Chart Observations: 8/11 PIT @ COL

1) Ross Ohlendorf: 109 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th, 5th), 4 Sliders (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th)

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

1st: FB (92-93), SL (80-83)

2nd: FB (91-96)

3rd: FB (92-96), SL (81-82), CU (83)

4th: FB (93-96), SL (83-84), CU (84)

5th: FB (91-94), SL (81-82)

6th: FB (91-94), SL (80-81), CU (83)

7th: FB (89-93)

2) Jhoulys Chacin: 71 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 2nd), 4 Changeups (2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd). Frame data can be found under the Futures Game World Roster.

• Chacin came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some cutting action and good sink, a change with some fade from lefties and above average sink that he will throw to righties and it can look like a slider at times. He will throw the change in 3-1 or 3-2 counts and essentially any time is what I gathered from watching this start. His curve is a 12-6 with below average depth. Chacin battled his command and his radar gun readings don't jump at you, but I like the combination of stuff he has. His change moves like his fastball, which is why it can appear to look like a slider with a little late cut. Should be a solid # 2 starter.

1st: FB (88-91), CU (83), CB (79-81)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (82-86), CB (78-80)

3rd: FB (88-93), CU (81-84)

3) Josh Fogg: 68 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. Fastball (5th), 2 Cutters (6th, 7th), 4 Curveballs (2 in 5th, 2 in 7th)

• Fogg came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with a little sink, a cutter with solid cut, a 12-7 curve with solid depth and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties. He also threw a 2-7 slider with some bite. He will throw the change in 2-0 counts.

3rd: FB (84-89), Cut (83-86), CB (78)

4th: FB (86-88), Cut (85-86), CB (76), CU (80)

5th: FB (86-89), Cut (84-85), CB (76-78)

6th: FB (85-89), Cut (83-86), CB (79), CU (82)

7th: Cut (83-87), CB (76-78), CU (79), SL (82)

4) Jose Ascanio: 13 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (91-94), CU (83-85)

5) Jesse Chavez: 27 pitches. 4 strikes swinging (all in 8th). 3 Fastballs, Slider.

• Chavez came from an over the top release and showed a change with some fade from lefties with some sink, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with okay bite. He will throw the change to righties.

7th: CU (87)

8th: FB (94-97), CU (86-87), SL (91)

6) Joe Beimel: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Beimel came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties and sink, a change with good fade from righties with good sink and a 11-5 curve with good depth.

8th: FB (85-90), CB (73), CU (79)

7) Matt Daley: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Daley came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with solid sink, a 2-7 curve with okay depth and a change with good fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties.

9th: FB (89-93), CB (79-82), CU (82-83)

8) Evan Meek: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a cutter with solid cut.

9th: FB (93-94), Cut (92-94)

9) Joel Hanrahan: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (95-96), SL (84-86)

• Carlos Gonzalez is a 6-1, 215 pound 23 year old outfielder. The lefty/lefty has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. His stance is slightly open with his hands high and a little bat wiggle. His trigger is a moderate leg kick and a cocking of the bat. He doesn't take the best routes on defense and struggles to turn and get good bat reads, though his plus (3.9 to 1st on bunt) speed helps to make up for his early misjudgements. I like him and he appears to be a prototypical # 2 hitter, though his bat speed is great and can turn on a ball and might be able to be a # 3 hitter as his pitch recognition grows. He hit a legit fliner liner that didn't get higher then 20 feet off the ground out for a home run.

8/11: CHW @ SEA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7th: FB (96)

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

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

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

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

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

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

9th: FB (90-92)

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

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

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

SU 2010 Football Recruiting Update: Offense

Still in the Running:
Tyler Brause: ATH
Marcus Shaw: RB
Nahjee Gibson: S
Tyson Gulley: RB
Mustafa Greene: RB
Kamal Hogan: RB
James White: RB
Jamaal Jackson: RB
Dontrewell Kelley: RB
Bryce Wilder: RB
Zach Zwinak: FB
Bobby Swigert: WR
Adrian Flemming: WR (SU may be favorite)
Trey Millard: TE
Jarrett Darmstatter: TE (Visiting)
Teven Eatmon: TE
Justin Favors: TE
Beckett Wales: TE
Sean Hickey: OL (Decision likely coming soon)
Jack DeBoef: OL
Sal Conaboy: OL

SU No Longer An Option:
Brandon Gainer: RB
Shakim Phillips: WR (Very close to narrowing it down and Cuse isn't mentioned)
Kenny Shaw: WR
Eric Williams: WR
Brandon Ifill: WR
Brandon Coleman: WR (Doesn't sound good)
Sherard Cadogan: TE (Doesn't sound good)
Arie Kouandijo: OL (Doesn't sound good)
Khamrone Kolb: OL
Shane Johnson: OL
Parker Mack: OL

8/3-8/8: Notable Minor League Transactions

Traded:

1. White Sox trade Daryle Ward (.255-.339-.397 at AAA) and Norris Hopper (.298-.345-.358 with 2 teams at AAA) to Nats for cash.
2. Pirates trade Mike Koplove (4-4, 1.76 with 2 teams at AAA) to Mariners for Deybis Benitez (.269-.367-.269 at High A and SS).

Released:

1. John Hudgins (1-3, 4.33 at AA and AAA), Mark Prior (did not pitch), Brian Lawrence (4-4, 6.28 at AAA): Padres
2. Jorge Julio (0-1, 5.96 at AAA), Wade Townsend (0-1, 13.50 at R): Rays

Placed on DL:

1. Ryan Speier (1-0, 6.61 at AAA): Rockies
2. Cody Satterwhite (4-5, 3.25 at AA): Tigers
3. Kyle Skipworth (.205-.260-.345 at Low A), Cameron Maybin (.329-.415-.475 at AAA), Ryan Tucker (1-2, 8.04 at AAA): Marlins
4. Jesus Montero (.337-.389-.562 at High A and AA): Yankees, Season Over
5. Daniel Moskos (8-9, 4.11 at AA): Pirates
6. Josh Fields (2-2, 6.48 at AA): Mariners

Finding specific reasoning for being placed on the DL is tough in the MAJORS, so finding it on minor leaguers is extremely difficult.

Signed:

1. Corey Patterson (.274-.318-.422 with Nats AAA): Brewers
2. Wil Ledezma (0-2, 4.19 with Nats AAA): Blue Jays

8/10: LAD @ SF

1) Hiroki Kuroda: 93 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 2 in 4th), 4 Sliders (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd), Splitter (3rd)

• Kuroda came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with solid sink, a split with slightly above average dive and a 2-7 slider with good bite that he can hang and can be inconsistent break-wise. He will throw 3-2 splitters.

1st: FB (90-94), SL (81-86), Split (87-88)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (81-86), Split (88-89)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (79-85), Split (86-90)

4th: FB (93-94), Split (89)

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

6th: FB (92-94)

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

2) Jonathan Sanchez: 91 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 4th), 2 Sliders (1st, 5th), 2 Changeups (2nd, 5th)

• Sanchez came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a change with some fade from righties with sink and a loopy 11-5 slider with some bite. He will throw 2-0 changes and 2-1 sliders. Stuff looked better, but still may be a step back from last year.

