Chart Observations: 8/22 SEA @ CLE

1) Doug Fister: 86 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 2nd), Curveball (2nd), 3 Sliders (all in 4th), 2 Changeups (5th, 6th)

• Fister came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a change with some fade from lefties with above average sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 1-7 slider with solid bite. He will throw his change to righties.

1st: FB (86-89), CU (77-81), CB (74)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (78-80), CB (73-74)

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (78-81)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (77-81), SL (80-83)

5th: FB (85-88), CU (78-79), CB (72-74), SL (79-81)

6th: FB (86-88), CU (79-81), CB (72)

7th: FB (85-87), CB (74), SL (78-79)

2) Aaron Laffey: 113 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2nd), Slider (5th)

• Laffey is a 6-0, 185 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle everywhere to about 195. He came from a high 3/4 release. His 2-seamer has good run in on lefties and good sink. His 4-seam has a little run in on lefties and a little sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. His change is straight with some sink. I think he may also mix in an occasional cutter, but I am not completely sure on that. He is a back of the rotation starter or a groundball machine out of the bullpen against lefties with his 2-seam.

1st: FB (86-93), SL (81-83)

2nd: FB (84-92), SL (81-82)

3rd: FB (86-91), SL (77-80), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (87-91), SL (78-83), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (88-92), SL (75-80), CU (79-82)

6th: FB (85-90), SL (78), CU (80)

7th: FB (83-90), CU (80-82)

3) Mark Lowe: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (all in 8th)

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

7th: FB (95-98), SL (85-87), CU (89-90)

8th: FB (96-98), SL (86-88)

4) Chris Perez: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (95-96), SL (85-87)

5) Kerry Wood: 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

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

9th: FB (96-99), Cut (90), CB (77)

6) Shawn Kelley: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders, Fastball (all in 9th)

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

9th: FB (92-96), SL (85-86)

10th: FB (91-95), SL (84-85)

7) Tony Sipp: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a change with some fade from righties with good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

10th: FB (92-95), CU (84), SL (84)

8) Joe Smith: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Smith is a sidearming righty who showed a 3-8 slider with good bite, a change with some fade from lefties with solid sink that he will throw to righties and a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink.

10th: FB (91), SL (80-84), CU (77)

11th: FB (89-91), SL (82-84), CU (77)

9) Rafael Perez: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 10-5 slider with good bite and a fastball with some cut and a little sink.

11th: FB (91), SL (86-87)

10) Randy Messenger: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Messenger is a 6-6, 265 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His curve is a 12-6 offering with above average depth while his change has some fade from lefties with good sink. He is no longer a closer, but he should be able to be a decent option as a middle reliever.

11th: FB (90-94), CB (77-78), CU (87)

Chart Observations: 8/20: SEA @ DET

1) Ryan Rowland-Smith: 86 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 6th), 2 Curveballs (2nd, 4th), Slider (4th)

• Rowland-Smith is a 6-3, 240 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with a muscular lower body. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a sinker that can flatten out and it has a little run in on lefties with some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth. His change has some fade from righties with some sink. His slider is a 11-5 with solid bite that he will only throw to lefties. Solid back of the rotation starter, though I wouldn't expect too much more.

1st: FB (87-91), CU (80), CB (70-72)

2nd: FB (86-89), CB (72-73), SL (78)

3rd: FB (87-88), CU (79), CB (72)

4th: FB (88-92), CU (79-80), CB (70-73), SL (77)

5th: FB (86-89), CB (69-72)

6th: FB (85-89), CU (78), CB (69-70), SL (78-79)

2) Jarrod Washburn: 94 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 2nd), 2 Sliders (1st, 4th)

• Washburn came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink, a 11-5 curve with slightly above averaeg depth, a 11-5 slider with good bite and a cutter with solid cut.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (82-83), SL (77), CB (69)

2nd: FB (87-89), CU (82-83), Cut (86-88)

3rd: FB (86-89), CU (82-83), SL (80), Cut (87-88)

4th: FB (88-89), SL (77-80), CB (66-67)

5th: FB (87-89), CU (80), SL (77-80)

6th: FB (86-89), SL (77-78), CB (67), Cut (87-88)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Chris came from an over the top release and showed a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink.

