Chart Observations: 10/2 COL @ LAD

1) Randy Wolf: 91 pitches. FB, CB, SL, CU. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Wolf came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a sweeping 11-5 slider with good bite, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from righties and a little sink that he will throw 3-2.

1st: FB (89-93), CB (67-69), SL (79-80), CU (79-81) - FB (Spilborghs)

2nd: FB (89-91), CB (66-67), SL (80-81)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (66-67), SL (77-82), CU (78-79) - FB (Spilborghs)

4th: FB (86-89), CB (67-68), SL (80-81), CU (77)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (68), SL (82), CU (79)

2) Ubaldo Jimenez: 115 pitches. FB, SL, CU, CB. 14 strikes swinging. 5 Changeups, 3 Fastballs, 3 Curveballs, 3 Sliders.

• Jimenez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a changeup thrown with a splitter grip that has slightly above average diving action that he will throw in 2-0 and 3-2 counts and a hard 2-7 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (93-100), CB (80)

2nd: FB (97-100), SL (88-92), CU (89-90)

3rd: FB (93-100), SL (88-91), CU (88-90), CB (81) - 2 FB (Hudson, Kemp), 2 SL (Ethier, Kemp), CU (Ethier), CB (Ramirez)

4th: FB (94-98), SL (87-89), CU (86-88), CB (80-81) - 3 CU (Loney, Hudson - 2), CB (Hudson), FB (Blake)

5th: FB (95-97), SL (87-89), CU (86-89), CB (77) - SL (Pierre), CU (Ramirez)

6th: FB (96-99), SL (84-89), CU (86-89), CB (76-79) - CB (Blake)

3) Ramon Troncoso: 20 pitches. FB, CB, CU.

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

6th: FB (92-94), CB (78-80)

4) Scott Elbert: 2 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Elbert is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider moves more like a cutter and has some bite. Strong arm, but needs to refine his command.

7th: FB (95), SL (91)

5) Ronald Belisario: 17 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Belisario came from a 3/4 release and showed a hard sinker with good run in on righties and some sink and a 3-8 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (95-97), SL (86-91) - 2 FB (Atkins, Spilborghs)

6) Matt Daley: 28 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Daley came from a sidearm 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 good sink and some fade from lefties.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (76-80), CU (81-82)

7) Joe Beimel: 2 pitches. FB, CB, CU. 0 strikes swinging.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a flat 2-7 curve with average depth.

7th: FB (88), CB (74)

8) Rafael Betancourt: 18 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs.

• Betancourt came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 1-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (81-83) - 2 FB (Ramirez, Kemp)

8th: FB (92-93), SL (83) - 2 FB (Blake - 2)

9) George Sherrill: 14 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

8th: FB (88-91), SL (74-76) - SL (McCoy)

10) Huston Street: 17 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 1 strike swinging. Changeup

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

8th: SL (83)

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

11) Jonathan Broxton: 17 pitches. FB, SL, CU. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

9th: FB (97-100), SL (91) - 3 FB (Tulowitzki - 2, Stewart)

Chart Observations: 9/6 SD @ LAD

1) Hiroki Kuroda: 89 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, 3 Splitters.

• Kuroda came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a split with some dive and a 2-7 slider that was a little loopy.

1st: FB (90-94), SL (82), Split (87-90) - 2 Split

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (87), Split (87-88) - Split

3rd: FB (91-96), SL (82-85), Split (89-90) - SL

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

5th: FB (89-95), SL (81-88), Split (89-90) - 2 SL

2) Tim Stauffer: 104 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 5 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, 2 Cutters, Fastball.

• Stauffer came from a high 3/4 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 curve with above average depth and a cutter with some cut and some sink.