1st: FB (91-95), SL (79-85), CU (83-88)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (78-85), CU (82-86)

3rd: FB (86-93), SL (79-80), CU (79-81)

4th: FB (89-93), SL (77-83), CU (78-87)

5th: FB (88-93), SL (80-84), CU (83-85)

3) Justin Miller: 31 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders (3 in 6th, 2 in 7th)

• Miller came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties with good sink, a split with solid dive and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

6th: FB (88-90), SL (78-81), Split (79-80)

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

4) Hong-Chih Kuo: 6 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Kuo came from a high 3/4 release and showed an explosive fastball with some run in on lefties.

7th: FB (93-95)

5) Ronald Belisario: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (94), SL (85)

6) George Sherrill: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Sherrill came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 11-5 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (89-90), SL (74-75)

7) Sergio Romo: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Romo came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-9 slider with good bite that stays on the same plane as his fastball until breaking late and a change with good fade from lefties with okay sink.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (75-78), CU (81)

8) Merkin Valdez: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Valdez came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a split with some dive.

9th: FB (91-97), SL (76-84), Split (86)

9) Jonathan Broxton: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (96-100)

Chart Observations: 8/9 DET @ MIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8/9: ARI @ WAS

1) Yusmeiro Petit: 83 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 3rd, 2 in 4th), 3 on Curveballs (1st, 2nd, 4th)

• Petit came from an over the top release with a 12-6 curve with average depth, a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with some fade from lefties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a cutter with some cut and he will throw any pitch in any count.

1st: FB (86-89), CU (76-77), SL (76-78), CB (72-74), Cut (82-84)

2nd: FB (86-89), CU (77), SL (77), CB (73-75), Cut (82-84)

3rd: FB (86-89), CU (76-79), CB (73-75), Cut (79-82)

4th: FB (86-88), CU (76), CB (74-76), Cut (79-81)

2) J.D. Martin: 87 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (3rd), Curveball (3rd), Cutter (3rd), Changeup (1st)

• Martin is a 6-4, 200 pound righty. The 26 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle everywhere. He is real long and lanky and came from a high 3/4 release. His change has good run in on lefties and some sink, a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth, a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a cutter with some cut and a little sink. 4-A guy who really doesn't have the stuff to be a good # 5 starter in the majors.

1st: FB (86-88), Cut (85), CB (72), CU (80-82)

2nd: FB (85-88), Cut (84), CU (80)

3rd: FB (85-88), Cut (81-84), CB (71), CU (82)

4th: FB (85-88), Cut (81-84), CB (71-73), CU (80-82)

5th: FB (84-89), Cut (83-86), CB (70-71), CU (80)

3) Clay Zavada: 24 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

• Zavada came from a high 3/4 to 3/4 release and showed a change with some fade from righties with sink, a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 10-4 curve with solid depth.

5th: FB (88), CU (78-81)

6th: FB (87-89), CU (78-83), CB (70)

4) Leo Rosales: 21 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball (7th), 3 Changeups (2 in 6th, 7th)

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

6th: FB (88-91), CU (78-81), SL (81)

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

5) Tyler Clippard: 11 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Clippard came from an over the top release with a real violent delivery and showed a fastball with a little late run in on righties, a change with good fade form lefties with good late sink that he will throw to rightise and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

6th: FB (89-91), SL (80), CU (79-80)

6) Jason Bergmann: 9 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Bergmann came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties and a hard 2-7 slider that has cutter-like movement with okay bite.

6th: FB (91-93), SL (85-86)

7) Ron Villone: 13 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

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

7th: FB (89-92), SL (79-85), CU (82-84)

8) Jorge Sosa: 22 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 5 Sliders (2 in 7th, 8th, 2 in 9th)

• Sosa is a 6-2, 230 pound righty. The 32 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with some bad weight. He came form a 3/4 release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite and a fastball withs ome run in on righties and some sink.

7th: SL (84-85)

8th: SL (84-86), FB (90-91)

9th: SL (82-86), FB (90)

9) Scott Schoeneweis: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Scott came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a 10-4 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (86-88), SL (76-78)

10) Blaine Boyer: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Curveball.

• Boyer came from an over the top release and showed a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth, a 2-7 slider with okay bite, a change with good fade from lefties that he will throw to righties and a fastball with good run in on righties.

8th: FB (93-98), CB (83), SL (82-85), CU (86-87)

Chart Observations: 8/8 MIL @ HOU

1) Manny Parra: 107 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th), 4 Splitters (2nd, 4th, 2 in 5th)

• Parra came from an over the top release with a fastball that has a little tail on righties, a power 11-5 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from righties with sink and a split with good diving action. He will throw his change in any count.

1st: FB (91-94), CU (85), Split (83-85)

2nd: FB (90-93), CU (84-85), CB (77), Split (83)

3rd: FB (91-93), CU (84-85), CB (76), Split (82)

4th: FB (90-95), CU (83-85), CB (74-76), Split (83-84)

5th: FB (90-95), CU (82), CB (72), Split (82-84)

6th: FB (87-93), CU (85), CB (72), Split (81)

2) Mike Hampton: 48 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Cutters (1st, 2nd)

• Hampton came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a cutter that looks like a slider with 11-5 movement, a change with good fade from righties with good sink, a big breaking 11-5 curve with solid depth. He was leaving his change up and on his armside. He left the game with an injury, again.

1st: FB (83-91), Cut (84-87), CU (77-79)

2nd: FB (84-91), Cut (84-88), CU (77-78), CB (73-78)

3) Yorman Bazardo: 41 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Bazardo is a 6-2, 220 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4, almost 3/4 release. His fastball has good run in on righties with good sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with slightly above average bite. His change has some fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties. The change is his out pitch. He is a better fit as a starter then a reliever due to all his offerings being slightly average. He will struggle as a reliever.

3rd: FB (89-93), CU (82-84), SL (81-85)

4) Wesley Wright: 61 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (4th, 6th), Changeup (5th), Slider (6th)

• Wright is a 5-11, 175 pound lefty. The 24 year old has a small frame that can add more muscle everywhere. He came from anywhere form a high 3/4 to 3/4 release. His curveball is a 11-5 offering with slightly above average depth. His fastball has some run in on lefties. His slider is a 10-4 offering with good late bite. His change has some fade from righties with sink. He looks to have the look to be a solid middle reliever eventually.

4th: FB (91-94), CB (79-82), SL (85-86)

5th: FB (90-93), CB (80-83), SL (85-86), CU (86)

6th: FB (91-94), CB (80-81), SL (83-87), CU (85-86)

5) Claudio Vargas: 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

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

6th: FB (89-92)

7th: FB (90-93), SL (80-82)

6) Tim Byrdak: 38 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (7th)

• Byrdak came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a change that moves like his fastball with a little sink, a 11-5 slider with solid bite and a 11-5 curve with some depth that he will hang.

7th: FB (85-92), SL (82-84), CU (81-84), CB (77)

8th: FB (89-91), SL (79-83), CU (80-85)

7) Chris Smith: 17 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Smith came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a change with some fade from lefties with sink that he will throw to righties.

8th: FB (87-90), CU (74-76)

8) Alberto Arias: 16 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (93-95), CB (81-84)

9) Mike Burns: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (89-92), SL (79-82)

8/8: STL @ PIT

1) Charlie Morton: 93 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 5 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 4th, 5th), 4 Curveballs (2nd, 3 in 4th), 3 Changeups (2nd, 2 in 3rd)

• Morton came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a change that moves just like his fastball but slower that he will throw to righties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a 2-7 slider with solid bite.

