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)

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: CLE Pitchers

1) Fausto Carmona: 101 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (1st), 4 Changeups (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

• Carmon is a 6-4, 230 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that is maxed out and this was his first start since his minor league hiatus. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run in on righties with some sink. His change has good fade from lefties with some sink that he will throw to righties and is his best offspeed offering. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. He will throw 3-1 changeups in special circumstances against good hitters, such as Miguel Cabrera. Carmona still struggles to command his stuff and his fastball movement can change from pitch to pitch. Has all the tools to be a middle of the rotation starter, but can he put it all together? I still like him.

1st: FB (93-97), CU (85-88)

2nd: FB (93-95), CU (87-88), SL (83-84)

3rd: FB (93-95), CU (86-89), SL (83-86)

4th: FB (93-96), CU (87-88), SL (84-86)

5th: FB (93-96), CU (87-89), SL (86-89)

2) Jose Veras: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Veras came from a 3/4 release and showed a curve with solid depth that is 12-6 and a fastball with good run in on righties.

6th: FB (95-97), CB (79-81)

3) Chris Perez: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

7th: FB (94-95), SL (83-86)

4) Tony Sipp: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties.

8th: FB (90-91)

5) Joe Smith: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (89-92), SL (82-85)

6) Kerry Wood: 27 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), 2 Curveball (both in 9th), Cutter (9th)

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

8th: FB (95-97), Cut (91), CB (81)

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (88-90), CB (78-80)

7) Tomo Ohka: 49 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs (11th, 3 in 12th, 13th), 2 Cutters (both in 10th) and a Slider (11th)

• Ohka is a 6-1, 200 pound righty. The 33 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with solid sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite, a cutter with some cut and a little sink, a 12-6 curve with average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink.

10th: FB (88-90), SL (83-85), Cut (84), CB (76)

11th: FB (88-91), SL (82-85), Cut (86-88), CU (83)

12th: FB (88-90), SL (85)

13th: FB (86-89), Cut (88)

Chart Observations: SEA @ CLE

1) Felix Hernandez: 112 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 3rd, 7th), 4 on Changeups (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th), 3 on Sliders (2nd, 3rd, 7th)

• Hernandez came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a change with above average fade from elfties with good sink, a sharp late breaking 2-7 slider with above average bite and a 12-6 curve with above average depth and is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch.

1st: FB (94-96), CU (91)

2nd: FB (94-96), SL (87)

3rd: FB (93-97), CU (89-91), SL (87-88), CB (81)

4th: FB (93-96), CU (90), SL (88), CB (83)

5th: FB (94-97), CU (88), SL (84-86), CB (81)

6th: FB (92-96), CU (90), SL (86-88), CB (82)

7th: FB (93-95), CU (88), SL (87), CB (81-82)

8th: FB (93-96), CU (91), SL (85-88)

2) David Aardsma: 13 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Aardsma came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties.

9th: FB (93-96)

3) David Huff: 108 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 on Changeups (2nd, 3rd, 2 in 4th) and a Slider (2nd)

• Huff is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 200. He comes from an over the top release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His slider is a sharp 11-4 with solid bite, but isn't a real swing and miss pitch. His change has some late fade from righties with good sink. His curve is an 11-5 with slightly above average depth. He was able to throw the slider to the glove side corner (in on righties, away from lefties) at hitter's knees at will. He will throw, 2-0, 2-1 and 3-2 sliders to lefties. He will throw the change to lefties. I don't understand why some people are so low on this guy. I see a middle of the rotation starter down the line, as he has above average command, above average velocity for a lefty and he has a good change.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (82-83)

2nd: FB (90-91), SL (81-82), CU (84-85), CB (76)

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (81-84), CU (85)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (80-84), CU (81-84), CB (78)

5th: FB (89-93), SL (80-82), CU (84-85), CB (78)

4) Jose Veras: 21 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Veras came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties, a split that has average dive and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and he utilizes it as his out pitch. He also has apparently added a cutter that has minimal cut.

6th: FB (94-96), CB (79-81), Split (82), Cut (89)

5) Tony Sipp: 27 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1 in 6th, 3 in 7th)

• Sipp came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with a little sink and a sweeping 11-4 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (91-92)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (82-84), CU (84)

6) Joe Smith: 11 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Smith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink, a change that moves just like his fastball but slower and a sweeping 3-8 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (84), CU (78)

7) Chris Perez: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Perez came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties while his slider is a 2-7 with slightly above average bite. He needs to tighten the slider a little bit.

9th: FB (95-97), SL (85-86)

Chart Observations (7/4 Game): OAK @ CLE

1) Carl Pavano: 103 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), Slider (1st), 3 Changeups (2nd, 5th, 7th)

• Pavano is a 6-5, 240 pound righty. The 33 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite and is his out pitch. Change has good fade from lefties with good sink and can move like a split or curve at times. It flashes plus with diving action similar to that of a splitter. Solid # 4 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (81-84), CU (81-82)

2nd: FB (90-92), CU (80-82)

3rd: FB (90-91), SL (82), CU (81-84)

4th: FB (90-94), SL (83-84), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CU (81-86)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83), CU (81-87)

7th: FB (88-93), SL (81), CU (79-82)

2) Vin Mazzaro: 99 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), Curveball (7th)

• Mazzaro came from a high 3/4 release and showed a power sinker with above average sink and some run in on righties. His change has some fade and sink from lefties. His slider is a 2-7 that flashes plus with sharp bite, but is usually average or below average with okay bite. His curve is a big breaking 12-6 with solid depth.