6th: FB (88-93), CB (74-78)

4) Shawn Kelley: 24 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 7th, 8th), 3 Sliders (all in 7th)

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

7th: FB (91-95), SL (85-86)

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

5) Zach Miner: 26 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (7th, 8th), Curveball (8th)

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with above average fade that serves as his out pitch and he will throw it to righties and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

7th: FB (88-93), SL (81), CU (75-78)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (84), CU (79), CB (74-75)

6) Bobby Seay: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on rigthies and some sink and a sweeping 10-4 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (90-93), SL (80-81)

7) David Aardsma: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs

• Aardsma came from an over teh top erlease and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a splitter with solid dive.

9th: FB (92-95), Split (86-87)

• Alex Avila is a 5-11, 220 pound catcher. The 22 year old L/R has a small frame that is maxed out. He has a slightly open stance where he is up on his toe and has a bat tap. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. Avila has a very good looking swing that looks to be more of a gap to gap guy, but he should have solid power as well. I like his package offensively and he didn't jump out good or bad on defense. With only seeing him play half a game, I think he could be a major league starting catcher.

8/11: CHW @ SEA

1) John Danks: 99 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), 3 Changeups (4th, 6th, 8th), 5 Cutters (4th, 5th, 7th, 2 in 8th), Curveball (1st)

• Danks came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties with some sink, a cutter that moves like a 11-5 slider with good bite, a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (88-91), Cut (85-87), CB (78)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (74-77), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (82-83)

4th: FB (88-91), Cut (87), CU (82)

5th: FB (89-91), Cut (86-87), CB (76), CU (82-83)

6th: FB (90-91), Cut (86), CU (78-83)

7th: FB (87-89), Cut (86-87), CB (76), CU (81-83)

8th: FB (90-91), Cut (84-88), CB (76-79), CU (81-82)

2) Doug Fister: 94 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (2nd, 4th, 2 in 6th), 2 Changeups (4th, 6th), Slider (6th)

• Fister is a 6-8, 200 pound righty. The 25 year old has a huge frame that can add a ton more muscle. He came from an over the top release with a little herky jerk in his delivery that may put a little extra stress on his shoulder. His fastball has good run in on righties with good late sink. His change moves like his fastball, but with more sink. His slider is a 1-7 with some bite that is somewhat loopy. His curve is a 12-6 with above average depth. He will throw his change to righties, 3-2 sliders and 3-0 changeups. A finesse pitcher that has just slightly above average command, he can't afford to issue as many walks as he issued in this game. His upside is that of a # 5 and is similar in stuff to Dustin Nippert.

1st: FB (86-89), SL (82), CU (82), CB (76)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (83-84), CU (80-82), CB (73-75)

3rd: FB (86-89), SL (83), CU (78-79), CB (74-75)

4th: FB (87-90), SL (82), CU (79-82)

5th: FB (86-89), SL (82-83), CU (79)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (82), CU (78-81)

3) Miguel Batista: 19 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters.

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

7th: FB (92-94), Cut (87-91)

4) Mark Lowe: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), Changeup (8th)

• Lowe came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with some fade from lefties with some sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (96)

8th: FB (95-98), SL (89), CU (88-89)

5) David Aardsma: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a split with good late dive. His fastball looked extremely flat in this game and hung a bad splitter to Alexei Ramirez that he hit the go ahead home run on.

