KC @ PIT

The LAA vs. ARI game was in the FOX time slot, so it was blacked out everywhere. I just did the play by play for it. With that in mind, here is the other games observations:

1) Paul Maholm: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (both in 2nd), 1 on a Curve (4th) and 2 on Changeups (3rd, 6th)

• Maholm is a 6-2, 225 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and sink. His slider is an 11-4 pitch with solid bite. His change is a straight change with some sink. His curve is a big breaking 11-5 pitch that can be flat. He is a middle of the rotation starter (# 3, # 4) guy masquerading as an ace. Useful pitcher when he has above average defense behind him, as he won't walk many.

1st: FB (88-90), SL (80), CU (82)

2nd: FB (87-90), SL (80-81), CB (74)

3rd: FB (88-90), SL (75-83), CU (84-85), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-89), CU (83-84), CB (73-75)

5th: FB (89-91), SL (81), CB (75)

6th: FB (89-91), SL (82), CU (83-85), CB (74-75)

7th: FB (89-90), CU (83-85), CB (73-74)

2) Bruce Chen (Seriously?): 76 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Changeup (4th)

• Chen is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty who has seemingly been around forever. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His 2-seam fastball has some sink and run (typically 83-86) had some run in on righties and some sink. His 4-seam (87-89) was straight. His curve was a big breaking 11-5 and his changeup was a straight change with some late fade from righties and sink. He was primarily FB-CU with a few curves mixed in. He got into a pattern of, when he threw a first pitch strike with a FB, of immediately coming back with a changeup. He works fast and has above average command. Basically, he will be hammered by AL teams that have an idea at the plate. Emergency arm.

1st: FB (84-88), CU (76-77), CB (73-76)

2nd: FB (84-88), CU (76-77)

3rd: FB (83-89), CU (76-79)

4th: FB (84-89), CU (76-77), CB (74-79)

5th: FB (83-88), CB (73-77)

6th: FB (85-88), CB (76-79)

7th: FB (84-86), CU (76)

3) Roman Colon: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• He came from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slider is a 2-7 pitch with good downward bite, though he will hang them. His fastball command was also off and he showed his Jekyll and Hyde side in this game.

7th: FB (93-94), SL (80-82)

4) John Grabow: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders, 1 Changeup.

• Grabow is a 6-2, 205 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is an 11-5 offering with good bite that is slightly above average when on, but it can be flat. His change showed some fade from righties and a little sink. Solid full inning lefty reliever.

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82-84), CU (83-84)

5) John Bale: 25 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has a little run in on righties, a slurvy 10-5 curve with solid depth and bite and a straight change. He will also throw pitches from a high 3/4 release.

8th: FB (87-89), CB (70-72), CU (78-80)

6) Jeff Karstens: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (on a debatable check swing)

• Karstens is a 6-3, 185 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205. He comes from an over the top release that hides the ball well, as his glove hand breaks high and covers the spot where he will be releasing it, a la Jair Jurrjens. His fastball is a pretty straight 4-seam. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite and his curve is a 12-6 with good depth. He lost his job in the rotation and is more of a swingman and is a borderline 4-A arm.

9th: FB (87-91), SL (79), CB (71)

2 charts and a baseball game tomorrow.

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: LAD @ CHW

1) Chad Billingsley: 107 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 6th), 1 on a Curveball (1st), 5 on Sliders (2nd, 4th, 5th, 2 in 6th), 2 on Cutters (3rd, 5th)

• He is a 6-1, 245 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has a little run in on righties and I believe was down from his typical velocity. His cutter has above average cut with a little sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and bite that can be a strike out pitch, but the White Sox hitters were able to continue to foul the balls off. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with above average bite that was his out pitch to most righties. His cutter flattened out in the 4th. Obviously Jeff Weaver has had an effect on him, as he dropped down sidearm to throw a fastball. He worked with plus command and did a nice job of locating.

1st: FB (89-93), CB (79), Cut (88-90)

2nd: FB (89-91), CB (67-77), Cut (89-90), SL (85)

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (87-89), SL (85)

4th: FB (89-92), CB (79-80), Cut (86-87), SL (85)

5th: FB (88-92), CB (69-81), Cut (87-89), SL (84-86)

6th: FB (87-93), CB (80-81), Cut (88-89), SL (83-84)

2) Clayton Richard: 85 Pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Slider (2nd), 3 on changeups (All in 4th) and 1 on a cutter (2nd)

• Richard is a 6-5, 240 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery, though he is more of a slinger arm action. His 2-seam fastball has some run in on righties and flashes some sink and his 4-seam is straight that he really only used when throwing a high fastball. His cutter has some cut and a little sink. His change has some fade from righties and sink and is his best off-speed offering. His slider is a slurvy 11-4 with solid bite. He got a lot of hype for being in the Jake Peavy deal, but I am undecided on him. He likely isn't going to start throwing any harder and his stuff is just average in my opinion. I think he is a # 4, # 5 type starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (89-94), Cut (84-89), SL (80-84), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (87-93), CU (81-84)

4th: FB (89-92), Cut (86), SL (79), CU (79-84)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (81)

3) D.J. Carrasco: 39 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Sliders (5th, 6th) and a Fastball (6th)

• Carrasco came from an over the top release with a cutter that has some cut, a 2-seam fastball with some run in on righties and sink that he threw more then he usually does. He also showed a 1-7 curve with good bite. He will throw a frisbee (we chart curve, I will call it a slider) when he drops down with 2 strikes to right handers. He will also throw a fastball from the same angle that is usually 86-88. He is very consistent with using this frisbee slider as his out pitch to righties and they must be ready for it. His change has some fade, but is below average.

5th: FB (89-91), Cut (88), CB (80), SL (72)

6th: FB (86-92), Cut (89-90), SL (71)

7th: FB (88-93), Cut (88-90), CB (80), SL (73), CU (80)

4) Ronald Belisario: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that has excellent run in on righties and above average sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite that can flatten out and he needs to improve his consistency with this pitch.

7th: FB (93-96), SL (85-87)

8th: FB (94-96), SL (85)

5) Scott Linebrink: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Linebrink is a 6-2, 210 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball has some late run and sink in on righties. His split has great late downward movement and can be confused with a curve (shockingly), but the one he threw went about 45 feet. His change is a straight change with a litle sink.

8th: FB (93-95), CU (83-84), Split (84)

6) Brent Leach: 16 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 11-5 curve with good depth that is a little slurvy, a straight 4-seam fastball and has added a 11-5 slider that is sharp with some break. His command is very inconsistent and is what is holding him back from being the # 1 lefty for the Dodgers.

8th: FB (92-93), CB(78)

9th: FB (92), SL (87-88)

7) Matt Thornton: 13 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Thornton is a massive 6-6, 235 pound lefty. The 32 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and a 10-4 slider with some bite. One of the best lefty relievers in the game.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (89)

8) Ramon Troncoso: 27 Pitches, 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs (Both in 9th) and a curve (10th)

• Troncoso is a 6-1, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release with a high effort delivery where he breaks his hands fairly high. His fastball has excellent run and flashes sink. His curve is a sharp 12-6 with good depth and can be a K pitch. The combination of his excellent movement of his fastball and his mechanics lead me to believe he may struggle to consistently throw strikes.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (77-78)

10th: FB (91-94), CB (77-79)

9) Bobby Jenks: 18 Pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Fastballs, Slider

• Jenks is a 6-3, 275 man beast who is maxed out and has some bad weight (there is a gut). The 28 year old righty came from an over the top release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with solid bite. Above average closer.

10th: FB (93-96), SL (89-90)

10) Jeff Weaver: 57 Pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (2 in 11th, 13th), Slider (12th)

• Weaver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink, but fairly straight, a 2-8 curve with okay depth and a frisbee 3-8 slider from sidearm or a sharp 2-7 from his normal release with solid bite. He will drop down sidearm to throw sliders and fastballs and appears to do this whenever he feels the need to F with hitters, as there is no distinguishable pattern, though he does like the drop down slider with 2 strikes, but isn't as committed to it as Carrasco. His stuff has regressed and he gets by with deception and command.

11th: FB (88-93), SL (79-82), CU (80), CB (73-76)

12th: FB (88-92), SL (79-84), CU (79), CB (75)

13th: FB (87-92), SL (79-81), CU (82)

11) Octavio Dotel: 23 Pitches. 7 (!) strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (11th, 5 in 12th), Slider (12th)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with natural cut and sink and has great late life, a 2-7 curve with solid depth and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

11th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81)

12th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84)

12) Aaron Poreda: 14 Pitches. 5 (!) strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs, Slider.