1st: FB (88-96), CU (81)

2nd: FB (88-95), CU (81-82), CB (79)

3rd: FB (86-95), CU (81-83), CB (79-82)

4th: FB (89-96), CU (81-83), CB (78-82)

5th: FB (93-96), CU (80-81), CB (76-80), SL (86)

2) Adam Wainwright: 112 pitches. 16 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 4th, 5th), 5 Cutters (1st, 2 in 4th, 5th, 6th), 6 Curveballs (1st, 3rd, 4th, 2 in 5th, 6th), 2 Changeups (both in 6th)

• Wainwright came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a change with some fade from lefties with sink and a cutter with good cut and sink. Very similar to Chris Carpenter now.

1st: FB (91-93), CB (75-77), Cut (84-87), CU (84)

2nd: FB (90-93), CB (76), CU (83-86)

3rd: FB (90-92), CB (73-74), Cut (85)

4th: FB (90-93), CB (74-75), Cut (85-88), CU (85)

5th: FB (91-93), CB (71-76), Cut (86)

6th: FB (90-93), CB (73-77), Cut (85-88), CU (82-84)

7th: FB (90-92), CB (74-76), CU (83-84)

3) Chris Bootcheck: 30 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Bootcheck is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle everywhere, but likely won't at this stage of his career. He came from an over the top release with some cocking action. His fastball is a straight 4-seam while his slier is a 2-7 with good to above average bite. He had below average command and control of both offerings and did not have much of a clue where the ball would be going. Seems like an eternal 4-A guy.

6th: FB (93-95), SL (80-83)

4) Evan Meek: 16 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs, Curveball.

• Meek came from an over the top release with a 1-7 curve with good depth and a straight 4-seam fastball.

7th: FB (94-98), CB (81-86)

5) Kyle McClellan: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

7th: FB (90-91), Cut (86)

8th: FB (92), Cut (88), CB (76)

6) Trever Miller: 5 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Miller came from a sidearm release with a 9-4 slider with good bite.

8th: SL (74-78)

7) Joel Hanrahan: 29 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 9th), 3 Sliders (2 in 8th, 9th)

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

8th: FB (95-96), SL (84-86)

9th: FB (94-97), SL (84-87), CU (86)

8) Dennys Reyes: 4 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Reyes came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 9-4 slider with solid bite.

9th: FB (90-91), SL (84)

9) Jason Motte: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Motte came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a split with some dive and a cutter with some cut and sink.

9th: FB (96-99), Cut (89-92), Split (78-80)

10) Ryan Franklin: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Franklin came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good cut and a sharp 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth.

9th: Cut (88), CB (76)

• More Updates coming later tonight featuring Yorman Bazardo's season debut on Saturday and J.D. Martin's pitching performance this afternoon.

Chart Observations: 8/7 MIL @ HOU

1) Carlos Villanueva: 72 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. Fastball (4th), 4 Sliders (2 in 1st, 2nd, 5th), Changeup (4th)

• Villanueva came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with above average run in on righties, a 1-7 slider with above average bite, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties and a 12-6 curve with above average depth that is more of a get-ahead pitch. He can have bouts of wildness and his slider is his out pitch.

1st: FB (86-90), CU (80-82), SL (82), CB (73)

2nd: FB (87-89), CU (80-82), SL (79-82)

3rd: FB (87-89), CU (81), SL (79-81), CB (74)

4th: FB (87-90), CU (80-81), SL (79-81), CB (73)

5th: FB (87-89), CU (79-81), SL (78-81), CB (74)

6th: CU (79), CB (72)

2) Bud Norris: 105 pitches. 14 strikes swinging. 4 Fastballs (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th), 7 Cutters (2nd, 3 in 3rd, 3 in 4th), 3 Changeups (1st, 2 in 6th)

• Norris is a 6-0, 225 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with big thighs and has that short and stocky like build. He came from a high 3/4 release and was primarily fastball-cutter. His fastball has a little run in on righties while his cutter has solid cut. His change has above average fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties, but he struggles to command it and doesn't have a lot of confidence in it. His changeup will play at this level and if he develops a feel for it, he can be a pretty sound # 2 starter. His command overall is fairly good and he will be able to translate to the pen and be a set-up guy if all else fails.

1st: FB (92-95), Cut (86-89), CU (86)

2nd: FB (93-95), Cut (87-90)

3rd: FB (92-94), Cut (87-88)

4th: FB (92-95), Cut (85-88), CU (85-87)

5th: FB (92-94), Cut (86-89)

6th: FB (92-96), Cut (88-91), CU (85-88)

3) Mark DiFelice: 15 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut.

6th: Cut (82-84)

4) Claudio Vargas: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Vargas came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink and a 2-7 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (88-91), SL (81)

5) Chris Sampson: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

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

6) Tim Byrdak: 8 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Byrdak came from a 3/4 release with a 9-4 slider with solid bite, a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a flat 9-4 curve that can just hang.

7th: FB (90-91), SL (82-83), CB (77)

7) Jeff Fulchino: 17 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (7th, 8th), Splitter (7th)

• Fulchino came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with good bite, a fastball with good run in on righties and a splitter with above average dive.

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

8th: FB (91-94), SL (81-83), Split (82-83)

8) Jesus Colome: 10 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (93-95), SL (86)

9) Jose Valverde: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Valverde came from a 3/4 release and showed a splitter with above average dive and a straight 4-seam fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (95-98), Split (86)

8/7, 8/8 Notable News

Placed on DL: Jed Lowrie, Dallas Braden, Joe Saunders, Carlos Zambrano
Call-Ups: Yorman Bazardo, Clayton Mortensen, Jose Arredondo, Aaron Cunningham, Rafael Perez, Junichi Tazawa, Tony Abreu, Pedro Borbon.

Have been away from the apartment from 7 this morning until about 1015 at night. Had 3 charts and a score at 7. Will be posting the other chart (featuring Bud Norris) and the score (featuring Wainwright vs. Morton) at some point tomorrow in addition to my chart and score from Sunday.

The Northern Yankees have now advanced to the finals to play Gabelsville and that series is slated to begin on Monday. Looks like I will be busy as hell again...

Chart Observations: 8/7 FLA @ PHI

1) Ricky Nolasco: 101 pitches. 11 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (3rd, 2 in 6th), 5 Sliders (2nd, 3rd, 3 in 6th), Curveball (4th), 2 Splitters (6th, 7th)

• Nolasco came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a splitter with good fade from lefties with a little diving action (I think it is more of a split-change then a splitter). He will throw 3-1 sliders.

1st: FB (89-93), SL (82-84), CB (75)

2nd: FB (89-94), SL (82-85), CB (74-76), Split (85)

3rd: FB (90-94), SL (82-85), CB (75-76), Split (84)

4th: FB (92-93), SL (85), CB (72-77), Split (85)

5th: FB (90-93), SL (81-83), CB (75), Split (83-84)

6th: FB (90-94), SL (83-84), CB (74-76), Split (85)

7th: FB (91-93), SL (83-85), CB (73-76), Split (83-86)

2) Joe Blanton: 112 pitches. 10 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2nd, 2 in 7th), 4 Sliders (1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th), 3 Changeups (2nd, 3rd, 4th)

• Blanton came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties with some sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade from lefties with good sink. He will throw 2-0 sliders, 2-1 changeups and will throw his change to righties.

