Chart Observations: 9/26: OAK @ LAA

1) Dana Eveland: 79 pitches. FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter, Curveball, Changeup.

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

1st: FB (89-94), Cut (86-90), CB (79), CU (84-86) - Cut (Abreu), CU (Rivera)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (86), CB (78-79), CU (84), SL (84) - CB (Izturis)

3rd: FB (88-91), Cut (86-89), CB (77-79), SL (85-86) - FB (Hunter)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (89), CB (77-79), CU (84-86), SL (83-86)

2) John Lackey: 92 pitches. FB, CB, SL, CU. 7 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, Slider.

• Lackey came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with above average depth

1st: FB (90-95), CB (78-82), SL (81-86) - FB (Lackey), SL (Lackey)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (78-80), SL (83) - 2 CB (Davis, Kennedy)

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (79-80) - FB (Cust)

4th: FB (90-94), CB (78-82) - FB (Ellis), CB (Patterson)

5th: FB (89-93), CB (78-81), SL (84)

3) Brad Kilby: 38 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Changeup, Slider.

• Kilby came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good late bite.

4th: FB (91-94), CU (82-83) - FB (Guerrero)

5th: FB (91-95), CU (83), SL (84) - 2 FB (Mathis - 2), CU (Mathis), SL (Kendrick)

4) Darren Oliver: 28 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

• Oliver came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with above average bite

6th: FB (90-92), SL (78-79) - FB (Davis), 2 SL (Pennington, Sweeney)

5) Brad Ziegler: 29 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 2 Changeups.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and solid sink and a 4-7 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (86-88), SL (72-74), CU (78) - 3 SL (Guerrero - 3), CU (Abreu)

7th: FB (85-89), SL (73-75), CU (77-78) - CU (Morales)

6) Jason Bulger: 22 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball, Changeup.

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

7th: FB (92-96), CB (80-84), CU (86-88) - FB (Ellis), CB (Cust), CU (Cust)

7) Kevin Jepsen: 30 pitches. FB, Cut, CB. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jepsen came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a cutter that has evolved into a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (95-100), Cut (88), CB (84-85) - FB (Davis)

8) Matt Palmer: 11 pitches. FB, Cut, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (89), CB (77-78)

9) Craig Breslow: 31 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Breslow came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 11-5 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and a straight change that kind of floated to the plate.

7th: FB (90-93), SL (84-85), CU (76) - FB (Matthews Jr.)

8th: FB (88-94), SL (84-88), CU (81) - FB (Hunter), SL (Guerrero)

10) Sean O'Sullivan: 20 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

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

9th: FB (91-94), CB (80-83), CU (81) - 2 FB (Davis, Cust), CB (Davis)

11) Andrew Bailey: 20 pitches. FB, Cut, CB, CU. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Bailey came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little natural cut, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a cutter with above average cut and some sink

9th: FB (93-96), Cut (89), CB (78-79) - FB (Morales)

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: LAA @ TEX

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chart Observations: 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.

Chart Observations: BOS vs. LAA

• Tim Wakefield started for the Red Sox and featured a knuckler at 67-67, a fastball at 72-73 and a curveball at 58-60 (seriously). He struggled to command the knuckler and it was up in the zone quite a bit. He got hit around, but you expect this from Wakefield. A back-of-the-rotation starter who will lay down some clunkers when the knuckler has a bad day and will have some dominant games when the knuckler dances.
• Matt Palmer threw brilliantly after the first 2 innings. Palmer will not overwhelm you with his stuff, as he sits at 86-88 with his cutter, 86-89 with his 2-seam, 74-77 with his curveball and 82-83 with his changeup. He also dropped down sidearm to throw a curveball to Mike Lowell to end the game and that was at 74. He showed plus command and both his cutter and 2-seam have enough side-to-side movement to make it very difficult for hitters to consistenly put the barrel on the ball. His curveball is a tick above average because of the difference in velocity and his ability to command it. He threw only 2 changeups. Palmer is likely a back of the rotation starter (likely a 5), but is more likely to be one of those emergency starters, the ones who spend a lot of time in AAA and come up when the team is in a bind.
• Hunter Jones is not a major league pitcher in my opinion. He featured a fastball at 86-87 and a slider at 73-76. He doesn't have great command of these average major league offerings and with that type of stuff, you need great command. I don't know if there is much of an upside to him, I think the best he can hope for is to be the 2nd left hander in someone's bullpen.
• Daniel Bard made his major league debut last night and showed a fastball anywhere from 93-98, a slurvy slider at 77-82 and a changeup at 88. He sat between 94-96 with the fastball and showed good command of it. However, both his off-speed pitches are average at best. The slider flashed as an above average offering, but he struggles to command it. The changeup did very little the 1 time he threw it. He is primarily a FB-SL reliever and he features plus velocity, but he has never had good command, so I think his upside is that of a set-up man and is more likely to settle into a middle relief role.
• Takashi Saito showed a fastball at 88-91, a slider at 80-81 and a curveball at 75. He didn't have as much stuff as I thought he did and may end up being over-exposed as a set-up man. This may have been just a bad day (they were losing, so who knows how that affected him), but his slider was kind of flat and his curveball was just average. He has above average command of his stuff, but the end may be near.