DET @ MIN (Win To Get In)

What an incredible game. So topsy and turvy...


1) Scott Baker: FB, SL, CB, CU. 91 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Baker came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (84-86) - FB (Ordonez)

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (84-85), CU (84)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (82-87), CB (80) - 2 FB (Guillen - 2), SL (Cabrera)

4th: FB (90-92), SL (84-86) - FB (Inge)

5th: FB (92-93), SL (82-86), CU (83-84), CB (80)

6th: FB (92), SL (85) - SL (Cabrera)

7th: FB (90-93), SL (86)

2) Rick Porcello: FB, SL, CU. 92 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 10 Fastballs, Changeup, Slider.

• Porcello came from a high 3/4 release and showed a sinker with good run in on righties and good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball with a little extra giddy-up at the end, a 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

1st: FB (88-94), SL (80), CU (82)

2nd: FB (90-95), SL (80), CU (82) - 2 FB (Young, Morales), CU (Morales)

3rd: FB (88-95), SL (82), CU (81-83) - 2 FB (Punto, Kubel)

4th: FB (88-95), SL (85) - 5 FB (Cuddyer, Young, Morales - 3), SL (Cuddyer)

5th: FB (87-92), CU (79)

6th: FB (89-93), SL (85), CU (80) - FB (Mauer)

3) Zach Miner: FB, SL, CU, CB. 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

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

6th: FB (92-93), SL (83), CU (80-81)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (83-85), CU (79-83) - 2 SL (Span - 2)

4) Jon Rauch: FB, CB, Cut, SL, CU. 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Rauch came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and some sink and a pretty straight 4-seam fastball that has a little run in on righties

7th: FB (90-91), Cut (85)

5) Jose Mijares: FB, SL, CU. 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Mijares came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sweeping, sharp 11-5 slider with above average bite.

7th: FB (90-93), SL (81) - FB (Granderson)

6) Matt Guerrier: FB, SL, CB, CU. 22 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Guerrier came from an over the top release and showed a fastball wtih good run in on righties and good sink, a sharp 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth and a 2-7 slider with above average bite.

7th: FB (91-93)

8th: FB (90-92), SL (85-86), CB (80)

7) Fu Te Ni: FB, SL, CU. 4 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

7th: FB (89), SL (75-76) - SL (Kubel)

8) Brandon Lyon: FB, Cut, CB, CU.

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

7th: Cut (87), CB (76) - CB (Cuddyer)

8th: FB (91-94), Cut (89) - 2 Cut (Tolbert - 2)

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (88-89), CB (77) - Cut (Punto)

9) Joe Nathan: FB, SL, CB, CU. 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Nathan came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-fastball with a little cutting action, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite, a 2-seamer with good run in on righties and some sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth.

8th: FB (94-95), SL (87-89), CB (83) - FB (Laird)

9th: FB (92-95), SL (87) - 2 FB (Granderson, Polanco)

10) Fernando Rodney: FB, CU, SL. 40 pitches. 3 Changeups, Fastball.

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

9th: FB (94-95)

10th: FB (94-99), CU (84-85) - 2 CU (Tolbert, Harris)

11th: FB (94-96), CU (81-84)

12th: FB (94-95), CU (82-84) - FB (Gomez), CU (Cuddyer)

11) Jesse Crain: FB, SL, CB. 16 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

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

10th: FB (95-96), SL (87-91) - FB (Raburn), SL (Inge)

11th: FB (95), SL (90) - FB (Everett), SL (Everett)

12) Ron Mahay: FB, SL, CU. 4 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

11th: FB (91), SL (81-83)

13) Bob Keppel: FB, SL, CU, CB. 29 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Keppel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with above average bite.

11th: FB (94-95), SL (87-89) - SL (Polanco)

12th: FB (92-96), SL (87-88) - 2 FB (Cabrera, Laird)

CHW @ DET

If I could have picked 1 game to score today, this would have been it.

1) Justin Verlander: FB, CB, CU, SL. 120 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, Curveball, Changeup.

• Verlander came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and a

1st: FB (93-96), CB (79)

2nd: FB (93-98), CB (77-80)

3rd: FB (94-97), CB (79-83)

4th: FB (95-98), CB (79-81), CU (86-87) - 2 FB (Beckham, Quentin)

5th: FB (95-98), CB (80-82), CU (85-86) - CU (Dye)

6th: FB (94-97), CB (78-81), CU (84) - FB (Castro)

7th: FB (94-97), CB (78-79) - CB (Nix)

8th: FB (94-98), CB (78-81), CU (83-84) - 2 FB (Ramirez, Castro)

2) John Danks: FB, Cut, CB, CU. 89 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Changeup.

• Danks came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and some sink, a cutter with some cut, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink and a 11-5 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (89-92), Cut (84-88), CU (81-83) - FB (Ordonez)

2nd: FB (88-90), Cut (85-86), CU (81-83), CB (74-78) - FB (Ordonez)

3rd: FB (90), Cut (84), CU (81-82), CB (76)

4th: FB (87-91), Cut (85-86), CU (81)

5th: FB (89-90), Cut (83-86), CU (80-82), CB (76) - CU (Ordonez)

3) Dan Hudson: FB, SL, CU

• Hudson came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 3-8 slider with okay bite and a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw 3-2 and to righties.