9th: FB (91-96), Split (87-89), SL (83)

6) Shawn Kelley: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

9th: FB (90-92)

7) Bobby Jenks: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Jenks came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with okay bite and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

9th: FB (95-97), SL (85-89), CB (82)

Chart Observations: CLE @ SEA

1) Cliff Lee: 99 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 4 Changeups (2 in 4th, 6th, 7th), Curveball (2nd), 2 Cutters (both in 6th)

• Lee came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a change with above average sink and some fade from righties, a big breaking 11-5 curve with excellent depth and a cutter with good cut and some sink.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (83-84), CB (75)

2nd: FB (91-92), CB (76-77), Cut (85)

3rd: FB (90-92), CB (74), Cut (85)

4th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), CB (76), Cut (86)

5th: FB (90-92), CU (85), CB (75-76), Cut (84-86)

6th: FB (90-93), CU (83-85), Cut (86-88)

7th: FB (91-93), CU (84-85), CB (76-77), Cut (85-88)

2) Jason Vargas: 86 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (3rd, 4th), 6 Changeups (2 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

• Vargas is a 6-0, 215 pound lefty. The 26 (seems like he has been around longer) year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and works very fast on the mound and has good tempo, reminiscent of Mark Buerhle minus the stuff. His fastball has some tailing action in on righties and solid sink. His change has good fade from righties with good sink that serves as his out pitch to both lefties and righties. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth and his slider is a 10-4 with solid bite. You could do worse as a # 5 starter, though he is likely pitching at his ceiling right now.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (79-81), SL (80), CB (74)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (86-87), CU (79-80), SL (80)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (79-81), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (86-88), CU (80), SL (79), CB (73)

3) Mike Gosling: 39 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 9th), 2 Changeups (both in 9th), Curveball (9th) and Slider (8th)

• Gosling is a 6-2, 210 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that is close to maxed out, maybe to 215. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has good run in on lefties with some sink. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 with above average depth. His change has good fade from righties with good sink that he will throw to lefties. Not a bad 2nd lefty to have in a pen and should be fairly solid as long as his command stays with him.

8th: FB (91-93), SL (80), CB (74)

9th: FB (90-92), SL (81), CB (73-76), CU (82-85)

4) Shawn Kelley: 29 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Kelley came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with above average bite, a fastball with some run in on righties and marginal sink and a straight change with marginal sink.

5th: FB (92-95), SL (80-86), CU (83)

5) Miguel Batista: 42 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Cutters (6th, 2 in 7th)

• Batista came from a release point anywhere from over the top to 3/4 and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties, a split with good dive, a cutter with solid cut and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

6th: FB (89-91), Cut (82-85), CB (74-79), Split (80)

7th: FB (89-95), Cut (84-87), Split (80-83)

6) Sean White: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• White is a 6-4, 210 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 220. He has a high effort delivery that lands hard on his front leg and comes from an over the top release. He generates a very good downhill plane for his pitches, giving his fastball some good natural sink and some run in on righties. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties. Solid set-up guy.

8th: FB (92-95), CU (83), CB (83)

7) Mark Lowe: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

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

9th: FB (96-98), SL (86), CU (90-91)

Chart Observations: 7/16: SEA @ CLE

1) Cliff Lee: 112 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (5th, 2 in 8th, 9th), Cutter (7th)

• I have now charted Lee twice and both times he has fired a complete game. Lee came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with a little sink, a cutter with some cut and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 10-4 slider with good bite. It wasn't as much him as the Mariners anemic offense. Did a good job living on the edges though.

1st: FB (91-93), CU (85)

2nd: FB (91-93), CU (84), Cut (88), CB (77)

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (84-85), Cut (87), CB (78)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (87-88), CB (75-78)

5th: FB (92-93), Cut (88), CB (76), SL (81)

6th: FB (90-91), CU (84), Cut (86), CB (76)

7th: FB (91-92), CU (84-85), Cut (88)

8th: FB (90-92), CU (86), Cut (86), CB (75)

9th: FB (92-94), Cut (87), CB (75-77)

2) Garrett Olson: 69 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (1st), Curveball (3rd)

• Olson came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with average run in on lefties and a little sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a sharp 10-4 curve that can be a strikeout pitch with average depth. He will throw the change in on righties and to lefties. Seattle must have something on Shin Soo-Choo, as he was the one that got fed changes by all of their pitchers.

1st: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (78-80), CU (81)

3rd: FB (87-89), CB (78-79), CU (81)

3) Chris Jakubauskas: 46 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (5th)

• Chris is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle, to about 225. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Extra arm in a pen.