• Poreda is a 6-6, 240 pound man child. The # 2 prospect for the White Sox prior to the start of the season, the 22 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and generates easy velocity from a clean delivery with good arm action. His fastball (a surprise to me) was not a huge velocity pitch and had quite a bit natural cut and sink, though it does explode out of his hand. His slider is a slurvy 11-5 with good bite. He can be very special as a reliever, though I think it would be as more of a set-up man then a Billy Wagner style closer. Will be interesting to see if he becomes Joba Chamberlain and becomes a starter after this apprenticeship or a Jonathan Papelbon and stay a reliever. Pray he doesn't become Brandon Morrow and is allowed to settle into 1 role. This was his first major league win.

13th: FB (90-94), SL (77)

I never said this before, but if you want to know how someone played that I didn't mention, feel free to ask. Just because I didn't write a report on them doesn't mean I didn't study their at bats.

6/24 Score: KC @ HOU

Been really busy the last couple of days working on an extra project for BIS, but here is the 2 things that haven't yet been added:

1) Luke Hochevar: 93 strikes. 10 strikes swinging. 9 on sliders (4 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3 in 7th) and 1 on a curveball (5th).

• He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has good run and sink and is more of a late action pitch. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite that he started on the outside corner and let the Astros flail at it. He starts his windup with the back of his left foot up and his right foot is already turned. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth that he didn't start using until the 2nd time through the order. For a pitcher who relies on a sinker, the lack of swing and misses has to be concerning. His upside is that of a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (83)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (83-86)

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

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-85), CB (73-74)

5th: FB (92-94), SL (83-86), CB (75-76)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83-84), CB (76)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (82-85), CB (75)

2) Roy Oswalt: 106 pitches. 13 strikes swinging. 8 on Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 3 in 5th, 3 in 6th), 3 on Curveballs (3rd, 2 in 4th) and 2 on Sliders (4th, 6th)

• Roy is a 6-0 190 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run in on righties and it flashes some sink, though he will also throw a harder one that is straight. His curveball is a 12-5 with solid depth and he throws it all over the place velocity wise. His curveball looks like a fastball out of his hand until it breaks downward. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite. His change has some fade and sink, but is his 4th pitch. Ace stuff still, but his pitch counts have been high both games I have seen him this year, making him more of a very strong # 2.

1st: FB (91-95), CB (71-72)

2nd: FB (93-95), CB (70-80)

3rd: FB (93-94), CB (64-77), SL (85)

4th: FB (93-96), CB (68-72), SL (84-85)

5th: FB (92-94), CB (70-71), SL (83), CU (81)

6th: FB (90-96), CB (65-78), SL (84-86)

3) Chris Sampson: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some run and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a 2-7 slider with good bite. Swingman.

7th: FB (89-90), SL (83), CB (77-78)

4) Latroy Hawkins: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, big breaking 12-6 curve and a straight change that may have been a spinning slider (I don't study pitches as much in scores as I do in charts). He is back to the old Minnesota Hawkins and Ed Wade got a lot of grief for this deal at the time, but it looks good (the player they dealt, Matt Cusick, is hitting .266-.350-.379 in High A)

8th: FB (94-95), CB (80-81), CU (87)

5) Kyle Farnsworth: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut. He left the game with an apparent groin injury and he went to the ground immediately.

8th: FB (96-97), Cut (90)

6) Jamey Wright: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and probably wasn't fully loose when he decide to start pitching. His fastball is a 2-seam with some run in on righties and some sink. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth.

8th: FB (88-94), CB (78-80)

7) Jose Valverde: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Valverde comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a split with solid dive. He also threw a 2-7 slider with good bite. It is possible some of these mile per hours for his sliders were splitters, as they can look similar when you aren't paying great attention to the pitch.

9th: FB (94-98), SL (85-87), Split (84-87)

8) Roman Colon: 14 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Splitter and 2 Sliders

• He came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little late run, a sharp 1-7 slider with good bite and a split that had some dive. His stuff hasn't ever been a question and now that he can just focus on short spurts, he should fulfill his potential and flashes the ability to be a late inning reliever.

9th: FB (93-95), SL (80-84), Split (89)

9) Tim Byrdak: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider, Changeup.

• He came from a high 3/4 release. Another guy whose changeup and slider could be different. His change is a straight change that he will throw to lefties, his slider is a 10-5 with okay bite and his fastball is a straight 4-seam. Maybe a 2nd lefty, I have never been enamored with his stuff.

10th: FB (88-91), SL (82-85), CU (84)

10) Joakim Soria: 22 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• He came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had some run in on righties, thought it could straighten out. His change has good fade and sink and he will throw it to righties and is his best off-speed offering. His curve is a 12-6 with good depth and his slider is a 2-7 pitch with solid bite.

10th: FB (90-92), CU (84-86), CB (70), SL (79)

11) Jeff Fulchino: 23 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and sink, a split with good dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

11th: FB (91-95), SL (79-84), Split (85-87)

12) John Bale: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change with some late sink and an 11-5 curve with good depth and bite. Interesting that he was the choice over Juan Cruz to save the game and this was his 1st big league save.

11th: FB (91-92), CB (73-74), CU (82)

70-79 IP Re-Eval Pt. 2

Following Changes Were Made


Tom Gordon's 1999 result change from somewhat worse to Worse (129)


Eric Plunk's 2000 results changed from Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to him retiring.

Doug Jones's 2001 results changed from Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to him retiring.

Steve Kline's 2002 result changed from somewhat better to Somewhat Worse (32)

Jay Powell's 2002 results changed from Somewhat Better/Same to Worse (71), Worse

Todd Van Poppel's 2003 results changed from Somewhat Better/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts

Brian Fuentes's 2004 results changed from Somewhat Worse/Same to Worse (69), Worse

Brendan Donnelly's 2004 result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (83)

Jesse Crain's 2006 result changed from Somewhat Better to Better

Lance Cormier's 2006 results changed from Somewhat Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts.

Travis Harper's 2006 result changed from Better to Somewhat Worse (59)

Danys Baez's 2006 result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (39)

Jose Mesa's 2007 results changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47)

Brandon Medders's 2007 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (pitched 30 games).

Huston Street's 2007 result changed from Somewhat Worse (DL) to Worse (71)

Gary Majewski's 2007 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (pitched in 30 games).

Chris Bootcheck's 2008 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse (52)

Luis Vizcaino's 2008 result changed from Somewhat Better to Worse (64)

Dave Borkowski's 2008 result changed from Worse (IP) to Somewhat Worse

Scott Linebrink's 2008 result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (37)

70-79 IP Re-Eval Part 1

The following changes were made:


Chuck McElroy removed from 2001 due to having 5 starts that season


Jeff Fassero added to 2001


Graeme Lloyd Results added to 2001

Rocky Biddle removed from 2004 due to having 5 starts

Lance Cormier Results removed from 2006

Joe Borowski Removed from 2007

Chart Observations: SD @ SEA

1) Chad Gaudin: 113 pitches, 15 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 11 Sliders (1st, 2 in 2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th, 4 in 7th) and 1 Changeup (1st)

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a straight 4-seam fastball that he has better command of, a change with excllent fade and alte sink and a 3-8 slider that can have good late bite or can move like a cutter with little downward action. He spotted his slider very well and started it on the outside corner to righties and let the movement take it out of their swing path. Another 11 strikeout game that wasn't dominant.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (79-82), CU (86)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79-83), CU (87)

3rd: FB (91-92), SL (81), CU (87)

4th: FB (91-92), SL (81-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (79-83)

6th: FB (88-94), SL (80-83)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (78-82)

2) Garrett Olson: 82 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 1 on Curveball (3rd) and 1 on Fastball (5th)

• He is a 6-1, 205 pound lefty. The 25 year ol has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball has some run in on lefties and flashes some late sink, but is inconsistent and most of the time is a straight 4-seam. His curveball is a sharp 11-5 wtih good depth and late bite. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw 2-0, but he doesn't have good command of it. He shows good command of his fastball-curveball combo, but doesn't have a true 3rd pitch. Swingman.

1st: FB (90-91), CB (80)

2nd: FB (88-90), CB (79)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (79-81)

4th: FB (89-90), CB (80), CU (82)

5th: FB (88-91), CB (76-81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-91), CB (79-81), CU (81)

3) Roy Corcoran: 35 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He is a 5-10, 185 pound righty. The 29 year old has a small frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has above average run and sink in on righties. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch with solid depth, but it can hang and it can also flash slider like movement. He has zero command of his stuff and appears to try and nibble, living on the corners and at the knees. Not a major league pitcher.