6th: FB (92-94), SL (82-85) - 3 SL (Everett - 2, Raburn)

7th: FB (91-94), SL (85), CU (82-85)

4) Fernando Rodney: FB, CU, SL. 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (94), CU (82)

9th: FB (93-96), CU (81-83)

5) Carlos Torres: FB, Cut, CB, CU. 15 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters.

• Torres came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little cut action, a cutter with above average cut and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

8th: FB (86-92), Cut (85-89), CB (81) - 2 Cut (Raburn - 2)

9/16: KC @ DET

1) Eddie Bonine: (FB, SL, CB, CU). 82 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Bonine came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and solid sink, a change with some fade from lefties and a little sink that he will throw to righties, a sharp 12-6 knuckle curve with above average depth and a

1st: FB (88-91), CU (84)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (81-84), CB (79-84) - FB (Olivo)

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (81-83), CB (78)

4th: FB (86-89), CU (80-82), CB (76-81)

5th: FB (87-89), CU (79-82), CB (77-78)

2) Lenny DiNardo: (FB, CU, CB). 104 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, 2 Changeups, Curveball.

• DiNardo is a 6-2, 220 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle and doesn't look 220 at all. Looks like a stringbean and is very thin. He came from a high 3/4 release. He has a violent head jerk in his delivery, but that is the only real red flag. His change has some fade from lefties with some sink. His main fastball is a cutter with good cut and solid sink. His change is straight with a little sink. His curve is a 10-5 with average depth that can just hang at times. Likes to throw the cutter in on righties and let them roll over on it and ground out to third. Could be a back of the rotation option in the NL with a team with a good defensive SS and 3B, but that is about it.

1st: FB (81-85), CU (76-77), CB (70-72) - 2 FB (Thames - 2)

2nd: FB (84-86), CU (76), CB (70-74) - CB (Granderson), CU (Inge)

3rd: FB (82-86), CU (75-76) - 3 FB (Ordonez, Polanco, Everett), CU (Everett)

4th: FB (83-86), CU (77), CB (72)

5th: FB (83-86), CU (75-76), CB (72)

6th: FB (83-87), CU (76-78), CB (74)

3) Zach Miner: (FB, SL, CB, CU). 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 curve with slightly above average depth, a change with good fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties and in 3-2 counts and a

6th: FB (90-93), CB (74), CU (78-80) - 2 CU (Olivo - 2)

4) Jamey Wright: (FB, CB, Cut, Split). 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Wright came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 1-7 curve with above average depth, a cutter with some cut and some sink

6th: FB (91-94), CB (80-82) - 2 CB (Huff - 2)

7th: FB (91-93), CB (76-79), Cut (86)

5) Bobby Seay: (FB, SL, CU). 22 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (92-93), SL (81-82)

8th: FB (91-92), SL (80-82)

6) Roman Colon: (FB, SL, Split). 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Slider.

• Colon came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with above average bite that is a big breaker and a split with some dive.

7th: FB (93), SL (79-82) - 2 FB (Laird - 2)

8th: FB (91-94), SL (79-82), Split (87) - SL (Everett)

7) Brandon Lyon: (FB, Cut, CB, CU). 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Jacobs.

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

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (87-91) - FB (Jacobs)

8) Fernando Rodney: (FB, CU, SL). 0 strikes swinging.

• Rodney came from a 3/4 release and showed a change with above average fade in on lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties and a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink.

9th: FB (93-97), CU (83-87)

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.

Tigers Extras

1) Jeremy Bonderman: FB, SL, CU

6/8: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs, Slider.

• Bonderman is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release with fairly clean mechanics that look the same prior to his injury. His fastball has some run in on righties. His change had a little fade from lefties with a touch of sink. His slider is a 1-7 with above average bite. Bonderman has lost a lot from when I last saw him. His velocity was down, his slider was still good, but is loopy as opposed to sharp. He now looks like a # 4 or # 5 starter if he can ever get out of injury hell.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (80-84), CU (84-85) - SL

2nd: FB (88-91), SL (79-82), CU (83) - 3 FB

3rd: FB (87-90), SL (81), CU (83) - FB

4th: FB (87-89), SL (81), CU (82)

5th: FB (87-89), SL (77-82), CU (81-82)

2) Eddie Bonine: FB, SL, CU, CB

7/24: 81 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders, Fastball.

• Bonine is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. Extremely skinny in both the lower and upper body and doesn't look anything close to 220. He came from a high 3/4 release with a fairly violent delivery after his break. He accelerates quickly through and appears to land hard on his front leg. His fastball has some run in on righties and good sink. His slider is a 1-7 offering with solid bite. His change has some fade from lefties and above average sink. Bonine is not a viable option for a major league team as a starter and if he is taking the ball every 5th day, you are in trouble.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (79-81)

2nd: FB (88-90), SL (78-81), CU (82) - FB, SL

3rd: FB (86-90), SL (77-80), CU (79-81) - SL

4th: FB (84-88), SL (76-78), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (85-88), SL (77-79), CU (81)

6th: FB (86-89), SL (77-83), CU (80-81) - 2 SL

3) Chris Lambert:

8/11: 81 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs, Curveball, Changeup.