1st: FB (89-91), CB (76), CU (80-82) - CU

2nd: FB (90-92), CB (75-77), CU (80-81), Cut (85-87)

3rd: FB (89-90), CB (74-75), CU (79-80), Cut (85)

4th: FB (88-92), CB (77), CU (80), Cut (85-87)

5th: FB (88-90), CB (75-77), CU (80-81), Cut (85) - CU

6th: FB (89-90), CB (75-78), CU (80), Cut (84-85) - 2 Cut

7th: FB (88-90), CU (78-81), Cut (83-86) - FB

3) Jeff Weaver: 25 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Weaver came from a high 3/4 release (though he will throw anywhere from there to sidearm) and showed a 11-5 curve with average depth, a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties, a frisbee slider with some bite and some sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with average bite.

6th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82), CU (84), CB (74) - SL

7th: FB (89-90), SL (80-82), CU (84), CB (75), FSL (78) - SL

4) Joe Thatcher: 5 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Thatcher came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties.

7th: FB (88)

5) Luke Gregerson: 18 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 5 Sliders, Fastball.

• Gregerson came from a 3/4 release and showed a sharp 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 a touch of sink.

7th: SL (82-84) - SL

8th: FB (92), SL (82-85), CU (81) - 4 SL, FB

6) Ronald Belisario: 4 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Belisario came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink.

8th: FB (95-96)

7) George Sherrill: 3 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Sherrill came from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball.

8th: FB (89-91)

8) Hong-Chih Kuo: 26 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Kuo came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 10-5 curve with average depth and a sharp 11-5 slider with good bite

9th: FB (94-97), SL (85-87), CB (78-79) - 2 FB

9) Heath Bell: 22 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Bell came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some sink and a sharp 11-5 curve with above average depth that he will throw 3-2.

9th: FB (93-95), CB (81-84) - 2 FB

Chart Observations: 8/19 STL @ LAD

1) Adam Wainwright: 99 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 3rd), 3 Cutters (1st, 3rd, 5th), 2 Curveballs (3rd, 5th)

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

1st: FB (90-94), CB (72-74), Cut (84-86)

2nd: FB (89-93), Cut (88)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (73-75), Cut (83)

4th: FB (89-94), CB (73-77), Cut (85-87)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (73-76), Cut (88)

6th: FB (88-92), CB (73-75), Cut (83-87)

7th: FB (90-93), CB (75-77), Cut (85-87), CU (83)

2) Clayton Kershaw: 97 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd), 4 Sliders (3 in 3rd, 4th), 2 Curveballs (1st, 2nd)

• Kershaw came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 11-5 slider with good bite, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a straight change that had a little late fade from righties.

1st: FB (92-94), SL (77-80), CB (71)

2nd: FB (92-93), SL (78-79), CB (71-72), CU (82)

3rd: FB (92-94), SL (77-80), CB (71-73)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (76-79), CB (70-73)

3) James McDonald: 39 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 5th), Curveball (6th)

• McDonald 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 change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties.

4th: FB (92-94), CB (77)

5th: FB (91-94), CB (73-77), CU (75-76)

6th: FB (90-95), CB (75-79), CU (74)

4) Ronald Belisario: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (93-96), SL (85-88)

5) Hong-Chih Kuo: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

8th: FB (94-96), SL (83-88)

6) Kyle McClellan: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

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

8th: FB (91-92), Cut (87-88), CB (77)

7) Dennys Reyes: 1 pitch. 0 strikes swinging.

• Reyes came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties (maybe too much, as he hit Ethier on the first fastball).

9th: FB (90)

8) Ryan Franklin: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Franklin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a split with above average dive.

9th: FB (92-94), CB (77), Split (84-85)

9) Jonathan Broxton: 18 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders.

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

9th: FB (95-100), SL (89-92)

8/10: LAD @ SF

1) Hiroki Kuroda: 93 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th), 4 Sliders (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd), Splitter (3rd)

• Kuroda came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with solid sink, a split with slightly above average dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite that he can hang and can be inconsistent break-wise. He will throw 3-2 splitters.

