Chart Observations: 9/18 TOR @ TB

1) James Shields: 97 pitches. (FB, CU, Cut, CB). 12 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 4 Changeups, 3 Cutters, Curveball.

• Shields 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 above average sink that he will throw to righties and in 3-2 counts, a cutter with some cut and some sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (90-92), CU (81-83), Cut (87-91), CB (80) - CU (Wells), Cut (Wells)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (82-83), Cut (87-90) - 2 Cut (Barajas, Snider)

3rd: FB (91-93), CU (81-84), Cut (89-90), CB (80) - 3 FB (McDonald, Bautista - 2), 2 CU (Wells, Bautista), CB (Wells)

4th: FB (90-92), CU (81-83), Cut (88-89), CB (79) - FB (Barajas)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (81-82), Cut (87-88) - CU (Hill)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (81-82), Cut (87-89), CB (78)

2) Scott Richmond: 63 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

1st: FB (90-91), SL (82), CB (76-77) - FB (Longoria)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (82-84), CB (73-79) - FB (Aybar)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (81-84), CB (78-80), CU (83)

3) Brian Wolfe: 36 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

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

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (78-82), Cut (91) - 2 FB (Zaun, Upton)

4th: FB (90-94), CB (79-80), Cut (90-91), CU (83)

4) Dirk Hayhurst: 57 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups, 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

4th: FB (87-90), CB (73-74), CU (79-80) - FB (Zaun)

5th: FB (87-89), CB (70-73), CU (77-79), SL (78-79) - CU (Bartlett), SL (Upton)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (72-73), CU (78-80), SL (79) - FB (Aybar), 2 CU (Crawford, Longoria)

5) Josh Roenicke: 32 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, 2 Changeups, Fastball.

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

7th: FB (92-93), Cut (89), CU (84) - Cut (Gross)

8th: FB (92-93), Cut (86-88), CU (83-84), CB (79-80) - FB (Aybar), Cut (Bartlett), 2 CU (Aybar, Crawford)

6) Dan Wheeler: 17 pitches. (FB, CU, SL, CB). 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter, Curveball.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a cutter with a little cut and sink, a 1-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink.

7th: FB (86-90), CU (83), SL (77-80), CB (75-76), Cut (82-84) - FB (Wells), Cut (Bautista), CB (Wells)

7) Russ Springer: 8 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (92-93), Cut (85) - 3 FB (Ruiz - 3)

8) Randy Choate: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Choate came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (87-88), SL (77-79) - FB (Snider)

9) Grant Balfour: 16 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

9th: FB (93-96), CB (82) - 2 FB (McDonald - 2)

Phillips Pop Time: 1.9

Chart Observations: 9/1 BOS @ TB

1) Jon Lester: 97 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut, CU). 12 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, 3 Cutters, Changeup

• Lester came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a cutter with good cut, a sharp 11-5 curve with good depth and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

1st: FB (92-94), CB (77), Cut (88-89), CU (83-84) - CB, CU

2nd: FB (92-95), CB (76-80), Cut (87-90), CU (84) - FB, Cut, CB

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (87-88)

4th: FB (91-95), CB (77-79), Cut (88), CU (84) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), CB (78-79), Cut (87-90) - 2 FB, Cut

6th: FB (90-95), CB (76-78), Cut (86-88), CU (82) - Cut, CB

2) Andy Sonnanstine: 91 pitches. (Cut, FB, CB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters, Curveball, Slider.

• Sonnanstine came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some run in on righties and a touch of sink, a 12-6 curve with below average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties and a touch of sink, but it can straighten out.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (86-89), CB (75-78), SL (78-82) - Cut

2nd: FB (86-88), Cut (86-89), CB (75-77), SL (77-80)

3rd: FB (85-87), Cut (84-86), CB (73), SL (76-80)

4th: FB (85-87), Cut (84-86), CB (75), SL (76-80), CU (80) - CB, SL

5th: Cut (82-84), SL (78) - Cut

3) Brian Shouse: 12 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Shouse came from a sidearm, almost submarine release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and good sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite.

