Showing posts with label Scott Downs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Downs. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Chart Observations: 9/14 TOR @ DET

1) David Purcey: 96 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.
  • Purcey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some sink that he will throw to lefties and 2-1 counts and 2-0 counts and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (72-74), CU (80-83) - 2 FB

2nd: FB (91-93), CB (71-73), CU (77-80) - FB

3rd: FB (90-93), CB (71), CU (79-82) - CU

4th: FB (90-92), CB (76), CU (78-82) - CU

5th: FB (87-93), CB (70-75), CU (78-80)

6th: FB (89-92), CB (71), CU (79) - 2 FB

2) Justin Verlander: 104 pitches. (FB, CB, CU, SL). 12 strikes swinging. 10 Fastballs, 2 Changeups.

  • Verlander came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a sharp 11-5 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties.

1st: FB (93-97), CB (81), CU (84), SL (86)

2nd: FB (91-97), CU (81-85) - 2 FB, CU

3rd: FB (93-98), CB (80) - 2 FB

4th: FB (94-97), CB (78-79), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (95-100), CB (78-83) - 4 FB

6th: FB (93-97), CB (77-80), CU (83-84) - CU

7th: FB (94-97), CB (79), CU (84-85) - 2 FB

3) Shawn Camp: 3 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

  • Camp came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a change with good sink and good fade from lefties.

6th: FB (90)

7th: FB (88), CU (84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 4 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Carlson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (88), SL (81)

5) Brandon League: 10 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

  • League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a splitter with good dive.

7th: FB (94-96), Split (84-86)

6) Fu Te Ni: 11 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (88-91), SL (75-78)

7) Scott Downs: 9 pitches. (FB, CB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (88-91) - FB

8) Jeremy Bonderman: 10 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (91-94), SL (84)

9) Jason Frasor: 23 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

  • Frasor 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 solid bite and a split with good dive.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (83-86), Split (84-86)

10) Ryan Perry: 8 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

10th: FB (95-97), SL (86) - SL

11) Bobby Seay: 1 pitch. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (92)

12) Brian Wolfe: 19 pitches. (FB, CB, Cut). 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Cutter.

  • Wolfe came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with some cut and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink. He will also mix in a straight 4-seamer.

10th: FB (91-96), Cut (91-93) - 2 FB, Cut.

  • Kyle Phillips is a 6-1, 225 pound catcher. The 25 year old lefty hitter, righty thrower has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. Has a straight on stance with a slight crouch and almost what appears to be a hunched upper body. He has the bat held over his shoulder at about a 65 degree angle. His trigger is a cocking of the bat and a stride. Has a good looking swing that should generate at least gap power, if not home run power. He can hit plus fastballs and didn't look overwhelmed against Verlander. He was 1.7 on a stolen base and has a quick release, which helps make up for an average throwing arm.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Chart Observations: 8/31 TOR @ TEX

1) Brett Cecil: 85 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Changeup.
  • Cecil came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and some sink, a change with a little run in on righties and above average sink that he will throw to lefties, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

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

2nd: FB (87-91), CU (82), SL (82) - CU

3rd: FB (86-89), CU (82-84), SL (82), CB (79-80)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (78-80), SL (79-80)

5th: FB (85-90), CU (79-81), SL (80-82), CB (77-79) - FB, CB, SL

2) Derek Holland: 71 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 7 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Curveballs, 2 Sliders.

  • Holland came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball that had a little run in on lefties, but was fairly straight, a 11-5 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from righties and some sink and a sharp 11-5 slider with solid bite. The slider serves as his out pitch and he only threw it in this outing when he had 2 strikes on a hitter.

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

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82), CB (72-75), SL (82) - SL

3rd: FB (90-93), CU (81-82), CB (72-73) - 2 FB

4th: FB (88-90), CU (82), CB (72-74), SL (77-79) - FB, 2 CB, SL

3) Doug Mathis: 50 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

  • Mathis came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball that has some run in on righties and flashes some sink and flashes above average run and above average sink at times, a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with good sink and some fade from lefties. He just peppered the outside corner to righties with his good moving fastball and they were all at the knees just on it or just off it.

