A's Extras (Plus a M and some Pads)

1) Kevin Cameron: Cut, SL, FB
5/25: 34 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders.

• Cameron is a 6-1, 190 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add a ton more muscle. He is a lanky, skinny guy. He can add a lot more muscle to his lower half. He came from a high 3/4 release with clean mechanics. His cutter has some cut. His slider is a 2-7 with a little bite. He does not have enough to be a major league reliever.

7th: Cut (85-89), SL (76)

8th: Cut (86-89), SL (77-79)

9th: Cut (87-88), SL (74-81) - 4 SL

2) Dan Giese: FB, SL, CU
5/6: 93 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 4 Sliders.

• Giese is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He can add a lot more muscle to his lower half, as he has a very thin lower half. He came from a high 3/4 release with some cocking action and works from the stretch only. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His slider is a 2-7 offering with average bite. Classic tweener who just doesn't have the stuff to be a starter or the strong out pitch to be a reliever.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (77-79) - FB

2nd: FB (86-87), SL (74-79) - SL

3rd: FB (86-88), SL (76-79) - SL

4th: FB (87-88), SL (76-78) - FB

5th: FB (87-88), SL (77-79) - SL

6th: FB (86-88), SL (76-79) - SL

3) Clayton Mortensen: FB, SL, CU

9/4: 100 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

• Mortensen is a 6-4, 180 pound righty. The 24 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He can add a ton of muscle to both his lower and upper half and has a lot of projection left. He came from a high 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though he lands hard on his front leg and appears to over rotate his throwing shoulder. His fastball has good run in on righties and good sink. His slider is a power pitch that is a 1-7 offering with above average downward action. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties. I don't think he can be a starter and he could have a spot as a middle reliever in a bullpen.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (87-88)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (85-86), CU (83-86)

3rd: FB (89-90), SL (85-86), CU (85) - 2 SL

4th: FB (90), SL (82-85), CU (81-82) - 2 SL

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

6th: FB (88-91), SL (84-85), CU (82)

7th: FB (88-90), SL (82-85), CU (82-84) - FB

4) Josh Outman: FB, CB, CU, SL
6/19: 25 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Outman is a 6-1, 185 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, but he does have a thick lower half. He has a drop and drive release with cocking action and came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on lefties and some sink. His change is pretty straight with some sink. His curve is a 11-5 with above average depth. I like him and think he can be a 3, but he needs to recover full strength from TJS.

1st: FB (86-90), CB (71), CU (80) - 2 FB

2nd: FB (88-92), CB (71), CU (80)

5) Denny Stark: FB, CU, SL

5/25: 20 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Stark is a 6-2, 210 pound righty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that is an athletic build and a very thin lower half where he could add more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though he is pretty scrunched up until break. His fastball has good run in on righties and solid sink. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink. He is a 4-A guy who should be able to be a cog in a pen, but just doesn't have the necessary command.

4th: FB (92-93)

5th: FB (92-96), CU (86-88)

6) Wade Leblanc: FB, CU, CB

6/19: 63 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Changeups.

• Leblanc is a 6-3, 200 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has a very thin, athletic build that can add a lot more muscle to his lower half. He came from a classic drop and drive delivery with pretty clean mechanics. He has a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on lefties and some sink. His curve is a 11-5 with average depth that serves as his out pitch, but it doesn't have great movement or has good command of it. His change is pretty straight with good sink. He is an average pitcher, one whose stuff will play up because of his stadium and the league, but his best seasons will be ERA's of 4.50.

1st: FB (84-88), CU (80), CB (72-74)

2nd: FB (86), CU (81-82), CB (72)

3rd: FB (84-86), CU (77-79), CB (69-72) - 3 CU

4th: FB (84-86), CU (77-79), CB (71-75) - CU

7) Josh Banks: Everything

6/19: 46 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Banks is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle to his upper body. He has an athletic build with a strong lower body. He has a classic drop and drive delivery and comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His cutter has some cut and a little sink. His split has some diving action. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth. His knuckle ball has some movement. An extra arm, organizational guy.

4th: FB (86-89), Cut (85-87), Split (80)

5th: FB (84-89), Cut (85)

6th: FB (87-92), Cut (86), Split (77-80), CB (67-72), KNU (72) - FB, CB

8) Michael Ekstrom: FB, SL, CU

6/19: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Ekstrom is a 5-11, 190 pound righty. The 26 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle, mostly to the lower body. Athletic build with athletic lower half. He came from an over the top release with a weird cocking action that has his elbow move almost in a mini circle as he is ready to pitch, this puts a lot of extra pressure on his elbow. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 with modest bite. He looks like he could be a middle reliever, but won't ever be anything more.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85), - SL

Royals Extras (and Carlos Silva)

1) Sidney (Prince of Aruba) Ponson: FB, SL, CU, CB
5/6: 85 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Ponson is a 6-1, 260 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a lot of bad weight in the lower body and he has an extremely thick lower half. Also appears to have a little bit of a gut. He came from a high 3/4 release in a fairly clean delivery, though he lands hard on his front foot which isn't a good thing at his weight. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with average depth that has good downward action to it. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. He throws a lot of 2-seamers and doesn't throw many off-speed offerings. His change has some fade from lefties and a touch of sink. Ponson generated virtually zero swinging strikes, meaning he wasn't fooling anybody. His fastball is solid, but none of his other off-speed offerings are very good. I would like to see him as a 1-inning reliever and given a shot there, but he just may get arrested if I told him that because he would probably punch me.

1st: FB (92-95), CB (78)

2nd: FB (91-94)

3rd: FB (91-94), CB (77), SL (81-83)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84-85) - FB

5th: FB (90-95), SL (81-83), CU (82)

6th: FB (92), SL (83), CU (84-86)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82)

8th: FB (89-91), CB (75)

2) Carlos Silva: FB, CU, SL

5/6: 70 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

• Silva is a 6-4, 250 pound righty. The 30 year old has big frame that is maxed out with some definite bad weight. He has a classic drop and drive delivery that is real slow in the beginning, but no real red flags mechanically. His fastball has good run in on righties and good sink. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and his go-to offspeed offering. Almost looks like he guides the ball in there and that there may be some more velocity there in shorter spurts. His command is not as good as it used to be and catches a lot of the middle of the plate with his sinkers. He can still force a lot of groundballs. Silva's best case is a # 5 starter for a great infield defensive team, so the Mariners are his best fit to have a chance at salvaging his career.

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

2nd: FB (86-91), CU (81) - FB, CU

3rd: FB (87-92), CU (78-83) - FB, CU

3) Horacio Ramirez: FB, SL, CU, Cut, CB

5/6: 9 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

5/22: 30 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ramirez is a 6-1, 220 pound lefty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release with pretty clean mechanics from the stretch. His slider is a 11-5 with average bite. His fastball has a some run in on lefties and a little sink. His change has a little fade from righties and a little sink. His cutter has a little cut. Just a 4-A pitcher. Not enough stuff to start and doesn't have a dominant pitch to be a solid reliever. Can't be a LOOGY, as his slider just isn't good enough and there is little deception in his delivery.

