Chart Observations: 9/23 MIN @ CHW

1) Mark Buehrle: 57 pitches. FB, Cut, CU, CB, SL. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Cutter.

• Buehrle came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and good sink, a change with good fade from righties and good sink that he will throw 3-2, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (78-80), Cut (76), CU (73-74), CB (66) - Cut (Mauer)

2nd: FB (79-84), Cut (75-80), CU (76-77) - FB (Harris)

3rd: FB (80-85), Cut (81-83), CU (76-78), CB (71) - 2 FB (Gomez, Kubel)

4th: FB (83-84), Cut (80-83), CU (76)

2) Brian Duensing: 86 pitches. FB, SL, CU, CB. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Duensing came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 11-5 curve with above average depth, a change wtih some fade from righties and some sink that he will throw 3-1 and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (70)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CU (84)

3rd: FB (89-93), CB (71-72), SL (82-83), CU (84) - FB (Beckham)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (71-74), SL (81-83), CU (84-85)

5th: FB (90-92), CB (72-74), SL (82), CU (84)

6th: FB (90-93), CB (72-73), SL (82-84), CU (84-85) - CB (Konerko)

3) Carlos Torres: 67 pitches. FB, Cut, CB, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Fastball.

• Torres came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 cutter with above average cut and flashes some biting action that makes it look like a slider that he can add and subtract from, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a fastball with a little cut to it

4th: Cut (84-92), FB (90-93), CB (79-81)

5th: Cut (86-90), FB (90-93), CB (80)

6th: Cut (85-87), FB (87-92), CB (78-80) - FB (Punto)

7th: Cut (83-88), FB (89-94) - 2 Cut (Cuddyer, Young)

4) Tony Pena: 20 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

7th: SL (88-89) - SL (Gomez)

8th: FB (93-95), SL (86-90), CU (83-85) - SL (Cuddyer)

5) Bob Keppel: 33 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

6th: FB (92-95)

7th: FB (91-95), SL (87), CB (81) - 2 FB (Beckham - 2)

8th: FB (93-94), SL (88), CB (80)

6) Jesse Crain: 4 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (93-95), SL (87)

7) Jose Mijares: 6 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Mijares came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sweeping 11-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (93), SL (81-82)

8) Matt Thornton: 14 pitches. FB, SL, CU, Cut. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Thornton came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite

9th: FB (94-98), SL (84) - FB (Young)

9) Joe Nathan: 21 pitches. FB, SL, CB, CU. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

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

9th: FB (92-94), SL (87-89), CB (81) - 2 FB (Pierzynski, Ramirez), 2 SL (Beckham, Ramirez)

Chart Observations: 9/9 OAK @ CHW (Through Top 10)

1) Freddy Garcia: 87 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, Split, CB). 9 strikes swinging. 7 Sliders, Changeup, Splitter.

• Garcia is a 6-4, 260 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that appears to be in more of the 240-250 range. His frame appears to have the ability to add more muscle to his lower body, but likely won't. He came from an over the top release with his typical windup and cocking action of the arm. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His change has some fade from lefties and above average sink. His split has slightly above average diving action. His slider is a big breaking 1-7 with good bite and more of a downward action pitch then a side to side offering that he will throw 3-2. His curve is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with above average depth. Solid # 5 starter, but he isn't the pitcher he used to be, but can eat innings for you.

1st: FB (87-89), SL (77-81), CU (80-81), Split (77) - SL, CU

2nd: FB (87-90), SL (80-81), CU (76), Split (77), CB (69) - Split

3rd: FB (85-91), SL (77-82), CU (79-81), Split (77-82)

4th: FB (85-89), SL (80-85), CU (82), Split (79) - 3 SL

5th: FB (85-87), SL (79-83), CU (79) - SL

6th: FB (86-89), SL (79-84) - 2 SL

2) Trevor Cahill: 74 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs.

• Cahill came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties that flashes Brandon Webb type sink at times, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and it serves as his out pitch that he will throw in 3-1 counts, a 2-7 slider with okay bite that can flatten out at times and a power 1-7 curve with below average depth and can hang at times. He will also mix in a straight 4-seamer on occasion.

1st: FB (89-94), CU (80-84), SL (84-85), CB (81) - FB, 2 CU

2nd: FB (89-93), CU (78-85), SL (82-85), CB (80) - FB, CU

3rd: FB (87-92), CU (79-83), SL (82-83), CB (80)

3) Jeff Gray: 20 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

4th: FB (93-96), SL (85-88), CB (79)

5th: FB (94-96), SL (85-87)

4) Jerry Blevins: 15 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, Cut). 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Blevins came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a little sink, a cutter with some cut, a change with good fade from righties and some sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a sweeping 10-4 curve with slightly above average depth.

