Chart Observations: 9/30: STL @ CIN

1) Bronson Arroyo: FB, SL, CB, CU, Cut. 111 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Frisbee Sliders, 3 Changeups, Curveball.

• Arroyo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a 3-8 frisbee slider with some bite.

1st: FB (87-90), FSL (75-78), CB (69-74), CU (81) - FB (Schumaker)

2nd: FB (86-88), FSL (68-76) - FB (Rasmus)

3rd: FB (86-90), FSL (72-74), CB (65), CU (74)

4th: FB (86-89), FSL (69-73), CU (76-83), Cut (88) - 2 FSL (Rasmus - 2), CU (DeRosa)

5th: FB (87-88), FSL (74-75), CB (67-70), CU (81-83) - FSL (Ludwick)

6th: FB (88-89), FSL (68), CB (69), CU (81-83) - FB (Thurston), CU (Thurston)

7th: FB (87-88), FSL (74), CB (69), CU (79-83) - CU (Pujols), CB (Holliday)

8th: FB (88-89), FSL (72-75), CU (80-83)

9th: FB (88), FSL (69-72), CU (77-84)

2) John Smoltz: FB, SL, Split, CB, CU. 87 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 5 Curveballs, 5 Sliders.

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

1st: FB (91), SL (82-85), CB (74-75) - SL (Janish), CB (Votto)

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (81-87), CB (75-77), CU (85) - 4 SL (Bruce, Hanigan - 2, Janish), CB (Nix)

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (83-86), CB (74-76) - 3 CB (Nix - 2, Arroyo)

4th: FB (88-90), CB (76), CU (82)

3) Dennys Reyes: FB, SL, CU. 12 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Reyes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from righties.

5th: FB (88-89), SL (82-83), CU (84) - FB (Arroyo), CU (Arroyo)

4) Josh Kinney: FB, SL, CB. 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (90-91), SL (81-84)

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

5) Brad Thompson: FB, CB, CU. 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thompson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

8th: FB (85-87), CB (75-77)

6) Nick Masset: FB, CB, Cut, Split. 18 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Fastball.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a splitter with some dive, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a cutter with some cut and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (94), CB (79-82), Cut (89-90), Split (87-89) - 2 Cut (Pujols - 2), FB (Ludwick)

Drew Stubbs: Consistently under 4.0 to 1st from the right side. Plus speed.

Chart Observations: 9/17 HOU @ CIN

1) Yorman Bazardo: 87 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

1st: FB (89-94), SL (82-87) - FB (Rolen)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (83-86)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86), CU (83-84)

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

5th: FB (92-94), SL (81-85), CU (84)

2) Justin Lehr: 99 pitches. (FB, Split, Cut, CB, SL). 10 strikes swinging. 6 Splitters, 3 Cutters, Curveball.

• Lehr is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He came from an over the top release with fairly clean mechanics and no real red flags. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His split has good dive. His curve is a 12-6 with slightly above average depth that is a little loopy that he will throw 3-2. His slider is a 2-7 with below average bite. His cutter has some cut and some sink. The splitter is his out pitch to both lefties and righties.

1st: FB (83-87), Split (78-80), Cut (82), CB (69-73), SL (78) - 2 Split (Bourn, Blum)

2nd: FB (84-86), Split (80-81), Cut (84), CB (71-72), SL (77) - Split (Manzella)

3rd: FB (82-87), Split (77-82), Cut (84-85), CB (70-73), SL (78-79) - Split (Blum)

4th: FB (83-87), Split (79-82), Cut (82), CB (70-73), SL (78) - Split (Pence), CB (Manzella)

5th: FB (85), Split (79-80), Cut (83-85), CB (70-72), SL (78) - Split (Blum), 3 Cut (Towles - 2, Manzella)

3) Pedro Viola: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Viola came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a straight change with some sink.

6th: FB (92-94), SL (80), CU (88)

4) Jared Burton: 18 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Burton came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

6th: Cut (91-92), CU (86-87)

7th: Cut (90-91), CU (87-88), SL (83-84) - 2 CU (Towles - 2), SL (Blum)

5) Wilton Lopez: 22 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

6th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85) - 2 FB (Tatum, Bruce)

6) Wesley Wright: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Wright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 slider with good bite that he will throw 3-2 and a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Jeff Fulchino: 31 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 8 strikes swinging. 4 Splitters, 2 Sliders, 2 Fastballs.

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

7th: FB (93-94), SL (81-85), Split (82-85) - FB (Barker), 2 Split (Francisco, Balentien)

8th: FB (93), SL (82-85), Split (82-86) - FB (Bruce), 2 Split (Bruce, Janish), 2 SL (Stubbs - 2)

8) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with some cut, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a split with some dive that can flatten out.