5th: FB (79-80), SL (74)

4) Lance Cormier: 19 pitches. (Cut, FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

5th: Cut (86-87), CB (77-78)

6th: Cut (86-87), CB (76-77), FB (87-88)

5) Chad Bradford: 7 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Bradford 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 good sink that he will throw to righties and a flat 3-8 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (79-80), SL (67), CU (73)

6) Randy Choate: 25 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink and a 9-4 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (88-89)

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

8th: FB (85-87)

7) Billy Wagner: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Wagner came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a sharp 10-5 slider with good bite

7th: FB (93-94), SL (80-83) - 2 FB, SL

8) Hideki Okajima: 20 pitches. (FB, CB, Split). 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a split with a little dive.

8th: FB (85-88), CB (74-77), Split (80-83) - Split.

9) Jonathan Papelbon: 28 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Splitters.

• Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a split with some dive.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (88) - 2 FB

9th: FB (91-95), Split (88) - 2 Split

10) Dan Wheeler: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (88-90), CU (81-83) - CU

11) Grant Balfour: 20 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Balfour 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.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (87) - 2 FB

12) J.P. Howell: 5 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Howell came from an over the top release and showed a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink.

9th: FB (84-86), CB (79-80)

Score Observations: TOR @ TB (7/8 Game)

1) Brian Tallet: 84 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Slider (4th), 2 Cutters (2nd), 4 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Tallet comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some sink and a little fade from righties that looks like a fastball out of his hand and serves as his out pitch, a cutter with some cut that he likes to throw in on the hands of righties and a 10-4 slider with good bite. Solid back of the rotation guy.

1st: FB (87-89), Cut (87-88), CU (82-84)

2nd: FB (87-89), Cut (85-87), CU (82-84)

3rd: FB (86-89), Cut (85-86), CU (81-86), SL (79-80)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (80), SL (77)

2) Scott Kazmir: 107 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 4th, 5th), 4 on Sliders (2 in 2nd, 2 in 5th) and a Changeup (1st)

• Kazmir came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with some fade from righties and sink and a 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

1st: FB (89-92), SL (82), CU (79-81)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (81-82), CU (78-80)

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (80)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (80-82), CU (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (79-82)

6th: FB (89-92), SL (81-82), CU (80-81)

7th: FB (90-91), SL (82), CU (76-78)

3) Dirk Hayhurst: 44 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup (4th)

• Hayhurst came from an over the top release and is your typical 4 pitch long reliever. He features a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties. His curve serves as his out pitch. Seems to have the stuff to be a back of the rotation starter (not in the AL East) but is a guy I would target as an NL team in need of a guy to take a chance on.

4th: FB (88-89), CB (74-75), SL (80-82), CU (77-79)

5th: FB (88-89), SL (79-81), CU (77)

6th: FB (88-89), CB (74), SL (79-81), CU (78-79)

4) Grant Balfour: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, though it flashes run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. He fell behind often and was constantly 2-0 and had to throw cockshot fastballs.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (86-87)

5) Jesse Carlson: 28 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good late run in on lefties and a sweeping 11-5 slider with solid bite that serves as his out pitch.

7th: FB (87-88), SL (79-82)

6) Chad Bradford: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

• Bradford is a sidearming righty with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink and a slow 3-9 slider with good bite. The Rays gun had him at 98. Then Chad Bradford was accused of bribing the radar gun. Litigation is in progress.

8th: FB (77-79), SL (65-67)

7) Randy Choate: 9 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate is a sidearming lefty with a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (77-78)

8) Joe Nelson: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Nelson came from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties while his vulcan change is his main pitch and has good fade from lefties with solid sink and he will throw it to righties.