6th: FB (90-93), CB (80-83)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (81-83)

4) Miguel Batista: 24 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties and a cutter with good cut and some late sink that will flash movement like a 2-7 slider.

8th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-89)

9th: FB (91-94), Cut (88)

5) Greg Burke: 18 Pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• He came from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball showed good run in on righties and some sink and his slider was a flat 2-7 with marginal bite.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

6) Edward Mujica: 3 Pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a splitter with good dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (92), Split (86), SL (81)

7) Heath Bell: 29 Pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Both on Curveballs.

• He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some late run and sink and a 12-7 curve with great depth. He was leaving his curve up and left his fastball in the middle of the plate, a terrible combination.

9th: FB (91-96), CB (79-83)

• Everth Cabrera is a 5-10, 175 pound 22 year old. The switch hitter/righty thrower has a small frame that can add a little more muscle, but not too much. As a righty, he leans back on his back leg with a slightly bent front leg that is similar to Gerardo Parra's stance but not as upright. His trigger is a slight cocking of the bat and a step to straighten himself out, as he is slightly open. From the left side, his stance is similar, but no leaned back as far or open as much. Shows a somewhat quick bat, but one designed to slap the ball around. Plus runner that will look to bunt for hits, he stole 2 bases back to back and was 3.0 from 2nd to 3rd on his steal and neither time was close to getting caught. Best case is a Chone Figgins like career. Worse case is Luis Ugueto. He probably settles in the middle as a super utility guy who can play SS and will hit for little power.
• Kyle Blanks is a massive 6-6, 285 pound righty hitter/thrower. The 22 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He has a fairly straight on stance and he holds the bat in front of him and a little in front of his back shoulder. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He looks like a guy that will struggle to hit plus fastballs and his swing can get a little long. He has a fly ball swing, a terrible fit for PETCO. He has a tendency to roll his wrists too early, causing would-be line drives to turn into groundouts to short. He showed better speed then I anticipated, as he was 4.3 and 4.4 down the line to first. He is in a bad situation, as he isn't going to beat out Adrian Gonzalez at 1st and is trying to play LF. He DH'd in this game. He should be a productive hitter down the road, but think Kevin Kouzmanoff type production, not Adam Dunn. PETCO will be a serious obstacle for him to try and overcome.

Syracuse Football Adds Another

The Orange have picked up a verbal commitment from Mario Tull, a 6-1 205 pound safety/linebacker. Tull had no other offers and was receiving interest from Hofstra University. Awesome.

For those of you keeping track at home, here is Syracuse 2010 recruiting class with their other offers:

LB/S: Tull: None
OL: Macky Macpherson: None
QB: John Kinder: None
LB: Myles Davis: Rutgers

Either Doug Marrone is incredibly gifted at finding (and quickly convincing) sleepers to attend Syracuse or we are in for another long 4 years. Still has the benefit of the doubt, but if we open like we did against Washington 2 years ago on national TV, might as well kiss our pipe dreams of some of these guys away.

Revisiting May Trades

Can't sleep yet, so let's take a quick gander at some trades made in May and see how they have turned out thus far.

Mets Get: Lance Broadway
White Sox Get: Ramon Castro

I have always liked Castro and haven't quite understood Jerry Manuel's love affair with Omir Santos, but Castro is just 2-14 since joining the Sox. But, Broadway is just 1-1 with a 6.32 in the IL with Buffalo with 9 walks against 7 K's.

Verdict: No One Wins.

Brewers Get: Jody Gerut
Padres Get: Tony Gwynn Jr.

I will admit I thought the Brewers ripped them off. Honestly, if you look at the fact they could have had Gwynn for free after being placed on waivers, they did. But, Gwynn has been a bright spot in his first 92 at bats, putting up a line of .348-.439-.467 while providing good defense in CF. The Brewers were desperate for a bench bat with a pulse, and they may still be looking, as Gerut has hit a miniscule .107 (3-28) since joining the Brewers.

Verdict: Shockingly, Padres

Yankees Get: Romulo Sanchez
Pirates Get: Eric Hacker

Here at TK's Baseball Blog, we don't discriminate against trades. Sanchez has been a 4-A reliever since I can remember and has put up a 3.24 ERA at AAA. He still has command issues though, working 8.1 IP and walking 6 while striking out 8. Hacker, meanwhile, has been dominant at Indianapolis and putting himself in position to be a starter for Pittsburgh later this season. The righty is 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in 6 starts in AAA, though he has a WHIP of 1.50, so those numbers are obviously going to last. In 34 innings, he has 19 walks against 19 strikeouts.

Verdict: First one to the big leagues wins.

Orioles Get: Joey Gathright
Cubs Get: Ryan Freel

Joey Gathright is hitting an other worldly .339 with the Tides and is putting himself in position if the Orioles ever decide to end the Felix Pie experiment and let him get regular at bats at AAA (.202-.279-.319 average in majors, in just 94 at bats). Ryan Freel was hitting just .167 with the Cubs before going down with an injury.

Verdict: Orioles, by default.

PHI @ TB

1) David Price: 88 pitches, 4 Strike Swingings. All on Fastballs. 3 in 1st Inning, 1 in 3rd Inning

• He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a sharp
  11-5 slider that had good bite, an 11-5 curveball that was a big breaker and a
  straight change that flashes sink. He was leaving his slider up (and it
  flattened out) and his fastball didn't have its typical oomph. His defense
  also let him down.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (85-88), CB (81), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (91-94), CB (78)

3rd: FB (91-93), SL (86), CB (75-79)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (82-87)

5th: FB (89-93), SL (83-87)

2) Jamie Moyer: 101 pitches. 6 Strikes Swinging. 5 on Fastballs (1 in 2nd, 3 in 4th, 1 in 5th) and 1 on a changeup (2nd)

• He came from a high 3/4, almost over the top release with a fastball that is a 2-seam with good fade and sink, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth, a change with some fade and sink and a cutter that is a slider like 11-4 pitch.

1st: FB (80-81), CB (68-69), CU (74)

2nd: FB (81), CU (73-74)

3rd: FB (79-82), CB (67-69), CU (73-75), Cut (78)

4th: FB (79-81), CB (68-69), CU (73-75), Cut (76-78)

5th: FB (78-81), CU (72-74), Cut (77-78)

6th: FB (78-80), CB (66-68), CU (72-73), Cut (76)

3) Winston Abreu: 41 pitches. 6 Strikes Swinging. 5 on Sliders (4 in 5th, 1 in 6th) and 1 on a fastball (7th)

• He is a 6-2, 170 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. He leans back and goes forward and goes up in the air a little bit with a drop and drive. Windmill like action. His slider is a 1-7 pitch with solid bite, though it can flatten out or be very sharp. His fastball is a straight 4-seam and his change is a straight offering. He has good command of his slider, but struggles to command his other pitches. Tweener pitcher, as his velocity began to drop the longer he pitched, but I don't know if he is a 1 inning guy or not.

5th: FB (93), SL (81-85)

6th: FB (90-93), SL (79-85), CU (84)

7th: FB (89-92), SL (82-84), CU (85)

4) Tyler Walker: 27 pitches. 0 Strikes Swinging.

• He comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade and sink. 4-A arm now.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (79-83), CU (78)

8th: FB (90-91), SL (82-83), CU (78)

5) Lance Cormier: 31 Pitches. 2 Strikes Swinging on cutters (1 in 8th, 1 in 9th).

• Cormier is a 6-1, 200 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and shows a cutter with solid cut and sink, a 12-6 curve with good depth that may be able to be a strikeout pitch and a 2-seam fastball with some sink and run in on righties. Solid long-man, don't expect a whole lot more and he is pitching a little over his head right now.

8th: Cut (85-87), CB (76-77), FB (87)

9th: Cut (85-87), CB (76-77)

6) Sergio Escalona: 14 Pitches. 0 Strikes Swinging

• Escalona is a 6-0, 170 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 straight 4-seam. His change is a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand. His curve is an 11-5 pitch with good depth and may be able to be a strike out pitch. 2nd lefty in a pen is his upside in my opinion and he shows solid velocity for a lefty.

9th: FB (89-91), CB (77-80), CU (79-82)

Oswalt vs. Hochevar for a score tomorrow in addition to a chart.