1st: FB (88-91), SL (82-83), CU (83), CB (74)

2nd: FB (88-89), SL (82-84), CU (82-84), CB (74-75)

3rd: FB (88-91), SL (82-83), CU (83), CB (75)

4th: FB (86-92), SL (81-83), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (79-83), CB (74)

6th: FB (87-92), SL (83-84), CU (83)

7th: FB (88-91), SL (81-83), CU (82), CB (75)

3) Chan Ho Park: 4 pitches. 0 strikes swinging

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

7th: FB (93-94), SL (87-88)

4) Renyel Pinto: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Pinto came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good sink and some late run in on lefties and a change with some fade from righties with sink. He will throw 3-2 changeups and will throw the pitch to lefties as an out pitch.

8th: FB (91-93), CU (82-86)

5) Ryan Madson: 16 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 4 Changeups (3 in 8th, 9th)

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

8th: FB (94-97), CU (83-85)

9th: FB (93-95), CU (82)

6) Scott Eyre: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

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

9th: FB (89-91), SL (74-82)

7) Tyler Walker: 4 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

9th: FB (90-92), SL (83-84)

8) Leo Nunez: 5 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

9th: FB (94), CU (85-87)

Chart Observations: STL @ PIT

1) Chris Carpenter: 111 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 6 on Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2 in 4th, 2 in 8th), 3 on Curveballs (2nd, 7th, 8th), 3 on Cutters (5th, 7th, 8th)

• Carpenter came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with a little sink, a cutter with solid solid, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties.

1st: FB (90-94), Cut (84-87), CB (74-75), CU (84)

2nd: FB (91-93), Cut (87), CB (74-76)

3rd: FB (92-94), Cut (84-87), CB (74-75), CU (84)

4th: FB (90-92), Cut (85-88), CB (76)

5th: FB (92-93), Cut (84-85), CB (73-74)

6th: FB (89-94), Cut (86-87), CB (75-76), CU (83)

7th: FB (92), Cut (86-89), CB (74)

8th: FB (93-94), Cut (87-89), CB (74)

2) Paul Maholm: 99 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 4th), 3 Curveballs (4th, 2 in 5th), Changeup (1st)

• Maholm 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 sink, a 11-5 curve with solid depth and a 11-5 slider with good bite.

1st: FB (89-92), CB (76-77), CU (84-87)

2nd: FB (89-92), CB (76), CU (86)

3rd: FB (88-93), CB (75-78), CU (85-86), SL (81-85)

4th: FB (88-93), CB (74-77), CU (84)

5th: FB (91-92), CB (75-77), CU (86), SL (82)

6th: FB (90-92), CB (76-77), CU (83-86)

7th: FB (89-92)

3) Jose Ascanio: 30 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. Fastball, 2 Curveballs, Changeup (All in 8th)

• Ascanio came from a 3/4 release and showed an explosive fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that he will throw to righties and a 1-7 curve with average depth that is sharp and can be a strikeout pitch. He will throw 2-1 changeups.

8th: FB (94-97), CU (84-85), CB (78-83)

9th: FB (92-96), CU (84-86)

4) Ryan Franklin: 14 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Franklin came from an over the top release and showed a cutter with good late cut, a fastball with a little run in on righties and a 12-6 curve with slightly above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch.

9th: FB (92-93), Cut (89-92), CB (78-80)

Chart Observations: 8/6 LAA @ CHW

1) John Danks: 109 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups (1st, 3rd), Cutter (5th), Fastball (6th)

• Danks came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on lefties with sink, a cutter with 11-5 movement with solid cut, a 11-5 curve with solid depth and a change with good fade from righties with solid sink. Battled his command in this outing and missed too often in the middle-in portion of the plate.

1st: FB (90-93), Cut (86-88), CB (77), CU (82-83)

2nd: FB (87-91), Cut (85-86), CU (81-82)

3rd: FB (89-92), Cut (84), CB (74-75), CU (81-83)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (80-82)

5th: FB (89-92), Cut (84-87), CB (75-77), CU (80-82)

6th: FB (88-90), Cut (84-86), CU (80-85)

7th: FB (89-90), Cut (86), CU (81)

2) Ervin Santana: 108 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 7 Sliders (3 in 2nd, 3 in 3rd, 6th), Fastball (3rd)

• Santana is a 6-2, 185 pound righty. The 26 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle. He came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties with some sink, a straight change with some sink that he will throw to righties and a 2-7 slider with above average bite. He will throw 3-2 sliders. Santana's stuff has taken a big step back from last season, as his slider has flattened a little and his fastball velocity is down. As he is now, he is more of a # 4 or # 5 and whether he can regain his prior stuff will determine if he becomes a better pitcher.

1st: FB (87-94), CU (83), SL (85)

2nd: FB (90-93), CU (84-85), SL (79-83)

3rd: FB (88-94), SL (83-86)

4th: FB (88-95), CU (81), SL (76-82)

5th: FB (90-93), CU (84), SL (82)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (84), SL (75-84)

3) Octavio Dotel: 26 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Dotel came from a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a sharp 2-8 curve with solid depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a 2-7 slider with average bite.

7th: FB (90-94), SL (81), CB (78)

4) Jason Bulger: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs (both in 8th), Changeup (8th)

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

7th: FB (91-95), CB (81-83), CU (85-86)

8th: FB (93-95), CB (79-83), CU (85-86)

5) Randy Williams: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (8th), Changeup (9th)

• Williams came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some tail in on righties, a change with some fade from righties and a cutter with some cut.

8th: FB (89-95), CU (79-82)

9th: FB (91-94), CU (78-79), Cut (86)

6) Jhonny Nunez: 6 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Nunez is a 6-3, 185 pound righty. The 23 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He has a 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on righties and a cutter with marginal cut and flashes sink. Didn't impress to much and looks to be a guy that will be bouncing around.

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

7) Kevin Jepsen: 23 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Jepsen came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam that flashes a little run in on righties, a cutter with good cut flashes sink that is beginning to look like a 2-7 slider and a sharp 12-6 curve with average depth.

9th: FB (95-97), Cut (89-91), CB (82)

Notable News: 8/6

1. Jon Niese was placed on the 60 Day DL with a torn right hamstring and is likely done for the season. Elmer Dessens will take his roster spot.
2. Justin Upton was placed on the 15 Day DL and his roster spot has been taken by Trent Oeltjen. I saw Oeltjen 2 years ago while he played with Rochester, where I worked and thought he could be a solid 4th OF.
3. Nats traded Anderson Hernandez to the Mets for Greg Veloz. I saw Veloz last season working for the Catfish and he was trying to be a Jose Reyes clone, but just didn't have the bat control. Low risk, high reward for the Nats, as Hernandez isn't going to be helpful to them when they try to contend again, however long that may be.
4. The Yankees signed Russ Ortiz. Subtraction by addition and if he gets meaningful innings, there may be blood in New York.
5. Jarrod Parker, the D'Backs top pitching prospect and one of my favorites, has been placed on the 7-Day DL with tightness in his right elbow and it is likely that he will be shut down for the year.