5th: FB (91-93), CB (71-73), CU (84), Cut (84-87) - CU

5) Brad Ziegler: 17 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a 4-7 slider with just enough bite to start on the corner and miss the bat and a change that moves just like his fastball, but slower.

6th: FB (85-87), CU (77), SL (72-73) - 2 FB, 2 SL

6) Matt Thornton: 17 pitches. (FB, SL, Cut, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Thornton came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sweeping 11-5 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (95-97) - FB

8th: FB (94-96), SL (83) - FB

7) Michael Wuertz: 27 pitches. (SL, FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Wuertz came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw 3-2.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (85-87), CU (88) - SL

8th: FB (91-93), SL (84-87), CU (89)

8) Tony Pena: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Pena came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a change with a little fade form lefties and a little sink that he will throw 3-2.

8th: FB (95), SL (87-90), CU (86-87) - SL , 2 CU

9) Bobby Jenks: 19 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Jenks came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (93-95), CB (85)

10th: FB (93-95), SL (88)

10) Craig Breslow: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (90-92), SL (82), CU (78-79)

Chart Observations: 8/21 BAL @ CHW

1) Jeremy Guthrie: 96 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (3rd, 5th), Slider (1st)

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

1st: FB (93-94), SL (84-86), CU (85-86)

2nd: FB (94-96), SL (83-86), CB (74)

3rd: FB (92-94), SL (85), CU (83)

4th: FB (93), SL (84-85), CU (83-86)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (83-85), CU (83-84)

6th: FB (92-93), SL (82-84), CU (82-85)

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

2) Gavin Floyd: 115 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 11 Cutters (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 4 in 5th, 2 in 6th, 7th), Curveball (3rd)

• Floyd is a 6-5, 230 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that appears able to add a little more muscle in his lower body and maybe get up to 235. He came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with above average depth. His cutter has above average cut and flashes good sink on occasion. Solid # 3 starter who could be a # 2 as he continues to refine his command.

1st: FB (91-94), Cut (86)

2nd: FB (92-94), Cut (84-87), CB (79)

3rd: FB (90-93), Cut (84-85), CB (79-80)

4th: FB (91-93), Cut (83-85), CB (79-81)

5th: FB (90-93), Cut (85-86), CB (80)

6th: FB (90-92), Cut (83-87), CB (79)

7th: FB (90-92), Cut (85-87), CB (79)

8th: FB (90-92), Cut (84-86), CB (79-80)

3) Matt Thornton: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• 4 of the pitches were intentional balls and he came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball.

8th: FB (95)

4) Tony Pena: 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (2 in 8th, 9th)

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

8th: FB (95), SL (86-88)

9th: FB (94-95), SL (86), CU (87-89)

5) Danys Baez: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Baez came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink.

8th: FB (93-96)

6) Chris Ray: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Ray came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a split with marginal dive and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (85-87), Split (85)

Chart Observations: CHW @ MIN

1) John Danks: 114 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), 2 Cutters (2 in 1st), 2 Changeups (3rd, 6th), Curveball (6th)

• Danks came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with good late fade and sink, a cutter with good cut that moves a little like a 11-4 slider and a sharp 11-4 curve with good depth. His command wasn't as good as it has been. He will throw the change to lefties.

1st: FB (88-92), Cut (86-89), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (84-86), CU (82), CB (76)

3rd: FB (88-91), Cut (86), CU (82), CB (76-77)

4th: FB (88-90), Cut (83-88), CU (81), CB (75)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (81), CB (73-75)

6th: FB (91), Cut (83-85), CU (80-83), CB (75-76)

2) Nick Blackburn: 99 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (2nd, 6th) and 2 on Cutters (3rd, 4th)

• Blackburn came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball wtih good run in on righties and good sink, a cutter with good cut that flashes movement similar to a 2-7 slider, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (90-92), Cut (86)

2nd: FB (89-92), Cut (84-86), CB (77)

3rd: FB (87-93), Cut (85-88), CB (78), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (89-90), Cut (83-86), CB (76), CU (82-83)

5th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), CB (77-78), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (83-85), CB (82), CU (81-82)

7th: FB (90-91), Cut (86-87), CB (80), CU (81)

3) Octavio Dotel: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (6th)

• Dotel came from a 3/4 release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite, a sharp 1-7 curve with good depth and a fastball with late life with cutting action or running action with sink.