80-89 Re Eval

Following changes were made:



Julian Tavarez '98 Result changed to Somewhat Worse (31) from Somewhat Worse

Doug Jones '99 Result changed from N/A, N/A to Same, Better

Jim Mecir '99 Result changed from Somewhat Worse in 3 True Outcomes to Worse (145)

Rod Beck '99 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (65) in 3 True Outcomes

Juan Acevedo '01 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (40) in 3 True Outcomes

Billy Wagner '04 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (75)

Mike DeJean '04 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (34)

Octavio Dotel '05 Result changed from Somewhat Worse to Worse (135)

Justin Duchscherer '06 Result changed from Somewhat Better to Somewhat Worse (47)

Duaner Sanchez '06 Result changed from Somewhat Better, Better to Worse (63), Worse

> 90 IP Re-Eval

The Following changes were made:

Doug Jones Added to 1999

Derek Lowe Added to 1999

Jim Brower Added to 2003

Heath Bell Added to 2007

Sean Lowe '99 Result Changed from Somewhat Worse/Worse to N/A, N/A due to starts

Rick White '00 Result Changed from Somewhat Better in 3 True Outcomes to Somewhat Worse (37)

Salomon Torres '07 Result Changed from Somewhat Better/Worse to Worse (73), Worse.

Dry Blog

As you can tell, with frames being continually entered (and me only doing it the first time I see someone) the reports are beginning to look a little dry.

If you haven't figured out the blog, I tag both the teams and all the players (that it lets me) and you can click that tag and it will bring up all the ones with the same tag (click a player that had no frame for that day and it will take you to all the reports about him and you can get info on his frame).

Obviously, this blog will need something new, as I will only be seeing more and more pitchers for multiple times and I am still wondering what I would add. Have thought about times to 1st on grounders, as well as pop times.

Is there something along the lines of scouting that you would like to see this blog add? Feel free to post a comment, as no one reads this anyways so it is pretty much anonymous.

TOR @ WAS

• Ricky Romero comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and sink and some run in on lefties. His change shows good fade and sink and is his best off-speed pitch. It is his out pitch and flashes excellent sink. It looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider can be loopy/slurvy or it can be sharp and somewhat resemble his change. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5 with good depth. Solid # 3 starter who could be a 2.

1st: FB (89-93), CU (82-85), SL (81-82)

2nd: FB (90-94), CU (82-87), CB (76-79)

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (83-85), SL (81-84), CB (75-77)

4th: FB (90-93), CU (84), CB (76)

5th: FB (91-93), CU (83-85), SL (83-85), CB (78)

6th: FB (88-93), CU (80-84), CB (74-79)

7th: FB (89-94), CU (82-84), SL (83-85), CB (76)

• Shairon Martis came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good run and sink, a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand until it drops off the table and it shows excellent sink and some fade, though it can be inconsistent and a 2-7 slider with some bite. His command can be erratic and he is no better then a # 4 starter for both now and the future.

1st: FB (88-93), SL (82-83), CU (81-87)

2nd: FB (86-90), SL (84-86), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (88-91), SL (84), CU (82)

4th: FB (86-90), SL (81-83), CU (79-83)

5th: FB (87-91), SL (86), CU (80-82)

• Jesus Colome came from a 3/4 release with a fairly straight 4-seam fastabll that flashed some late run to righties and a 2-7 slider with okay bite. Could pitch for the Nats, Padres and maybe Indians.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (84-89)

• Kip Wells came from an over the top, almost high 3/4 release. His fastball has some late run and sink. His change is a straight change with some sink that he will throw to righties. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with some bite.

7th: FB (92-94), CU (85-87), SL (85-86)

8th: FB (91-94), CU (86-87)

• Jeremy Accardo came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good fade and sink. After battling his way back from injury and the minors, he went down with what appeared to be maybe a back injury to my un trained eye.

8th: FB (92-93)

• Brandon League came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run and some sink and a split with great dive that is his out pitch. He is an enigma, as he has swing and miss stuff but struggles to consistently get hitters out.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (83-85)

• Joel Hanrahan came from an over the top release and struggled. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, his slider is a 2-7 pitch that has flattened out and his change is a straight change with some sink. I still like him due to his fastball velocity, but his slider needs to come back.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (82-85), CU (85)

• Jesse Carlson also struggled. The sidearming lefty showed a fastball with good late sink and a 10-5 slider with good downward bite. He also threw a change with some fade and sink. He left too many belt high fastballs in to the Nats hitters and they made him pay.

9th: FB (87-89), SL (78-81), CU (82)

• Jason Frasor comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball that flashes some run and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

9th: FB (94-95), SL (85-86)

Off tomorrow. We play the other supposed top team in our baseball league for the 1st of 3 straight times tomorrow.

Chart Observations: TEX @ SF

• Matt Cain is a 6-3, 245 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release primarily, but will be anywhere between over the top and 3/4. His fastball shows some run and a little sink. His curveball is a power 12-6 with good depth that can be a strikeout pitch. His change has excellent fade and sink and is a pitch he will throw to righties. He also throws a hard slider that is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. It appears his arm can occasionally lag behind his delivery and he does have some command issues (but not control issues). He tends to pitch to the middle of the plate as opposed to the corners. Cain is a strong # 2 right now, as all his pitches are at least above average, but I want to see more consistent command before I call him an ace.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (88), CU (86-87), CB (77-78)

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (89), CU (88), CB (76)

3rd: FB (91-96), SL (88), CU (89), CB (77)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (86), CB (76)

5th: FB (91-95), CU (89), CB (75-78)

6th: FB (93-95), SL (86-88), CU (87-88), CB (75-80)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (89), CU (86-87)

8th: FB (92-94), SL (87), CU (86)

• Derek Holland is a 6-2, 185 pound lefty. The 22 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 205 at least. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a classic drop and drive delivery. He has a Bronson Arroyo type leg kick and has a very quiet delivery until right before release and he has a little bit of a head jerk. His fastball has good run in on righties and a little sink. His change is a straight change with some late sink and fade. His curveball is a 11-4 with good bite and it can be sharp or a get me over pitch. His slider is a flat, sharp 10-4 pitch that can show good bite, but is usually below average. Holland is currently a # 4 or # 5 starter, as he has no consistent off speed pitch or great command (probably right around average). However, he is a guy with a bright future (barring injury). He projects to be at least a strong # 2 or a closer. I think he settles in the back of a bullpen.

1st: FB (94-96), CU (84)

2nd: FB (93-96), CB (78-79), SL (81)

3rd: FB (92-95), CB (77-79), SL (85)

4th: FB (92-93)

5th: FB (91-96), CU (82-85), CB (74-78)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (73)

7th: FB (92-95), CU (84), CB (78), SL (84-86)

• Frank Francisco is a 6-3, 230 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a classic drop and drive delivery. His fastball shows good run and sink. His split shows excellent late dive and is a plus pitch. His curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. Francisco is a very underrated closer who can run into the occasional control problem. He is an above average major league closer.

8th: FB (92-94), Split (84-86), CB (76)

• Darren O'Day is a sidearming righty who featured a fastball with good sink and run and a 3-8 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (85-86), SL (76-78)

• Brian Wilson comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball with a little run and a cutter with good cut and some sink and can move like a sharp 2-7 slider at times.

9th: FB (96-97), Cut (89-92)

10th: FB (96-98), Cut (89-91)

• Jason Jennings is a 6-2, 235 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and has some bad weight, as his thighs are gargantuan and look to rub together as he walks. He comes from an over the top release. His arm action raises some concerns to me, as he almost throws with a straight arm and looks like he puts a lot of strain on his shoulder. His fastball shows above average sink and run. His slider is a 1-7 offering with good bite that can look like a curveball at times. Solid middle reliever for however long he can stay healthy. I wouldn't count on him for a full season due to his body and arm action.

10th: FB (88), SL (80-82)

11th: FB (88-89), SL (81-82)

• Sergio Romo comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that shows some run and flashes plus run and a 2-7 slider with some bite that is a latebreaker and stays on the same plane as his fastball until it breaks. He is pitching a little over his head right now and will likely be returning to earth shortly. Solid middle reliever, but not a guy who won't walk guys or be a set-up guy.

11th: FB (88-90), SL (76-78)

• Brandon Boggs made a pinch hit appearance and is a 5-11, 205 pound 26 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that is maxed out and may have some bad weight and is another Ranger that has very big thighs. As a lefty, he has a slightly open stance where he stands fairly straight up with some bat wiggle. His trigger is a small step with weight shifting back and cocking of the bat. He struck out.

Chart Observations: TB @ NYM

Due to the Braves game going so quick (a little over 2 hours), I did my extra chart that I had for tomorrow.

• Johan Santana comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run and sink, a late-breaking 10-4 slider with above average bite and a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand with excellent sink and above average fade that he will throw to lefties. His command is still not where it was last year, but is getting closer.