8th: FB (85-89), CU (78)

9) Jason Frasor: 43 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 2 Sliders (8th, 9th), 2 Splitters (8th, 9th)

• Frasor came from an over the top release and showed a fastball that is a pretty straight 4-seam, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a split with above average late dive. He will throw either of his off-speed pitches in a 3-2 count with something taken off.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (79-84), Split (83-87)

9th: FB (91-93), SL (81), Split (83-85)

10) J.P. Howell: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Howell comes from an over the top release, almost high 3/4. His change is a straight change with some sink. He also throws a fastball with some run in on lefties and good sink and a 11-4 curve with good depth. He has great command and will throw any pitch in any count.

9th: FB (84-85), CU (77-80), CB (81-82)

11) Scott Downs: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a curve that is a sharp 11-5 with good depth.

9th: FB (89-90), CB (76-77)

This was a 4-hour 9 inning game. Good for my paycheck.

Chart Observations: TOR @ TB

1) Marc Rzepczynski: 105 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th), 3 on Sliders (1st, 2nd, 6th) and 2 on Changeups (1st, 6th)

• Marc (not even going to try and respell or pronounce this cats name) is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that is close to being maxed out. He has a drop and drive delivery with a 3/4 release. He puts a lot of pressure on his back leg and pushes off very well. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 with solid bite. He throws 2 different types of fastballs: a straight 4-seam and a 2-seam with great run in on lefties and solid sink. His change has great sink and a little run in on righties, but it's break can be inconsistent and it can be straight. He has a lot of confidence in himself, willing (and preferring) to throw 3-2 sliders. He can struggle to finish his pitches and leave any of his pitches in the armside batters box. He has good stuff, but did start to tire as the game went deeper. He has flown through the Jays system, pitching all last season at low A and pitched at AA and AAA before making the bigs this year. I think his ceiling is that of a # 4 starter, but I think his best role is as a LOOGY, as the Rays lefties were extremely uncomfortable in the box against him.

1st: FB (87-88), SL (79-81), CU (83)

2nd: FB (86-88), SL (79-82)

3rd: FB (85-88), SL (79-80), CU (80)

4th: FB (86-88), SL (78-80), CU (81)

5th: FB (85-88), SL (78-80), CU (81)

6th: FB (86-88), SL (79-80), CU (81-82)

2) James Shields: 105 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 5th), 3 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 5th), Cutter (4th)

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a cutter with good cut and a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with above average sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth. He will throw his changeup to righties.

1st: FB (90-92), CU (82), Cut (83-86), CB (78)

2nd: FB (89-91), CU (83), Cut (84-88), CB (74)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (85-87), CB (77-78)

4th: FB (89-91), CU (82), Cut (85-86), CB (76-77)

5th: FB (89-92), CU (81), Cut (86-87)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (82), Cut (86-88), CB (77)

7th: FB (87-91), CU (82-83), Cut (83-87), CB (75)

8th: FB (89-90), Cut (84-85)

3) Shawn Camp: 29 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (7th), Fastball (9th)

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

7th: FB (88), CU (81-83)

8th: FB (85-87), SL (79), CU (81-84)

9th: FB (84-88), SL (79), CU (80-84)

4) Randy Choate: 1 pitch.

• Choate threw a fastball that had some run in Adam Lind.

8th: FB (85)

5) Chad Bradford: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bradford is a 6-5, 215 pound 34 year old. The sidearming righty has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. His fastball has good run in on righties with a little sink.

8th: FB (78)

6) J.P. Howell: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Howell came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His curveball is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth. His fastball has some run in on lefties with a little sink and his change is a straight change with some sink.

