Yabuta: 20 pitches. (FB, CU, Split, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Splitters, Fastball.

• Yabuta came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that had a little run in on righties, a straight change, a split with slightly below average dive and a 2-7 slider with okay bite.

8th: FB (87-93), CU (84), Split (75-78), SL (83-85) - FB, 2 Split

9) Rafael Perez: 3 pitches. (FB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Perez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sharp 11-5 slider with slightly above average bite.

9th: SL (86-87) - SL

• Michael Brantley is a 6-2, 200 pound lefty. The 22 year old outfielder has a medium frame that should be able to get up to about 215 or 220 down the road. He has a slightly crouched stance similar to Coghlan's, but a little more crouched. His trigger is a small stride and a cocking of the bat. He has a bat tap as a timing mechanism, similar to that of Garrett Anderson.

Chart Observations: 9/6 LAA @ KC

1) Joe Saunders: 103 pitches. (FB, CU, CB, SL). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Saunders came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a sharp 11-5 curve with average depth, a change with some run in on righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (90-93), CU (84), CB (76-80)

2nd: FB (89-94), CU (83-85), CB (80-81), SL (83) - CB

3rd: FB (89-94), CU (81-83), CB (77-82)

4th: FB (88-93), CB (77-81)

5th: FB (90-94), CU (83), CB (75-80)

6th: FB (89-93), CB (76-80)

2) Luke Hochevar: 71 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

• Hochevar came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that he will throw 3-2, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with some dive.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84), CB (77-79) - SL

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CB (74-77)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (84), Split (83) - FB

4th: FB (88-93), SL (82-84), CB (77-78) - 3 SL

3) Dusty Hughes: 62 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Hughes is a 5-10, 185 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to his lower half. Fairly athletic build that is fairly built. He came from a classic drop and drive delivery with a little cocking action with his arm. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and some sink. His change has some fade from righties with some sink that he will throw 2-0 and 3-2 and he will throw it to lefties. His slider is a 11-5 pitch with okay bite. His curve is a 11-5 offering with slightly below average depth. 4-A pitcher.

4th: FB (89), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (88-93), CU (81-82), SL (83-84), CB (73) - CU, SL

6th: FB (89-93), CU (79-81), SL (81-85) - SL

7th: FB (89-92), CU (78-81), SL (84-85) - CU, SL

8th: FB (88-90), CU (76-84)

4) Jason Bulger: 6 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bulger came from an over the top release with a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a fastball with some run in on righties.

6th: FB (94-95), CB (80-84)

5) Matt Palmer: 35 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Curveball.

• Palmer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth, a cutter with some cut

7th: FB (91-92), Cut (89-91), CB (77-79) - 2 Cut, CB

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (89), CB (75)

6) Jose Arredondo: 11 pitches. (FB, Split, SL). 1 strike swinging.

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

9th: FB (92-95), Split (83-85), SL (85) - Split

7) Victor Marte: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Curveball, Changeup.

• Marte is a 6-2, 265 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He does have some bad weight. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics, though it is a max effort delivery. His fastball has some run in on righties, but can straighten out. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. He has a power 12-6 curve with below average depth that is sharp. He has the looks to be a solid middle reliever, though his fastball command isn't very good.

9th: FB (95-97), CU (87-88), CB (82-85) - CB, CU

Chart Observations: 8/27 CLE @ KC

1) David Huff: 94 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

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

1st: FB (88-92), CU (81-82), SL (82-83) - FB

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (80-81), CB (73-76)

3rd: FB (87-91), CU (82-83), SL (81), CB (76) - FB

4th: FB (89-90), CU (82), SL (78-82), CB (74)

5th: FB (87-92), CU (81-83), SL (83), CB (76-77) - FB, SL

6th: FB (88-91), SL (79-82)

2) Luke Hochevar: 116 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 15 strikes swinging. 10 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 2 Curveballs.

• Hochevar came from a high 3/4 release with good run in on righties and solid sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a 2-7 slider with okay bite that flashes above average bite and a split with above average dive.