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

2nd: FB (90-94), SL (83-85), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-92), CU (80-83)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (82), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (90-92), SL (85), CU (80-85)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83), CU (79-82)

7th: FB (90-92), SL (82-83), CU (82-83)

8th: FB (86), CU (78-80) Rain Delay hit, causing his FB to be slow for the 1 batter before they called them in.

• James Shields came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run and a little sink, a change with excellent fade and sink, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve. He did an excellent job of mixing his pitches and kept the Mets hitters off balance.

1st: FB (91-93), CU (82-84), Cut (86-89), CB (79)

2nd: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (85), CB (76-78)

3rd: FB (91-93), CU (82-83), Cut (88-90), CB (78)

4th: FB (91-92), CU (83-84), Cut (88), CB (78)

5th: FB (89-91), CU (81-85), Cut (87-88), CB (74)

6th: FB (89-92), CU (80), Cut (84-88), CB (74-78)

7th: FB (90-91), CU (80), Cut (89), CB (74-79)

• Bobby Parnell comes from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and a little sink and a 1-7 slider that was sharp with above average bite.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (86-87)

• Pedro Feliciano is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good run away from lefties and a cutter with good cut and solid sink.

8th: FB (87-88), Cut (83)

• Dan Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run and solid sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (77-84)

• Sean Green is a sidearming righty who showed a fastball with excellent run and sink, a 3-7 slider with good bite and downward movement and a change with good sink and fade.

9th: FB (88-90), SL (72-76), CU (84)

• J.P Howell comes from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a straight change that had some late fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (85-88), CB (80-84), CU (81)

Got another chart, a score featuring Ricky Romero and Shairon Martis and a baseball game tomorrow.

ATL @ BOS

• Josh Beckett is a 6-5, 220 pound righty. The 29 year old has a big frame that can get up to 230. He comes from a 3/4 release. Simply put, Beckett had no-hit type stuff tonight. He featured a 4-seam fastball that flashed run that he was hitting corners with all night. His curveball was a power 2-7 pitch with good depth and it starts on the same plane as his fastball. His change is a hard change with good fade and sink. He threw a cutter with good cut and sink to Yunel Escobar, who flailed badly. Beckett is a true ace.

1st: FB (96-97), CB (77-80), CU (90-92)

2nd: FB (94-96), CB (78), CU (91)

3rd: FB (95-96), CB (75-79)

4th: FB (93-96), CB (76-77)

5th: FB (95-96), CB (76-77), CU (89-91)

6th: FB (95-96), CB (78-79), CU (90)

7th: FB (93-96), CB (77-79), CU (90), Cut (90)

8th: FB (92-95), CB (76), CU (90)

9th: FB (95-96), CU (91)

• Derek Lowe comes from a high 3/4 releae and showed a fastball with some run and sink and a 2-8 slider with some bite. He did a great job of keeping the ball down and getting groundball outs. Solid # 2 starter.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (81)

2nd: FB (90-92), SL (83-85)

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

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

5th: FB (89-91), SL (82-84)

6th: FB (89-90), SL (82-84)

7th: FB (88-90), SL (82-84)

• Jeff Bennett comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some sink that flashes run and a 2-7 slider with decent bite. His command continues to be erratic.

7th: FB (93-95), SL (86-88)

• Eric O'Flaherty came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 10-5 slider with good bite.

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

Chart Observations: ARI @ SEA

• Jon Garland comes from an over the top release and shows a 2-seam fastball with good sink and run, a change with good fade and sink, a cutter with good late cut, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a big breaking 12-5, 12-6 curve with good depth. He will throw his change to righties and likes to start his cutter on the outside corner and have it break off the plate.

1st: FB (90-92), SL (83-85), CU (83), Cut (88-90)

2nd: FB (89-91), SL (83-85), CU (80), Cut (88-89)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (82-84), CU (79-80), Cut (87-89), CB (74)

4th: FB (87-92), SL (83-84), CU (80-81), Cut (90)

5th: FB (88-90), CU (80), Cut (87-88), CB (77)

6th: FB (89-90), SL (82-84), Cut (88)

7th: FB (89-92), SL (82), Cut (87-88)

• Jarrod Washburn is a 6-1, 195 pound lefty. The 34 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 that is straight. His cutter has some cut and a little run. His change has good fade and sink. His slider is a 10-5 pitch with good bite that he throws to lefties and his curve is a big breaking 11-4 with good depth that is his breaking pitch to righties. He is a solid # 4 starter who is a perfect fit for Safeco.

1st: FB (90-92), Cut (88-90), CU (84)

2nd: FB (89-91), Cut (87-89), CU (81-84), SL (78)

3rd: FB (87-91), Cut (89), CU (79-82), SL (77-78), CB (71)

4th: FB (87-90), Cut (87-88), CU (82)

5th: FB (87-89), Cut (88-89), CU (82), SL (78), CB (70-71)

6th: FB (88-89), Cut (89), SL (79), CB (71)

7th: FB (88-90), Cut (87-88), CU (83), SL (80), CB (70)

• Miguel Batista comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink, a cutter with good late cut and a loopy 2-7 curveball.

8th: FB (91-93), Cut (85-87), CB (78)

• Scott Schoeneweis come from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with good run and sink and a sweeping 10-4 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (81)

• Tony Pena comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastabll taht has some run and sink and a 2-7 slider that can have inconsistent bite.

8th: FB (96-98), SL (87-90)

• David Aardsma comes from an over the top release and shows a 4-seam fastball with good run and a splitter that showed good diving action.

9th: FB (94-97), Split (87)

Chart Observations: ATL @ CIN

• Tommy Hanson came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch that can be inconsistent with its break and can flatten out. His curveball is a 12-6, 1-7 pitch with good depth and good late break that is sharp. His change is a straight change with a little sink that he will throw to righties. His slider really flattened out in the 6th.

1st: FB (92-95), SL (84-87), CB (75-77), CU (82)

2nd: FB (91-95), SL (83-86), CB (76-77), CU (84)

3rd: FB (93-95), SL (82-83), CB (75), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-95), SL (79-81), CB (75), CU (83)

5th: FB (90-95), SL (80-83), CB (74-75), CU (87)

6th: FB (92-95), SL (82-84), CB (75-77), CU (84)

• Matt Maloney is a 6-4, 220 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 230. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He has classic drop and drive mechanics and kicks his stride leg out a little farther then most. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run. His change is a straight change with some sink and is his best pitch that he will throw to lefties. It has excellent late sink and run and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider is an 11-4 offering with okay bite. His curveball is an 11-4 with good depth. I believe his slider is just a power curve, as they have similar movement. He looks to me like a # 5 starter or long reliever/swingman.

1st: FB (87-90), CU (78-81), SL (77), CB (71)

2nd: FB (87-88), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (78-79), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (78-79), SL (77), CB (69-71)

5th: FB (87-90), CU (77-78), SL (76-77), CB (70)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (79-80), CB (69)

• Carlos Fisher is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and takes a giant stride to the plate and it appears his arm lags behind at times. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run and his slider appears to be more of a curve with okay bite and is a 12-6 type offering. He throws to the middle of the plate too much and his command can be erratic. He has the tools to be a solid middle reliever down the road, but isn't quite ready.

6th: FB (92-96), SL (79)

7th: FB (92-97), SL (83-85)

• Peter Moylan is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with excellent run and some sink and a 9-3 slider with some bite.

7th: FB (91-94), SL (79-82)

• Josh Roenicke, a 6-3, 195 pound righty, made his season debut in this game. The 26 year old has a medium to big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He has some cocking action and almost short arms the ball from an over the top release. His fastball has some run and sink. His slider is a slurvy 1-7 offering with some late break and some bite that resembles a curve. His cutter is a 1-7 pitch with good late bite that moves like a slider. He has the tools to pitch in the back of a pen someday, but will likely be a middle reliever.

8th: FB (94-97), Cut (89), SL (79-81)

• Mike Gonzalez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run and sink, a 11-4 slider that he will add and subtract from depending on the count and a straight change.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (76-86), CU (79)

• Jared Burton is a 6-5, 230 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle to the lower body. His cutter shows good cut and a little sink and his slider is a 2-7 offering with good bite from an over the top release. Serviceable middle reliever.

9th: Cut (88-93), SL (83)

• Rafael Soriano comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a 4-seam fastball with a little run and sink.