• Lambert is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a fairly athletic lower half that is fairly muscular. He came from a 3/4 release with a slinging arm action, but clean mechanics. His fastball has a little run in on righties and a touch of sink. His change has a little fade from lefties and a little sink. His curve is a sweeping offering that is a 2-7 offering with some depth. Lambert pitches by the book, meaning he is FB-CB to righties and FB-CU to lefties and he didn't throw the other pitch to the other side. He is a 4-A pitcher and one that should be about emergency option # 18 heading into a season.

2nd: FB (88-92), CU (78-82), CB (74-78) - FB

3rd: FB (88-91), CU (80-81), CB (73-77)

4th: FB (89-92), CU (79-82), CB (75-78) - 2 FB, CB

5th: FB (89-91), CU (79-82), CB (75-78)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (80-81) - 2 FB, CU

4) Clay Rapada:

4/29: 29 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Rapada is a 6-5, 200 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, especially in the lower half. He came from a sidearm release with a big (almost El Duque like) leg kick. He has pretty clean mechanics. He will drop down to submarine as well. His fastball has good run in on lefties and some sink. His slider is a 9-4 offering with some bite and is a sweeping offering. Lefties didn't look uncomfortable hitting against him, mainly because his slider just doesn't have enough action to make them nervous in the box and have them look for something other then his 85 mile per hour fastball. Likely a AAA guy.

4th: FB (85-87), SL (74-77)

5th: FB (84-87), SL (76-80) - FB

5) Dontrelle Willis:

5/24: 105 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Willis is a 6-4, 225 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with mechanics that appear to have been tamed down a bit. He still has the rocking action back and the high leg kick, but it doesn't appear to be as high effort. His fastball has a little run in on lefties and a touch of natural sink due to the downward plane he generates. It appears he can cut his fastball or run it in on the hands of lefties and away from righties. His change has some sink and a little fade from righties. His change yells Hit Me Now and hitters are more then likely to suffice, as it just hangs there. His slider is a 11-5 offering with good bite. Willis's stuff has badly regressed and he can still battle his command. He looks like he would struggle at AAA right now and I can't really say anything good for his future.

1st: FB (84-89)

2nd: FB (84-90), CU (76)

3rd: FB (84-92), CU (78-79), SL (78-81) - 2 SL

4th: FB (84-87), CU (77)

5th: FB (84-90), SL (77-81) - 3 FB

6th: FB (85-88)

7th: FB (84-92), SL (77-81)

8/25: DET @ LAA

1) Jarrod Washburn (I apparently can't get enough of him): 107 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (all in 5th), Curveball (3rd), Changeup (5th)

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

1st: FB (86-90), CU (81-82), SL (80)

2nd: FB (87-89), CU (80-81)

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (81-82), SL (77), CB (68-70)

4th: FB (86-90), CU (82-83), CB (66-68)

5th: FB (87-91), CU (80-81)

6th: FB (85-90), CU (78-82), Cut (83)

2) John Lackey: 117 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2nd, 5th, 6th), 3 Sliders (2 in 4th, 5th), 3 Curveballs (2 in 1st, 2nd), 2 Changeups (2nd, 3rd)

• Lackey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (91-94), CB (80-82)

2nd: FB (91-93), CB (76-82), SL (83), CU (84)

3rd: FB (91-94), CB (80-81), SL (84), CU (86-87)

4th: FB (89-93), CB (78-80), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (91-93), CB (78-81), SL (82-83), CU (84)

6th: FB (91-92), CB (78-80), SL (83), CU (82)

7th: FB (91-92), CB (77-78)

3) Jason Bulger: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bulger came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

7th: FB (95-97), CB (83)

4) Darren Oliver: 32 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (7th, 2 in 8th)

• Oliver came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (91-92), SL (77-81)

8th: FB (90-91), SL (77-78)

9th: FB (88-90)

5) Zach Miner: 42 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 7th, 8th), Changeup (7th)

• Miner came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with good fade from lefties with solid sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth.

7th: FB (92-96), CU (81-82), SL (80-85)

8th: FB (90-95), CU (82), SL (80-85), CB (72-77)

6) Bobby Seay: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties.

8th: FB (93)

7) Fernando Rodney: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Rodney came from a high 3/4 release and showed a change with good fade from lefties and above average sink, a straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam that has good run in on righties and some sink. He will throw 3-1 changeups.

9th: FB (94-100), CU (85-88)

Chart Observations: 8/23 DET @ OAK

1) Rick Porcello: 92 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 3rd), Changeup (3rd), Slider (5th)

• Porcello has apparently scrapped his curveball for the rest of the season. This means the Tigers have taken the reins off and are allowing him to throw the plus slider he had when he was drafted. He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 2-7 slider with above average bite that was a little slurvy and was a big breaker and a change with good fade from lefties with above average sink. Even if Brandon Webb was healthy, he may have the best sinker in all of baseball. It has unbelievable tilt when on and can go from the belt to the knees of a hitter at 95.