8th: FB (82-84), CB (76-80)

9th: FB (82-84), CB (80-81), CU (79)

7) Dan Wheeler: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wheeler came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with sink, a cutter with some cut and sink and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

10th: FB (88-89), CU (84), Cut (82)

11th: FB (86-88), CU (82-84), Cut (81), SL (77-81)

8) Brandon League: 31 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters (10th, 2 in 11th)

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

10th: FB (94-95), Split (84-87)

11th: FB (95-97), Split (85-87), SL (87)

Chart Observations (7/3 Game): TB @ TEX

1) Scott Kazmir: 99 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 4 in 4th), 5 on Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th) and 2 on Changeups (1st, 5th)

• Kazmir is a 6-0, 190 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and get up to at least 205. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 11-5 with solid bite and his change has some run in on righties with a little sink. Solid # 2 starter and if he can ever get consistent command and pitch beyond the 5th inning consistently, he is an ace.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (80-83), CU (77-80)

2nd: FB (90-91), SL (81-84), CU (78-79)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (81-83), CU (79-80)

4th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82), CU (78-79)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (80-82), CU (78-82)

2) Tommy Hunter: 90 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 3rd, 6th), 2 on Curves (2nd, 5th), 2 on Cutters (3rd, 5th) and a Changeup (4th)

• Tommy Hunter really impressed me. The 6-3, 255 pound righty has a big frame that is maxed out. The 23 year old comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties. His cutter has some cut and sink. His curve is a sharp 2-7 with good depth and can be a strikeout pitch. His change is straight with little sink and is below average and he will throw it to righties. Likes to throw his cutter in on the hands of lefties and has a very quiet delivery with hands going over his head. I think Hunter is a # 4 right now and he has the potential to be a strong # 3 starter for a contender. I am a fan of his windup and he has a very good mound presence in my opinion. He does need to improve his change though.

1st: FB (89-92), Cut (89-91), CB (77-80)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (88-90), CB (75-81)

3rd: FB (89-93), Cut (88-90), CB (76-80), CU (81-82)

4th: FB (89-91), Cut (86-90), CB (75-79), CU (80-83)

5th: FB (86-92), Cut (86-88), CB (75-80), CU (81)

6th: FB (87-88), Cut (88), CU (81)

3) Joe Nelson: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Nelson came from an over the top release and showed a vulcan change with good sink and fade from lefties and a fastball with a little run in on righties that flashed above average sink. He really battles his command from outing to outing.

6th: FB (84-87), CU (74-75)

4) Grant Balfour: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (6th)

• Balfour came from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Still haven't seen his control issues personally.

6th: FB (92-95), SL (88)

7th: FB (92-96), SL (86-91)

8th: FB (91-93), SL (90)

5) Jason Jennings: 30 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

• Jennings came from an over the top release with a fastball with good run and sink in on righties and a slider that can look like a curve with good bite.

6th: FB (88-90), SL (81-83)

7th: FB (87-90), SL (82)

6) C.J. Wilson: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (92-96), SL (84-86), CU (86), Cut (92)

7) Randy Choate: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate came from sidearm with a fastball with some run and sink in on lefties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (87-88), SL (77)

8) Dan Wheeler: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and sink and a loopy 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: Cut (83-84), SL (77)

9) Frank Francisco: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter

• Francisco came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a splitter with excellent dive.

9th: FB (93-96), Split (86-87)

TB @ TOR

1) Ricky Romero: 113 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (1st, 4th), 10 on Changeups (2 in 1st, 2 in 3rd, 3 in 4th, 2 in 5th, 7th)

• Romero comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 11-4 curve with good depth, a change with excellent sink and some fade from righties and a 10-4 slider with some bite. Romero is a future # 2 starter and has been absolutely dominant lately.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (80-83), CU (87)

2nd: FB (91-95), CU (84-85), SL (82-83)

3rd: FB (93-95), CB (80-81), CU (83-86)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (80), CU (84-86), SL (81)

5th: FB (91-93), CB (75-81), CU (83-88)

6th: FB (92-94), CU (85-86)

7th: FB (91-94), CU (81-87)

8th: FB (91-95), CB (78-79), CU (84-86), SL (83-86)

2) James Shields: 108 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (3rd, 4th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 2 in 6th), Changeup (7th), 5 on Cutters (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 5th)

• Shields came from an over the top release with a fastball that has good run in on righties and sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth, a cutter with solid cut and some sink that can flash 2-7 like slider movement and a change with excellent fade from lefties and some sink.