4th: FB (89-90), SL (83-84)

5th: FB (88-90), SL (81-83), CB (75-77)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (83), CB (78-79), CU (81) - CB

4) Casey Janssen: 25 pitches. (FB, Cut, CB, SL, CU). 4 strikes swinging. 3 Curveballs, Cutter.

  • Janssen 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 some bite, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth and a cutter with some cut

6th: FB (89-90), Cut (85-90), CB (74-76), SL (81-83) - Cut, 3 CB

5) Jesse Carlson: 21 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

  • Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a change with some fade from righties with some sink that he spiked at about 45 feet.

6th: FB (87), SL (79-80)

7th: FB (85-88), SL (79-81), CU (80)

6) Scott Downs: 19 pitches. (FB, CB, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

  • Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a 10-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a fastball with good late tailing action in on righties and some late sink.

7th: FB (87-89), CB (73)

8th: FB (86-88), CB (74)

7) Darren O'Day: 27 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 7 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 5 Sliders.

  • O'Day came from a sidearm release and showed a 3-8 slider that has some bite that almost moves like a cutter, a fastball with good run in on righties

7th: FB (83-85), SL (76-77) - 2 FB, 4 SL

8th: FB (83-85), SL (75-77) - SL

8) Jason Grilli: 15 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

  • Grilli came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties and good sink.

9th: FB (90-92), SL (82-83), CU (82) - SL

9) Pedro Strop: 40 pitches. (FB, SL, Split). 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, Slider, Splitter.

  • Strop came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball that flashed a little run in on righties, a sharp 1-7 slider with good bite and a splitter with some dive. Had no problems getting ahead, but then he tried to be too fine with his pitches and ended up walking guys. Struggles to throw his off-speed stuff for strikes.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (80-83), Split (84-87) - 3 FB, SL, Split

10) Jason Frasor: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

9th: FB (91-93), SL (83-84), Split (83-85) - FB, SL

Random Observation: Chris Davis received a steady diet of curveballs from Blue Jays pitching and even saw Jesse Carlson (the Jays LOOGY who throws primarily sliders) pulled in favor of Scott Downs (primarily curveball lefty). The reports on him are obviously that he can't hit a curve or see it well.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

8/29: TOR @ BOS

1) Ricky Romero: 116 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 4 Changeups, Slider.
  • Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with good fade from righties and good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand that he will throw 3-1, 3-2 and to lefties, a 11-5 slider with some bite and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth. Worked in and out of trouble in the first 2 innings, mainly due to him falling behind counts constantly. Fastball command can change from at-bat to at-bat and from inning to inning. He loses 2 or 3 miles per hour out of the stretch. Rarely throws a fastball 3-2, throwing either changeups or sliders.

1st: FB (91-95), CU (86-87) - 4 FB

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (85), SL (83-85) - 2 CU

3rd: FB (91-95), CU (84-86), SL (81-83), CB (76-80) - CU

4th: FB (88-93), CU (82-84), SL (81-83), CB (77-79) - CU

5th: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), CB (76) - SL

6th: FB (89-93), CU (83-84), SL (81-82), CB (76-78)

2) Clay Buchholz: 107 pitches. 15 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Sliders, 11 Changeups, Curveball.

  • Clay 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 above average bite, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties. Throws a lot of 1st pitch fastballs for strikes (not quality strikes, catch a lot of the plate) and will need to throw some breaking pitches for 1st pitch strikes to keep hitters off balance. After writing that, he threw a 1st pitch change to Lind that he swung right through. In the 5th inning, he lost his fastball command, but got it back in the 6th. Changeup was filthy in the 7th and 8th and he had command of it, which isn't fair for Toronto hitters. Best stuff from him I have seen all year.