1st: FB (92-94), SL (85)

2nd: FB (91-96), CU (82)

3rd: FB (88-94), SL (81-83), CU (81-83)

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

5th: FB (88-92), SL (80-83), CU (81-82)

6th: FB (89-90), SL (79-82), CU (80-81)

2) Brett Tomko: 87 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 13 Fastballs (1-pitch pitcher much?, 3 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5 in 5th, 3 in 6th)

• Tomko came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a split with some dive, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a 12-6 curve with above average depth.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (83), CB (77), Split (84)

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (85), CB (78), Split (84-86)

3rd: FB (90-93), SL (83), CB (76)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (84), CB (75-79)

5th: FB (89-94), SL (80-82), CB (79), Split (84)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (80-82), CB (74), Split (84)

3) Fu Te Ni: 33 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Changeups (All in 8th)

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

6th: FB (87-89), SL (74-76)

7th: FB (87-89), SL (75-76), CU (79-80)

8th: FB (88-89), SL (74-75), CU (80-81)

4) Brad Ziegler: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a change with above average fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties and a 4-8 slider with okay bite.

7th: FB (84-87), CU (75-76), SL (72-73)

5) Craig Breslow: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Breslow came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from lefties with sink that he will throw to righties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (89), SL (84), CU (77)

6) Michael Wuertz: 21 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (all in 8th)

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

7th: SL (86-87)

8th: SL (86-89), FB (90-93)

7) Ryan Perry: 33 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 2 Sliders.

• Perry came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slurvy 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92-96), SL (82-85)

8) Jeff Gray: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Gray is a 6-3, 195 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that is real long and skinny and shows the frame to get up to at least 215. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth. Looks like he has a chance to be a solid middle reliever with his sinker.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (79)

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.

Chart Observations: 8/9 DET @ MIN

1) Jarrod Washburn: 96 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 5th)

• Washburn came from a high 3/4 release and showed a cutter with solid cut, a fastball with some late run in on lefties, a 10-4 slider with good bite, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with slightly above average depth. He only threw the slider to the lefties.

1st: FB (85-89), Cut (86-87), SL (80)

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

3rd: FB (84-89), SL (79)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (82), CB (69)

5th: FB (85-89), SL (77-79), CU (80), CB (69)

6th: FB (85-89), CU (80-82), CB (68-70)

2) Scott Baker: 72 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th), Slider (4th), Curveball (5th)

• Baker came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with some sink, a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth, a 2-7 slider with okay bite and a change with some fade from lefties with some sink.

1st: FB (88-93), SL (81-86), CB (75)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (80-86), CB (75-77), CU (85)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (77), CU (85)

4th: FB (88-94), SL (79-85), CB (78-79), CU (82-83)

5th: FB (90), SL (80-86), CB (78-80), CU (84)

3) Bob Keppel: 41 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Keppel is a 6-5, 215 pound righty. The 27 year old has a big frame that can get up to 225. He came form an over the top release and showed a sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite, a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a 12-6 curve with average depth. Pitching to his potential now, which is a long reliever in the majors.

5th: FB (92-95), SL (85-88), CB (80)

6th: FB (93-94), CB (80-81)

7th: FB (93-96), SL (88-89), CB (79-80)

4) Bobby Seay: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Seay came from a sidearm release and shwoed a fastball with some late run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (80-82)

5) Ryan Perry: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Perry came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a straight 4-seam fastball.

7th: FB (95-97), SL (85-87)

6) Matt Guerrier: 20 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders.

• Guerrier came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth. He likes to backdoor righties with his changeup.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (86-87), CB (79-80), CU (81-83)

7) Brandon Lyon: 19 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter.

• Lyon came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink, a cutter with solid cut and a 1-7 curve with good depth.

8th: FB (91-95), Cut (88-91), CB (78-79)

8) Fernando Rodney: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Rodney came from a 3/4 release and showed a change with above average sink and good fade from lefties and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (96-99), CU (82-86)

DET @ CLE

1) Rick Porcello: 91 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 6th), Curveball (3rd), Changeup (4th)

• Porcello is a 6-5, 200 pound righty. The 20 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215 and can add a lot more muscle everywhere. He came from an over the top release that generates easy velocity, but does have a lot of limbs moving at once. His fastball has good run in on righties and above average sink. His change has good fade from lefties with above average sink. His curve is a 12-6 with average depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch. Porcello isn't usually my type of pitcher, but he shows great pitchability and has confidence in himself. I don't think he has the potential to be an ace, but he can be a strong # 2. If he brings back the plus slider he had when he was drafted, I may think differently, as he is missing a true out pitch right now.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (90-94)

3rd: FB (92-93), CU (81), CB (81)

4th: FB (90-94), CU (81-82), CB (82)

5th: FB (89-94), CU (83), CB (79-81)

6th: FB (87-93), CU (78-82), CB (80)

7th: FB (88-92), CB (80-82)

8th: FB (88-91), CU (78), CB (79-83)

2) Jeremy Sowers: 95 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (5th, 2 in 6th), 3 Changeups (2 in 5th, 6th)

• Sowers came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties with a little sink, a change with good fade from lefties with sink and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (85-87), SL (78), CU (78)