3rd: FB (90-93)

4th: FB (91-94), CB (74-78)

5th: FB (90-94), CB (76-79), CU (79-80)

4) Shawn Kelley: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Kelley is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can also get up to 225 if he so desires. He comes from an over the top delivery with a fastball with above average run in on righties and a little sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with good fade from lefties with sink. I like this reliever and think he has a good shot of being a quality set-up man, if not closer.

6th: FB (92-95), SL (84-86), CU (85)

5) Roy Corcoran: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Corcoran came from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. No idea why he is in the big leagues.

7th: FB (91-93), CU (85-86)

6) Mark Lowe: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Lowe came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. Another guy who should at least be a solid set-up guy, if not closer.

8th: FB (97-98), SL (86-87), CU (89)

Bucholz vs. Romero tonight.

Wednesday Observations

Had 2 scores (SEA vs. CHA, HOU vs. CIN) and I think 2 scores are the easiest thing ever. But I prefer charts because I think they are more fun.

• Erik Bedard started for Seattle. This was my 1st time really watching him pitch ever and I was not a very big fan of him (still aren't for the package they gave up to get him), but he is a legit # 2 for a contender. Sat in the low 90's with his fastball, but his true weapon is his curveball. He has one that acts as a get-me-over pitch when behind in the count and a hard biter that serves as his strikeout pitch. He also throws an average change. He didn't have his best stuff today, but he made big pitches when he needed to. When he has his curves working and can locate his fastball, he is very tough to beat.
• Gavin Floyd was very similar to Bedard. He sat in the low 90's and was in the mid 90's early in the game. He also throws a cutter (what White Sox don't throw cutters?) and his main out pitch, a big curveball. I think his breakout was for real and he will continue to be a solid middle of the rotation starter.
• Shawn Kelley is a strong option for the Mariners middle relief core. He throws an average to plus fastball sitting anywhere from 92-95. His main weapon though is a hard-breaking dirty slider in the mid 80's that he can throw for strikes or bury. He probably isn't a closer, but can he a pretty solid set-up man or middle reliever.
• Adrian Beltre is amongst the top defensive third basemen in the game right now. He also went 4-4 at the plate, but none were real rocket shots that made you think he was breaking out, but he is getting closer.
• Edinson Volquez is filthy. If you think his rookie year was a fluke, think again. This past start, he seemed to say "screw it, if they hit it, they hit it." He challenged the Astros hitters and they had no chance. He worked with a plus fastball, plus changeup and average curveballs and sliders. With command, he is a legit ace. Without command, he is a 3 or 4, as he can only get you about 5 innings before having to come out due to pitch count.
• Felipe Paulino is everything I said about him before. Keep an eye on this kid. Houston may have a future All-Star. BTW, heard the Houston announcers saying when Brian Moehler comes back, they may shift him to the pen. Not a smart decision. Yes, Paulino can be valuable out of the pen with a fastball sitting in the high 90's and a sharp slider. But, he is also more valuable giving a non-contending team innings as a starter and building towards something greater. Keep an eye on this.
• Adam Rosales was back in the big leagues tonight. For those of you that are fans of hustling players who are actually having fun out there, then you will like this kid. For those of you that like 3rd base production from a 3rd basemen? Not so much.
• Laynce Nix (yes, the former top prospect from the Rangers) swung a good bat again tonight. Yes, he has his weaknesses (should probably avoid LH's and will still strike out a good amount), but he provides power, a batting eye and solid defense in the corner outfield. If this sounds like a 4th OF, it is. But, he could probably start as the main guy in a platoon for quite a few teams interested in cutting costs.
• J.R. Towles is not a big leaguer right now. Still looks over-matched at the plate and was slow in getting the ball out on the Willy Taveras stolen base. Now, we don't know he handles the staff (did only allow 2 runs on his watch) and I tend to value that higher then anything he offers offensively, but he is running out of time in establishing himself before Jason Castro arrives on the scene.

Have the day off tomorrow and will return to work Friday with a chart and a score.