1st: FB (90-94), SL (81-86), Split (87-88)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (81-86), Split (88-89)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (79-85), Split (86-90)

4th: FB (93-94), Split (89)

5th: FB (91-94), SL (85)

6th: FB (92-94)

7th: FB (92-95), SL (81)

2) Jonathan Sanchez: 91 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 4th), 2 Sliders (1st, 5th), 2 Changeups (2nd, 5th)

• Sanchez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with sink and a loopy 11-5 slider with some bite. He will throw 2-0 changes and 2-1 sliders. Stuff looked better, but still may be a step back from last year.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (79-85), CU (83-88)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (78-85), CU (82-86)

3rd: FB (86-93), SL (79-80), CU (79-81)

4th: FB (89-93), SL (77-83), CU (78-87)

5th: FB (88-93), SL (80-84), CU (83-85)

3) Justin Miller: 31 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders (3 in 6th, 2 in 7th)

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink, a split with solid dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (88-90), SL (78-81), Split (79-80)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (77-81), Split (80)

4) Hong-Chih Kuo: 6 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Kuo came from a high 3/4 release and showed an explosive fastball with some run in on lefties.

7th: FB (93-95)

5) Ronald Belisario: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (94), SL (85)

6) George Sherrill: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Sherrill came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 11-5 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (74-75)

7) Sergio Romo: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Romo came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-9 slider with good bite that stays on the same plane as his fastball until breaking late and a change with good fade from lefties with okay sink.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (75-78), CU (81)

8) Merkin Valdez: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (91-97), SL (76-84), Split (86)

9) Jonathan Broxton: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (96-100)

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.