6th: FB (93), SL (80-82)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (78)

4) Matt Thornton: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thornton came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (94-97), SL (83)

5) Bobby Jenks: 15 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (93-95), SL (89)

6) Matt Guerrier: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Guerrier came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-93), SL (85-87), CB (78)

7) Joe Nathan: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Nathan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (91-94), SL (88-89), CB (81-82)

Chart Observations: CHW @ CLE

1) Jose Contreras: 110 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 2 Sliders (7th, 8th) and 8 Splitters (1st, 3rd, 3 in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th)

• Contreras is a 37 year old who stands 6-4, 255. The righty has a big frame that is maxed out with some bad weight. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink. His split has excellent dive and can look like a curveball at times. His slider is 2-7 with good bite. Splitter is his out pitch and if he gets 2 strikes on you, he will throw it. He will drop down sidearm to throw any of his pitches in any count and appears to be done at random. Will throw a rare straight change with some fade from lefties.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83-86), Split (78-80)

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (84-86), Split (79-80)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (83-86), Split (77-78)

4th: SL (81-87), Split (77-80)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (83-87), Split (78-80)

6th: FB (91-95), SL (82-85), Split (77-80)

7th: FB (90-94), SL (80-86), Split (77-78)

8th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), Split (77-78), CU (81)

2) Jeremy Sowers: 79 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), 2 Sliders (1st, 4th)

• Sowers is a 26 year old who stands 6-1, 180. The lefty has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has some weird arm action where his arm is somewhat rubbery and moves around quite a bit on the backtake and going forward, whiplike. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider has good bite and is a 10-4 offering. His change is a straight change with a little sink. He needs to throw his off-speed stuff more, as he no longer has a plus fastball.

1st: FB (86-91), SL (77-80), CU (81)

2nd: FB (87-91)

3rd: FB (87-91)

4th: FB (87-92), SL (79)

5th: FB (88-90), SL (79), CU (81-82)

6th: FB (88-92), SL (80-82), CU (79-82)

3) Jose Veras: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Veras is a 6-5, 235 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some armside run and a little sink. His splitter has some dive. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 pitch with good depth. There is a little herky-jerky in his windup and can be extremely inconsistent with his release points (anywhere from over the top to 3/4) and may help explain his command issues.

7th: FB (94-95), CB (78-80), Split (81)

4) Rafael Perez: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez is a 6-3, 195 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and he also throws a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite. He has lost any semblance of command and there isn't anything glaring mechanically. You have to wonder if it is in his head now.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (86-87)

5) Joe Smith: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (8th)

• Smith is a 6-2, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little bit more muscle. He is a sidearmer. His fastball has good armside run and some sink. His slider is a 3-8 offering with good bite. I tend to like sidearmers and Smith is no exception.

7th: FB (91), SL (81-83)

8th: FB (90), SL (79-83)

6) Kerry Wood: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wood is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His cutter has good cut. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curve is a power 12-6 with good depth. Can battle his command at times, but not in this outing.

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CB (81)

7) Matt Thornton: 24 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs, Cutter

• Thornton comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a somewhat loopy 10-4 slider with okay bite. He has also added a cutter (just like every other White Sox pitcher) and it has solid cut that he seems to locate fairly well.

9th: FB (96-98), Cut (89-92), SL (85)

Chart Observations: LAD @ CHW

1) Chad Billingsley: 107 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 6th), 1 on a Curveball (1st), 5 on Sliders (2nd, 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th), 2 on Cutters (3rd, 5th)

• He is a 6-1, 245 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has a little run in on righties and I believe was down from his typical velocity. His cutter has above average cut with a little sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and bite that can be a strike out pitch, but the White Sox hitters were able to continue to foul the balls off. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with above average bite that was his out pitch to most righties. His cutter flattened out in the 4th. Obviously Jeff Weaver has had an effect on him, as he dropped down sidearm to throw a fastball. He worked with plus command and did a nice job of locating.