2nd: FB (85-91), SL (79), CU (80-81)

3rd: FB (86-90)

4th: FB (87-90), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (88-91), SL (81-82), CU (80-82)

6th: FB (87-92), SL (80), CU (79-81)

3) Justin Masterson: 46 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (8th, 9th), Slider (7th)

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

7th: FB (91-95), SL (87)

8th: FB (93-97), SL (86)

9th: FB (90-97), SL (84-88)

4) Fernando Rodney: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Rodney came from an over the top release and showed a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (96-99), CU (83-85)

5) Ryan Perry: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

10th: FB (94-97), SL (84-85)

6) Kerry Wood: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

10th: FB (96-98), CB (80-82)

7) Joe Smith: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Smith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (89-91), SL (80-82)

8) Tony Sipp: 3 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (93), SL (83-84)

9) Bobby Seay: 14 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, 3 Sliders.

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

11th: FB (91-92), SL (80-82)

10) Jose Veras: 30 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Veras came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a big breaking 12-6 with solid depth and a split with some dive.

12th: FB (94-97), CB (78-81), Split (85-87)

11) Zach Miner: 21 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

12th: FB (90-95), CU (82)

DET @ CLE: DET Pitchers

1) Edwin Jackson: 115 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3 in 4th), 7 on Sliders (2 in 1st, 3 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th)

• Jackson is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade and solid sink. He had solid command, but the break on his slider was inconsistent and he struggled to put hitters away, despite his gaudy swing and miss total. Last night was a bad night for him, but he still has frontline pitcher stuff.

1st: FB (93-98), SL (86-92), CU (86-87)

2nd: FB (94-99), SL (88-90), CU (87)

3rd: FB (95-99), SL (86-90), CU (86)

4th: FB (94-99), SL (84-92)

2) Zach Miner: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups, Slider.

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

5th: FB (91-94), CU (80-82), SL (82-83), CB (76)

3) Fu Te Ni: 20 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ni came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a sweeping 9-4 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from righties and some sink.

6th: FB (89-91), SL (77-80), CU (81)

4) Ryan Perry: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

• Perry came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a big breaking 1-7 slider with above average bite that is more like a slurve.

6th: FB (96-98), SL (85-86)

7th: FB (94-96), SL (84-87)

5) Bobby Seay: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (91-92), SL (81)

8th: FB (90-92), SL (81)

6) Fernando Rodney: 29 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 3 Changeups (all in 9th)

• Rodney is a 5-11, 220 pound righty. The 32 year old has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and featured a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink and a fastball with a little run in on righties. The change is his out pitch and he will throw it to righties. When his command is right, he is a talented closer and should make some money this year in free agency.

8th: FB (95-97), CU (83-84)

9th: FB (94-97), CU (81-86)

7) Brandon Lyon: 41 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (11th), 4 Curveballs (3 in 11th, 12th)

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

10th: FB (93-94), CB (76-80), Cut (90-91)

11th: FB (92-93), CB (78-80), Cut (89-91)

12th: FB (93-94), CB (78), Cut (89-91)

8) Casey Fien: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Fien is a 6-2, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a 2-7 with above average bite and he threw quite a few of them. He seemed to have good command of his slider and has all the tools to be a solid middle reliever.

13th: FB (93-94), SL (80-82)

Chart Observations: CLE @ DET

1) Carl Pavano: 101 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th), 3 on Sliders (3rd, 4th, 5th) and a Changeup (2nd)

• Pavano came from an over the top release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with excellent fade from lefties with above average sink. Can over throw the change at times and may mix in a hard splitter as well (to account for some changes thrown in the 87-88 range).

1st: FB (88-91), CU (81-83)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (80-82)

3rd: FB (89-92), CU (82-84), SL (85-87)

4th: FB (91-93), CU (80-87), SL (85)

5th: FB (91-93), CU (88), SL (84-86)

6th: FB (90-92), CU (80-83), SL (82-85)

7th: FB (89-90), CU (79-80), SL (84)

8th: FB (88-90), CU (81-85), SL (82-83)

2) Kerry Wood: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Wood came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with okay cut and some sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth.

9th: FB (93-98), Cut (88-91), CB (79)

3) Armando Galarraga: 103 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 6 on Sliders (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 4th, 2 in 6th), a Changeup (3rd) and Fastball (2nd)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with some fade from lefties and sink. His slider is his out pitch. He is no better then a back of the rotation starter.

1st: FB (85-92), SL (84-87), CU (84-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (82-88), CU (86-87)

3rd: FB (87-92), SL (82-87), CU (85-87)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (82-86)

5th: FB (86-89), SL (85), CU (84-86)

6th: FB (91-92), SL (82-87), CU (82-86)

7th: FB (88-91), SL (85-87), CU (84-87)

4) Fu Te Ni: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Ni is a 6-0, 170 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a slinging arm action. His fastball has good late run in on lefties. His change has some fade from righties with good sink. His slider is a loopy 11-4 with solid bite. His FB/CU and SL come out of his hand differently, as the FB/CU moves towards the plate 1st and his slider moves up a tad first. Extra arm.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (79), CU (80)

8th: FB (90-91), SL (76-79)

5) Freddy Dolsi: 26 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup (9th)

• Dolsi came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with above average fade from lefties with a little sink. He struggles to find the release point for his slider, throwing one 40 feet then throwing the next at a righties head. Dolsi has good control, but below average command, constantly missing spots.