1st: FB (90-92), Cut (85-88), CB (74-77), CU (82)

2nd: FB (92-94), Cut (87-89), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (92-94), Cut (84-87), CB (76-77), CU (82-84)

4th: FB (91-95), Cut (85-86), CB (77-78), CU (82-83)

5th: FB (91-93), Cut (86), CB (76-77), CU (83)

6th: FB (92-94), Cut (84-88), CB (76-78), CU (82-83)

7th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-87), CB (78), CU (82-83)

8th: FB (92), Cut (84-87), CB (75), CU (80-83)

3) Randy Choate: 2 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Choate is a sidearming lefty with a sweeping 9-4 slider with good late bite and a fastball with some run in on lefties with a little sink.

8th: FB (89), SL (79)

4) Grant Balfour: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Balfour comes from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball.

8th: FB (95-97)

5) Jason Frasor: 16 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs, Splitter

• Frasor comes from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball and an out pitch that is his splitter that has good dive.

9th: FB (93-96), Split (86-89)

WAS @ TB

• James Shields is a 6-4, 220 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with a little fade and sink. His change shows great sink and some fade and is a plus offering. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good bite and depth. His cutter has good cut and flashes sink. His change is his out pitch and he has great command of it. He has a very clean drop and drive delivery. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (80-83), Cut (87), CB (75-76)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (81-83), Cut (85-86), CB (78)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (84), Cut (86-88), CB (74-75)

4th: FB (89-90), CU (80-82), Cut (87), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (90), CU (79-82), Cut (84), CB (75-77)

6th: FB (87-90), CU (79), Cut (86)

7th: FB (86-89), CU (81)

• Ross Detwiler opposed him. The lefty comes from a high 3/4 release that is almost over the top. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink. His change is a straight change with some sink. His curveball is a slurvy 11-4 offering with okay depth. He battled his command was effectively wild, as he issued 5 walks and got 3 double play balls. He has a ways to go to reach his ceiling as a 3rd starter.

1st: FB (90-94), CU (82-84), CB (76)

2nd: FB (90-93), CU (82), CB (76)

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (82-84), CB (75-77)

4th: FB (89-92), CU (82-83), CB (75-77)

5th: FB (88-92), CU (83), CB (76)

6th: FB (88-91), CU (82-83)

• Julian Tavarez attacks from a 3/4 release with a fastball that shows good fade and sink and a 2-7 slider with decent bite.

7th: FB (88-92), SL (79-81)

• Randy Choate is a sidearming lefty who showed a sweeping 9-3 slider with good late bite and a fastball with some run.

7th: FB (87-89), SL (77-79)

• Ron Villone comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a slurvy 10-4 slider with solid bite. He will tighten the slider and throw a sharper one as a strikeout pitch.

8th: FB (88-89), SL (77-84)

• Joe Beimel is a 6-3, 215 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run and sink and a 11-4 curve with good bite. He is a solid lefty in a pen, though I don't know if he should be the 1st lefty in someone's pen.

8th: FB (83-85), CB (71)

• Dan Wheeler is a 31 year old righty. The 6-3, 220 pounder has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release and showed a 4 pitch repetoire for a reliever: a 4-seam fastball with a litle fade, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curveball with good depth and a change with good fade and sink.

8th: FB (85-89), SL (81-83), CB (76-77), CU (82-83)

• J.P. Howell comes from an over the top release with a fastball with some fade and sink, a 10-4 curve with good depth and a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand. Likely the new closer with the injury to Troy Percival.

9th: FB (86-87), CB (79-83), CU (80)

Have 2 charts (and a baseball game) tomorrow and all the games look pretty brutal, so it should be awesome...