1st: FB (93-95), CU (78), SL (87), CB (77)

2nd: FB (92-95), CU (78-80), SL (84-85), CB (75) - SL, CU

3rd: FB (92-94), CB (77) - FB

4th: FB (92-95), CU (79), SL (86), CB (76-77) - CB, CU

5th: FB (90-95), CU (77)

6th: FB (92-95), CU (77-79), SL (84-87), CB (77) - 2 CU, SL

7th: FB (89-93), CU (76-79), CB (75-77) - 4 CU

8th: FB (93-95), CU (78-80), CB (76-78) - 2 CU

9th: FB (92-94), CU (79), CB (75-77) - CU

3) Casey Janssen: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (91-92), SL (84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

  • Carlson came from a sidearm release and showed a 9-4 slider with good bite

6th: SL (80-82) - SL

5) Brandon League: 27 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters, 2 Sliders.

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

6th: FB (94-96), SL (84), Split (83-84)

7th: FB (95), SL (85-86), Split (84-86) - 3 Split, 2 SL

6) Scott Downs: 26 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

  • Downs came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a sharp, sweeping 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth.

8th: FB (87-90), CB (75-76) - FB, CB

7) Hideki Okajima: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

  • Okajima came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

9th: FB (86-87), CB (76)

8) Jonathan Papelbon: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

  • Papelbon came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a 3-8 slider with good bite

9th: FB (94-95), SL (80)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

8/26: TOR @ TB

1) Scott Kazmir: 15 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs, 3 Sliders, 3 Changeups.
  • Kazmir 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 change with some fade from righties and a little sink. Will throw 3-2 changeups. Good control, but struggles to command his stuff, causing him to lose strike calls.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (84-85), CU (81-82) - FB, SL, CU

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (82-85), CU (81) - FB, SL, CU

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CU (79-81) - CU

4th: FB (91-95), CU (82) - 2 FB

5th: FB (91-94), SL (82-83), CU (78-79) - 3 FB

6th: FB (88-95), SL (82-84), CU (78-79) - 2 FB, SL

2) Marc Rzepczynski: 116 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 9 Sliders, Fastball, Changeup.

  • Marc came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on lefties and some sink, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a change with good fade from righties and some sink. Will throw 3-2 sliders. His curve is a 11-5 with average depth that is very sharp and can look like his slider. Works on the black of the plate and is okay with giving up walks, but will not throw anything down the middle. Mixes his pitches superbly and keeps hitters off balance by throwing any pitch in any count.

1st: FB (87-89), SL (80-82), CB (78) - 2 SL

2nd: FB (87-89), SL (80-82), CB (78-80), CU (82)

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CB (76-79), CU (80-81) - FB, 2 SL

4th: FB (88-90), SL (79-81), CB (79)

5th: FB (86-90), SL (80-82), CU (83-84) - 3 SL, CU

6th: FB (88-89), SL (80-82), CB (78-80), CU (83) - 2 SL

3) Jesse Carlson: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

  • Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (88-90), SL (79-84) - 2 SL

4) Russ Springer: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Springer came from a 3/4 release and showed a fairly straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and a little sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

7th: FB (91-94), Cut (84-85), CB (74-77) - 3 FB

5) Scott Downs: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Downs came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink and a loopy 11-5 curve with solid depth

8th: FB (89-91), CB (75-77) - 2 Fastballs

6) Grant Balfour: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

  • Balfour came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties.

8th: FB (94-97) - 2 Fastballs.

7) J.P. Howell: 35 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Curveball.

  • Howell came from an over the top release and showed a 11-5 curve with above average depth that is sharp, a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink and a changeup with some fade from righties and good sink. Is uncharacteristically wild in this outing.

8th: FB (87), CB (81-82) - CB

9th: FB (85-88), CB (81-84), CU (79-83) - 2 CU

8) Brandon League: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Splitters.

  • League came from a 3/4 release with good run in on righties and a little sink, a split with solid dive and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (94-96), Split (82-85), SL (85) - 3 Split

Friday, July 10, 2009

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.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

BOS @ TOR

These summaries won't be as good, as I had to do this game off MLB TV and was trying to stay as live as possible.
  • Brian Tallet is a 6-6, 215 pound 31 year old. The left hander has a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. He has a big frame that has room to add more muscle. His fastball is a 2-seam with some sink and run. His cutter has good side to side movement with little bite. His slider is more like a 10-4 slurve. His changeup showed good sink and some fade. Really struggled to command his stuff early on, but settled in as the game got deeper. Will drop down sidearm on occasion. Solid back of the rotation starter.