Extra Reports: Orioles Focus

As the season continues and I begin to get more free time, I will be attempting to go back and watch tape of pitchers I haven't yet seen this season. Here are the reports on the 5 Orioles pitchers I haven't yet seen this year in the majors (minus Matusz and Tillman due to the fact they will likely be pitching until the end of the season)

1) Adam Eaton
4/12 Start. 100 pitches. 12 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 1st, 2nd), 7 Sliders (4 in 1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd), Curveball (2nd), Cutter (3rd)

• Eaton is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 31 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out and may have some bad weight. He came from a 3/4 release. His fastball has a little run in on righties, but is very straight, especially when considering his arm slot. His curve is 1-7 with above average depth while his slider is a 2-7 with solid late bite. His cutter has marginal cut and sink. His change has some fade from lefties. For every good slider he throws, he throw 2 flat ones that just hang and can get hammered. He will throw 3-2 changeups and sliders. He has no out pitch and just tries to out pitch you. He could be a serviceable # 5 on a NL team with a forgiving park, such as San Diego, but he is AAA fodder now.

1st: FB (88-91), CB (72-75), SL (79-83), Cut (86)

2nd: FB (87-92), CB (73-76), SL (80-82), CU (79-81)

3rd: FB (89-92), CB (72-76), SL (80), Cut (86)

4th: FB (88-92), CB (76), SL (79-83), Cut (87)

2) Dennis Sarfate

4/15 Appearance. 23 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (8th)

• Sarfate is a 6-4, 225 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He has a muscular, athletic looking build. He comes from an over the top release with a delivery that puts a lot of pressure on his shoulder (and is currently out with a pinched nerve in his shoulder) and looks like he almost over finishes every pitch, causing his shoulder to rotate too far. His fastball is a straight 4-seam from a classic drop and drive delivery while his curve is a 12-6 with average depth. An injury prone righty who relies on a straight fastball is a terrible fit for the AL East and is likely a guy who is going to be riding the shuttle from Norfolk and back.

8th: FB (91-93), CB (76-80)

9th: FB (91-92), CB (76)

3) Alfredo Simon

4/9 Start. 89 pitches. 5 strike swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 3rd, 4th), 2 Splitters (1st, 4th)

• Simon is a 6-4, 230 pound righty. The 28 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some natural run in on righties due to his arm slot, a pretty straight split with marginal dive that flashes average dive, but can't control it and a 12-6 curve with average depth. He has inconsistent command of his stuff. His fastball is only real above average pitch and neither off-speed offering is too impressive without his lack of command factored in. Could be a solid reliever with his fastball though and that is where his future should lie when he returns from Tommy John.

1st: FB (93-94), Split (83-84), CB (76)

2nd: FB (93-94), Split (81-83), CB (74-76)

3rd: FB (92-95), Split (79-83), CB (72-76)

4th: FB (90-95), Split (78-80), CB (72-75)

5th: FB (92-93), Split (79-81), CB (74)

6th: FB (93-94), Split (80)

4) Bob McCrory

5/8 Appearance. 40 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (7th)

• McCrory is a 6-1, 205 pound righty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that is maxed out with big thighs. He came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with a little bite but not much and a straight change. McCrory's fastball is plus and I love hard fastballs as much as the next guy, but neither off-speed pitch grades even as fringe and his slider doesn't have the tilt necessary to get hitters to even worry about it. If he can find an off-speed pitch (maybe a splitter?) then he can be successful.

7th: FB (96-98), SL (90-93), CU (87-90)

8th: FB (95-97), CU (87-88)

5) Kam Mickolio

7/17 Appearance. 38 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 6 Fastballs (2 in 7th, 4 in 8th)

• Mickolio is a 6-9, 255 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that is fairly maxed out and may be able to add a touch more weight. He came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-7 slider with solid bite, a pretty straight 4-seamer and a straight change. Mechanics are similar to Bronson Arroyo after the break of his hands and almost throws across his body. He generates a great downhill plane for his pitches, getting some natural sink and looks like the ball really jumps at the hitter. A reliever I actually like, I think he can have an impact for the Orioles and looks to be a fairly solid pitcher.

7th: FB (94-97), SL (81-84)

8th: FB (93-97), SL (83-85), CU (86)

6) Radhames Liz

4/20 Appearance. 19 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Liz is a 6-2, 185 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can get up to at least 205. He is real long and lanky. He came from a high 3/4 release in a delivery that featured a lot of moving parts and breaks his hands high and is a high effort delivery. His fastball is a straight 4-seam, though it flashes some run in on righties with sink. His change has some fade from lefties with a little sink that he will throw to righties and is his most utilized off-speed offering. His slider is a sharp 2-7 with above average bite that he has no idea where it will go. His command is putrid, as every fastball was a cockshot or 5 feet off the plate in some direction. He had better command of his change, but even that only graded out as below average, constantly missing armside or high. I used to like Liz (and he is still too young to give up on) but the forecast is fairly bleak unless a light switch flicks on revealing how to throw strikes.

7th: FB (90-95), CU (81-85), SL (80)

The Travails of Brad Bergesen

Watched 2 of Bergesen's starts (5/2 and 5/7) on my day off and here are those reports (tried to watch games where I hadn't seen the opposing pitcher, hence the reason they are back to back starts, which normally isn't ideal)

1) Brad Bergesen:
5/7: 88 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 5th), 2 Changeups (1st, 6th), Slider (6th)
5/2: 90 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Bergesen came from a low 3/4, almost side-arm release and showed a fastball with good late run in on righties with good sink, a change with some fade late fade from lefties with solid sink that moves just like his fastball but slower and a 2-7 slider that has inconsistent bite and can be flat. It can look like a cutter at times with just enough break for it to start on the outside corner and end up off the plate. What impressed me about him is the fact he keeps everything down, rarely making a mistake above thigh level. His ceiling is a # 4 starter, but I just don't think he will pitch well enough to be it. He pitched differently in both games, once being FB-CU and in the other being FB-SL. Think he is comparable to Andy Sonnanstine with more velocity on his fastball, but less overall command of his off-speed offerings.

5/7 first, then 5/2

1st: FB (87-91), CU (82-84) / FB (89-91), SL (86)

2nd: FB (88-91), CU (84) / FB (87-91), SL (82-86), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-91), CU (84), SL (81) / FB (87-91), SL (82-84), CU (83)

4th: FB (87-92), CU (82), SL (84) / FB (88-91), SL (80-82)

5th: FB (89-91), CU (80-82) / FB (88-92), SL (80-85)

6th: FB (87-90), CU (81-82), SL (81) / FB (87-89), CU (80-81)

2) Glen Perkins (5/7 Opposing Starter): 101 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Slider (1st), Changeup (5th)

• Perkins is a 6-0, 200 pound 26 year old. The lefty has a small frame that is maxed out. He came from a high 3/4 release. His fastball has a little run in on lefties while his slider is a 11-5 with solid bite that flashes above average with above average late bite. His 3rd pitch is a change with good fade from righties with solid sink that he will throw in 2-1 and 1-0 counts. He will take something off his fastball to get strike one. Slider down and in to righties is his out pitch and he can be inconsistent with his command. Is a # 4 or # 5 starter to me, not much more then that.