5/6

8th: FB (90-92), SL (79-80) - 2 FB, SL

5/22:

7th: FB (90-92), SL (83), CU (84), Cut (90)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (79-83), CU (84), Cut (88)

4) Robinson Tejeda: FB, SL, CU

8/29: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Tejeda is a 6-3, 250 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that looks lighter then his listed weight. He has a thick lower half and has a little bit of a gut. He came from a 3/4 release with pretty clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 pitch with slightly below average bite. His change is fairly straight with a little sink that he will throw to righties. Looks like his current role as a long man is best, as he doesn't have an off-speed offering that is real swing and miss and can battle his command at times. Low leverage situation reliever.

5th: FB (91-96), SL (83-86), CU (83-85) - SL

6th: FB (91-95), CU (82-85) - FB

5) Doug Waechter: FB, SL, CU

8/6: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Waechter is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to his upper body, but has a built lower half. He came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release and breaks his hands high, adding extra strain to his shoulders. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His change is straight and flashes some fade from lefties with some sink. Waechter looks like a 4-A pitcher, as his stuff did not look very good.

9th: FB (89-91), CU (82-84)

6) Yasuhiko Yabuta: FB, Split, SL

8/29: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Yabuta is a 6-2, 190 pound righty. The 36 year old has a medium frame that can add a litt more muscle, but I would not count on it. Typical japanese build. Over the top release with the typical japanese scrunch up when pitching with everything in towards his chest. He has a mini pause at the balance point, but nothing crazy. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam that flashes some run in on righties. His slider is 2-7 with some mythical bite, as it sure looked pretty straight... His splitter has above average fade from lefties and a little sink. Another 4-A reliever whose combo of straight pitches will not allow him to get major league hitters out.

7th: FB (88-92), Split (75), SL (82)

Chart Observations: 8/24 OAK @ SEA

1) Ian Snell: 99 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 5th, 6th), 3 Sliders (4th, 2 in 6th), Curveball (3rd)

• Snell came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (88-91), CB (79)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82)

3rd: FB (90-95), CB (77-81), CU (83-85), SL (86-89)

4th: FB (92-95), CU (83), SL (83-88)

5th: FB (89-95), CB (78-79), CU (82-83), SL (88)

6th: FB (90-95), CB (82), CU (81-83), SL (82-86)

2) Vin Mazzaro: 99 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd), Slider (2nd)

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

1st: FB (91-95), SL (84-87)

2nd: FB (90-95), SL (86-87)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), CB (80), CU (83)

4th: FB (91-95), SL (83-87), CB (77), CU (86)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (81-83), CU (84-85)

3) Jeff Gray: 32 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (93-95), SL (86), CB (80)

7th: FB (94-96), SL (84-86), CB (78-80)

4) Sean White: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (8th)

• White came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a 1-7 slider with solid bite. He will throw his changeup to righties.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (84-85)

8th: FB (91-95), CU (84), SL (88), CB (79)

5) Jay Marshall: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Marshall is a 6-5, 205 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215 comfortably and he is almost rail thin. He is a submariner. His slider is a 8-5 offering with solid bite. His fastball has a little tail in on righties with some late sink and his change has a little fade from righties, but is fairly straight. If Randy Choate can be a LOOGY, I think Marshall could do the same thing. He needs one good year and it will give him a lot of chances.

7th: FB (81-83), SL (70-71)

8th: FB (81-85), SL (71), CU (72-75)

6) David Aardsma: 12 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (93-95)

Chart Observations: 8/22 SEA @ CLE

1) Doug Fister: 86 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 2nd), Curveball (2nd), 3 Sliders (all in 4th), 2 Changeups (5th, 6th)

• Fister came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties with above average sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 1-7 slider with solid bite. He will throw his change to righties.

1st: FB (86-89), CU (77-81), CB (74)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (78-80), CB (73-74)

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (78-81)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (77-81), SL (80-83)

5th: FB (85-88), CU (78-79), CB (72-74), SL (79-81)

6th: FB (86-88), CU (79-81), CB (72)

7th: FB (85-87), CB (74), SL (78-79)

2) Aaron Laffey: 113 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2nd), Slider (5th)

• Laffey is a 6-0, 185 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle everywhere to about 195. He came from a high 3/4 release. His 2-seamer has good run in on lefties and good sink. His 4-seam has a little run in on lefties and a little sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. His change is straight with some sink. I think he may also mix in an occasional cutter, but I am not completely sure on that. He is a back of the rotation starter or a groundball machine out of the bullpen against lefties with his 2-seam.

1st: FB (86-93), SL (81-83)

2nd: FB (84-92), SL (81-82)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (77-80), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (87-91), SL (78-83), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (75-80), CU (79-82)

6th: FB (85-90), SL (78), CU (80)

7th: FB (83-90), CU (80-82)

3) Mark Lowe: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (all in 8th)

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

7th: FB (95-98), SL (85-87), CU (89-90)

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

4) Chris Perez: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (95-96), SL (85-87)

5) Kerry Wood: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

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

9th: FB (96-99), Cut (90), CB (77)

6) Shawn Kelley: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, Fastball (all in 9th)

• Kelley came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (92-96), SL (85-86)

10th: FB (91-95), SL (84-85)

7) Tony Sipp: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a change with some fade from righties with good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

10th: FB (92-95), CU (84), SL (84)

8) Joe Smith: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Smith is a sidearming righty who showed a 3-8 slider with good bite, a change with some fade from lefties with solid sink that he will throw to righties and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink.

10th: FB (91), SL (80-84), CU (77)

11th: FB (89-91), SL (82-84), CU (77)

9) Rafael Perez: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 10-5 slider with good bite and a fastball with some cut and a little sink.

11th: FB (91), SL (86-87)

10) Randy Messenger: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Messenger is a 6-6, 265 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His curve is a 12-6 offering with above average depth while his change has some fade from lefties with good sink. He is no longer a closer, but he should be able to be a decent option as a middle reliever.

11th: FB (90-94), CB (77-78), CU (87)

8/21: SEA @ CLE

1) Luke French: 100 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 6th), 6 Sliders (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 2 in 6th), 2 Changeups (2nd, 3rd)

• French came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and flashes some sink, a change with some fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties and a 11-5 slider with good bite that was sharper then when I last saw him.

1st: FB (87-91), CU (76)

2nd: FB (85-90), CU (74-79), SL (81-82)

3rd: FB (87-90), CU (77-78), SL (80-82)

4th: FB (84-90), CU (77-80), SL (79-81)

5th: FB (86-91), CU (78-80), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (87-92), CU (79-80), SL (78-82)

2) David Huff: 84 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Changeup (3rd)

• Huff came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with sink that he will throw to lefties, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth. He nibbled, causing him to fall behind in the count, causing him to throw cockshots, causing him to get hammered.

1st: FB (91-93), CU (82-83)

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

3rd: FB (90-92), CU (81-85), SL (82-83), CB (76-79)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (82), CB (76-77)

3) Tomo Ohka: 56 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (all in 4th), 2 Changeups (both in 7th)

• Ohka came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good sink and some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a cutter with some cut, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with some sink.

4th: FB (86-89), SL (83-85)

5th: FB (86-90), SL (82-86), Cut (86)

6th: FB (86-89), Cut (86-87), CU (84), CB (72-74)

7th: FB (87-90), SL (84), Cut (85), CU (84-85)

8th: FB (84-87), CB (71)

4) Kerry Wood: 22 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Cutters.

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

9th: FB (95-98), CB (78-82), Cut (90-93)

5) Miguel Batista: 26 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Cutter (7th), Fastball (8th)

• Batista came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with some sink, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a 2-7 curve with average depth.