8th: FB (94-95), Cut (90), CB (81-84), Split (89) - CB (Coste)

9) Francisco Cordero: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Cordero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (94-96), SL (87-88) - SL (Pence)

• Tommy Manzella is a 6-2, 200 pound shortstop. The 26 year old righty/righty has a medium frame that can get up to about 215 if he so desires. Athletic, skinny build. His stance is a slightly crouched, straight on stance that is fairly generic. He has a long load and cocks the bat, almost moving it a touch forward before he moves it back. He also has a step in his trigger. Has a long swing and also lacks pitch recognition, not a good combination. On defense, he has an above average arm and soft hands. Utility player who will never hit enough to be a starter.
• Juan Francisco is a 6-2, 180 pound third basemen who made a pinch hit appearance. The 22 year old lefty hitter, righty thrower has a medium frame that looks like it can add more muscle to his upper body. Strong lower half with an athletic build. He has an open stance where he is up on his front toe and has a little bit of a bat wiggle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride to square himself up. Kind of hunches over as he prepares to hit, which will limit his power production. Is a timing hitter, meaning he likes to guess and can look silly at the plate at times. Solid eye at the plate. Nothing I saw in his 1 at bat would lead me to believe he can't be an everday hitter.

Chart Observations: 9/9 CIN @ COL

1) Jason Hammel: 101 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 11 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Curveballs.

• Hammel came from an over the top release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (92-93), CB (76), SL (83-86) - FB, SL

2nd: FB (91-93), CB (76), SL (83-84) - FB

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (84-86)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (78), CU (84) - FB

5th: FB (90-92), CB (77), SL (84-85) - FB, CB, SL

6th: FB (91-92), SL (82-85) - FB

7th: FB (92-93), CB (77-78), SL (84) - 2 CB, SL

8th: FB (91-93), CB (78), SL (83-85)

2) Bronson Arroyo: 100 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut). 9 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs, Frisbee Slider.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top release to a sidearm release and showed a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties, a frisbee 9-4 slider with good bite, a 1-7 curve with slightly below average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink that he will throw from sidearm release with 2 strikes and a cutter with some cut

1st: FB (88-90), FSL (68-72), CB (69-71), CU (74-83)

2nd: FB (88-91), FSL (74-78), CU (79)

3rd: FB (89-91), FSL (70-75), CB (70-75), CU (80-84), Cut (88) - FB, CB, 2 CU

4th: FB (88-90), FSL (78-79), CB (68-72), CU (82) - CU

5th: FB (86-91), FSL (69-76), CU (79-84) - FB, FSL

6th: FB (88-90), FSL (69-78), CB (69-71), CU (84), Cut (85)

7th: FB (88-90), FSL (74-78), CB (71-75) - 2 CB

3) Rafael Betancourt: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (92-94), SL (83-84) - FB

4) Joe Beimel: 4 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 curve with average depth and a fastball with some tail in on righties.

8th: FB (88-89), CB (72-74)

5) Matt Daley: 18 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

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

8th: FB (91), SL (77-80) - FB, SL

9th: FB (89-91), SL (78-80) - 3 FB, SL

6) Arthur Rhodes: 9 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rhodes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (80-81)

7) Nick Masset: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CB (82-83), Split (90) - FB

8) Francisco Cordero: 24 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

9th: FB (94-98), SL (87-91) - 2 FB

Chart Observations: 8/25 CIN @ MIL (1st 9 innings)

1) Bronson Arroyo: 116 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Cut, F-SL). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Frisbee Sliders, Curveball.

• Arroyo came from anywhere from an over the top to sidearm release and showed a 3-8 frisbee slider with solid bite, a change with good fade from lefties with solid sink, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth that he will throw 3-0, a cutter with a little cut, a high 3/4 slider that has good bite

1st: FB (88-92), F-SL (70-72), CU (79-86), CB (72)

2nd: FB (91-92), F-SL (71-77), CB (70-73), SL (78-79), Cut (88) - FB, CB

3rd: FB (90-92), F-SL (72-77), CU (81-86), CB (70-72), Cut (88)

4th: FB (90-92), F-SL (72), CU (84), CB (70-73), SL (75-76) - FB

5th: FB (89-91), F-SL (72-78), CU (79), CB (70) - 2 F-SL

6th: FB (88-91), F-SL (73-76), CU (81-85), CB (69) - FB

7th: FB (88-91), F-SL (74-75), CU (82)

2) Jeff Suppan: 90 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

1st: FB (88-91), SL (83-87), CU (82-84) - SL

2nd: FB (86-91), SL (84-87), CU (81-83), CB (73) - FB

3rd: FB (89-91), SL (85-86), CU (81-83)

4th: FB (87-91), SL (86-87), CU (79-81), CB (73)

5th: FB (87-92), SL (87-89), CU (82-83), CB (74-75)

3) Mark DiFelice: 3 pitches. (Cut, FB, CU, CB). 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a straight 4-seam fastball.