1st: FB (86-92), SL (80-83)

2nd: FB (86-92), SL (82-83), CU (78-81)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (81-84), CU (81-82)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (80)

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

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

3) Robert Ray: 90 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs (2 in 5th, 6th), Cutter (5th)

• Ray is a 6-5, 195 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle, at least to 215. He came from a high 3/4 release and was similar to Daniel Bard a little after the release mechanics, but getting there is a little bizarre. He has a leg kick with his arms crunched up in with him and separates a little funny. His fastball is a 2-seam sinker with good sink and is an above average sinker. His cutter has some cut and he will also mix in an occasional straight 4-seam fastball. His change is a splitter grip that has above average dive, but is difficult for him to command due to the movement it gets. His slider is a 2-7 with solid bite that he can hang, but flashes the ability to be an out pitch. He looks to be a back of the rotation guy, though he is very similar to Roy Halladay with his pitches and hope this guy got as much info as he could from him.

1st: FB (89-92), Cut (89-90), SL (77)

2nd: FB (90-92), Cut (89), SL (79), CU (80)

3rd: FB (89-91), Cut (89-90), SL (81), CU (81)

4th: FB (89-92), Cut (88-90), SL (78-81), CU (80-81)

5th: FB (90-92), Cut (88-89), SL (81-82), CU (82)

6th: FB (91-92), Cut (90), SL (80-81)

4) Jamie Walker:

5/7: 2 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

5/2: 8 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Wanted to watch the since released Walker as well and he happened to make appearances in both games. Walker is a 6-2, 195 pound 38 year old. The lefty has a medium frame that won't be getting any bigger. He came from a 3/4 release with a 10-4 slider with good bite, a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth and a change with good fade from righties with solid sink. The 5/7 outing he faced 1 lefty and on the 5/2 outing he faced one righty. Appears to be FB-SL to lefties and FB-CU-CB to righties. Tools were still there as of these outings, but he obviously lost something as evidenced by the fact he is unsigned.

5/2: 8th: FB (87), CU (77-79), CB (73-74)

5/7: 7th: FB (86), SL (76)

Flurry Of Transactions

Only 5 days into August, there has a been a lot of player movement:

DFA'd: Mike Gosling, Chris Shelton, Winston Abreu, Sidney Ponson, Robinson Cancel, Chris Woodward, Gil Velazquez, Jose Veras, Ryan Freel, Cody Ransom, John Bannister

• Reaction: No real surprises. Ponson should have been gone a long time ago. Veras is the only surprising one, in that the Indians have let him go when they are going nowhere and I do see some flashes from him.

Significant Call-Ups: Waldis Joaquin (Giants), Kyle Davies, Neftali Feliz, Brian Matusz, Tom Gorzelanny, Jess Todd

MIL @ LAD

1) Manny Parra: 102 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 8th), 2 Changeups (both in 4th), Curveball (8th), Splitter (8th)

• Parra came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties and solid sink, a 10-4 curve with solid depth, a splitter with solid dive and a change with some fade from righties with sink that he will throw in 2-0 counts. This is the best he has looked, as his fastball appeared to have more movement then it normally does and he was pounding the strike zone, constantly getting ahead.

1st: FB (91-95), CU (82-86), CB (78), Split (88)

2nd: FB (92-93), CU (83-84)

3rd: FB (92-94), CU (83), CB (76-78)

4th: FB (91-93), CU (83-85)

5th: FB (89-93), CB (76), Split (83-84)

6th: FB (90-94), CU (82-84), CB (76), Split (82)

7th: FB (90-93), CU (82), CB (75)

8th: FB (91-93), CB (74-76), Split (83)

9th: FB (91-92), CU (83)

2) Clayton Kershaw: 92 pitches. 9 strikes swinging. 9 Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 2 in 3rd, 3 in 4th, 5th)

• Kershaw came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a big breaking 11-5 curve with excellent depth, a change with some fade from righties with sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite. He can get out of control mechanically at times and can struggle to find his release point and make mechanical adjustments from pitch to pitch.

1st: FB (94-97), CB (71-72)

2nd: FB (93-96), CB (71-72), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (93-95), CB (70-73), CU (84), SL (77)

4th: FB (93-95), CB (69-71), CU (81), SL (78)

5th: FB (93-94), CU (83), SL (79)

3) Jeff Weaver: 50 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. 4 Sliders (5th, 2 in 6th, 7th), Fastball (6th)

• Weaver came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a 1-7 curve with some depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. He will drop down and throw frisbee sliders to righties with 2 strikes.

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81-83)

6th: FB (90-93), SL (80-85), CB (77-79), CU (85-87)

7th: FB (90), SL (80-83)

4) James McDonald: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (9th)

• McDonald came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with some sink.

8th: FB (93-95), CB (73), CU (76)

9th: FB (92-95), CB (77-78), CU (76)

5) Trevor Hoffman: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Changeup.

• Hoffman came from an over the top release and showed a change with above average fade from lefties with above average sink, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a pretty straight 4-seam fastball and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

9th: FB (83-87), CU (72-74), SL (79-81), CB (72)

Chart Observations: BOS @ BAL

1) Clay Buchholz: 76 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Changeups (1st, 2nd, 3rd), Curveball (4th)

• Clay came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a change with above average sink and some fade from lefties and can be unpredictable and more like a slider at times, a sharp 12-6 curve with above average depth that can be a strikeout pitch and a 2-7 slider with some bite that can be flat.

1st: FB (91-94), CU (79-80), CB (79)

2nd: FB (93-95), CU (79-82)

3rd: FB (91-96), CU (78-82), CB (77)

4th: FB (92-94), CU (80), CB (78), SL (82)

5th: FB (92-95), CU (80-81), CB (75), SL (81)

2) Jason Berken: 53 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders (all in 2nd), Curveball (1st)

• Berken came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with average depth, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw to righties in 2-0 or 2-1 counts and a 2-7 slider with some bite.

1st: FB (92-94), CU (83-85), CB (78-81)

2nd: FB (91-93), CU (84-85), CB (78), SL (83-85)

3) Brian Bass: 49 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), Slider (2nd), Changeup (4th)

• Bass came from a 3/4 release and shwoed a fastball with some run in on righties and a little sink, a hard 2-7 slider with good bite, a change with some fade from lefties with sink and a sharp 1-7 curve with below average depth.

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

3rd: FB (92-94), SL (86), CB (80)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (84-87), CB (78-83), CU (85)

4) Matt Albers: 27 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Curveballs.

• Albers came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 9-4 curve with solid depth that is sharp enough to be a strikeout pitch.

4th: FB (93-95), CB (80-83)

5) Mark Hendrickson: 44 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (6th)

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

4th: FB (88), CB (74)

5th: FB (87-90), CB (72-76), Cut (86)

6th: FB (86-88), CB (73-74), Cut (85), CU (81-82)

6) Manny Delcarmen: 31 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Changeup (5th), Fastball (6th)

• Delcarmen came from an over the top release and a fastball has a little run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some fade from lefties with some sink that serves as his out pitch and he will throw it in on righties and in 2-1 counts and a 1-7 curve with average depth.