7th: FB (93-96), Cut (90-92)

8th: FB (94-96), Cut (88-89), SL (82)

6) Sean White: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (93-96), SL (90), CU (85-86)

Chart Observations: 8/20: SEA @ DET

1) Ryan Rowland-Smith: 86 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 6th), 2 Curveballs (2nd, 4th), Slider (4th)

• Rowland-Smith is a 6-3, 240 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a muscular lower body. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a sinker that can flatten out and it has a little run in on lefties with some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth. His change has some fade from righties with some sink. His slider is a 11-5 with solid bite that he will only throw to lefties. Solid back of the rotation starter, though I wouldn't expect too much more.

1st: FB (87-91), CU (80), CB (70-72)

2nd: FB (86-89), CB (72-73), SL (78)

3rd: FB (87-88), CU (79), CB (72)

4th: FB (88-92), CU (79-80), CB (70-73), SL (77)

5th: FB (86-89), CB (69-72)

6th: FB (85-89), CU (78), CB (69-70), SL (78-79)

2) Jarrod Washburn: 94 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 2nd), 2 Sliders (1st, 4th)

• Washburn came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink, a 11-5 curve with slightly above averaeg depth, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a cutter with solid cut.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (82-83), SL (77), CB (69)

2nd: FB (87-89), CU (82-83), Cut (86-88)

3rd: FB (86-89), CU (82-83), SL (80), Cut (87-88)

4th: FB (88-89), SL (77-80), CB (66-67)

5th: FB (87-89), CU (80), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (86-89), SL (77-78), CB (67), Cut (87-88)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Chris came from an over the top release and showed a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink.

6th: FB (88-93), CB (74-78)

4) Shawn Kelley: 24 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 7th, 8th), 3 Sliders (all in 7th)

• Kelley came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (91-95), SL (85-86)

8th: FB (91-93), SL (83-85)

5) Zach Miner: 26 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (7th, 8th), Curveball (8th)

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with above average fade that serves as his out pitch and he will throw it to righties and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

7th: FB (88-93), SL (81), CU (75-78)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (84), CU (79), CB (74-75)

6) Bobby Seay: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on rigthies and some sink and a sweeping 10-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (80-81)

7) David Aardsma: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Aardsma came from an over teh top erlease and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a splitter with solid dive.

9th: FB (92-95), Split (86-87)

• Alex Avila is a 5-11, 220 pound catcher. The 22 year old L/R has a small frame that is maxed out. He has a slightly open stance where he is up on his toe and has a bat tap. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. Avila has a very good looking swing that looks to be more of a gap to gap guy, but he should have solid power as well. I like his package offensively and he didn't jump out good or bad on defense. With only seeing him play half a game, I think he could be a major league starting catcher.

Extras (Mostly NYY, Some CLE, A SEA, A NYM)

1) Andy Pettitte:
6/13: 104 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 5th), 6 Curveballs (3rd, 4 in 4th, 5th), Changeup (5th)

• Pettitte is a 6-5, 225 pound lefty. The 37 year old has a big frame that is maxed out with a muscular lower half. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties. His change has good late from righties with a little sink. His cutter has good cut and sink. His curve is a 11-5 offering with above average depth. He has an above average pick-off move. Solid # 3 starter still and looks to be able to continue doing this for another couple of years.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (83-86), CU (80)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (84-87), CU (80-82), CB (75-77)

3rd: FB (87-88), Cut (82-84), CU (80), CB (74-75)

4th: FB (87-89), Cut (85-86), CB (74-77)

5th: FB (85-88), Cut (81-82), CU (79-80), CB (75)

2) Fernando Nieve:

6/13: 108 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), Slider (6th), Changeup (7th)

• Nieve is a 6-0, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that his maxed out with real big thighs. He came from a 3/4 release. His fastball has a little run in on righties, but is very straight. His change is straight with a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good late bite. His curve is 12-6 with below average depth that he tips by throwing from a slightly higher release point. He will throw his change to righties. I prefer him as a 1-inning reliever, where he can go at guys with his FB-SL combo and not worry about his other 2 pitches. As a starter, I think he is a # 5.

1st: FB (92-95), CU (85)

2nd: FB (92-95), CU (86-87), SL (84), CB (79)

3rd: FB (91-95), CU (84-86), SL (84), CB (78-81)

4th: FB (93-95), CU (84-85), SL (84-85), CB (77)

5th: FB (90-94), CU (82-87), SL (82-86)

6th: FB (92-94), SL (82-85), CB (78)

7th: FB (89-93), CU (81-84), SL (87), CB (78-79)

3) Alfredo Aceves:

6/13: 36 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Aceves is a 6-3, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a 3/4 release and has a drop and drive delivery that is real deliberate (i.e. slow) in the beginning. He taps his turn leg about 3 times before turning into the release point, which appears to be a way to get himself going and to stay back. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His cutter has some cut. His change has a little fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties. His curve is a 12-6 offering with average depth. He seems like a solid long reliever to me, not too much more.

6th: FB (91-93), Cut (90), CB (80), CU (81-86)

7th: FB (90-92), Cut (87-89), CB (77-79), CU (81-85)

4) Jonathan Albaladejo:

4/6: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jonathan is a 6-5, 260 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from a 3/4 release in a max effort delivery. He lands very hard on his front leg and appears to put a little extra stress on his right shoulder by overly finishing every pitch. His fastball has good run in on righties with good sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with okay bite. His curve is a 12-6 offering with slightly above average depth. Typical middle reliever, and one that will likely be riding a bus back and forth from AAA.

5th: FB (92), SL (83)

6th: FB (90-92), SL (82-83), CB (72-73)

5) Damaso Marte:

4/6: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

4/18: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Marte is a 6-2, 215 pound lefty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, but fairly straight and a 10-5 slider with good bite that can flash above average bite. Looks like a LOOGY to me, and one that is on the downturn.\

4/6

8th: FB (90-93), SL (81-83)

4/18

9th: FB (90-93), SL (82-85)

6) Sergio Mitre:

8/15: 92 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 6th), 4 Changeups (1st, 3rd, 2 in 5th)

• Mitre is a 6-3, 225 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a 3/4 release in a delivery that generates a very good hip turn. His fastball has some run in on righties with a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite while his change has some fade from lefties with a little sink. # 5 starter at best and definitely not a good starter in the AL East.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (79-80), CU (84)

2nd: FB (89-90), SL (78)

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (77), CU (83)

4th: FB (88-91), SL (78-82)

5th: FB (88-91), SL (76-79), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (88-91), CU (81-82)

7) Lucas French:

8/15: 107 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (4th, 5th), 2 Changeups (both in 1st)

• French is a 6-4, 220 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle and get up to maybe 235. He came from a high 3/4 release and straightens his arm on the backtake, similar to Ubaldo Jimenez and he has a very fast windup. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His change has some fade from righties and solid sink and is his best off-speed offering that he will throw to righties. His slider is 11-5 with okay bite. French's upside is that of a # 4 starter and he is likely pitching close to it now.

1st: FB (87-89), CU (76-79)

2nd: FB (84-88), CU (75-77), SL (74-77)

3rd: FB (85-87), CU (75-77), SL (75-76)

4th: FB (85-89), CU (75-77), SL (75-80)

5th: FB (85-89), CU (76), SL (76)

6th: FB (86-90), CU (76-77), SL (77-79)

8) Edwar Ramirez:

4/18: 58 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Changeups (3 in 4th, 5th)

5/5: 4 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups

• Ramirez is a 6-3, 165 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with above average fade from lefties with good sink that is late breaking and a 2-7 slider with good bite. The command of all his pitches can be spotty and he falls behind in the count a lot, causing him to throw his below average fastball. If I am an NL team, I try to acquire him, as I think he could be an above average middle reliever outside the AL East.