9th: FB (90-95)

Chart Observations: ARI @ KC

• Dan Haren came from an over the top release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His split had solid diving action and is his out pitch. His cutter shows some cut and sink and his curveball was slurvy and inconsistent and was a 1-8 pitch. His fastball was the best I have seen it, but this also caused his curve to flatten out. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (91-92), Split (89)

2nd: Gameday Issues

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (80-81), Split (87), Cut (86-89)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81), Split (86), Cut (89)

5th: FB (90-92)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (79-80), Split (86-87), Cut (86-91)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (79), Split (86)

• Luke Hochevar is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 225. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball is a sinker with some run and sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with above average bite and serves as his out pitch. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has some good fade and sink. Will throw the curve from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and believe he tips the pitch with this. Hochevar generates very few swings and misses and operates on a small margin of error. He has the tools to be a good # 3, but he is still struggling with his command. I think he is a # 5 right now.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (82-85)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (82-83), CB (76)

3rd: Gameday Issues

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CB (73-76)

5th: FB (91), CB (73)

• Jamey Wright is a 6-5, 225 pound righty. The 34 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball shows good run and a little sink. His curveball is a 1-7 with good depth and can be a strikeout pitch. His splitter has a little dive and his cutter has some cut, but it can flatten out. His command can be inconsistent. Solid middle reliever.

5th: FB (88-94), Cut (89), CB (74-79), Split (86)

• Juan Cruz is a 6-2, 165 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle, but it looks the exact same as it did when he first debuted so I wouldn't count on it. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows good run. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. He has added a cutter and that had some cut to it, but it was inconsistent. He only threw 1 slider and the rest of his pitches were FB/Cut.

6th: FB (94-97), Cut (89-91), SL (82)

7th: FB (91-96), Cut (89-91)

• Ron Mahay comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a splitter that had a little sink, but was fairly straight and a 11-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (82-83), Split (84-87)

• Clay Zavada came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a straight change and a 10-4 cutter with some bite.

8th: FB (87-90), CU (79-82), Cut (81)

• Joakim Soria is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium to big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has excellent late sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. Above average closer who is beginning to have some durability questions.

9th: FB (90-91), CB (67), CU (84-86)

• Chad Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with excellent run and sink and a 2-7 slider with excellent bite. He is an above average closer as well, as his stuff is very impressive.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (84-89)

• Luis Hernandez is a 5-10, 180 pound 24 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that is maxed out. From the righty side, he has a very slightly open stance with a little bat wiggle and a trigger of a double step and a cocking of the bat. More of a gap hitter and can play anywhere on the field. The problem is the Royals have quite a few of these and he doesn't project to be much of a hitter. Organizational player.
• Tug Hulett is a 5-10, 185 pound 26 year old. The lefty hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that can add a touch more muscle. He has a slightly open stance and stands straight up with the bat 45 degrees over his shoulder. His trigger is a moderate leg kick and a cocking of the bat. Similar to Hernandez but doesn't appear to be as fast, but has a little more power. Hulett also may not be able to handle shortstop. He is a 4-A player.

TOR @ PHI: TOR

• Brad Mills is a 5-11, 185 pound left hander who made his major league debut. The 24 year old has a small frame that should be able to get up to 200. He comes from an over the top release from a herky-jerky windup. He looks away and his glove hand comes up above his head right before his release. He has limbs going everywhere and almost looks to try and go as fast as possible from the beginning of his wind-up to the end. He works very fast and generates good deception. He has the arm action of a Ubaldo Jimenez, straightening it on the backtake and accelerating forward with some cocking action. His fastball is a 4-seam that has a little sink and run. His curveball is a big breaking 11-5, 12-6 pitch with good depth, but is not an out pitch. His change is a straight change that can float at times. He tends to miss up in the zone, which is not good for a pitcher of his stuff. He is primarily CB-CU with some fastballs mixed in. He will throw 3-2 changes and threw one with the bases loaded. His command is erratic. Think a left handed Josh Geer and that is what you see. # 5 starter at best who needs to refine his command.

1st: FB (86-89), CU (73-76), CB (70-75)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (73-76), CB (71-73)

3rd: FB (85-87), CU (72-75), CB (68-73)

4th: FB (85-87), CU (74-76), CB (70-71)

• Shawn Camp comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball with good sink and run, a change with good sink and fade and a sweeping 3-8 slider with solid bite. Solid middle reliever.

4th: FB (87-89), SL (79-80), CU (80-82)

• Dirk Hayhurst is a 6-2, 195 pound righty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release where his arm appears to be dragging. His slider is a 1-8 pitch with good bite. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that he hides well. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth and his change shows some good sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. More of a swingman then an inning reliever.

5th: FB (88-89), CB (73-75), CU (76-78), SL (81-83)

• Jesse Carlson is a sidearmer whose fastball has good run in on righties and some sink and a sweeping 9-4 slider with good bite. Good # 1 lefty.

6th: FB (88-89), SL (78-85)

• Brandon League comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run, a 2-7 slider with great bite and a splitter with excellent dive.

7th: FB (96-97), SL (85-87), Split (85-88)

8th: FB (96-97), Split (86-88)

• Jason Frasor comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some run, a split with good dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (85), Split (87)

• B.J. Ryan comes from a high 3/4 release with a 11-4 slider that has good bite and a straight 4-seam fastball. He has been reduced to LOOGY duty.

9th: FB (87), SL (80-83)

• Jeremy Accardo is a 6-1, 190 pound righty. The 27 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 straight 4-seam that can have some cut and his slider is a 2-7 offering with decent bite. He has a herky-jerky delivery with limbs flying everywhere. Hard to tell if he is still a big league pitcher.

9th: FB (90-91), SL (85)

TOR @ PHI: PHI

• Joe Blanton comes from an over the top release with a 4-seam fastball with a little run, a change with good fade and a little sink that he will throw to righties, a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite and a big breaking 12-6 curve that can be just a floater. Struggled with his command today and was behind quite a bit.

1st: FB (87-92), CB (76), SL (81-85), CU (81)

2nd: FB (86-91), CB (76), SL (82-83), CU (82)

3rd: FB (88-91), CB (74), SL (81-83), CU (81)

4th: FB (87-90), SL (79-83), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (86-93), CB (77), SL (82-83), CU (82)

6th: FB (90-92), SL (79-80), CU (81-82)

• Chan Ho Park came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good sink and fade, a slider with good bite that was a 2-7 pitch and a 12-6 curve that had good depth.

6th: FB (91-96), SL (84-89), CB (81-84)

7th: FB (92-94), SL (82-87)

• J.C. Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a straight change and a slurvy 10-4 slider.

7th: FB (89-93), SL (79), CU (80-81)

• Clay Condrey comes from an over the top release and showed a 1-8 slider with good bite, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a fastball with good run and sink. Struggled to get ahead and keep the ball down.

8th: FB (89-91), SL (82-86), Cut (88-90)

• Tyler Walker is a 6-3, 265 pound righty. The 33 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and looks to have some bad weight, as he labors through his delivery. Hs comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and his change has some sink and fade. Should be a serviceable middle reliever.

8th: FB (89-92), SL (82-85), CU (79)

• Ryan Madson comes from an over the top release and showed a fastball that was a straight 4-seam, a cutter with good cut and a change with great sink.

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (90-91), CU (85)

• John Mayberry Jr. is a 6-6, 230 pound man beast. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a slightly closed and crouched stance with a bat tap. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He has good bat speed, but his swing can get a little long. He is a slightly above average runner, though he will probably be average as he continues to add muscle. He has above average raw power and a plus arm from the outfield. He has all the tools to be an everyday player, but he is not yet ready. He needs some more seasoning at AAA to improve his pitch recognition and keep a consistent swing.

Chart Observations: ARI @ KC

• Max Scherzer comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some late run, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade and sink that he will throw to righties. Mixed pitches very well, but can still have spurts with no control.

1st: FB (93-98), SL (85-87), CU (86-87)

2nd: FB (92-94), SL (84-86), CU (84-86)

3rd: FB (93-96), SL (84-86), CU (84-86)

4th: FB (92-95), SL (83-86), CU (85)

5th: FB (93-97), SL (85), CU (85-86)

6th: FB (92-99), SL (82-87), CU (85-86)

• Zach Greinke is a 6-2, 190 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run and he has some extra in the tank when he needs it. His change shows good sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. His curveball is a slow, big breaking 12-6. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite and is his out pitch. Ace.

1st: FB (92-98), SL (90), CU (81-82), CB (68)

2nd: FB (92-96), SL (87-88), CB (75-78)

3rd: FB (91-97), SL (84-88), CU (82-84), CB (69)

4th: FB (91-96), SL (85-88), CU (81-84), CB (67-73)

5th: FB (91-94), SL (83-88), CU (85)

6th: FB (92-97), SL (79-88), CU (82)

7th: FB (92-96), SL (86-88), CU (81-87)

• Scott Schoeneweis is a 6-0, 190 pound lefty. The 35 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a fastball that has some run and a sweeping 10-4 slider. Good # 1 lefty to have in a pen.