8th: FB (94-96), SL (84-88), CU (87)

9th: FB (93-95), SL (85), CU (86-88)

Chart Observations: DET @ HOU

1) Justin Verlander: 118 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (3 in 1st, 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 4th, 6th) and 2 on changeups (both in 1st)

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and a little sink in on righties, a change with excellent fade and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and bite and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite, but not much. He will throw changes to righties and only threw the slider to righties, mostly Hunter Pence. Verlander's command wasn't as good as it has been and he was pitching to the middle of the plate quite a bit.

1st: FB (93-100), CB (77-83), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (92-96), CB (78), CU (83)

3rd: FB (91-99), CB (79-83), CU (83), SL (88)

4th: FB (92-96), CB (77-80)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (77), CU (81), SL (87)

6th: FB (93-97), CB (78-81), CU (84)

2) Wandy Rodriguez: 106 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Curves (both in 2nd) and a Change (1st)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a big breaking 11-5 curve with good depth and a straight change with a little sink. I am not a huge fan, as his command is erratic and doesn't have a true out pitch. He is a # 3 or # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), CB (75-78), CU (85-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (78), CU (85)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (88-90), CB (74-77)

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

6th: FB (87-90), CB (73-76)

3) Nate Robertson: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• The Tigers latest attempt to make Nate Robertson relevant is to use him as a loogy. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink and a little run in on righties. He is a long reliever and doesn't make a good LOOGY due to him not having a dominant off speed pitch for lefties.

6th: FB (86-88)

4) Zach Miner: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Miner is a 6-3, 200 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium to big frame that is nearly maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with excellent run in on righties and has some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. His change has a little fade and sink that he will throw to righties. His curve is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth. He is in the perfect role for him, to pitch the 6th and 7th to get them to their end game guys. May be able to hold a Scot Shields type role for a couple of years.

6th: FB (93-94), SL (83)

7th: FB (92-95), SL (81), CU (81), CB (74)

5) Alberto Arias: 32 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curve (both in 7th)

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a power 12-6 curve and a fastball with excellent run and sink in on righties. Still a fan of this guy.

7th: FB (92-96), CB (80-83)

8th: FB (92-94), CB (80-82)

6) Tim Byrdak: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (84-85)

7) Chris Sampson: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good run and sink in on righties, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a 2-7 curve that had some depth and was slower then his slider.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (81-84), CB (76)

8) Joel Zumaya: 30 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Zumaya is a 6-3, 210 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball is a dead straight 4-seam that can flash some run in on righties. He has a classic drop and drive delivery and alsoo shows a 1-8 power curve with good depth. His command was a question in this outing, but his mechanics appear to be pretty clean. Future closer.

7th: CB (80-81)

8th: FB (99-102), CB (80-82)

9) Freddy Dolsi: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Dolsi is a 6-0, 160 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He is your typical long and lanky pitcher. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has excellent run in on righties while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with okay bite. He was in the middle of the plate with his fastball and struggles to command it due to the movement he generates with it. He is a solid middle reliever who could be a set-up man if he figures out his fastball command.

8th: FB (95), SL (86)

10) LaTroy Hawkins: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Hawkins came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth, a sharp slider that moves more like a cutter and a straight 4-seam fastball.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (88-90), CB (79-81)

Chart Observations: DET @ PIT

• Zach Duke is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 215. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows some fade and a little sink. His change has more fade and sink then his fastball. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 offering with good depth. His slider is an 11-4 offering with good bite that he prefers to throw to lefties. Duke is a good # 4 starter when he is throwing strikes with his curve and is a 4-A arm if he isn't.

1st: FB (89-90), CB (74), CU (83-84)

2nd: FB (89-90), CB (74-76), CU (83)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (73-74), CU (82-83)

4th: FB (87-89), CB (73-75), CU (80-81), SL (80)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (74), CU (82-83), SL (80)

6th: FB (88-89), CB (72), CU (81-82)

7th: FB (87-88), CB (72), CU (80), SL (78)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (72-74), SL (77)

• Armando Galarraga, a 6-4 180 pound righty, opposed him. The 27 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. His fastball is a 2-seam with some fade and a little sink. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite. He will throw get me over sliders and sharper sliders for strikeouts. His change shows some fade, but is pretty straight. Galarraga is a # 5 starter right now, as he consistently falls behind hitters and really is just FB-SL and neither pitch is good enough to be a 2-pitch pitcher (FB is slightly above average, SL is above average, CU is below average). Perhaps the worst sign for him is that he has lost the confidence of his manager.

1st: FB (88-92), SL (81-86)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (83-86), CU (84-86)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (82-85), CU (84)

• Nate Robertson is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows some late fade and sink. His slider is a slurvy 11-4, though he will throw a sharper slider with good bite at different times. His change is a straight change that shows some run and sink. He is your typical swingman, someone to throw long relief or start on occasion, but not really good enough to be a short reliever or a # 5 starter. My, his star has fallen.