4/18

4th: FB (86-89), CU (74-78)

5th: FB (85-88), CU (75-77), SL (76-78)

5/5

8th: FB (89), CU (77-79)

9) Masa Kobayashi:

4/18: 20 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Kobayashi is a 6-0, 195 pound righty. The 35 year old has small frame that is maxed out. He has a typicaly Japanese windup with a pause at the balance point and limbs flying in different directions. He came from an over the top release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a 2-7 slider with a little bite. 4-A reliever.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (83)

8th: FB (89-92), SL (84)

10) Vinnie Chulk:

4/18: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Chulk is a 6-2, 195 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little late sink, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties with good sink. A guy who should be a solid middle reliever, but just struggles to put it together for some reason.

9th: FB (89-92), SL (77-79), CU (86)

8/11: CHW @ SEA

1) John Danks: 99 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), 3 Changeups (4th, 6th, 8th), 5 Cutters (4th, 5th, 7th, 2 in 8th), Curveball (1st)

• Danks came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties with some sink, a cutter that moves like a 11-5 slider with good bite, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (85-87), CB (78)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (74-77), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (82-83)

4th: FB (88-91), Cut (87), CU (82)

5th: FB (89-91), Cut (86-87), CB (76), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (90-91), Cut (86), CU (78-83)

7th: FB (87-89), Cut (86-87), CB (76), CU (81-83)

8th: FB (90-91), Cut (84-88), CB (76-79), CU (81-82)

2) Doug Fister: 94 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 2 in 6th), 2 Changeups (4th, 6th), Slider (6th)

• Fister is a 6-8, 200 pound righty. The 25 year old has a huge frame that can add a ton more muscle. He came from an over the top release with a little herky jerk in his delivery that may put a little extra stress on his shoulder. His fastball has good run in on righties with good late sink. His change moves like his fastball, but with more sink. His slider is a 1-7 with some bite that is somewhat loopy. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. He will throw his change to righties, 3-2 sliders and 3-0 changeups. A finesse pitcher that has just slightly above average command, he can't afford to issue as many walks as he issued in this game. His upside is that of a # 5 and is similar in stuff to Dustin Nippert.

1st: FB (86-89), SL (82), CU (82), CB (76)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (83-84), CU (80-82), CB (73-75)

3rd: FB (86-89), SL (83), CU (78-79), CB (74-75)

4th: FB (87-90), SL (82), CU (79-82)

5th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (79)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (82), CU (78-81)

3) Miguel Batista: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters.

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

7th: FB (92-94), Cut (87-91)

4) Mark Lowe: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), Changeup (8th)

• Lowe came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with some fade from lefties with some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (96)

8th: FB (95-98), SL (89), CU (88-89)

5) David Aardsma: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a split with good late dive. His fastball looked extremely flat in this game and hung a bad splitter to Alexei Ramirez that he hit the go ahead home run on.

9th: FB (91-96), Split (87-89), SL (83)

6) Shawn Kelley: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Kelley came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (90-92)

7) Bobby Jenks: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (95-97), SL (85-89), CB (82)

Chart Observations: CLE @ SEA

1) Cliff Lee: 99 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 4 Changeups (2 in 4th, 6th, 7th), Curveball (2nd), 2 Cutters (both in 6th)

• Lee came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with above average sink and some fade from righties, a big breaking 11-5 curve with excellent depth and a cutter with good cut and some sink.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (83-84), CB (75)

2nd: FB (91-92), CB (76-77), Cut (85)

3rd: FB (90-92), CB (74), Cut (85)

4th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), CB (76), Cut (86)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (85), CB (75-76), Cut (84-86)

6th: FB (90-93), CU (83-85), Cut (86-88)

7th: FB (91-93), CU (84-85), CB (76-77), Cut (85-88)

2) Jason Vargas: 86 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (3rd, 4th), 6 Changeups (2 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

• Vargas is a 6-0, 215 pound lefty. The 26 (seems like he has been around longer) year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and works very fast on the mound and has good tempo, reminiscent of Mark Buerhle minus the stuff. His fastball has some tailing action in on righties and solid sink. His change has good fade from righties with good sink that serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth and his slider is a 10-4 with solid bite. You could do worse as a # 5 starter, though he is likely pitching at his ceiling right now.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (79-81), SL (80), CB (74)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (86-87), CU (79-80), SL (80)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (79-81), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (86-88), CU (80), SL (79), CB (73)

3) Mike Gosling: 39 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 9th), 2 Changeups (both in 9th), Curveball (9th) and Slider (8th)

• Gosling is a 6-2, 210 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is close to maxed out, maybe to 215. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has good run in on lefties with some sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth. His change has good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties. Not a bad 2nd lefty to have in a pen and should be fairly solid as long as his command stays with him.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (80), CB (74)

9th: FB (90-92), SL (81), CB (73-76), CU (82-85)

4) Shawn Kelley: 29 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Kelley came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with above average bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and marginal sink and a straight change with marginal sink.

5th: FB (92-95), SL (80-86), CU (83)

5) Miguel Batista: 42 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Cutters (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Batista came from a release point anywhere from over the top to 3/4 and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties, a split with good dive, a cutter with solid cut and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

6th: FB (89-91), Cut (82-85), CB (74-79), Split (80)

7th: FB (89-95), Cut (84-87), Split (80-83)

6) Sean White: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• White is a 6-4, 210 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He has a high effort delivery that lands hard on his front leg and comes from an over the top release. He generates a very good downhill plane for his pitches, giving his fastball some good natural sink and some run in on righties. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties. Solid set-up guy.

8th: FB (92-95), CU (83), CB (83)

7) Mark Lowe: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

9th: FB (96-98), SL (86), CU (90-91)

Chart Observations: 7/25 CLE @ SEA

1) Jeremy Sowers: 103 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th), 3 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 4th), 2 on Changeups (4th, 6th)

• Sowers came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a 10-4 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from righties with sink. He will throw 3-2 changeups.

1st: FB (86-89), SL (76-79)

2nd: FB (85-90), SL (77-79), CU (77-79)

3rd: FB (85-88), SL (75-79), CU (78-79)

4th: FB (85-89), SL (76-78), CU (79-80)

5th: FB (83-87), SL (76-78)

6th: FB (85-88), SL (77), CU (78-79)

7th: FB (85-89), SL (76)

2) Erik Bedard: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2 in 3rd), 3 on Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

• Bedard is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release and generates a good hip turn, maxing out his possible velocity. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His curve is a sharp, big breaking 11-5 with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch. His cutter has some cut. He will drop down to 3/4 to throw curveballs and fastballs to both lefties and righties. His stuff says at least a # 2 starter, however his ability to pitch through pain and struggles with command says a # 4 or 5. I will call him a 3 and put it in the middle.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (77)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (75-80)

3rd: FB (89-93), CB (76-80), Cut (90)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 53 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Chris came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties with a little sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that could be a strikeout pitch and a change with a little fade from lefties with a little sink.

