Chart Observations: 9/13 CIN @ CHC

1) Ted Lilly: 119 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 10 strikes swinging. 7 Fastballs, 2 Sliders, Changeup.

• Lilly came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and some sink, a sweeping 10-5 slider with solid bite that he will throw 2-0, a big breaking 12-6 curve with plus depth and a change with good fade from righties and some sink that he will throw to lefties.

1st: FB (83-87), SL (78-83), CU (76), CB (69)

2nd: FB (85-88), SL (82), CB (70) - FB, SL

3rd: FB (83-89), SL (82-83), CU (78-80), CB (67) - 3 FB, CU

4th: FB (85-89), SL (80), CU (78), CB (69) - 2 FB

5th: FB (84-89), SL (81), CU (76-81) - FB

6th: FB (85-88), SL (80-83), CU (77-80), CB (72) - SL

2) Homer Bailey: 115 pitches. (FB, SL, CB, Split). 17 strikes swinging. 16 Fastballs, Splitter.

• Bailey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite, a split with some dive and a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch that he will throw 3-2.

1st: FB (92-96), SL (87) - 3 FB

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (85-87), Split (87) - 2 FB

3rd: FB (91-96), Split (87) - 2 FB, Split

4th: FB (92-96), SL (85-87), Split (89), CB (75-79) - 7 FB

5th: FB (92-96), CB (78) - 2 FB

6th: FB (92-96), SL (86), CB (74-77)

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

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

6th: FB (91-93)

4) Jared Burton: 19 pitches. (Cut, FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Cutter, Fastball.

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

6th: Cut (90-91)

7th: Cut (89-91), FB (87-88) - Cut, FB

5) Esmailin Caridad: 15 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Caridad is a 5-10, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle to about 205 if his listed weight is correct, which I don't think it is. Athletic build that can get stronger in the lower body. He came from a 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics, though he does have almost a twisting arm action which has to put extra stress on it. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His curve is a slurvy 2-7 with slightly below average depth. His change has some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties. Just a typical middle reliever who I think is pitching over his head right now.

7th: FB (90-93), CB (75-76), CU (86) - FB

6) Kevin Gregg: 13 pitches. (FB, SL, Split, Cut, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Gregg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink and a 1-7 slider that moves more like a sharp curve with above average bite.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (81) - FB

7) Carlos Fisher: 20 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

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

8th: FB (91-94), SL (82-84) - 3 FB

8) John Grabow: 15 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (88-91), CU (80-83), SL (82)

Chart Observations (7/5 Game): MIL @ CHC

1) Ted Lilly: 112 pitches. 14 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (2 in 3rd, 2 in 5th, 3 in 6th, 7th), 3 on Changeups (1st, 2nd, 6th), 2 on Sliders (4th, 5th), Curveball (5th)----Someone's curve didn't generate many swings and misses... :-)

• Lilly came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a 11-4 slider with good bite, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with above average sink and good late fade. He will throw changeups to lefties. He will also drop down sidearm to throw curves to lefties with 2 strikes.

1st: FB (86-90), SL (82-84), CU (78), CB (71)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (84), CU (77-79)

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (83-85), CU (76)

4th: FB (84-91), SL (82-85), CU (79), CB (73-75)

5th: FB (86-91), SL (83-85), CU (76-79), CB (73)

6th: FB (86-91), SL (82-85), CU (77-81), CB (71-72)

7th: FB (86-90), SL (81-82), CU (76-79), CB (72)

2) Mike Burns: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (3rd, 4th, 5th), Curveball (4th), Splitter (4th)

• Burns came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a split with a little dive but not much and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth. His best role would be one where he only has to go through an order once, but he is a 4-A arm.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (78-81), CB (69)

2nd: FB (85-87), SL (77-79), CB (69-71)

3rd: FB (85-89), SL (76-78), CB (69), Split (79)

4th: FB (86-88), SL (77-80), CB (68), Split (77-78)

5th: FB (84-88), SL (77-78), CB (68)

3) Mark DiFelice: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice is a 6-2, 190 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He came from a low 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and some sink. Solid middle reliever with plus command and does a good job of getting out with what he has.

5th: Cut (79-82)

4) Chris Narveson: 24 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups

• Narveson came from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with good late run and sink and a big breaking 11-4 curve with good depth.

6th: FB (85-90), CB (73-74), CU (80-81)

5) Chris Smith: 11 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

• Smith is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball is a 2-seam with good run in on righties and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite. His change has a little run in on lefties with a little sink. It flashes above average fade and above average sink. Another guy who is a middle reliever at best, but doesn't have the command of a DiFelice.

7th: FB (86-89), SL (77-79), CU (73-76)

6) Aaron Heilman: 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (92), CU (84)

8th: FB (90-94), CU (84-86), SL (81)

7) Todd Coffey: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Splitter.

• Coffey came from a high 3/ release and showed a fastball with some late run in on righties and a little sink, a splitter with some dive that is an average offering and a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (82), Split (87-89)

8) Carlos Marmol: 17 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Marmol came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite that can look like a cutter. Still haven't seen his control issues yet personally either.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (79-83)

CHC @ HOU

• Ted Lilly is a 33 year old who stands 6-1, 190. The lefty has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release with a classic drop and drive delivery with a good hip turn that helps him hide the ball. His fastball shows some fade and sink and he will add and subtract from it. His slider shows good bite, but it can also hang. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 while his change shows good fade and sink. Classic # 4 starter and a good innings eater.