5th: FB (87), Cut (83-84)

4) Carlos Villanueva: 25 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 6 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders, Changeup

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 slider with good bite that looks more like a power curve and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

6th: FB (90-91), CU (82), SL (82), CB (72) - 2 SL

7th: FB (89-92), CU (82-83), SL (79-83), CB (66-73) - 3 SL, CU

5) Mike Burns: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider.

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

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CB (72) - 3 FB, SL

6) Nick Masset: 10 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

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

8th: FB (96-98), CB (84), Split (91) - Split.

7) Chris Narveson: 22 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, SL). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Narveson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties and solid sink, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: FB (87-92), CB (71-72), CU (79-81) - FB, CU

8) Jared Burton: 21 pitches. (Cut, SL, FB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Burton came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut and some sink,

9th: Cut (92-95) - Cut

9) Arthur Rhodes: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rhodes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties

9th: FB (92-94)

10) Francisco Cordero: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Cordero is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 34 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out that may have a little bit of bad weight. He came from an over the top release and showed a hard, sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (97-99), SL (91-93) - FB

Score: 7/12 CIN @ NYM: CIN Pitchers

1) Aaron Harang: 74 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 3rd), Fastball (3rd), Changeup (3rd)

• Harang is a 6-7, 260 pound righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties with good sink. His change moves like a fastball with more sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite while his curve is a 12-6 big breaker with good depth. Would say he is a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (86-90), SL (78-80), CU (79)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (80-83), CU (79-81)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (78-84), CU (80-83), CB (72-73)

2) Josh Roenicke: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a cutter with solid cut that can move like a 2-7 slider at times.

4th: FB (92-95), Cut (84-87)

3) Danny Ray Herrera: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Herrera is a 5-6, 165 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a 9-4 slider with good bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties. Solid LOOGY, but more of a # 2 lefty in a pen.

4th: FB (80), SL (73)

4) Robert Manuel: 39 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• Manuel is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He come from over the top with a little herky jerk release. He separates hands quickly and seems to try and put his lead leg on the ground as fast as possible. His fastball has a little run in on righties. His change has good sink and a little fade from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. Extra (4-A) arm.

5th: FB (84-87), SL (81), CU (76-82)

6th: FB (84-87), SL (78-81), CU (79-82)

5) Dave Weathers: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (83-84)

6) Nick Masset: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Masset came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and quickly dispatched the Mets in the 8th.

8th: FB (92-96)

Chart Observations (7/8): CIN @ PHI

Picked up this extra chart on the day of, so that is the reason I chose not to update last night (that and the fact I played tennis, but the above sounded more professional)

1) Homer Bailey: 95 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 5th)

• Bailey is a 23 year old who stands 6-3, 210. The righty has a medium frame that can get up to 220. He comes from an over the top release with a little Ubaldo Jimenez like arm action where he likes to straighten the arm on the backtake, but fairly quiet delivery. He throws 2 different types of fastballs, a 4-seam that is fairly straight and a 2-seam that can flash above average run in on righties with some sink, but it can flatten out. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His split has some dive, but can look more like a straight change and it served as his out pitch to lefties early until he realized it literally wasn't moving... His slider is a hard, sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Bailey will never reach the expectations he has had, but it isn't out of the realm of possibility for him to be a middle of the rotation guy. He threw all 3 of his off-speed pitches between 5 and 10 % of the time and will always rely on his fastball, which he had good command of. I think he will be an above average # 3 starter in about 3 or 4 years.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (76-78), Split (87)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (76), SL (86)

3rd: FB (92-95), SL (85-86), Split (86-89)

4th: FB (91-96), CB (76), SL (85-87), Split (86-89)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (78-79), SL (86-88), Split (89-90)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (76-77), SL (86-88)

2) Rodrigo Lopez (He's Back!): 69 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 2 on Sliders (1st, 2nd)

• Lopez is a 6-1, 185 pound righty. The 33 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His change has some fade from lefties with some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with some bite. His cutter has some cut that he can throw to either corner, but prefers to throw it in on the hands of lefties. He will throw his change to righties. Won't kill you in the NL as a 5th starter.