4th: FB (90-92), CB (76-77), CU (79)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (77), CU (77)

4) Garrett Olson: 61 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (5th, 7th, 3 in 8th), Curveball (8th) and Changeup (9th)

• Olson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a power 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a pretty straight change that has a little fade from righties.

5th: FB (88-90), CB (79)

6th: FB (87-90), CB (80-81)

7th: FB (88-90), CU (80-82)

8th: FB (89-91), CB (81)

9th: FB (89-90), CB (79-81), CU (80-81)

5) Winston Abreu: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (90-94), SL (82-86)

9th: FB (92)

6) Jose Veras: 18 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Veras came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a splitter with solid dive.

9th: FB (93-96), CB (78-79), Split (81)

• Michael Saunders is a 6-4, 210 pound L/R OF. The 23 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially in his legs, and should be able to get to at least 235, though it would cause the loss of speed. He has an open stance with the bat held even with his back shoulder and a little in front. He has a little bit of a bat wiggle in a circle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride to square himself up and his heel on his front foot is elevated off the ground and appears to be on his front toes. Saunders shows himself as a 5 tool guy, getting down the line on a groundout at 4.3 seconds (slightly above average) and was robbed of his 1st big league hit, a home run. He shows at least slightly above average in every tool I saw (did not see his arm) and think he is a future starting corner outfielder. Is definitely a better prospect then Wladimir Balentien was. I think worse case scenario for him is Mark Kotsay in his prime.

Chart Observations: SEA @ CLE

1) Felix Hernandez: 112 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 3rd, 7th), 4 on Changeups (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th), 3 on Sliders (2nd, 3rd, 7th)

• Hernandez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a change with above average fade from elfties with good sink, a sharp late breaking 2-7 slider with above average bite and a 12-6 curve with above average depth and is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch.

1st: FB (94-96), CU (91)

2nd: FB (94-96), SL (87)

3rd: FB (93-97), CU (89-91), SL (87-88), CB (81)

4th: FB (93-96), CU (90), SL (88), CB (83)

5th: FB (94-97), CU (88), SL (84-86), CB (81)

6th: FB (92-96), CU (90), SL (86-88), CB (82)

7th: FB (93-95), CU (88), SL (87), CB (81-82)

8th: FB (93-96), CU (91), SL (85-88)

2) David Aardsma: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties.

9th: FB (93-96)

3) David Huff: 108 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Changeups (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 4th) and a Slider (2nd)

• Huff is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from an over the top release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His slider is a sharp 11-4 with solid bite, but isn't a real swing and miss pitch. His change has some late fade from righties with good sink. His curve is an 11-5 with slightly above average depth. He was able to throw the slider to the glove side corner (in on righties, away from lefties) at hitter's knees at will. He will throw, 2-0, 2-1 and 3-2 sliders to lefties. He will throw the change to lefties. I don't understand why some people are so low on this guy. I see a middle of the rotation starter down the line, as he has above average command, above average velocity for a lefty and he has a good change.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (82-83)

2nd: FB (90-91), SL (81-82), CU (84-85), CB (76)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CU (85)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (80-84), CU (81-84), CB (78)

5th: FB (89-93), SL (80-82), CU (84-85), CB (78)

4) Jose Veras: 21 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Veras came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties, a split that has average dive and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and he utilizes it as his out pitch. He also has apparently added a cutter that has minimal cut.

6th: FB (94-96), CB (79-81), Split (82), Cut (89)

5) Tony Sipp: 27 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1 in 6th, 3 in 7th)

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with a little sink and a sweeping 11-4 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (91-92)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84)

6) Joe Smith: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Smith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink, a change that moves just like his fastball but slower and a sweeping 3-8 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (84), CU (78)

7) Chris Perez: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties while his slider is a 2-7 with slightly above average bite. He needs to tighten the slider a little bit.

9th: FB (95-97), SL (85-86)

Chart Observations: 7/16: SEA @ CLE

1) Cliff Lee: 112 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (5th, 2 in 8th, 9th), Cutter (7th)

• I have now charted Lee twice and both times he has fired a complete game. Lee came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with a little sink, a cutter with some cut and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 10-4 slider with good bite. It wasn't as much him as the Mariners anemic offense. Did a good job living on the edges though.

1st: FB (91-93), CU (85)

2nd: FB (91-93), CU (84), Cut (88), CB (77)

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (84-85), Cut (87), CB (78)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (87-88), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (92-93), Cut (88), CB (76), SL (81)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84), Cut (86), CB (76)

7th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), Cut (88)

8th: FB (90-92), CU (86), Cut (86), CB (75)

9th: FB (92-94), Cut (87), CB (75-77)

2) Garrett Olson: 69 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (1st), Curveball (3rd)

• Olson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with average run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a sharp 10-4 curve that can be a strikeout pitch with average depth. He will throw the change in on righties and to lefties. Seattle must have something on Shin Soo-Choo, as he was the one that got fed changes by all of their pitchers.

1st: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (78-80), CU (81)

3rd: FB (87-89), CB (78-79), CU (81)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 46 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• Chris is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, to about 225. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Extra arm in a pen.

3rd: FB (90-93)

4th: FB (91-94), CB (74-78)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (76-79), CU (79-80)

4) Shawn Kelley: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Kelley is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can also get up to 225 if he so desires. He comes from an over the top delivery with a fastball with above average run in on righties and a little sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with good fade from lefties with sink. I like this reliever and think he has a good shot of being a quality set-up man, if not closer.

6th: FB (92-95), SL (84-86), CU (85)

5) Roy Corcoran: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Corcoran came from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. No idea why he is in the big leagues.

7th: FB (91-93), CU (85-86)

6) Mark Lowe: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Lowe came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Another guy who should at least be a solid set-up guy, if not closer.

8th: FB (97-98), SL (86-87), CU (89)

Bucholz vs. Romero tonight.

Score Observations (Yesterday): TEX @ SEA

1) Tommy Hunter: 104 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (3rd, 3 in 6th), 2 Changeups (1st, 3rd) and a Curveball (2nd)

• Hunter came from an over the top release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties and sink, a cutter with good cut and sink, a power 12-6 curve with good depth that serves as his out pitch and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Hunter will also throw a get-me over CB in the high 70's. He didn't have great command of the power curve last night, but threw his cutter to both corners well and showed a better change then his last outing. He just looks like a bulldog on the mound and I am a fan.

1st: Cut (90-93), FB (90-92), CB (77-82), CU (84)

2nd: Cut (89-91), FB (91-92), CB (79-82), CU (83)

3rd: Cut (89-91), FB (90-91), CB (81), CU (82-84)

4th: Cut (88-91), FB (90-92), CB (77-81)

5th: Cut (88-90), FB (89), CB (77-81), CU (82-83)

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

2) Felix Hernandez: 112 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th), 3 on Changeups (3rd, 4th, 8th), 5 on Sliders (4th, 2 in 6th, 2 in 8th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 5th, 8th) (Is there a more dominant repetoire in baseball?)

• Hernandez came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball has good run in on righties with some sink. His change has some fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change is his main offspeed pitch and will throw it to righties. Absolutely dominant, as the only run he allowed scored on a wild pitch.