Chart Observations: MIN @ TB, Yankees Win

• David Price is a 23 year old left hander who stands 6-6, 225. He has a big frame that can add a little more muscle, but not much. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that has a little run. His slider is a very sharp 10-4 offering with good depth. His changeup is straight and below average. He rocks back in the windup at the balance point and then explodes to the plate. Price is a potential # 1 starter, as he just used a FB-SL until the 6th when he threw 2 changes. If he can develop another off-speed offering to use occasionally (he is also working on a curveball), he will reach it. Another interesting note is everytime he threw his slowest pitches of the inning to the 1st batter he faced and threw harder the longer the inning went. He needs to fix that.

1st: FB (91-97), SL (89-91)

2nd: FB (91-96), SL (86-88)

3rd: FB (91-96), SL (84-88)

4th: FB (89-94), SL (85-87)

5th: FB (90-97), SL (87-89)

6th: FB (91-97), SL (86-88), CU (84-87

• Francisco Liriano, a 25 year old who stands 6-2, 225 opposed him. Liriano is a left hander with a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball that is a straight 4-seam, a changeup that looks like the fastball out of his hand until it drops off the table and a sharp 10-4 slider. Liriano's issue is the hype around him and his command. At his current velocities, Liriano is a middle of the rotation starter. If he can get back up to sitting in the mid 90's, then he is an ace. His command within the strike zone also needs to improve, as he leaves too many pitches in the middle of the plate. Upside of an ace, but likely a # 3.

1st: FB (90-91), SL (85-88), CU (80-85)

2nd: FB (89-93), SL (83-87), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (90-93), SL (85-89), CU (83-85)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (83-87), CU (83-86)

• R.A. Dickey is a 34 year old knuckleballer who stands 6-2, 215. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. From an over the top release, he shows a knuckleball (why describe it when the catcher doesn't even know where it is going? The first one he threw, Joe Mauer completely whiffed and it him on his knee protectors), a 2-seam fastball with good fade and a straight change with a little fade. Who knows if he is useful? There are worse 12th men in the pen in the majors.

5th: KNU (70-79), FB (84-85)

6th: KNU (69-77), FB (83-85)

7th: KNU (74-77), FB (83-84), CU (79)

8th: KNU (72-79), FB (84-86), CU (73-77)

• Grant Balfour is a 31 year old who stands 6-2, 195. The right hander has a medium frame that looks to be maxed out. He attacks from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-8 slider that looks flatter then last year and a 12-6 curve. Both his offspeed pitches are just average and he has had issues with his command, though he didn't show them in this outing. Appears to be a reliable middle reliever who pitched over his head last year as their top setup man.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (85)

7th: FB (90-94), CB (81)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (86)

9th: FB (91-93), SL (84)

• Randy Choate is back in the big leagues. The 33 year old left hander stands 6-1, 200. He has a medium frame that has room to add more muscle, though expecting it too is probably a bad idea. The sidearmer featured a fastball with good run and sink and a 9-4 frisbee slider. Opens up his delivery as he steps toward third base as opposed to the plate, which has to give lefties a little better view of his pitches. As a 2nd lefty in a pen, you could do worse. But, is he more valuable then another righty? I think he continues to bounce around the bus to AAA.

9th: FB (86-89), SL (78-79)

• Northern Yankees won something like 9-4. I went 2-5 with a double and changed my stance and it worked much better against some of the slower pitching we see. I pitched the final 2 innings (we were tied at 4 after 5, we play 7 innings) and they were perfect frames with 3 strikeouts.

Tomorrow is another busy day. Have a chart, a baseball game at 530 or something like that and a 10:10 score featuring my 3rd look at Billy Buckner as a starter (in 3 chances) against what was supposed to be Clayton Kershaw, but has been changed to Hiroki Kuroda, as he makes his 1st start since coming off the DL. Who wants to watch one of the best lefties in the game anyways?