LAD @ COL

• Eric Stults was the starter for the Dodgers. The 6-1, 220 pound left hander has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He was battling a thumb injury and featured a fastball at 85-92 (sat at 88-90), a curve at 73-78, a change at 79-82 and a cutter at 87-92 from a high 3/4 release. His changeup is a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand and is his best pitch. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a 10-4 type pitch and is inconsistent with hits break, showing good tilt once and then flattening out the next. His cutter doesn't have much cut. He really battled his command today (walking 7) and also looked to be guiding his changeup over the plate as opposed to throwing it. His upside is that of a # 5 starter or swingman. He is pitching to that potential right now.
• Jorge De La Rosa had the tale of 2 games. The 6-1, 210 pound left hander featured a 3/4 release. The 27 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out and featured a fastball at 89-95, a slider at 84-86, a changeup at 82-85 and a curveball at 72-74. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that has a little run. His changeup has good run and sink and is above average. The slider can flatten out, but is a 9-5 type pitch. Both his change and slider have very similar action and have good late drop. His curveball is a big breaking 10-4 pitch. In the first 3 innings, his command was tremendous. He was getting ahead, throwing all his pitches for strikes and hit the outside corner consistently with his fastball (which sat at 92-94). However, in the 4th he returned to the De La Rosa that had washed out of multiple organizations. He struggled to command his fastball and allowed some bloop hits make him feel like he had to do it himself, meaning he lived even more on the fringe. A guy that has all the attribues to be a middle of the rotation starter (minus the command) and will likely settle in as a back end starter. He has had a lot of difficulty going through the order a 2nd time, so he may need to become a reliever, where he could be lights out for an inning and would profile as a left handed set-up man if your manager could stomach late walks.
• Jaime Hoffmann is a 24 year old who is a big 6-3, 235. His medium to big frame is maxed out. He has an open stance very similar to that of Russell Branyan from the right side with a little bit of a bat wiggle. His trigger is a step to close his stance and cocks the bat. He has an above average arm and above average raw power with average speed. He seems to have all the attributes one looks for in a starting corner outfielder, but I have some doubts about his ability to hit for average. He appears to have a hole on the inside part to a pitcher with a good fastball. He was very comfortable driving the ball the other way. I think he settles in as a 4th OF, but one that is around more for his pinch-hitting then his defense.
• Dexter Fowler is a 23 year old who stands 6-4, 185. The switch hitter/righty thrower has a big frame that has a lot of room to add more muscle. From the right side, he has an open stance with a little shoulder wiggle. Trigger is a step in with little hand movement. From the left side, he is slightly open and holds his hands almost against his chest. His trigger is striding and bringing the bat back, ready to hit. I agree with most scouts that I like his lefty swing better and think it projects for more power. He is a plus runner who is very aggressive on the bases. He is a true 5 tool player, but will all 5 play? His frame shows the ability to be a 20 home run hitter, but he likely settles in around 15. His speed will always make a good base stealer and should get at least 30 every year. His throwing arm is slightly above average and he is a very good defensive center fielder. He also shows some plate discipline. A guy that looks very similar to a Grady Sizemore lite down the road with less power and more speed.
• Joel Peralta is a 33 year old who stands 5-11, 195. The right hander has a small frame that appears to be maxed out. From an over the top release, he featured a fastball at 90-92, a curveball at 77-78 and a splitter at 78-83. His splitter has a little dive with good fade. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a somewhat flat 3-9 type that is an average offering. He rocks back and forth on the rubber before coming set. All 3 of his pitches are just average offerings, giving him little room for error especially at Coors. I think he bounces around a little more for another season and then will be done.
• Josh Fogg is a 32 year old who stands 6-0, 205. He has a medium frame that is maxed out. Fogg featured a fastball at 85-88, a cutter at 85-88, a slider at 83 and a changeup at 80-81 from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seamer with decent fade and a little sink. His change moves his FB and is just a little slower. His cutter moves into lefties and is an average offering. Slider looks like the cutter, but has some bite and is slower. A long reliever/swing man type that you hope doesn't need to throw alot. He is likely looking to take the recently waived Glendon Rusch's role.
• Jeff Weaver is a 32 year old who stands 6-5, 200. His big frame has room to add a lot more muscle, but that likely won't be happening. From a low 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 89-91, a slider at 79-82 and a changeup at 83-84. His slider is somewhat sharp with very little movement. His changeup shows decent fade, but is just average. His fastball is 2-seam with some run due to arm angle. Will drop down sidearm with 2 strikes to present another look to a hitter. A long reliever who has no potential left as a starter. He threw nearly as many sliders as fastballs.
• Will Ohman is a 31 year old who stands 6-2, 210. The left hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 89-93 and a slider at 85-88. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slider is a 10-5 pitch that shows good side-to-side movement, but not much in regards to late bite. I still am not a fan of him being your top lefty in the pen, as left handers don't seem to be nearly as fooled as the last couple of years. A solid 2nd lefty though.
• Jason Grilli is a 32 year old who stands 6-5, 225. The right hander has a big frame that is close to being maxed out. From an over the top release, he featured a fastball at 92-94 and a slider at 85-88. His fastball is a straight 4-seamer. His slider is sharp, but doesn't have a ton of movement and is very inconsistent. It can show good movement, but not always. A solid middle reliever (today withstanding).
• Alan Embree is an immortal, pitching as a 38 year old standing at 6-2, 200. The lefthander has a medium frame that is maxed out. He showed a fastball at 92-95, a slider at 76-80 and a change at 83. His slider is a loopy 9-4 that seems to have lost something over the years. He still has his plus 4-seam fastball though and that will always allow him to be in a big league bullpen. His changeup is nothing special and went straight into the dirt. A good 2nd lefty to have and he can get righthanders out on occasion.
• Ronald Belisario is a 26 year old who stands 6-3, 235. The righthander's medium to big frame is maxed out. From a 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 93-96 and a slider at 85-89. His 2-seam fastball has a ton of fade and is a plus pitch, though he is inconsistent with his command of it. His slider is an average offering with 11-7 type break. Solid middle reliever who could be a setup man or even a closer depending on the development of his off speed pitch and his command.
• Manny Corpas is a 26 year old who stands 6-3, 170. The righthander has a medium to big frame that has a lot of room to add more muscle. From a 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 90-93 and a slider at 81-85. He is not the same pitcher he was a couple years ago when he closed. His fastball is a 2-seam with a little fade and is just an average offering. His slider is somewhat sharp and is a 3-9 pitch, but is also just average. He is now just a run of the mill middle reliever after big things were projected for him after his strong 2007 season.
• Guillermo Mota is a 35 year old who stands 6-5, 235. He has a big frame that is maxed out. From a 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 94-95, a slider at 87 and a change at 85-86. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is still sharp and is a 2-7 type pitch. His changeup has good fade and sink. He is an average middle reliever who is teetering on the brink of retirement/free agency if he doesn't begin getting better results on balls in play.