1st: FB (94-97), SL (88), CU (89)

2nd: FB (94-96), SL (87-89), CU (90-91), CB (84)

3rd: FB (94-96), SL (88), CU (89-90), CB (79)

4th: FB (94-96), SL (86-89), CU (89-91)

5th: FB (94-97), CB (81-82)

6th: FB (93-97), SL (88-89), CU (88-92), CB (83)

7th: FB (94-96), CU (90)

8th: FB (93-96), SL (86-88), CU (89-91), CB (81)

3) Darren O'Day: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• O'Day is a sidearming righty whose fastball has good run in on righties and his slider is a 9-3 pitch with good bite.

7th: FB (85-88), SL (78-79)

4) C.J. Wilson: 28 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (93-96), Cut (91), SL (85-89), CU (86)

5) David Aardsma: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (93-95)

Chart Observations: SD @ SEA

1) Chad Gaudin: 113 pitches, 15 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 11 Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th, 4 in 7th) and 1 Changeup (1st)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball that he has better command of, a change with excllent fade and alte sink and a 3-8 slider that can have good late bite or can move like a cutter with little downward action. He spotted his slider very well and started it on the outside corner to righties and let the movement take it out of their swing path. Another 11 strikeout game that wasn't dominant.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (79-82), CU (86)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79-83), CU (87)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (81), CU (87)

4th: FB (91-92), SL (81-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (88-94), SL (80-83)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (78-82)

2) Garrett Olson: 82 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 1 on Curveball (3rd) and 1 on Fastball (5th)

• He is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 25 year ol has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties and flashes some late sink, but is inconsistent and most of the time is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a sharp 11-5 wtih good depth and late bite. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw 2-0, but he doesn't have good command of it. He shows good command of his fastball-curveball combo, but doesn't have a true 3rd pitch. Swingman.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (80)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (79)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (79-81)

4th: FB (89-90), CB (80), CU (82)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (76-81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81)

3) Roy Corcoran: 35 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He is a 5-10, 185 pound righty. The 29 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth, but it can hang and it can also flash slider like movement. He has zero command of his stuff and appears to try and nibble, living on the corners and at the knees. Not a major league pitcher.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (80-83)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (81-83)

4) Miguel Batista: 24 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties and a cutter with good cut and some late sink that will flash movement like a 2-7 slider.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-89)

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (88)

5) Greg Burke: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• He came from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball showed good run in on righties and some sink and his slider was a flat 2-7 with marginal bite.

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

6) Edward Mujica: 3 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (92), Split (86), SL (81)

7) Heath Bell: 29 Pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Both on Curveballs.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run and sink and a 12-7 curve with great depth. He was leaving his curve up and left his fastball in the middle of the plate, a terrible combination.

9th: FB (91-96), CB (79-83)

• Everth Cabrera is a 5-10, 175 pound 22 year old. The switch hitter/righty thrower has a small frame that can add a little more muscle, but not too much. As a righty, he leans back on his back leg with a slightly bent front leg that is similar to Gerardo Parra's stance but not as upright. His trigger is a slight cocking of the bat and a step to straighten himself out, as he is slightly open. From the left side, his stance is similar, but no leaned back as far or open as much. Shows a somewhat quick bat, but one designed to slap the ball around. Plus runner that will look to bunt for hits, he stole 2 bases back to back and was 3.0 from 2nd to 3rd on his steal and neither time was close to getting caught. Best case is a Chone Figgins like career. Worse case is Luis Ugueto. He probably settles in the middle as a super utility guy who can play SS and will hit for little power.
• Kyle Blanks is a massive 6-6, 285 pound righty hitter/thrower. The 22 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He has a fairly straight on stance and he holds the bat in front of him and a little in front of his back shoulder. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He looks like a guy that will struggle to hit plus fastballs and his swing can get a little long. He has a fly ball swing, a terrible fit for PETCO. He has a tendency to roll his wrists too early, causing would-be line drives to turn into groundouts to short. He showed better speed then I anticipated, as he was 4.3 and 4.4 down the line to first. He is in a bad situation, as he isn't going to beat out Adrian Gonzalez at 1st and is trying to play LF. He DH'd in this game. He should be a productive hitter down the road, but think Kevin Kouzmanoff type production, not Adam Dunn. PETCO will be a serious obstacle for him to try and overcome.

Chart Observations: ARI @ SEA

• Jon Garland comes from an over the top release and shows a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run, a change with good fade and sink, a cutter with good late cut, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a big breaking 12-5, 12-6 curve with good depth. He will throw his change to righties and likes to start his cutter on the outside corner and have it break off the plate.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (83-85), CU (83), Cut (88-90)

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (83-85), CU (80), Cut (88-89)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (82-84), CU (79-80), Cut (87-89), CB (74)

4th: FB (87-92), SL (83-84), CU (80-81), Cut (90)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (80), Cut (87-88), CB (77)

6th: FB (89-90), SL (82-84), Cut (88)

7th: FB (89-92), SL (82), Cut (87-88)

• Jarrod Washburn is a 6-1, 195 pound lefty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 4 seam that is straight. His cutter has some cut and a little run. His change has good fade and sink. His slider is a 10-5 pitch with good bite that he throws to lefties and his curve is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth that is his breaking pitch to righties. He is a solid # 4 starter who is a perfect fit for Safeco.

1st: FB (90-92), Cut (88-90), CU (84)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (87-89), CU (81-84), SL (78)

3rd: FB (87-91), Cut (89), CU (79-82), SL (77-78), CB (71)

4th: FB (87-90), Cut (87-88), CU (82)

5th: FB (87-89), Cut (88-89), CU (82), SL (78), CB (70-71)

6th: FB (88-89), Cut (89), SL (79), CB (71)

7th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CU (83), SL (80), CB (70)

• Miguel Batista comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink, a cutter with good late cut and a loopy 2-7 curveball.

8th: FB (91-93), Cut (85-87), CB (78)

• Scott Schoeneweis come from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink and a sweeping 10-4 slider with solid bite.

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

• Tony Pena comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastabll taht has some run and sink and a 2-7 slider that can have inconsistent bite.

8th: FB (96-98), SL (87-90)

• David Aardsma comes from an over the top release and shows a 4-seam fastball with good run and a splitter that showed good diving action.

9th: FB (94-97), Split (87)

Chart Observations: SEA @ LAA

• Felix Hernandez is a 23 year old standing 6-3, 225. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His changeup shows average fade and a little sink. His fastball is a 2-seam with good fade and sink. He will also mix in a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 2-7 offering with good depth. His curveball is a 12-6 offering with great bite and drops off the table. Still an ace.

1st: FB (93-97), CU (88), SL (86-89)

2nd: FB (94-96), CU (87-89), SL (87-88), CB (82-83)

3rd: FB (92-95), CU (87-89), SL (87-90)

4th: FB (94-95), CU (88-90)

5th: FB (94-95), CU (90), CB (85)

6th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (88-89), CB (86)

7th: FB (93-96), CU (88-90), SL (86), CB (85)

• Matt Palmer, a 6-2 225 pound 30 year old, opposed him. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with above average fade and a little sink. His cutter is his main fastaball and it shows solid cut. He has tremendous command of this pitch and can start it on the outside corner at will. His curveball is a sharp 1-8 offering that shows good bite and can be a strikeout pitch. His change moves similar to his 2-seam with above average fade and some sink. Was FB-CB the 1st time through the order, and then worked the cutter-CB combo with the occasional 2-seam. Solid back of the rotation starter due to his plus command of slightly above average stuff.