1st: FB (92-94), SL (87-89), CB (77-81) - CB

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (83-85), CB (74-78) - 3 FB, 2 SL

3rd: FB (89-95), SL (84-87), CB (75), Split (82) - 2 FB

4th: FB (90-94), SL (83-85), CB (79) - FB, SL

5th: FB (90-95), CB (78) - FB

6th: FB (92-95), CB (77-78), SL (83-86) - FB, CB

7th: FB (90-94), CB (77), SL (83-85) - 2 FB

3) John Bale: 10 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bale came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties, a change with some fade from righties with sink and a 10-4 curve with solid depth

7th: FB (89-91), CB (72), CU (81-82)

4) Joe Smith: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Smith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a change with good fade from lefties and a little sink that he will throw to righties and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (82-83), CU (77-78)

5) Chris Perez: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CB). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (95-96), SL (83-84) - SL

6) Kyle Farnsworth: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Farnsworth came from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (96-100), SL (89-92) - FB, SL

7) Jamey Wright: 13 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (92-94), Cut (85-90), CB (79-80)

8) Kerry Wood: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, Cut, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• Wood came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with some cut that flashes sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: FB (95-97), Cut (90-93), CB (79)

6/24 Score: KC @ HOU

Been really busy the last couple of days working on an extra project for BIS, but here is the 2 things that haven't yet been added:

1) Luke Hochevar: 93 strikes. 10 strikes swinging. 9 on sliders (4 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 in 7th) and 1 on a curveball (5th).

• He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run and sink and is more of a late action pitch. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite that he started on the outside corner and let the Astros flail at it. He starts his windup with the back of his left foot up and his right foot is already turned. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth that he didn't start using until the 2nd time through the order. For a pitcher who relies on a sinker, the lack of swing and misses has to be concerning. His upside is that of a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86)

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

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85), CB (73-74)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (83-86), CB (75-76)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83-84), CB (76)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (82-85), CB (75)

2) Roy Oswalt: 106 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 3 in 5th, 3 in 6th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 2 in 4th) and 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th)

• Roy is a 6-0 190 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run in on righties and it flashes some sink, though he will also throw a harder one that is straight. His curveball is a 12-5 with solid depth and he throws it all over the place velocity wise. His curveball looks like a fastball out of his hand until it breaks downward. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite. His change has some fade and sink, but is his 4th pitch. Ace stuff still, but his pitch counts have been high both games I have seen him this year, making him more of a very strong # 2.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (71-72)

2nd: FB (93-95), CB (70-80)

3rd: FB (93-94), CB (64-77), SL (85)

4th: FB (93-96), CB (68-72), SL (84-85)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (70-71), SL (83), CU (81)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (65-78), SL (84-86)

3) Chris Sampson: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Swingman.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (83), CB (77-78)

4) Latroy Hawkins: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, big breaking 12-6 curve and a straight change that may have been a spinning slider (I don't study pitches as much in scores as I do in charts). He is back to the old Minnesota Hawkins and Ed Wade got a lot of grief for this deal at the time, but it looks good (the player they dealt, Matt Cusick, is hitting .266-.350-.379 in High A)

8th: FB (94-95), CB (80-81), CU (87)

5) Kyle Farnsworth: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut. He left the game with an apparent groin injury and he went to the ground immediately.

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

6) Jamey Wright: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and probably wasn't fully loose when he decide to start pitching. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties and some sink. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth.

8th: FB (88-94), CB (78-80)

7) Jose Valverde: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Valverde comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a split with solid dive. He also threw a 2-7 slider with good bite. It is possible some of these mile per hours for his sliders were splitters, as they can look similar when you aren't paying great attention to the pitch.

9th: FB (94-98), SL (85-87), Split (84-87)

8) Roman Colon: 14 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Splitter and 2 Sliders

• He came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little late run, a sharp 1-7 slider with good bite and a split that had some dive. His stuff hasn't ever been a question and now that he can just focus on short spurts, he should fulfill his potential and flashes the ability to be a late inning reliever.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (80-84), Split (89)

9) Tim Byrdak: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider, Changeup.