1st: FB (86-91), SL (82-84), CU (81), CB (72-73)

2nd: FB (84-89), SL (80-85), CU (81), CB (71)

3rd: FB (85-91), SL (82-85), CB (72)

4th: FB (89-90), CU (79-81), CB (69-71)

5th: FB (82-87), SL (84-85), CU (82-84), CB (66-70)

6th: FB (86-91), SL (82-85), CU (81), CB (72-75)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (77-85), CU (80-81)

• Brian Moehler, a 6-3, 225 pound righty opposed him. The 37 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and sink. His change shows some sink and fade. His curveball is a 12-6 offering with okay depth. His cutter has some cut and sink. He battled his command a little bit in this outing, but did get hit around. He is a swingman who works best bouncing between roles. Sadly, the Astros have to many of these.

1st: FB (85-88), Cut (84-88), CU (78-80), CB (75-79), SL (78-82)

2nd: FB (86-88), Cut (83-87), CU (79-80), CB (75-78), SL (82)

3rd: FB (86-88), CB (77)

• Brandon Backe comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some fade and a little sink, a slider that is a 2-7 offering with good bite, a 12-6 curve with okay depth and a cutter that has little visible cut. Another swingman.

4th: FB (89-91), SL (83-84), CB (78), Cut (88-91)

5th: FB (87-92), SL (82-84), CB (74-79), Cut (87-90)

6th: FB (87-91), SL (81-83), CB (70-73), Cut (86-88)

• Alberto Arias comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has good fade and sink and a power curve with good downward action that is a 1-8 offering. He is the only for sure major leaguer I saw from the Astros pitching tonight that I would want in my pen. His fastball command can be spotty.

7th: FB (90-94), CB (80-82)

8th: FB (91-94), CB (81-82)

• Tim Byrdak finished the game for the Astros. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some fade, a change with some fade and sink and a sweeping 3-9 slider. He struggled to command his pitches and was missing down and appeared to be nibbling. Useful as a 2nd lefty, but that is about it.

9th: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CU (82-87)

• Aaron Heilman is a 30 year old who stands 6-5, 225. The right hander has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows good fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering that shows good bite. His change shows good fade and sink and generates weak contact, as it looks like a fastball out of his hand. Good multi-inning reliever who can serve as a bridge to your closer with his ability to get out both lefties and righties.

7th: FB (93), SL (82-84)

8th: FB (92-93), SL (81-84), CU (83-87)

• Sean Marshall is a 26 year old who stands 6-7, 220. The lefty has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade. His slider is a 10-4 offering with decent bite and his curve is a big breaking 11-5 offering. Major league pitcher, just don't know what role. He doesn't have a wipeout breaking pitch, so I think he would fit better as a # 5 starter.

9th: FB (87-89), SL (84-85), CB (73-75)

Off tomorrow.

Chart Observations: CHC @ STL

Not much to report here:

• Ted Lilly attacked hitters with a fastball at 82 (YES, 82) to 91, a slider at 81-85, a changeup at 76-83, a soft curve at 71-74 and threw 1 harder curve at 79. Lilly likes to add and subtract to his fastball to keep hitters off balance. The 82 mile per hour fastball was a 3-1 pitch to Joe Thurston, a lefty stick, so it would make zero sense for it to be a change and had someone else double check my thought on that. Lilly really doesn't have a real plus pitch. His slider is average and sometimes acts more like a cutter. His changeup is also average and has some sink to it. His curveball is above average, but is more of a strike throwing pitch then a swing and miss pitch. His command is above average and allows him to get more out of his stuff. That being said, he can be very erratic from hitter to hitter in both velocity (whether planned or not) and his ability to hit his spots. A solid middle of the rotation starter, but he is a guy that there isn't any in between with. When he's done, the hitters will be jumping all over him.
• Kevin Gregg pitched the 8th and showed a fastball at 92-94, a slider at 80-84 and a splitter at 86. Gregg was acquired for Jose Ceda, who features lights out stuff as a reliever with command questions. I was a big Ceda fan, but watching Gregg makes me understand why the Cubs made the deal. Gregg's fastball is above average and his slider is a plus pitch that flashes plus plus, as it is a sharp breaker with good late bite. He made Albert Pujols look silly and that is very difficult to do. Gregg's splitter is just an average offering that is more of a show pitch to lefties. Solid set-up guy, but I would prefer a guy like Carlos Marmol as the closer with Gregg's above average command of his stuff setting him up.
• Joel Pineiro fired a 92 pitch complete game. He showed a fastball at 88-91, a slider at 84-88, a changeup at 84-85 and a curveball at 78-80. I have no idea how the Cubs didn't get more then 3 hits off of him. His fastball is above average due to its good movement. His slider was also above average and showed some good late break. his changeup and curveball are average offerings that flash above average. He has above average command, but it's not like he was painting the corners and was leaving quite a few pitches in the middle of the plate. His movement allowed him to get away with quite a bit, but it is still difficult to be consistenly successful when pitching in the middle of the plate as much as he did. A solid back of the rotation starter (# 4), but don't be expecting more complete game shutouts.