Tallet Inning By Inning:

1st: FB (89-91), Cut (89-91), CU (83-85), SL (80-83)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (86-87), CU (80-86), SL (79-84)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (84-86), SL (80)

4th: FB (88-89), Cut (85-86), CU (81-83)

5th: Cut (86-87), CU (80-84)

6th: FB (86-88), CU (81-84), SL (81)

7th: FB (87-89), Cut (86), CU (80-85), SL (80-81)

  • Brad Penny is a 6-4, 230 pound 31 year old. The right hander has a big frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. He is very slow through his windup and actually looks in the dugout or crowd as he is separating. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and he lets out a grunt after every one. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good bite. His split showed good fade and decent bite, though he really only threw it to Lyle Overbay. Penny is a solid middle of the rotation starter, # 4 in the AL. If he went to the NL, he profiles well as a #3.

Penny Inning By Inning:

1st: FB (88-92), CB (74-75)

2nd: FB (91-96), CB (75-78), Split (82-84)

3rd: FB (93-96), CB (79-80)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (78-79), Split (86)

5th: FB (92-95), CB (76-79)

6th: FB (92-95), CB (78-80), Split (84-85)

  • Ramon Ramirez is a 27 year old who stands 5-11, 190. The right hander has a small frame that is maxed out. He features a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. He throws a hard change whose movement can be erratic from pitch to pitch. His fastball is a straight 4-seam.

Ramirez Inning By Inning:

7th: FB (90-95), CU (84-89)

  • Hideki Okajima is a 33 year old who stands 6-1, 195. The left hander has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He attacks from an over the top release. His fastball has a little run, but is fairly straight. His curveball is an 11-5 offering with good downward action. He has a head jerk in his delivery and his splitter moves like a 2-seam.

Okajima Inning By Inning:

7th: FB (86)

8th: FB (86-88), CB (75-76), Split (81-82)

  • Brandon League is a 26 year old who stands 6-2, 200. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release. His change shows splitter like movement, diving into the ground and is an above average offering. His fastball is a 2-seam with great downward movement and sink.

League Inning By Inning:

8th: FB (94-96), CU (85-86)

  • Manny Delcarmen is a 26 year old who stands 6-2, 205. The right hander has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He attacks from an over the top release with some cocking action. His fastball is a straight 4-seam.

Delcarmen Inning By Inning:

8th: FB (95), CB (77)

  • Scott Downs is a 33 year old who stands 6-2, 215. The left hander has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He attacks from a 3/4 release with a fastball that is a 2-seamer with good sink.

Downs Inning By Inning:

9th: FB (89-91)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Chart Impressions: CLE @ TOR