5th: FB (93-94), CU (80-85), CB (78)

6th: FB (92-95), CU (80-86), CB (77-79)

7) Ramon Ramirez: 36 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (both in 7th), Slider (7th), Changeup (6th)

• Ramirez came from an over the top release and shwoed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a touch of sink, a change with some dive and a 2-7 slider with okay bite.

6th: FB (93-95), CU (88-91)

7th: FB (92-94), CU (86-90), SL (86)

8) Cla Meredith: 28 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (both in 8th)

• Meredith came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and solid sink and a 3-8 slider with okay bite.

7th: FB (86-87), SL (81)

8th: FB (85-87), SL (79-81)

9) Takashi Saito: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (9th).

• Saito came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a sharp 3-8 curve with okay depth.

8th: FB (90-91), CB (77)

9th: FB (89-91), CB (78)

10) Jim Johnson: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Johnson came from an over the top release with a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with some fade and a little sink and a 1-7 curve with solid depth.

9th: FB (92-95), CB (79), CU (86-87)

• Josh Reddick is a 6-2, 180 pound lefty hitter righty thrower. The 22 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle everywhere. He is long and lanky and is very skinny. He is straight-up with a straight on stance with hands held a little in front of his back shoulder with a little bat wiggle. His trigger is a double stride (stride in and then strides to hit) and a cocking of the bat. Looks like his swing can get long at times, but is effortless with good bat speed. He shows above average power to all fields now, which is a good sign as he continues to get stronger. Looks like an above average starting corner outfielder, though his swing does have some holes that will need to be corrected as scouting reports get out. Can get over aggressive at times.

Wait, A Strong Conclusion?

Well folks, there is a very interesting conclusion that has popped up (I am going through and re calculating all my conclusion tables to account for the injuries and this is the interesting one:

+/- Days of Rest yielded a 74 % regression rate for those pitchers that saw their scores go up 200 or more, which was followed by a 62 % regression rate for those between 100 and 199.

This is very interesting and that is a fairly sizable gap. Who are the pitchers prior to this season that qualified under this criteria? Check it out:

Doug Brocail: 5.87 ERA this season in 9 games, spent time on DL
Will Ohman: 60 day DL, 5.84 ERA this season.
Joe Smith: Spent time on DL, missing almost 2 months.

Looks like this high end of this criteria will continue to show regression even after this season. Now the question is, what did those pitchers that didn't regress in that time frame have to prevent it? Hopefully assigning a repetoire to each pitcher will help shine even more light on these criteria and that is the next step for me.

Chart Observations: SD @ MIL

1) Clayton Richard: 90 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball (4th)

• Richard came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with a little run in on lefties with a little sink, a change with good sink and good fade from righties that he will throw to lefties, a straight 4-seam fastball he liked to throw high with 2 strikes, a 10-4 slider with good bite and a cutter with some cut.

1st: FB (90-95), CU (85)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (85)

3rd: FB (90-96), CU (84-85), SL (83)

4th: FB (89-95), CU (84-85), SL (80-85), Cut (89)

5th: FB (89-94), CU (81-85), SL (79-80)

6th: FB (89-91), CU (84), SL (76)

2) Mike Burns: 102 pitches. 6 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 6th), 2 Sliders (3rd, 6th), Curveball (2nd), Changeup (3rd)

• Burns came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a 12-6 curve with above average depth, a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a change with some fade from lefties with a little sink.

1st: FB (87-90), SL (79-81), CB (71)

2nd: FB (86-88), SL (79), CB (70), CU (81-82)

3rd: FB (87-89), CB (69-71)

4th: FB (86-89), SL (78-80), CB (69-70)

5th: FB (85-89), SL (80-81), CB (71), CU (78-82)

6th: FB (86-90), SL (78-80), CB (69-70)

3) Greg Burke: 11 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Burke came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with below average bite and a fastball with some run in on righties and sink.

6th: FB (91-94), SL (82-86)

4) Mitch Stetter: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

6th: FB (84), SL (78-79)

7th: FB (84-87), SL (79)

5) Luke Gregerson: 12 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Gregerson came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink, a 3-8 slider with above average bite and a change with some fade from lefties with good sink.

7th: FB (91-93), SL (82-84), CU (81)

6) Mark DiFelice: 13 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Cutters.

• DiFelice came from a 3/4 release and showed a cutter with good cut and a 12-6 curve with below average depth.

7th: Cut (81-83), CB (76)

7) Claudio Vargas: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider.

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

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

8) Mike Adams: 10 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Adams came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a cutter with some cut and a change with plus fade from righties with above average sink.

8th: FB (93-95), Cut (90), CU (84)

9) Heath Bell: 14 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball.

• Bell came from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with some natural run in on righties and some sink and a sharp 1-7 curve with above average depth that is a strikeout pitch.

9th: FB (91-95), CB (79-82)

Playoff Game cancelled, so I am going to be working on the relief pitcher study since I already traded my game away.

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)

DET @ CLE: DET Pitchers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7/31: TOR @ OAK

1) Dallas Braden: 106 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (1st, 3rd), Changeup (7th)

• Braden is a 6-1, 200 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He came from an over the top release. His fastball has some late run in on lefties with sink. His change has some fade from righties and above average sink. His cutter has some cut while his slider is a 11-5 with solid bite that can look like a change at times. He will throw his change to lefties. Solid back of the rotation guy, probably a # 4 for a contender.

1st: FB (87-91), CU (75), Cut (84-87)

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

3rd: FB (86-90), CU (70-73), Cut (84-85), SL (74)

4th: FB (87-89), CU (71-73), Cut (83)

5th: FB (82-90), CU (72-74), Cut (82), SL (73-74)

6th: FB (87-91), CU (71-74), SL (73)

7th: FB (85-91), CU (63-75), Cut (84), SL (75)

2) Scott Richmond: 86 pitches. 7 strikes swinging. 4 on Fastballs (1st, 2 in 2nd, 3rd), Curveball (1st), 2 Changeups (both in 3rd)

• Richmond came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from righties with good sink. He will throw 3-2 curves.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (84-86), CB (78-81)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (82-85), CB (80), CU (85)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (86), CB (77-79), CU (82-85)

4th: FB (90-92), CU (83)

3) Brian Tallet: 59 pitches. 8 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (4th, 2 in 6th) and 5 Changeups (4 in 4th, 5th)

• Tallet came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties, a change with good fade from lefties with good sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand and a cutter with good cut. He will throw his change to lefties.

4th: FB (88-91), Cut (88), SL (81), CU (82-85)

5th: FB (88-90), Cut (86), CU (81-83)

6th: FB (87-90), Cut (88), CU (82-84)

4) Jesse Carlson: 16 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Carlson is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good run in on lefties and a 3-8 slider with good bite.

7th: FB (88-89), SL (81-84)

5) Russ Springer: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Cutter

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

7th: FB (92-93), Cut (85)

6) Brad Ziegler: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Ziegler came from a submarine release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and some sink and a 4-7 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (85-87), SL (73)

7) Shawn Camp: 15 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

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

8th: FB (87-90), CU (78-84)

8) Andrew Bailey: 13 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Cutter.

• Bailey came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with great cut and flashes sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve with above average depth.