7th: FB (89-91), SL (80-81)

• Jon Rauch comes from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with some run, a change with good sink and fade and a big breaking 12-6 curve.

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

8th: FB (90-93), CU (85), CB (74-75)

• John Bale is a 6-4, 205 pound lefty. The 35 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. He will throw a straight change, as well as a fastball, from a high 3/4 release. Will throw his change to lefties. He has a classic drop and drive delivery and a 10-4 curve that is fairly slurvy. More of a guy to pitch when trailing then leading and not much of a major league pitcher.

7th: FB (87-90), CU (82)

8th: FB (89-90), CB (73-74), CU (80-81)

• Roman Colon is a 6-6, 235 pound righty who didn't get an out. The 29 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes a little run. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with good bite. Seems like he has the tools to be useful, but pitched to the middle of the plate too often. Should be a solid middle reliever.

8th: FB (93-94), SL (79)

• Ron Mahay is a 6-2, 195 pound lefty. The 37 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He shows a 4-seam fastball with a little run, a straight change with some sink and a 11-4 slider with good bite. Solid # 1 lefty in a pen.

8th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84), CU (85)

• Juan Gutierrez comes from an over the top release and shows a 4-seam fastball with good run, a change with some sink and fade, a sharp 2-7 slider and a 12-5 curve with some depth and good late bite.

9th: FB (94-96), CB (79-83), SL (84), CU (84-85)

• Kyle Farnsworth is a 6-4, 235 pound righty. The 33 year old has a big frame that has room to add a little more muscle. He comes from an over the top release with a straight 4-seam fastball that flashes run, a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite and a low 90's cutter that has good cut and a little sink. Closer stuff, middle reliever command. I wouldn't trust him with anything more then a middle reliever.

9th: FB (93-99), SL (84-90), Cut (90-93)

Chart Observations: FLA @ BOS

• Brad Penny comes from an over the top release. He has a straight 4-seam fastball, a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth and split with excellent diving action that he will throw to righties. Look at his velocity numbers below and then give the Red Sox what they want for this guy, especially if your a NL team.

1st: FB (94-98), CB (79-81)

2nd: FB (94-97), CB (77-81), Split (86-87)

3rd: FB (93-97), CB (79), Split (88)

4th: FB (94-96), Split (85-88)

5th: FB (94-96), CB (80), Split (85-86)

• Andrew Miller comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a slurvy 11-5 slider with good bite and a straight change that looks like his fastball. He may have moved his arm slot up and is the best I have seen him this year. His fastball velocity was back and he kept the Sox off balance with changeups. Now, can he pitch this way when he isn't at Fenway?

1st: FB (91-97), SL (80), CU (87)

2nd: FB (90-95), SL (79), CU (82-85)

3rd: FB (93-96), CU (83-86)

4th: FB (91-96), SL (77-82), CU (81-88)

5th: FB (94-96), SL (76-78), CU (84)

6th: FB (92-93), SL (74), CU (82-84)

• Justin Masterson came from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good sink and run and sharp 2-7 slider with good bite. His change is straight and didn't look very good.

6th: FB (93-96), SL (85-89), CU (89)

• Brian Sanches comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a split with above average dive that he will throw to righties and a sharp 2-7 slider.

6th: FB (90), SL (84), Split (81)

7th: FB (89-90), SL (84-86), Split (80-85)

• Hideki Okajima came from an over the top release with a violent head jerk and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a 12-6 curve with good depth and bite.

7th: FB (88-89), CB (78)

• Ramon Ramirez came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some life, a change with excellent fade and sink, though it could be inconsistent and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (86), CU (89-92)

• Kiko Calero comes from a high 3/4 release. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. his fastball has some sink and his change has some sink and fade. Didn't have plus (or any) command of his slider today and paid the price.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (80-81), CU (84)

• Leo Nunez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run and a change with excellent fade and sink.

8th: FB (95), CU (87-88)

• Jonathan Papelbon is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a 4-seam fastball that shows some run and split with great dive. Still one of the best.

9th: FB (94-97), Split (90-91)

HOU @ TEX

• Russ Ortiz comes from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a slider with some good bite and is a 2-7 type pitch, a change with some sink and fade, a cutter with some cut and bite and a curveball that is a 12-5 pitch with good depth. His change can be just a floater at times. He pitched out of the stretch the entire time. He will also throw a 2-seam fastball with some fade and a little sink. Swingman.

1st: FB (88-89), CB (75-77), SL (84), Cut (87), CU (82)

2nd: FB (88-89), CB (76), Cut (87-88), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (88-89), CB (76-77), SL (85), Cut (85-86), CU (83)

4th: FB (87-89), CB (77), Cut (86-87), CU (81-84)

5th: FB (86-90), CB (77), SL (84-85)

6th: FB (86-89), CB (73-80), Cut (85-86), CU (81-83)

• Matt Harrison, a 6-4, 225 pound lefty, opposed him. The 23 year old has a big frame that is close to maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His tempo has slowed back down between pitches, but still moves quickly in his motion. His command was off tonight again and may be because of a bad tempo, or he just may struggle to throw strikes period. His fastball is a straight 4-seam with a little run. His change is a straight change with some sink and fade and looks like a fastball out of his hand and is his best off-speed pitch. His cutter has some cut. His slider is a slurvy 10-4 pitch with okay bite. He will also throw a 2-seam fastball with some sink. Likes to throw the cutter in on righties. # 4 starter now and has the potential to be a # 3 depending on how much command he can learn.

1st: FB (90-94), CU (81-82), Cut (88)

2nd: FB (89-93), SL (77-79)

3rd: FB (88-91)

4th: FB (88-93), CU (80-81), SL (76-79)

5th: FB (87-92), CU (79-82), SL (75-79), Cut (86)

• Jason Grilli comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball that is a straight 4-seam and a slider that is a 2-7 pitch with good bite. Command is still an issue.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (84-87)

• Darren O'Day is a 6-4, 220 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He is a sidearmer and almost comes submarine. His fastball has good run and sink and his slider just keep moving away from righties and has some bite (3-8 pitch). It is a sweeping slider that he can throw to both corners. He has plus command of his stuff. Solid middle reliever. Think Chad Bradford in his prime.

7th: FB (83-87), SL (76-79)

• Chris Sampson is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 31 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 2-seam with some sink and fade. His curveball is a 2-8 pitch with some depth. His slider is a 2-7 pitch that is more downward movement and has some good bite. I would rather see him as a swingman and don't like him as a 1 inning reliever.

7th: FB (86-88), CB (77), SL (82)

• Eddie Guardado is a 6-0, 225 pound lefty. The 38 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball, a slurvy 11-4 slider with solid bite and a straight change that isn't anything special. He has plus command, but even with that command he can't get hitters out. He's done in my opinion.

8th: FB (84-88), SL (78-79), CU (82)

• LaTroy Hawkins comes from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a slider that could be sharp or flat and was very inconsistent tonight. Solid middle reliever and can set up and close on occasion.

8th: FB (91-95), SL (87-90)

• C.J. Wilson is a 6-1, 215 pound lefty. The 28 year old has a medium frame that can get up to 225. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball shows good run and sink. His slider is a 11-4 pitch with good late bite and is more of a downward action pitch. His cutter has some cut and sink and his change is a straight change with some sink. Good late inning reliever who has appeared to put his control issues in the past.

9th: FB (91-94), SL (83), CU (86), Cut (89)

10th: FB (93-94), SL (81-86), Cut (88)

• Jose Valverde is a 6-4, 280 pound behemoth righty. The 31 year old has a big frame that is maxed out with some bad weight. He comes from an over the top release and has some cocking arm action. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His splitter shows good dive and is an above average pitch. He is just an average closer now.

9th: FB (93-96), Split (84-86)

• Jeff Fulchino comes from an over the top release and shows a straight 4-seam fastball and an average 2-7 slider with okay bite that he can subtract from to make it look like a curveball. Middle reliever.

10th: FB (89-94), SL (81-83)

2 charts (1 extra) and the Blue Jays game featuring the MLB debut of Brad Mills.