• He came from a high 3/4 release. Another guy whose changeup and slider could be different. His change is a straight change that he will throw to lefties, his slider is a 10-5 with okay bite and his fastball is a straight 4-seam. Maybe a 2nd lefty, I have never been enamored with his stuff.

10th: FB (88-91), SL (82-85), CU (84)

10) Joakim Soria: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had some run in on righties, thought it could straighten out. His change has good fade and sink and he will throw it to righties and is his best off-speed offering. His curve is a 12-6 with good depth and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite.

10th: FB (90-92), CU (84-86), CB (70), SL (79)

11) Jeff Fulchino: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

11th: FB (91-95), SL (79-84), Split (85-87)

12) John Bale: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some late sink and an 11-5 curve with good depth and bite. Interesting that he was the choice over Juan Cruz to save the game and this was his 1st big league save.

11th: FB (91-92), CB (73-74), CU (82)

Chart Observations: ARI @ KC

• Dan Haren came from an over the top release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His split had solid diving action and is his out pitch. His cutter shows some cut and sink and his curveball was slurvy and inconsistent and was a 1-8 pitch. His fastball was the best I have seen it, but this also caused his curve to flatten out. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (91-92), Split (89)

2nd: Gameday Issues

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (80-81), Split (87), Cut (86-89)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81), Split (86), Cut (89)

5th: FB (90-92)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (79-80), Split (86-87), Cut (86-91)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (79), Split (86)

• Luke Hochevar is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 225. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball is a sinker with some run and sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with above average bite and serves as his out pitch. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has some good fade and sink. Will throw the curve from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and believe he tips the pitch with this. Hochevar generates very few swings and misses and operates on a small margin of error. He has the tools to be a good # 3, but he is still struggling with his command. I think he is a # 5 right now.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (82-85)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (82-83), CB (76)

3rd: Gameday Issues

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CB (73-76)

5th: FB (91), CB (73)

• Jamey Wright is a 6-5, 225 pound righty. The 34 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball shows good run and a little sink. His curveball is a 1-7 with good depth and can be a strikeout pitch. His splitter has a little dive and his cutter has some cut, but it can flatten out. His command can be inconsistent. Solid middle reliever.

5th: FB (88-94), Cut (89), CB (74-79), Split (86)

• Juan Cruz is a 6-2, 165 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle, but it looks the exact same as it did when he first debuted so I wouldn't count on it. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows good run. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. He has added a cutter and that had some cut to it, but it was inconsistent. He only threw 1 slider and the rest of his pitches were FB/Cut.

6th: FB (94-97), Cut (89-91), SL (82)

7th: FB (91-96), Cut (89-91)

• Ron Mahay comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a splitter that had a little sink, but was fairly straight and a 11-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (82-83), Split (84-87)

• Clay Zavada came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a straight change and a 10-4 cutter with some bite.

8th: FB (87-90), CU (79-82), Cut (81)

• Joakim Soria is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium to big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has excellent late sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. Above average closer who is beginning to have some durability questions.

9th: FB (90-91), CB (67), CU (84-86)

• Chad Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with excellent run and sink and a 2-7 slider with excellent bite. He is an above average closer as well, as his stuff is very impressive.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (84-89)

• Luis Hernandez is a 5-10, 180 pound 24 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that is maxed out. From the righty side, he has a very slightly open stance with a little bat wiggle and a trigger of a double step and a cocking of the bat. More of a gap hitter and can play anywhere on the field. The problem is the Royals have quite a few of these and he doesn't project to be much of a hitter. Organizational player.
• Tug Hulett is a 5-10, 185 pound 26 year old. The lefty hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that can add a touch more muscle. He has a slightly open stance and stands straight up with the bat 45 degrees over his shoulder. His trigger is a moderate leg kick and a cocking of the bat. Similar to Hernandez but doesn't appear to be as fast, but has a little more power. Hulett also may not be able to handle shortstop. He is a 4-A player.