2 extra charts tomorrow. Plus a baseball game.

Saturday Tidbits

Getting ready for a scrimmage in the semi-pro baseball league I am now playing in and will be toeing the rubber against live hitters for the 1st time in awhile. Hope the shoulder holds up.

But, on to some observations from last night and 2 very early morning charts

• Eric Stults is your typical finesse LH who can sit at 90. However, control issues plagued him last night as he struggled to get ahead of the Rockies hitters. Solid average curveball. Might be able to be a back-end starter, but once the scouting reports get out, it will be tough for him to continue to replicate his success.
• Aaron Cook has lost some control. His sinker is still very good, but his ability to command it is still in spring training form. Cook walked Stults twice on 9 pitches. As a guy who relies on the movement of his pitches and the ability to command them, he may be (and currently is) in the middle of a long season. Maybe he's hurt?
• For those of you that haven't seen Ronald Belisario, I am sorry. This kid is a legitimate back of the bullpen type talent. As a reliever, you only really need 1 plus pitch and an offspeed pitch that you can throw for strikes. Belisario's plus pitch is his 94-96 mph 2-seam fastball that has a lot of action. It is very difficult to square his ball up and hitters have said it is like hitting a brick. His slider is usable enough to not have hitters sit completely on it. Where do the Dodgers keep finding these arms?
• Huston Street and Manny Corpas are 2 guys who are struggling a little bit. Street actually looked fairly good last night, commanding his pitches well in the zone. However, both have a tendency to leave the ball up and Corpas' stuff just hasn't been the same since their October run in 2007.
• Hong-Chih Kuo blew the save, then got the win. Dude has plus velocity for a LHP (sat at the mid 90's) and his mechanics are actually fairly clean, so it may just be a bad arm that causes all the injuries he has had the past couple of seasons.
• Jonathan Broxton, stardom is awaiting. This dude appears to be underrated, but he needs to be mentioned amongst the best closers in the game. Poor Chris Iannetta just couldn't straighten out his 99 and 100 mile per hour fastballs last night and then waved at just a dirty slider to end the game.
• Andre Ethier has been a different hitter since Manny arrived in the lineup. Now hitting behind Manny, he is just lacing the ball. He has a very quiet setup and swing but the bat head gets through quickly and stays in the zone awhile. He may be on course for quite a few all star teams at this pace.
• Zach Greinke has been unreal. I said Bush wasn't dominant in his no hit bid, but Greinke was dominant against Detroit. The guy was locating 4 of his pitches and was getting the Tigers hitters to hit the pitches he wanted to. Just an unreal streak he has going on.
• Speaking of Greinke's opponent, this was my 2nd time watching Rick Porcello and my 1st time charting him. He has a great 2-seam fastball that has some movement (but not as much as Belisario) and sits in the low 90's with it. His issue right now is a consistent off-speed pitch. He had some big struggles with his curveball either bouncing it at the 40 foot mark or having it sail on him way out of the zone high. His changeup was strong against the Royals left handed hitters, but he had a tendency to bounce those as well. I think his ceiling is that of a # 2 starter (maybe a # 1 if he can start throwing his plus slider again).
• Nate Robertson, oh Nate Robertson. Guy is struggling with his command and he doesn't have the stuff to be constantly pitching behind hitters (even in the bullpen). If he can get strike one, he's fine. If he doesn't, well, hitters sit on that 87-90 mph fastball and tee off.
• Felipe Paulino really shocked me. I was expecting a protypical RHP b/c Houston's system is regarded as being terrible, but this guy has some legit potential. He was SITTING at 94 the entire night (6 IP) and was touching 96 and 97 when he needed to. His slider has good late bite and is another average to plus offering as he gains more command. His issue is he has nothing to attack left handed hitters. His changeup is fringy and he doesn't throw too many 2-seamers. If he can find a serviceable changeup to just have left handed hitters keep it in the back of their mind, he is a # 2 starter. As he is now, a middle of the rotation starter with a chance to be real special in the back-end of the bullpen.