1st: FB (86-90), CU (83-84), SL (81-84), Cut (89)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (85), SL (80-84), Cut (88-91)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (80), Cut (89)

4th: FB (86-91), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), Cut (88-89)

5th: FB (82-84) *left the game following this inning due to an injury and his arm speed was noticeably slower.

3) Chad Durbin: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters (6th, 7th)

• Durbin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink, a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink.

6th: FB (89-92), Cut (87-89), CB (77), CU (80)

7th: FB (89-93), Cut (86-89), CB (77-78), CU (80)

4) J.C. Romero: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good late run in on lefties.

7th: FB (90-91)

5) Nick Masset: 15 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball, 4 Splitters.

• Masset is a 6-4, 235 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has good run in on righties with good sink. His splitter has above average dive and is a late breaking pitch. I am a huge fan of him and think he can be utilized similar to Scot Shields was with the Angels.

7th: FB (93-96), Split (88-90), SL (86)

6) Arthur Rhodes: 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Rhodes is a 6-2, 210 pound lefty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite. Solid lefty setup man.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (80-84)

7) Dave Weathers: 28 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (8th)

• Weathers is a 6-3, 240 pound righty. The 39 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties and solid sink. Another solid set-up guy.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (83-85)

9th: FB (87-90), SL (82-85), CU (85-86)

8) Ryan Madson: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Madson came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink.

8th: FB (96-98), CU (84-85), Cut (93)

9th: FB (94-96), CU (83), Cut (90-93)

Chart Observations: PIT @ STL

• Got to watch Todd Wellemeyer and he continued to show his plus command of all his pitches. He was primarily FB, SL, CU and mixed in a few curveballs. Hasn't faced the best lineups, but is a middle of the rotation starter for a contender (decent 3, strong 4).
• Ross Ohlendorf opposed him. Ohlendorf attacked hitters with a low to mid 90's sinker, low 80's slider and low 80's changeup. Nothing about him is above average (including his command) and is a protypical RH. His ceiling is that of a back-end starter for a contender, as if his command improves, he should have the stuff (and the ability to pitch to contact) to be a solid # 4 or # 5.
• Blaine Boyer retired the only batter he faced, Craig Monroe, with a diet of plus curveballs and average fastballs. Still think he is a solid middle guy.
• Trever Miller is a good LOOGY to have in the pen. He features a high 80's fastball and a frisbee slider in the mid 70's. No reason to think he can't keep having success.
• Evan Meek could throw 3 pitches or he could throw 5. No one is really sure. He throws a fastball in the mid 90's (93-95) that has a lot of cutting action, a cut fastball in the high 80's to low 90's, a slider in the mid 80's, a curveball in the mid 70's to low 80's and a changeup (which I didn't see). No one is sure if the breaking pitch is the same pitch (I thought it was) or if he throws only cutters or if the action on the ball is just natural. That being said, he has the future to be a back-end reliever. He needs to tighten a breaking ball, as his fastball is his only real plus pitch. Think the ceiling is a closer if he develops the breaking pitch further, but is more likely to settle in as a quality middle reliever.
• Shane Robinson made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter. He is a small guy (5-9, 160) with a small frame. I thought he was African-American, but he is white. He is known as a speedster with little power and I gathered that much from his stance. He has one of those stances with the bat resting on his shoulder until he triggers, where everything works to get himself ready. He takes the bat off his shoulder and cocks it and also strides. He will never have much power hitting that way. With a whole sample size of 1 AB, I think his ceiling is as a 4th OF who can CF (those are fairly valuable) but one that will struggle to hit above .250 and provide zero power. Maybe Robinson can learn from Skip Schumaker and make himself into a super-utility guy by learning 2B.

Got the Reds-Cardinals game tonight featuring Johnny Cueto and Joel Pineiro.

Sorry about no comment on the Reds-Brewers game, but here are some from what I remember (went out last night and didn't get back to the apartment until 230)

• Braden Looper showed an inability to command his stuff last night and when he struggles like that, he will get hit (even by a Reds lineup that had 2 of their 3 best hitters sitting due to the flu). He features a high 80's to low 90's sinker/fastball, a low 80's slider and a low 80's splitter.
• Micah Owings upside is that of a # 5 starter. Just not much left there to work with. I think he needs to start focusing on his hitting and become an OF.
• Mark DiFelice continues to baffle hitters and people who like radar gun readings, as he continues to get people out. He primarily throws a low 80's cutter and a low 80's changeup. Who knows if he can keep this up? He has excellent command (and good thing b/c he is going to need it once the scouting reports are out).
• Nick Masset flashed some of his old command problems, but looks like a very capable pitcher to bridge the gap to the Reds set-up core.
• Thought Dusty made a bad decision by leaving in Arthur Rhodes to face the right handers. Turns out I am a moron.