1st: FB (89-93), CB (79), Cut (88-90)

2nd: FB (89-91), CB (67-77), Cut (89-90), SL (85)

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (87-89), SL (85)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (86-87), SL (85)

5th: FB (88-92), CB (69-81), Cut (87-89), SL (84-86)

6th: FB (87-93), CB (80-81), Cut (88-89), SL (83-84)

2) Clayton Richard: 85 Pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Slider (2nd), 3 on changeups (All in 4th) and 1 on a cutter (2nd)

• Richard is a 6-5, 240 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery, though he is more of a slinger arm action. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on righties and flashes some sink and his 4-seam is straight that he really only used when throwing a high fastball. His cutter has some cut and a little sink. His change has some fade from righties and sink and is his best off-speed offering. His slider is a slurvy 11-4 with solid bite. He got a lot of hype for being in the Jake Peavy deal, but I am undecided on him. He likely isn't going to start throwing any harder and his stuff is just average in my opinion. I think he is a # 4, # 5 type starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (89-94), Cut (84-89), SL (80-84), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (87-93), CU (81-84)

4th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), SL (79), CU (79-84)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (81)

3) D.J. Carrasco: 39 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Sliders (5th, 6th) and a Fastball (6th)

• Carrasco came from an over the top release with a cutter that has some cut, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and sink that he threw more then he usually does. He also showed a 1-7 curve with good bite. He will throw a frisbee (we chart curve, I will call it a slider) when he drops down with 2 strikes to right handers. He will also throw a fastball from the same angle that is usually 86-88. He is very consistent with using this frisbee slider as his out pitch to righties and they must be ready for it. His change has some fade, but is below average.

5th: FB (89-91), Cut (88), CB (80), SL (72)

6th: FB (86-92), Cut (89-90), SL (71)

7th: FB (88-93), Cut (88-90), CB (80), SL (73), CU (80)

4) Ronald Belisario: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has excellent run in on righties and above average sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite that can flatten out and he needs to improve his consistency with this pitch.

7th: FB (93-96), SL (85-87)

8th: FB (94-96), SL (85)

5) Scott Linebrink: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Linebrink is a 6-2, 210 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some late run and sink in on righties. His split has great late downward movement and can be confused with a curve (shockingly), but the one he threw went about 45 feet. His change is a straight change with a litle sink.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (83-84), Split (84)

6) Brent Leach: 16 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 curve with good depth that is a little slurvy, a straight 4-seam fastball and has added a 11-5 slider that is sharp with some break. His command is very inconsistent and is what is holding him back from being the # 1 lefty for the Dodgers.

8th: FB (92-93), CB(78)

9th: FB (92), SL (87-88)

7) Matt Thornton: 13 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thornton is a massive 6-6, 235 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 10-4 slider with some bite. One of the best lefty relievers in the game.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (89)

8) Ramon Troncoso: 27 Pitches, 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (Both in 9th) and a curve (10th)

• Troncoso is a 6-1, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release with a high effort delivery where he breaks his hands fairly high. His fastball has excellent run and flashes sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and can be a K pitch. The combination of his excellent movement of his fastball and his mechanics lead me to believe he may struggle to consistently throw strikes.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (77-78)

10th: FB (91-94), CB (77-79)

9) Bobby Jenks: 18 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs, Slider

• Jenks is a 6-3, 275 man beast who is maxed out and has some bad weight (there is a gut). The 28 year old righty came from an over the top release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Above average closer.

10th: FB (93-96), SL (89-90)

10) Jeff Weaver: 57 Pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2 in 11th, 13th), Slider (12th)

• Weaver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, but fairly straight, a 2-8 curve with okay depth and a frisbee 3-8 slider from sidearm or a sharp 2-7 from his normal release with solid bite. He will drop down sidearm to throw sliders and fastballs and appears to do this whenever he feels the need to F with hitters, as there is no distinguishable pattern, though he does like the drop down slider with 2 strikes, but isn't as committed to it as Carrasco. His stuff has regressed and he gets by with deception and command.

11th: FB (88-93), SL (79-82), CU (80), CB (73-76)

12th: FB (88-92), SL (79-84), CU (79), CB (75)

13th: FB (87-92), SL (79-81), CU (82)

11) Octavio Dotel: 23 Pitches. 7 (!) strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (11th, 5 in 12th), Slider (12th)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with natural cut and sink and has great late life, a 2-7 curve with solid depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81)

12th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84)

12) Aaron Poreda: 14 Pitches. 5 (!) strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs, Slider.

• Poreda is a 6-6, 240 pound man child. The # 2 prospect for the White Sox prior to the start of the season, the 22 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and generates easy velocity from a clean delivery with good arm action. His fastball (a surprise to me) was not a huge velocity pitch and had quite a bit natural cut and sink, though it does explode out of his hand. His slider is a slurvy 11-5 with good bite. He can be very special as a reliever, though I think it would be as more of a set-up man then a Billy Wagner style closer. Will be interesting to see if he becomes Joba Chamberlain and becomes a starter after this apprenticeship or a Jonathan Papelbon and stay a reliever. Pray he doesn't become Brandon Morrow and is allowed to settle into 1 role. This was his first major league win.