• Yovani Gallardo fired a complete game win in his start and he looked great as well. His fastball velocity is right around 93 with the ability to get 95, but his weapon is a hammer curve that he can throw for strikes or bury. He also has a solid changeup that is enough to keep left handers worried, as it is straight and is slow enough (typically around 86-87) where they roll over on it and ground on routinely to first. He may not be the Cy Young winner I thought he might be this season, but he is a strong # 2 starter on a contending team and has the ability to be a legit ace in a couple of years.
• Mark Teahen's value to the Royals right now can't be measured. Guys that can play multiple positions and still be your 3 hole hitter? Hit a nice opposite field home run to LF last night and he is looking just like what he is, a .280-.360-.480 type hitter. That line would be incredible for a 2B, but for a 3B or corner outfielder, it is just average. Give Teahen his due.
• Michael Bourn has looked much better in April the couple of times I saw him. He no longer looks overmatched at the plate and seems to have an idea of what he wants to do. He is still pounding the ball on the ground and utilizing his best asset, his legs, to get singles. He is taking walks, which is something he didn't do at all last year. My only curiosity is where are the stolen base attempts once he reaches?
• Mike Cameron and Humberto Quintero had a huge collision (and if you haven't seen it, you probably should). Cameron is a big, strong guy and Quintero was up the line to field the throw and had no choice but to hold his ground to make a tag. Cameron LIT HIM UP. No way around it. It was a football collision in baseball minus pads. Quintero left the game with a few maladies and hopefully he isn't worse for the wear.
• May need to change my opinion on Bill Hall. I was never a big Hall fan (and seriously doubt he can put up 35 home runs again), but he is a valuable player. He is actually a pretty good defender at 3rd, which i did not expect. He has shown the ability to barehand balls when charging in, go to his left and throw across his body to get an out and go to his right to get an out. I believe that if Milwaukee called up Matt Gamel now, they would be doing themselves a disservice, as he would have no position and he would, from what I hear, be a DRASTIC step down from Hall defensively. Hitting won't be Milwaukee's problem. Pitching will need to be there and one of the best ways to help pitching is by having a strong defense (Seattle Mariners anyone?)
• Working in Columbus last year, I saw many fine young players who are 2 to 3 years from the big time. One, however, is fighting to get recognized now. Mike Stanton, a 19 (YES, 19) is playing in High A and is hitting .360-.448-.660. I graded Stanton out as a 6.5 (the only hitters ahead or equal to him were Jason Heyward of the Braves and Angel Villalona of the Giants. My scouting report on Stanton:

"Swing is a little slow, but should increase bat speed as he ages. Real wide base keeps weight from going forward or back. Big guy who can add more muscle (scary, as he is 6-5, 205 already). Very strong arm (7 out of 7) with accuracy. Overall, is a very good prospect who will stick in RF. 20-25 home run guy with a .260-.280 average and he will have some big years.

• In looking at it again now (and after hearing of the rave reviews he got at spring training), he may far eclipse what I set out for him. My main concern was the bat speed (as he was late on several high 80's fastballs from Jesse Darcy) and he appears to have gotten that fixed. His swing is a little long and he will always put up some big strikeout numbers (has 14 in 50 high A at bats), but his offensive production as a whole would be outstanding. That projection should now probably be bumped up to a 30-35 home run guy (though who knows how FLA's new ballpark will play) and I think he will have more big years (.280-.400-.550) then not. Things continue to look great for the player-development machine in FLA.