1st: FB (92-95), CU (87)

2nd: FB (91-95), CU (83), SL (87)

3rd: FB (91-94), CU (83-86), SL (85-87), CB (80-81)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (83-85), SL (86), CB (78-81)

5th: FB (90-91), CU (84), SL (84-85), CB (80)

6th: FB (89-93), CU (83), SL (82-84), CB (77-79)

7th: FB (88-92), CU (81-84), SL (83), CB (78)

3) Tony Sipp: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Sipp is a 6-0, 190 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add quite a bit more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some run in on righties and a little sink. His change is a straight change with a little sink. He has some cocking arm action. He struggles to consistently throw strikes and if he can learn command, there is a place in a bullpen for him.

7th: FB (92)

8th: FB (91-92), CU (84)

4) Craig Breslow: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (8th)

• Breslow came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a big breaking 11-4 curve with good depth and a sharp 11-4 slider with solid bite.

7th: FB (87-91), SL (86), CB (74)

8th: FB (90-92), CB (72-78)

5) Joe Smith: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Smith is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink.

8th: FB (89-90)

6) Brad Ziegler: 5 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Ziegler is a sidearmer whose fastball has good sink and run in on righties and a 3-9 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (86-87), SL (72-73)

7) Kerry Wood: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wood came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp 12-7 curve with above average depth and a cutter with above average cut and some sink.

9th: FB (95-97), CB (82), Cut (90-91)

Chart Observations: CHW vs. CLE

• Clayton Richard got the start for the White Sox, his first in at least a year. He looked good early, sitting at 91-95 with his fastball. However, once he got to the third inning, he sat at 89-91 and definitely didn't appear to be used to pitching this long. Richard also attacked hitters with a slurvy slider anywhere from 75-85, a changeup from 81-84 and a cut fastball at 85-89. Richard's fastball is plus out of the pen, but none of his other offerings do much. He is more of a sinkerballing reliever and could probably be a strong LOOGY with his slurvy slider and hard fastball. He just added the cutter this year.
• Jeremy Sowers opposed him and also struggled. Sowers has some unique arm action in that he brings his arm straight back and seems to really relax off his elbow. I don't know anything about what type of extra stress that may put on his arm. His stuff wasn't very good though. He went after the White Sox hitters with a fastball at 86-91, a slider at 76-82 and a changeup at 80-82. Sowers is not a major league pitcher, in either the rotation (for someone with such a slow fastball, he throws a lot of them, almost 75 %) or the bullpen (slider is barely average). Sowers will need to hope to have a Jamie Moyer like revelation to develop into something.
• D.J. Carrasco is back in the states and throwing strikes. He featured a cutter at 88-90, a fastball at 92, a curveball anywhere from 73-82 and he threw a sidearm fastball at 88. He likes to drop sidearm to throw both a fastball and curveball to try and get extra movement and give hitters something else to think about. Solid long reliever type guy and was moderately surprised he didn't get the spot start today.
• Matt Thornton may have the best stuff of any left handed reliever in the game right now. Yesterday, he was 93-97 with his fastball and threw one slider at 85. That type of velocity from a left hander is unheard of and he commands it very well. Could be a closer, but fits great for the White Sox as 7th inning pitcher, as a pitcher with that velocity can get out right handers as well.
• Octavio Dotel featured a fastball at 92-94 and a slider at 80-82. The slider lacked its bite that it has shown in the past and is just a tick above average now as opposed to a plus pitch. He has solid command of both his pitches and is still a quality set-up man.
• Bobby Jenks closed out the game with fastballs sitting at 93-96 and threw 1 slider at 91 and 1 changeup at 84. Another of the better closers in the game.
• Jensen Lewis pitched pretty well, featuring a fastball sitting at 89-92, a plus changeup at 78-81 and a slider at 85. Still a guy that could factor into the late innings if he develops another pitch to complement his changeup.
• Tony Sipp has not impressed me either time I have seen him. He just can't command his stuff. His fastball is an above average pitch, as it sits at 91-93 with some movement. His slider is an average pitch sitting at 80-82. His lack of command causes his pitches to play down. He definitely needs more seasoning in AAA.
• Matt Herges finished the game featuring a fastball sitting at 88-90, a curveball at 75 and a changeup at 79-81. Herges 2-seam features a lot of movement and is an above average pitch. His changeup is a tick above average and his curveball is also a tick above average. Solid reliever to have in the pen, but he is prone to allowing hits, as none of his pitches are anything a hitter hasn't seen before.

Chart Impressions: CLE @ TOR

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