1st: FB (88-90), Cut (87-90), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (88-89), CB (75-76), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-89), Cut (87-89), CB (74-75), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (87-89), Cut (85-88), CB (72-75)

5th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (76)

6th: FB (88-89), Cut (86-87), CB (73-77), CU (82)

7th: FB (86-88), Cut (86-87), CB (75-76), CU (83)

• Mark Lowe is a 25 year old reliever standing 6-3, 210. The right hander has a medium to big frame that still has room to add more muscle. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid depth and is an above average offering. Lowe has the upside of a closer, though he is more likely to settle in as a set-up man.

7th: FB (96-98), SL (85)

• Darren Oliver is a 38 year old who stands 6-2, 200. The lefty has a medium frame that is maxed out and comes at you from a 3/4 release. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 offering with good depth and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. Good reliever to have in a pen that can fill a multitude of roles (long, LOOGY, short spurts)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (77-78)

• Brandon Morrow is a 24 year old who stands 6-3, 195. The righty has a medium to big frame that has room to add another 10-15 pounds of muscle. He comes at you from an over the top release. His change will flash great fade and a little sink, but it can be inconsistent. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam. His curveball is a 12-6 offering that flashes plus, but is also inconsistent. Morrow needs to gain consistency to reach his ceiling as a closer.

8th: FB (93-96), CU (88-89), CB (81)

• Brian Fuentes is a 38 year old who stands 6-4, 230. The left hander has a big frame that is maxed out and attacks from a sidearm release with a little bit of cocking action. His changeup has good sinking action and some run. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. He struggled to command his change, having it go armside and high almost every time. He got blooped and then blasted by Jose Lopez. Good set-up man, but he doesn't strike out enough guys for me to be comfortable with him as a closer.

9th: FB (89-91), CU (72-74)

• Miguel Batista is a 38 year old who stands 6-1, 210. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and good sink. His cutter has decent cut and some sink. His split showed great dive and fade. May have been wrong on him and he can indeed be a reliable reliever for a contender, though I still wouldn't have him setup.

9th: FB (85-92), Cut (84-85), Split (85)

• Jose Arredondo is a 25 year old who stands 6-1, 205. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has some fade and a little sink from an over the top release. His splitter is erratic in both break and command, but it flashes as plus with great dive and fade. Still think he is a future closer, but he is not yet ready and needs to refine his splitter.

10th: FB (90-94), Split (81-86)

• David Aardsma is a 27 year old who stands 6-4, 205. The righty has a big frame that can add more muscle. He attacks from an over the top release with some cocking action. His slider is a 2-7 offering with good depth. His splitter showed good dive and fade. He may be able to close, as he hasn't shown many of his old command issues when I have seen him.

10th: FB (93-95), SL (84), Split (89)

Stay tuned for my chart observations on the Rays-Twins, featuring the 11 strikeout performance of David Price. I will take care of that after I return from my baseball game tonight.

SEA vs. TEX

Yes, I had the same teams for a score 2 days in a row and got to watch them end in exciting fashions.

• Felix Hernandez started for the Mariners and didn't have his best stuff. The Rangers failed to get on him early and he settled in very well. His fastball sat at 88-94 (and was only 90-92 most of the time), a changeup at 84-89, a slider at 81-86 and a curveball at 80-83. No changes on my thinking of him, potential to be best starter in baseball.
• Matt Harrison opposed him and made me look like an idiot. As soon as you think someone is a borderline major league pitcher, they make some adjustments and turn a corner and Harrison has done that. Harrison, from a 3/4 release, has sped up his wind-up and is pitching with much better tempo, something that has been a staple of Mark Buehrle for years. He also is showing a new willingness to both pitch inside and throw offspeed stuff when behind in the count. Harrison's fastball sat at 87-93, his changeup was 77-81, his slider was 76-83, his curveball was 73-75 and I believe he has added a cutter, which was 83-86. He also showed plus command. If he can maintain this plus command, he is a solid # 3 starter. If not, back to back-of-the rotation starter. My money is now on him to be a # 3 starter. Mike Maddux has done wonders for those starters.
• David Aardsma was 90-93 with his fastball and threw a slider at 81 and a splitter at 86.
• Brandon Morrow blew another save in big fashion (allowed about a 460 foot shot by Hank Blalock followed by a 415 foot shot by Chris Davis that drove in the other 2 runs). He still has great stuff, but he only throws his fastball. His fastball was 93-96 and doesn't have the movement or command of it to be as effective as other fastball-happy closers, like a Jonathan Papelbon. Morrow shows good off-speed stuff but can't throw them for strikes and so they aren't called. His catchers will need to call more off-speed stuff or this will continue to occur.
• Wladimir Balentien, a 6-2 220 pound 24 year old, has a medium to large frame that can add on a little bit more muscle. He has a slightly open stance with a little bat wiggle and he utilizes a toe turn.. He currently has average power, but should get some more as he continues to develop his frame. He shows the ability to hit to all fields. Solid, major league average starting corner outfielder.
• David Murphy, a 6-4 205 pound 27 year old, has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has a slightly open stance, but is hunched over a little bit. He has a fairly long swing, so he must cheat to hit fastballs. He has average speed. He is a guy who is a 4th OF who can't play CF and doesn't have great power. He is someone that may be finding his usefulness in the majors coming to a close. I think his upside is that of a 4th OF.
• Taylor Teagarden, a 6-1 200 pound 25 year old, has a medium frame with room to add more muscle, especially to his lower half. He has a fairly straight-up stance and brings his hands forward and back as part of his trigger. This causes his swing to lengthen at times, but allows him to generate a little more pop. Teagarden is an interesting guy, as he has failed to hit for average for quite awhile now. He is a quality catch and throw guy and does a good job blocking balls. He may follow in the path of another former top prospect in the AL West, Jeff Mathis, but provide more power.