  • Took a little while to try and get the hang of Brett Cecil, as I went in expecting him to be mostly fastball-slider, as that was his MO. However, Cecil featured a high 80 to low 90's 2-seamer (and sat at 93-95 in the 1st when his adrenaline was running), a mid 80's slider and a mid 80's change, as well as throwing 2 low 80's curveballs. Cecil likes to use his slider inside on right handers and throw the change away. His fastball is probably a tick above average with his velocity from the left side. His slider looked like an average pitch, as he struggled to really bury it and was living up in the zone. His change was an above average pitch and he has obviously made a lot of progress with this pitch since last season. Having this changeup (and assuming that his slider is in fact plus and he didn't have a feel for it today) he has the potential to be a # 2 starter. He is currently a middle to back end guy right now, as he has pretty solid command, but want to see the true can't miss pitch that the slider was. Cecil also has an interesting mechanical thing as he brings his left arm back straight whereas most people have it a little cocked. This does worry me, as it puts extra stress on the shoulder (especially since it goes back more towards SS then 2nd base). I had this problem when I pitched and that led to a bunch of shoulder problems.
  • Anthony Reyes is no longer a top prospect. He sat in the high 80's with his 4-seam fastball in addition to his mid 70's change and high 70's curveball. He only has average command and don't really see any more upside to him, as he is a kind of stout guy and his frame seems to be fairly maxed. He is a # 5 starter who probably doesn't have the ability to be a reliever. If he can find a way to improve his command, he can be a # 4.
  • Jason Frasor attacked hitters with a solid low 90's 4-seamer, a changeup in the mid 80's and a mid 80's slider. Nothing about him jumps out as a plus-plus pitch, but his command has improved enough for him to be a solid option as a 7th or 8th inning guy, as all his pitches are a tick above average. Look for him to return to his career norms as the season goes on.
  • Jesse Carlson struggled to command his mid 80's slider from his sidearm angle last night. His fastball is in the high 80's and he threw an 85 mph change, but he lives and dies with his ability to command his slider. A solid LOOGY, I don't know that he has the pitches to be able to consistenly get out right handed hitters.
  • Brian Wolfe features a very easy motion, generating mid 90 fastballs. Wolfe also threw a high 80's cutter (moved like a slider, but he calls it a cutter) and a low 80's curveball. The curveball flashed plus and is an above average pitch right now (though he only shows the ability to bury it as opposed to throwing it for a strike). He looks like a guy that could be a late inning reliever with another bump in his command.
  • Scott Downs threw a low 90's fastball and high 70's curveball. The fastball is above average due to his ability to command it and the curveball is plus in my eyes due to his ability to command it. He could do whatever he wanted with the curveball, whether throwing it for strikes, back-dooring or burying it. There have been worser closers and he is a definite upgrade over B.J. Ryan. He has been doing this for the last couple of years, so no reason to not expect him to continue getting people out.
  • Rafael Perez was missing up in the zone with his low 90's fastball (a little cutting action) and his mid 80's slider. His slider has seem to regressed a bit the past couple of years and is merely a tick above average. His command has also struggled and he is no longer a set-up man, but rather a decent middle reliever who may be able to get out right handers for you.
  • Vinnie Chulk is trying to be like Kiko Calero, featuring a low 90's fastball and a high 70's to low 80's slider. The problem is he doesn't have the command and his slider is just average. He is a guy that may be bouncing around for the next couple of years to teams looking for relief help (he could probably close in Houston with Jose Valverde out)...
  • Tony Sipp features a low 90's fastball and low 80's slider. The slider looked just average and got pounded today, as he allowed the go-ahead home run to Adam Lind on a slider. He also has some interesting cocking action to his arm, which allows hitters to see the ball a little longer. He is a LOOGY candidate, as I don't see him being able to get out RH's. He is still young and if he can tighten the slider a little more, he should be a solid option in the bullpen.
  • Jensen Lewis is your atypical changeup (low 80's), fastball (low 90's) and slider (low 80's) reliever. His changeup is plus, but neither his fastball or slider give hitters too much else to worry about and it isn't good enough to be the lone pitch hitters need to worry about. The changeup had good fade to it, though it didn't show too much sink. His slider has potential to be an above average pitch. He is a guy who is a solid middle guy and who could grow into a bigger role depending on how he develops his pitches.
  • Masa Kobayashi (remember when he was being talked about as a closer?) features a low 90's fastball, mid 80's slider and mid 80's splitter. The split is nothing special and the slider is an average pitch as well. Solid middle reliever, but don't rely on him with a lead. More of a filler guy.
  • Got to watch Matt LaPorta at the plate and he just doesn't look comfortable. He is leaning and almost appears to be cheating to hit fastballs. I think he is just pressing and will be okay as he gets into the swing of things, as he is a very built baseball player who has a ton of raw power. His setup is quiet and nothing appears to be overly wrong with his swing. Just a matter of time for him to start hitting.
  • The Indians understand the value of getting hit by a pitch. They are tied for the MLB lead with 18 and you could see all their hitters not turning away from inside pitches, but rather letting it hit them (they have to act a little to get out of the way). If you watch closely, they also throw their limbs out at the ball (elbows, knees). Get on base any way you can.