3rd: FB (86), SL (80), CU (81-82)

4th: FB (85-88), SL (80-83), CU (80-84)

• Ryan Perry is a 6-4, 200 pound righty. The 22 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with very little sink and fade. His slider is a 12-6, 1-7 type pitch that can be a little loopy and is still a work in progress. His change has good sink and a little fade. He is FB-SL to righties and FB-CU to lefties (at least in this game, I imagine he throws the SL to lefties as well). His upside is that of a closer with his velocity, but he is more likely to be a set-up man due to his command issues and the needed development of his secondary pitches. Right now, he is a 9th or 10th guy on a staff.

5th: FB (94-96)

6th: FB (94-97), SL (81-85), CU (87)

• Bobby Seay is a 6-2, 235 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He is a sidearmer that has a 4-seam fastball with good run and a sweeping 9-3 slider with good bite. He is an above average LOOGY and can be the # 1 lefty in a pen.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (81-82)

• Brandon Lyon is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some fade and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth and a cutter that shows decent cut. I think he is more of a middle reliever then a late inning guy, as he lacks that real out pitch.

8th: FB (92), CB (76-77), Cut (90)

• Jesse Chavez comes from an over the top release with a fastball that shows some fade, a hard change with good fade and some sink and a sharp slider with good bite. Set-up man ceiling who can probably occasionally close some games.

9th: FB (94-96), SL (90), CU (87)

• Andrew McCutchen is a 5-11, 175 pound center fielder. The 22 year old is a righty hitter/thrower and has a small frame that can add a lot more muscle (at least 190). He has a slightly open stance with a little bat tap. His trigger is a stride and shifting of his weight to his back leg. He has an above average arm with plus speed, giving him the potential to be a plus defensive centerfielder. McCutchen is more of a gap to gap hitter now and I don't think he will ever be a huge home run guy, but 15-20 in his prime isn't out of the question. He shows a solid eye at the plate and he has an aura about him. Watching him play, it is almost as if he knows he is better then everyone else and needs to prove it to everyone else. I like the kid and think he is a quality top of the order bat in development.

Chart Observations: DET @ CHA

• Justin Verlander is a 6-5, 225 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle (235 maybe, 230 easy). He comes from a high 3/4 release. He generates easy velocity from a nice, clean drop and drive delivery. His fastball shows above average fade and some sink on occasion. His curveball is a power 12-6 pitch that is a knee buckler with great depth and bite. His change moves like his fastball, but with a little more sink. He has added a SL that is extremely inconsistent, being anywhere from below average to above average. It can be a sharp 2-7 offering, but he can also bury it in the dirt with no chance of having a hitter swing or leave a spinner in the middle of the plate. A legitimate ace, Verlander has above average command and looks to be a good bet to keep this level of pitching going for awhile.

NOTE: The following pitches per inning should not be seen by hitters with faint hearts. Last pitch of the game (about # 120) was a 100 mile per hour fastball.

1st: FB (93-97), CB (82), SL (88)

2nd: FB (93-97), CU (84)

3rd: FB (94-97), CB (79-82), CU (83-84)

4th: FB (94-98), CB (80-84), CU (85)

5th: FB (96-98), CB (81-83), SL (90), CU (86)

6th: FB (97-100), CB (79-84), SL (87-94)

7th: FB (93-98), CB (78-81), SL (89), CU (83)

8th: FB (93-98), CB (82-84)

9th: FB (96-100), CB (83)

Jermaine Dye's Hell: Dye came up in the 6th and saw 6 fastballs (with the slowest being 99, 2 at 100) and 2 sliders (at 93 and 94 respectively). He struck out looking at a 100 mph fastball.

• John Danks is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some late fade and sink. His change has a little fade and good sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His cutter shows good cut and shows biting action. Has slider (10-5) movement at times with good late action. His curve is a big, late breaking 11-5 offering with good depth that he didn't throw much. He does a good job holding runners and will mix in a slide step. Was primarily FB-CU the 1st time through the order and then began to mix in more cutters. He has plus command. Danks is very close to being a legimiate # 1 and just needs to pitch a little more to the corners then he did in this game.

1st: FB (91-94), CU (84-86)

2nd: FB (91-93), CU (84-85), Cut (87-88), CB (78)

3rd: FB (91-93), Cut (86)

4th: FB (92-93), CU (84), Cut (86)

5th: FB (91-92), CU (82), Cut (86-88), CB (77)

6th: FB (91-92), Cut (86-87), CB (77-79)

7th: FB (91-93), CU (83-84), Cut (86-89)

8th: FB (90-91), Cut (86)

• Octavio Dotel is a 6-0, 215 pound righty. The 35 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some fade and sink and his slider is a sweeping 3-8 offering. Very good middle reliever who can spot set-up and close.

8th: FB (92)

9th: FB (92-93), SL (80-83)

• Gordon Beckham is a 6-0, 190 pounder. The 22 year old is a righty thrower/hitter. He has a medium frame that can add more muscle and should be able to get up to at least 205. His trigger is a step with a cocking of the bat with a hip turn towards the catcher. His swing can get long at times. He has a slightly above average arm and above average speed. I talked with the scout who drafted him and he compared him to Michael Young and I think that is a very valid comparison. He should be a .280-.300 hitter with 20-25 home runs annually as he settles in.
• Dane Sardinha is a 6-0, 215 pound back-up catcher. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He takes a big leg kick and cocks his bat as his trigger. He holds the bat close to his body. Playing to his potential, which is an emergency catcher who will spend most of his time in AAA.