Chart Impressions: CIN @ FLA

Today we got to pick our 2 games to chart (b/c I am usually amongst the first in the office, I can choose any game). First game I did was the Reds @ Marlins to get a look at Volquez and Volstad.

• Edinson Volquez continues to pitch extremely well. He extended his streak of shutout innings to 16 with 8 shutout last night. Volquez attacks hitters with a plus low 90's moving fastball, low 80's changeup and will mix in a low 80's slider and low 70's curveball. The change can be anywhere from a plus to a plus-plus pitch. The slider is average and the curveball is an above average offering. He likes to throw the changeup to hitters on both sides of the plate and it can sometimes look like a slider. Continues to look like a bona fide # 2 for a contender and if his command can ever come around, he is an ace.
• Chris Volstad got the start for the Marlins and he is a big guy who has a lot of room to add muscle to his frame. He currently sits in the low 90's with his fastball and also throws a high 70's curveball and low 80's changeup. Volstad's fastball is average, his curveball is everywhere from average (a couple) to plus-plus (1 of those) and his changeup is an above average offering. Volstad typically needs to have plus command to succeed and he didn't quite have that last night. He is also somewhat predictable when facing RH's, as he only attacks them with his FB and CB. Against LH's, he mixes his 3 pitches. He is still young and, with his frame and easy mechanics (almost over the top release), it isn't out of the realm of possiblity for him to start touching the mid 90's. As he is now, he is a # 4 starter for a contender, with the potential to be an average # 2 starter.
• Hayden Penn continues to tease with his low 90's 2-seamer and 4-seamer, high 70's curveball and low 80's change. Penn's 2-seamer has some pretty good fade and sink to it on occasion, being a plus pitch and his curveball is right between above average and plus. His issue is below average command of his pitches. He falls behind hitters and resorts to throwing his straight 4-seam. His upside is that of a late inning reliever, but I don't think he will ever have the command to do that. He will likely be an 11th or 12 guy in a pen and he will be bouncing on the bus between AAA and the majors.
• Kiko Calero is posting some good K numbers for the Marlins out of the bullpen. He attacks hitters with an above average high 70's to low 80's slider, high 80's fastball and low 80's change. Calero has plus command of his slider, allowing him to throw it in any count and (as a 1 inning guy) allows hitters to not feel comfortable in the box. He is probably pitching a little over his head right now, but is a solid 9th or 10th pitcher and a solid middle relief option right now.
• Nick Masset threw the 9th and featured a low 90's 2-seamer, low 90's 4-seamer and a mid 70's curveball. The 2-seam had some good run to it last night and the curveball was a plus pitch, though he only showed an ability to bury it with 2 strikes. I do like him as a reliever (he didn't show any command issues in this inning of work) and think he has a slight chance of being a late inning guy, but he could be fairly valuable as a Scot Shields type as a middle reliever, giving you multiple innings and bridging the gap to your closer if he develops his command.
• I personally think Joey Votto is the 2nd best hitter in the NL next to Albert Pujols. He shows an ability to control the strike zone and get pitches he wants to hit at a rare level for someone of his age. He is beginning to be pitched around and Brandon Phillips will need to be back to his old self to stop this from continuing to happen. I think Votto can be a .310-.420-.530 hitter in his prime. Big fan of this kid.
• I like what John Baker brings to the table for the Marlins offensively. He is a little rough defensively in regards to receiving and being consistent with throwing out base stealers, but he is weapon offensively. He shows a strong eye from the left side and is an ideal # 2 hitter with his ability to control the bat. That being said, he is over exposed as an everyday player. He would probably be best as serving in a catcher platoon. Brett Hayes is a guy who used to have a high stock in the organization, but has fallen down. Maybe have them be a LH/RH combination (I haven't seen Hayes play, so I am unsure as to how much he has regressed).
• Despite his struggles, I think Chris Dickerson will be fine. He is very similar set-up wise to Votto, utilizing a front toe turn as opposed to a step. He has a solid swing and has shown on-base ability (.324 OBP with a .217 AVG). He also provides strong speed in LF, though I am unsure as to how good he is at tracking balls and everything like that. I have to imagine he will get another month to try and re-prove himself as the left side of the platoon with Jerry Hairston or he may and Laynce Nix may switch roles.