13th: FB (90-94), SL (77)

I never said this before, but if you want to know how someone played that I didn't mention, feel free to ask. Just because I didn't write a report on them doesn't mean I didn't study their at bats.

Relief Pitcher Repetoire Update

The 1st evaluation (FB) has been completed.

In regards to the 3 True Outcomes (BB/9, K/9, HR/9), the pitchers regressed the following:
> 85 % FB's = 68.75 % Regression
80 - 84.99 % FB's = 63.64 % Regression

And in regards to DICE:
> 85 % FB's = 57.58 % Regression
80-84.99 % FB's = 56.82 % Regression

The qualifiers in 2008 who are using 2009 as their evaluation year:
> 85 % : Grant Balfour
80-84.99: Joe Beimel, Octavio Dotel, Matt Thornton, Jonathan Papelbon

The ideal is to utilize these numbers to assign a formula to the pitcher's repetoire and use this resulting number to evaluate if their repetoire is suitable to them succeeding the next season.

NOTE: These numbers do not include penalties to pitchers for injury issues and that will be addressed after the completion of the evaluation of each individual pitch.

Chart Observations: CHW vs. CLE

• Clayton Richard got the start for the White Sox, his first in at least a year. He looked good early, sitting at 91-95 with his fastball. However, once he got to the third inning, he sat at 89-91 and definitely didn't appear to be used to pitching this long. Richard also attacked hitters with a slurvy slider anywhere from 75-85, a changeup from 81-84 and a cut fastball at 85-89. Richard's fastball is plus out of the pen, but none of his other offerings do much. He is more of a sinkerballing reliever and could probably be a strong LOOGY with his slurvy slider and hard fastball. He just added the cutter this year.
• Jeremy Sowers opposed him and also struggled. Sowers has some unique arm action in that he brings his arm straight back and seems to really relax off his elbow. I don't know anything about what type of extra stress that may put on his arm. His stuff wasn't very good though. He went after the White Sox hitters with a fastball at 86-91, a slider at 76-82 and a changeup at 80-82. Sowers is not a major league pitcher, in either the rotation (for someone with such a slow fastball, he throws a lot of them, almost 75 %) or the bullpen (slider is barely average). Sowers will need to hope to have a Jamie Moyer like revelation to develop into something.
• D.J. Carrasco is back in the states and throwing strikes. He featured a cutter at 88-90, a fastball at 92, a curveball anywhere from 73-82 and he threw a sidearm fastball at 88. He likes to drop sidearm to throw both a fastball and curveball to try and get extra movement and give hitters something else to think about. Solid long reliever type guy and was moderately surprised he didn't get the spot start today.
• Matt Thornton may have the best stuff of any left handed reliever in the game right now. Yesterday, he was 93-97 with his fastball and threw one slider at 85. That type of velocity from a left hander is unheard of and he commands it very well. Could be a closer, but fits great for the White Sox as 7th inning pitcher, as a pitcher with that velocity can get out right handers as well.
• Octavio Dotel featured a fastball at 92-94 and a slider at 80-82. The slider lacked its bite that it has shown in the past and is just a tick above average now as opposed to a plus pitch. He has solid command of both his pitches and is still a quality set-up man.
• Bobby Jenks closed out the game with fastballs sitting at 93-96 and threw 1 slider at 91 and 1 changeup at 84. Another of the better closers in the game.
• Jensen Lewis pitched pretty well, featuring a fastball sitting at 89-92, a plus changeup at 78-81 and a slider at 85. Still a guy that could factor into the late innings if he develops another pitch to complement his changeup.
• Tony Sipp has not impressed me either time I have seen him. He just can't command his stuff. His fastball is an above average pitch, as it sits at 91-93 with some movement. His slider is an average pitch sitting at 80-82. His lack of command causes his pitches to play down. He definitely needs more seasoning in AAA.
• Matt Herges finished the game featuring a fastball sitting at 88-90, a curveball at 75 and a changeup at 79-81. Herges 2-seam features a lot of movement and is an above average pitch. His changeup is a tick above average and his curveball is also a tick above average. Solid reliever to have in the pen, but he is prone to allowing hits, as none of his pitches are anything a hitter hasn't seen before.