A Look At Some Giants Hitters

• Nate Schierholtz is a 25 year old who stands 6-2, 215. The lefty hitter/thrower has a medium frame that is maxed out. He has slightly above average speed and is an adequate defensive outfielder, though is nothing special. He has a slightly open stance with hands held a little in front of him and little behind his back shoulder. He is slightly crouched and doesn't use batting gloves. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat. He shows above average power, but not great pitch recognition. He appears to be another SF 4-A outfielder. He could probably provide 15-20 homers in an everyday role, but at the price of strikeouts and a low batting average. Could stick as a bench bat.
• Matt Downs made his major league debut tonight, the recipient of the 2B job now that Manny Burriss has been optioned to AAA. Downs is a 6-2, 190 pound righty thrower/hitter. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He has an open stance with a little bat tap and holds his hands slightly in front. His bat is horizontal over his shoulder. His trigger is a double step (one to square himself up, another to start the swing) and a cocking of the bat. He shows a short, somewhat powerful swing. He has a slightly above average arm and decent range. Downs hit the ball hard each at-bat, but had nothing to show for it. He strikes me as a utility infielder. He has mostly gap power and is a doubles hitter and isn't a great defender, merely league average. He will get a chance to prove he belongs.
• Eli Whiteside got a pinch hit appearance and caught for an inning. The 6-2, 215 pound 29 year old is a righty thrower/hitter and has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He has a straight on stance with a little bat tap. He takes a leg kick and cocks his bat as a trigger. He is a back-up catcher at best. He will never hit for a ton of average and has modest power. He will strike out a lot, as his pitch recognition skills are somewhat lacking. The Giants are parading a cast of characters around as backup catchers (Holm, Alfonzo, Whiteside) as they wait for Buster Posey to make his long awaited arrival to the bigs.
• Edgar Renteria looked done to me. His bat has slowed and his range is nearly non-existent. He easily costs his team runs when he is playing SS.
• Pablo Sandoval made 3 errors, but he and Bengie Molina are the only real power threats in the lineup. The real question will be how to get them all in the lineup when Posey arrives?
• Travis Ishikawa pinch hit and struck out. Not a major league player and I don't know how much longer the Giants can have him take a spot on the roster.

LAA @ SF: Pitchers

• Jonathan Sanchez is a 6-2, 190 pound lefty. The 26 year old has a medium frame taht can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and his stuff is nowhere near where it was last year. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that appears to have lost a couple miles per hour of velocity. His slider is a 9-4 pitch that no longer has great bite and is more slurvy. His change shows some fade and sink and is now his best off-speed pitch. He can battle his command from pitch to pitch and outing to outing. The Giants may need to sell now while he still has value, as he is now just a # 5 starter. He could be a dynamite reliever if he returns to the mid 90's with his fastball.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (80-83), CU (84-85)

2nd: FB (89-92), SL (79-82), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (89-92), SL (78-82), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (88-91), SL (79-82), CU (84-85)

• Sean O'Sullivan was very impressive in his major league debut. He is a 6-2, 230 pound righty. The 21 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and he is carrying some bad weight. He may have a gut and needs to work some of that bad weight off and he will likely see his velocity rise. He comes from an over the top release. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a moderate head jerk. His fastball is a 2-seam sinker with some sink and fade and is more comparable to Mike Pelfrey as opposed to Brandon Webb. His slider or curveball (it is one pitch, just not sure which one), is a 3-9 type pitch with good bite, though it can also just float to the plate. His changeup shows great fade and sink and will throw it to both righties and lefties and even throw it inside to lefties. It flashes plus. He did an excellent job of keeping the ball down at the knees all night and rarely missed up. A guy that could grow into being a # 3 starter.

1st: FB (90-92)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (79), CU (77-78)

3rd: FB (86-92), SL (77-82)

4th: FB (89-92), SL (77-79), CU (77-78)

5th: FB (90-91), SL (77-81)

6th: FB (88-93), SL (79-83), CU (75-77)

7th: FB (89-91), SL (78-81), CU (75-76)

• Justin Miller is a 6-2, 200 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade and sink, a 2-7 slider with decent bite and a split with some good dive and is average. Solid reliever, but more of a 10th or 11th guy in a pen.

4th: FB (87), Split (80)

5th: FB (87-89), SL (79-81), Split (79-81)

6th: FB (87-90), SL (78-79), Split (79-80)

• Brandon Medders is a 6-1, 195 pound righty. The 29 year old has a medium frame that can add more muscle. He comes from an over the top release and shows a fastball with some sink and fade. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with good bite and his curveball is a 12-6 pitch with good depth. Borderline major league pitcher.

7th: FB (88-89), CB (70-72), SL (82-84)

8th: FB (86-89), CB (70-71), SL (80-82)

• Justin Speier is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 35 year old has a medium to big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some fade and sink. His slider is a 3-9 offering with good side to side movement. His splitter shows good dive and he has solid command of it. Solid middle reliever.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (84), Split (81-82)

• Jason Bulger is a 6-4, 210 pound righty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He showed a fastball with some fade and sink. His curveball is a power 12-7 pitch with good depth. His change has some sink and a little fade. The command of all his pitches are very inconsistent. Middle reliever is his upside and he is close to it now. He is a major league pitcher if he is throwing strikes.

9th: FB (92-96), CB (78-80), CU (83-85)

• Jeremy Affeldt is a 6-5, 225 pound lefty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add quite a bit more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade, a 11-4 curveball with good depth and a straight change with some sink. Good middle reliever who can face both righties and lefties.

9th: FB (92-94), CB (75-78), CU (86-89)

WAS @ NYY

• C.C. Sabathia is a 6-7, 290 pound left hander. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam with a little run. His change is a straight change that looks like a fastball out of his hand. He will throw a slurvy SL that is a 11-4 pitch early to try and steal a strike and will throw a sharper slier with a little better bite as an out pitch, but it isn't where it was last year. It shows some late bite, but he is struggling to bury it as a true out pitch. He stays away from righties with the change and is FB-SL only to lefties. He has a classic drop and drive delivery. His slider regression makes him a strong # 2 as opposed to an ace to me. He still has plus-plus command, but the days of him striking out 10-12 a game will be gone unless he rediscovers that slider.

1st: FB (93), CU (87)

2nd: FB (93-94), CU (86-87), SL (77-81)

3rd: FB (92-94), CU (87)

4th: FB (93-94), CU (85-86), SL (76-81)

5th: FB (92-95), CU (84-85), SL (77-81)

6th: FB (93-95), CU (85-87), SL (77-79)

7th: FB (92-93), CU (84-85), SL (78)

8th: FB (92-95), CU (84-85), SL (79)

• Shairon Martis comes from a 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some fade and sink, a change that is his best off-speed offering that has movement like his fastball, but to a greater degree, and looks like a fastball out of his hand. His slider is a 3-8 pitch with some bite, but is just average, if that. He will throw his change to righties and in any count. His fastball command can be inconsistent. He loves to throw 3-2 changeups. He is very comfortable throwing to his armside corner, but struggles when asked to go the other corner. He is a nibbler. # 5 starter with little projection left.

1st: FB (88-92), CU (81-85), SL (82-84)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (81-82), SL (78-83)

3rd: FB (86-91), CU (80-82), SL (84)

4th: FB (86-90), CU (82), SL (79-84)

5th: FB (86-90), SL (83)

6th: FB (86-89), CU (82), SL (81)

• Know how I know your team stinks? You bring in Ron Villone with a 1-run lead in the 7th. Villone comes from a high 3/4 release and has a little bit of herky-jerk in his delivery. His slider is a slurvy 11-4, his fastball has some sink, but can be straight and his change has good fade and sink and looks like a fastball out of his hand.

7th: FB (88-90), SL (78-80), CU (81-83)

• Brian Bruney is a 6-3, 235 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from an over the top release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is a sharp 2-7 pitch with great bite. I believe he throws an occasional cutter and it was pretty straight. Good 8th inning guy and should be able to fill the role as long as he stays healthy.

8th: FB (96), SL (89), Cut (90)

• Mike MacDougal is a 6-4, 190 pound 32 year old. The righty has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a closer's arsenal, featuring a fastball with some fade and a little sink and a sharp, late breaking 2-7 slider. The problem is he has absolutely zero idea where the ball is going.

8th: FB (94-97), SL (86)

• Joe Beimel comes from a high 3/4 release and throws across his body to generate extra deception. His fastball is a 4-seam with a little run. His curveball is a slow 11-4 with solid depth. His change is straight with a little fade.

8th: FB (84-89), CB (71-72), CU (80)

• Mariano Rivera is a 39 year old who stands 6-2, 185. The right hander has a medium frame that can add more muscle if he so desires. His cutter is still plus and has good hard cut and he can put it wherever he wants to. Talk of his demise are premature.

9th: Cut (90-93)