SEA vs. TEX

• Jarrod Washburn started for the Mariners and featured his 5 pitch mix of a fastball at 84-89, a cutter at 84-87, a changeup at 77-84 (2nd most thrown pitch), a slider at 74-80 that he used to lefties and righties to get ahead or put away and a curveball at 66-68 that he threw on the 1st pitch to get a cheap strike. No change on my opinion of him, but the lack of velocity on his fastball is concerning.
• Brandon McCarthy opposed him and he disappointed me. He has lost a lot of fastball velocity since he was a reliever for the White Sox. McCarthy showed a fastball at 87-90, a hard curveball from 76-81, a soft curveball from 72-75 and a changeup at 76-79. McCarthy's curveball is plus, but it isn't a strikeout pitch. His fastball is merely average and his changeup is a tick above average. If he can throw strikes with the curveball, he can be a middle of the rotation starter. If he doesn't, he is a back-end starter at best. He attacks hitters from straight over the top and showed above average command of all his pitches tonight.
• David Aardsma was 91-95 with his fastball and threw one slider at 81 that hung. His fastball is plus, but you have to wonder how long he can get away with it being his only pitch.
• Eddie Guardado is done in my opinion. Tonight, he was 84-86 with his fastball, 76-79 with his slider and threw a changeup at 77. Having 3 lefties (Guardado, Wilson and Derek Holland) is a luxury that this team needs to correct, especially since Guardado has had struggles this season.
• Darren O'Day is a side-arming, ground ball forcing right hander who has been phenomenal since coming over. He sat at 84-86 with his fastball and his slider was 76-77. He looks like a legitimate major league ROOGY (and even struck out Russell Branyan). It appears the Mets allowed another one to get away. I think he profiles very well as a right handed middle reliever, with his main role being to get out tough righties or to get double plays.
• Sean White showed a fastball at 90-92, an average slider at 83-86 and a plus changeup at 80-82. He needs to throw the change more, as this was his best off-speed pitch in my opinion. He may be getting the message, as he used it to strike out Marlon Byrd, a right hander.
• C.J. Wilson was in line to take the loss before Brandon Morrow's struggles, but he pitched well. He showcased a fastball at 91-93, a slider at 81-86 and a changeup at 83-85. He was over exposed as a closer, but he is a quality setup guy, as his fastball velocity is plus. His slider and changeup are both a tick above average. He showed strong command tonight as well.
• Garrett Olson made an appearance tonight and was in line to get the win. Olson attacked hitters with a fastball at 87-90, a curveball at 79-80 that moves more like a slider and a changeup at 80-82. Olson definitely doesn't have the stuff to be a starter and I don't think he has the stuff to be better then a long reliever/mop-up guy. He needs to further refine his command and his off-speed offerings.
• Brandon Morrow took the loss after allowing a shot to Hank Blalock that I thought was gone off the bat. He showed a plus fastball at 94-98 and plus curveball at 83-84. He should have had Josh Hamilton struck out looking on a great curveball, but the home plate umpire couldn't pull the trigger. He has great potential, but his command has a ways to go until you can feel confident when he is out there. Right now, every save will be an adventure.
• Elvis Andrus is a 20 year old who stands 6-0, 185 pounds. He has a medium frame with the room to add quite a bit more muscle, probably at least 10 pounds. He features a fairly straight up stance and holds the bat above his shoulder at a 45 degree angle. He shows a little bat wiggle. He seems to bring all his weight forward when he strides, limiting the time to make a decision to swing or not. He is a very aggressive hitter. He is a special fielder, one with great hands and an above average accurate arm. He has plus range to his right. He is a plus runner with borderline 75 speed. His worst case scenario in my opinion is a career like Omar Vizquel's, as he is close to the same class of fielder potentially. Best case? He is 20 and playing in the majors. The sky is the limit for this kid, though he will likely never be more then a 20 home run guy.

Tomorrow I have an extra chart and will see the same 2 teams again with a match-up of Felix Hernandez and Matt Harrison.

Chart Observations: SEA @ MIN

• King Felix Hernandez started for the Mariners and did not have his best stuff. He also grimaced noticeably on the mound. Hernandez did not throw many curveballs, which I think may be his best (and most underutilized pitch) in favor of more changeup to the left handed heavy Twins lineup. Hernandez was sitting at 91-95 with his fastball, a mid 80's slider, a high 80's changeup that doesn't move much and a low 80's curveball. Felix is still amongst the best pitchers in the game irregardless of this one outing and is still a # 1 starter for a contender.
• Francisco Liriano opposed him (those 2 start and the final is 9-6?). Liriano pitched well through the 1st 3 innings, but then struggled to command his fastball to get ahead of hitters to set-up his plus changeup. Liriano was 90-92 with his fastball and threw a mid 80's slider and low 80's change. Liriano had right handers flailing at his changeup and lefties struggled to contact the slider, but with his velocity in the low 90's and struggling to command it, hitters were able to get into fastball counts.
• Sean White showed me an off-speed pitch in addition to his fastball sitting at 91-94. He threw a low 80's changeup and a low 80's curveball. Neither of these pitches were very special. White has a plus fastball, but has command issues and still appears to be looking for a 2nd pitch. Safeco can only cover up so much, but this kid appears to be a decent 10th guy in the bullpen.
• Denny Stark is currently in the middle of his obligatory 2-week call-up he gets every season. Stark actually featured a fastball at 91-95, much harder then I thought he threw. He also showed a mid 80's slider and mid 80's changeup. The fastball velocity helps explain why he keeps getting chances, but his lack of command coupled with no other real above average offering explains why he keeps riding the bus from Seattle to Tacoma.
• David Aardsma continues to showcase himself, sitting at 92-95 with his hard 4-seamer and was popping in sliders at 81-84. Aardsma has always had the stuff to close. A strong reliever when his command is right, has he finally figured it out?
• Miguel Batista attacked hitters with a fastball at 92-94, a cutter at 86-88 and a changeup at 79. His velocity is back and his cutter has enough movement for hitters to not square it up. I still think he is a little over exposed as a set-up man, but a middle reliever that can give you 2 or 3 innings at a time to bridge a gap are valuable (just not as valuable as what they are currently paying him).
• Luis Ayala was one of the pitchers that I have tabbed to regress this season. He pitched with a fastball at 89-91 and a slider and changeup that sat in the low to mid 80's. Ayala's slider just doesn't seem to have the same bite as it used to and he has begun to mix in more changeups (a fairly straight pitch and is a little below average) and his moving 2-seam fastball. I just don't see how he can last the full season in the pen.
• Matt Guerrier went after guys with a fastball at 90-91, a slider at 82-85, a curveball at 77-78 and a changeup at 83. His fastball is just average, but his slider and curveball are each above average pitches while his changeup drops just enough to make a hitter swing over the top of it. His plus command also allows his pitches to play up. Still think he is more of a middle reliever then an 8th inning guy.
• Joe Nathan didn't show too much of his formerly over-powering slider. He still features a plus fastball (93-95), but the slider was everywhere radar gun wise (82-87) and he also threw a slightly above average curveball (81-83). He is still a quality closer and is amongst the best in baseball and I think his slider will bounce back soon enough.

Chart Observations: SEA @ KC

• Jarrod Washburn started for the Mariners and mixed all his pitches in. A pitcher that used to rely solely on his fastball has a strong repertoire to attack hitters. He features a high 80's fastball, mid to high 80's cutter, low 80's changeup, mid 70's slider and mid 70's curveball. Washburn has a pitch for every situation and looks like a solid # 4 starter once again. He will never do well enough to live up to his contract but he has value as an innings eater.
• Sean White attacked hitters with just a 92-94 mile per hour fastball and showed some command issues. He has a good fastball but he has to have something else.
• Brian Bannister went against what I thought. He threw a ton of fastballs as opposed to masterfully working multiple off-speed pitches. He is a very intelligent pitcher who studies his stats, which helps him get by with average (at best) stuff. He features a high 80's fastball that has a lot of cutting action, a low 80's changeup, a mid 80's slider and a high 60's to high 70's curveball. Bannister's 2nd best pitch is his changeup, which is also the only other pitch he has that moves to his arm side.
• Ron Mahay is not your typical LOOGY. He features a low 90's fastball, a mid 80's slider and a mid 80's changeup. This changeup is good enough to allow him to face (and get out) both righthanders and lefthanders. Likely pitching at his ceiling now, which is a middle reliever who doesn't kill you if you need him to throw the 8th.
• Juan Cruz features a power pitcher repertoire with command. I thought he was one of the better relievers available on the market and Kansas City was able to secure him for a significant discount. He features a mid 90's fastball that explodes on hitters, a low 80's slider and a rare changeup (he threw one today at 85). I still see closer stuff, the only question is if he has that mentality.
• I actually like Cruz as a closer better then Joakim Soria. Soria is very good, but he doesn't have as explosive stuff, featuring a low 90's fastball, a mid to high 70's slider and a high 60's curveball. He does have much better command then Cruz and he is extremely durable. But, you can't really go wrong with either of those 2 in their roles.