Chart Observations: DET @ MIN

• Armando Galarraga got the start for Detroit and showed good command of his fastball-slider combination. He sat at 88-93 with his fastball and 84-88 with his slider, while throwing a changeup at 81-85. He attacks from a low 3/4 arm angle, giving his slider a little extra cut. He threw more sliders then changeups in this game and I am unsure as to whether that is typical or not. His fastball shows some good fade, but it is still just an average pitch and his slider is just an average pitch movement wise. Both these pitches play up due to his plus command and he can put the slider wherever he wants. His changeup is below average and I see him as more a # 4 starter then a solid middle of the rotation starter.
• Kevin Slowey opposed him and kept hitters off balance with a fastball sitting at 87-90, a changeup at 80-85, a cutter at 82-86, a curveball at 72-75 and a slider at 81-83. Slowey mixed his pitches very well and worked through his struggles early in the game in regards to getting the fastball down. He works fast and typically pounds the ball in the strike zone. He is likely pitching at his peak, a middle of the rotation starter that is a better fit as a # 4 then a # 3. It isn't out of the realm of possiblity to see him add some velocity due to the fact his frame is still somewhat developing.
• Ryan Perry continued to look good with his fastball, sitting at 93-98 and was usually 94-96. He threw a slider at 81-84 that is pretty fringe. He still has the same upside due to his velocity on the heater, but I doubt he makes it, as he needs a secondary pitch and command. Reminds me a lot of David Aardsma when he first came up.
• Brandon Lyon was 91-92 with his fastball and threw a 75 mile per hour curveball. He just doesn't impress me. He has good above average command, but his stuff isn't that good. He is a decent middle reliever, as the NL West helped mask a lot of his deficiencies.
• Jesse Crain struggled commanding his fastball, which sat at 93-94 and he threw one curveball at 77. Still a quality middle reliever and I actually prefer his stuff to Matt Guerrier's in regards to a set-up role, but Guerrier has much better command. Guerrier sat at 91-92 with his fastball, 84-85 with his slider and 78-79 with his curveball. Both of these guys are strong set-up men.
• Jose Mijares threw much better this outing then his previous one. He sat at 90-94 with his fastball, 81-84 with his slider and 82 with his changeup. His slider is a tick above average, his changeup is average and his fastball is above average. His command has always been his bug-a-boo and when it is on, he is a set-up type reliever who can get out right handers, but when his command isn't, he is a LOOGY who needs someone ready in case of walks.
• Joe Nathan was 92-95 with his 4-seamer, 88 with his 2-seam, 89 with his slider and 82-83 with his curveball. Great collection of pitches, as all rate at least above average and he has plus command. One of the best.

MIN @ DET

• Francisco Liriano had command and control of his 3 pitch mix (a low to mid 90's fastball, mid 80's slider, mid 80's change) and used it to keep Detroit off balance all night. He is starting to round into his old form. One more step up in his command of his off-speed stuff and he will be back to being the Johan Santana replacement the Twins thought they had.
• Edwin Jackson also looked very good. Jackson attacked hitters with a mid 90's fastball, a low 80's curveball, a high 80's slider and a mid 80's change. Jackson generates easy velocity in a clean motion. He attacks from a high 3/4 release. Jackson was I guy who I figured was primed for a breakout moving to a pitchers park in Comerica and he has not disappointed. He is a legitimate # 2 right now and I think this is his ceiling.
• Matt Guerrier attacked hitters with an average low 90's fastball, an above average mid 80's slider and an above average low 80's curve. Solid middle and set-up reliever and he also is likely pitching at his ceiling right now.
• Brandon Lyon didn't look good with his low 90's sinker and low 70's curveball. He only threw those 2 pitches (and 2 total), but hit a batter and allowed a squeeze bunt attempt.
• Clay Rapada is your typical sidearming LOOGY candidate. He features a mid 80's fastball and low 70's sweeping slider. There isn't a whole lot of difference between him and Javier Lopez except for the track record. Who knows if he can be a LOOGY? All it takes is one year of throwing well to lefties to establish a reputation. He has the talent to be one if his command can improve a little.
• Ryan Perry features a hard, high 90's fastball and a low 80's slider. The fastball is plus and his slider is a big breaker that is just average. He has some struggles with his command in the zone and his control to get the ball there. I personally think he was rushed, but Detroit is trying to win now and he is definitely one of their better relievers. If he develops his command, he is a closer. If not, he may be a Jorge Julio/Greg Aquino type reliever.
• Denard Span had a very good night at the plate, going 4-5. He has a very quiet set-up and his bat head stays in the zone for a long time. He has definitely turned a corner and can be a starting CF and lead-off hitter in this league for a long time.

Got an extra chart followed by an extra score of Houston and Washington at 12:30. Features Roy Oswalt and Scott Olsen.

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.