9th: FB (95-96), Cut (87-91), CB (79)

7/31: WAS @ PIT

1) Ross Ohlendorf: 85 pitches. 5 strikes swinging. Fastball (2nd), 4 Sliders (2 in 4th, 2 in 7th)

• Ross is a 6-4, 235 pound righty who really doesn't look that big. The 26 year old has a big frame that is maxed out. He came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties with sink, a 2-7 slider with average bite and a change with good fade lefties with sink. Back of the rotation starter and may not even be able to be that much for a contending team.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (81)

2nd: FB (91-94), CU (84)

3rd: FB (90-93)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (79-82)

5th: FB (89-92), SL (81), CU (82)

6th: FB (89-93), SL (82), CU (82)

7th: FB (89-93), SL (78-82), CU (83)

2) John Lannan: 114 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Curveball (4th)

• Lannan came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties with sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite, a big breaking 11-5 curve with above average depth and a change with some fade from lefties with sink. He will throw any pitch in any count.

1st: FB (86-88), SL (81), CB (71)

2nd: FB (85-88), SL (81), CB (70), CU (83)

3rd: FB (85-87), SL (80-82), CB (71-73)

4th: FB (84-88), SL (81), CB (71-72), CU (79-81)

5th: FB (84-88), SL (79-81), CB (68-72)

6th: FB (85-88)

7th: FB (86-89), SL (78-80), CB (72-74), CU (83)

3) Jesse Chavez: 7 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider

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

7th: FB (92-93), SL (87-88), CU (81)

4) Jason Bergmann: 20 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Fastball.

• Jason came from an over the top release with a power 1-7 curve with average depth, a fastball with good run in on righties and a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite.

8th: FB (89-92), SL (86-87), CB (76-79)

5) Joel Hanrahan: 14 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

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

8th: FB (93-95), SL (85), CU (87)

6) Evan Meek: 10 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Meek came from an over the top release and showed a 12-6 curve with good bite and a cutter with some cut in addition to a fastball with a little run in on righties.

8th: FB (95), Cut (90-93), CB (78-82)

7) Matt Capps: 18 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Capps came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with solid bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties.

9th: FB (93-96), SL (82-85)

Who Get's the PT?

Lost in all these trades is who will be replacing the guy traded away? Let's look:

Indians
Replacing Cliff Lee: Fausto Carmona.
Replacing Victor Martinez: C- Shoppach/Marson, 1B- Marte/LaPorta

Nationals
Replacing Nick Johnson: Adam Dunn, Kearns starts in OF (at least that is what I would do)

Athletics
Replacing Orlando Cabrera: Cliff Pennington

Pirates
Replacing Jack Wilson: Don't think the Pirates know the answer to that one, likely either Luis Cruz, Brian Bixler, Ramon Vazquez or Ronny Cedeno.
Replacing Freddy Sanchez: Delwyn Young

That I think sums up most of it, if you have a guy you want my opinion on replacing, let me know. Below is 1 under the radar signing that may have more impact on the race then some acquired in these deadline deals if he is ready.

Under the Radar Signing:
Rockies sign Mike Timlin

The Nick of Time

The Marlins acquired Nick Johnson from the Nationals for Aaron Thompson.

Marlins Side: Underwhelmed by the performances of Wes Helms, Emilio Bonifacio and Gaby Sanchez, the Marlins pick up a professional hitter who is an injury risk with no power. Johnson should be reinvigorated by a pennant race and is an on base machine, something the Marlins sorely lack. This also allows them to move Jorge Cantu over to 3rd and get Bonifacio to the bench.

Nationals Side: Thompson, a 6-3, 195 pound lefty who is 22 years old, was regarded as the Marlins # 13 prospect coming into the season. Currently at AA Jacksonville, Thompson has finally struggled, going 5-9, 4.11 with 75 strikeouts and 43 walks in 114 innings. Still a good bet to be a major league starter, his star has dimmed, but is a talented pitcher nonetheless.

Overall: Marlins got exactly what they needed and got to keep Stanton, Maybin and the like. Thompson may be good and Johnson may get hurt, but good risks taken by both teams. Give it to the Marlins just due to their track record in giving up pitchers (Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado to name the 2 from the Hanley trade).

Minor Trades

Rockies Get: Joe Beimel
Nationals Get: Ryan Mattheus, Robinson Fabian.

Quick Analysis: Beimel fills another role in that Rockies pen, but isn't a very good fit in my opinion. Mattheus (# 19) has 27 K's in 26 innings at 3 levels this season while Fabian has a 6.24 ERA in 24 appearances (12 starts) at Low-A with 21 walks and 54 K's in 83 innings.

Win: Rockies. Mattheus projects to be a league average reliever while Fabian appears to be an organizational guy.

Braves Get: Adam LaRoche (again)
Red Sox Get: Casey Kotchman

Quick Analysis: Braves get the power bat back that they gave away. Meanwhile, the Red Sox add another lefty 1B to their team, and one whose defensive prowess may be helpful in late innings of playoff games if they move Youkilis to 3rd.

Win: Braves. LaRoche is the same player as Kotchman, but with more power.

Yankees Get: Jerry Hairston
Reds Get: Chase Weems

Quick Analysis: Hairston fills the bench role that the Yankees have struggled to fill while Weems is a Low-A catcher hitting .260-.317-.347 at the age of 20.

Win: Yankees. Weems wouldn't have been a factor for them anyways.

Brewers Get: Claudio Vargas
Dodgers Get: Vinny Rottino

Quick Analysis: Vargas is not an upgrade over Mike Burns and Rottino is a super utility insurance policy should anything happen.

Win: Nope. Doesn't really help either team.

Peavy to Chicago... Again

The Sox have acquired Jake Peavy from the Padres for 4 pitchers: Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, Aaron Poreda and Dexter Carter.

White Sox Side: The White Sox made the deal expecting Cy Young Peavy, but they are going to be getting 2009 Peavy. The righty has battled injuries this year and his stuff has regressed. This is a huge risk being taken by Kenny Williams (who likes to do things like that), acquiring a fly ball pitcher who pitched in a great park for him and moving him to a tougher league with a park that is FAR less forgiving. And, oh yea, he dealt one of his current starters, who is having a better year, for him.

Padres Side: 4 pitchers, a lot of upside.

Richard is the best of the bunch and immediately becomes the Padres best starting pitcher. The lefty has made me a believer and generates great velocity and has solid movement with his fastball and should be able to be a revelation in the NL.

Poreda is a guy I watched and was a little underwhelmed over. That being said, he needs to be sent to AAA and stretched back out so that he can compete for a rotation spot next season. High upside guy who at worst will be a back of the bullpen type lefty.

You would think those two would have been enough, but the Pads got 2 more pitchers.

Russell, 26, was the # 27 prospect in the Sox system prior to the season on the strength of his mid 90's fastball. I have always liked him, but he hasn't done too much at Charlotte this season, going 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 34 appearances with 51 strikeouts and 18 walks in 56 innings. I like him as a 1 inning guy, so hopefully the Padres add his power arm next to all of their sinkerballers in that pen.

Carter, 22, is the baby of the bunch. A 13th round pick in last season's draft after being a 12th round pick out of the same high school that produced Justin Upton, he has 2 plus pitches, a 92-93 mile per hour fastball and a hard curveball. Carter has also put up some eye popping numbers at Low-A Kannapolis, going 6-2, 3.13 in 19 starts, while compiling a massive 143 strikeouts against just 32 walks in 118 innings. Another good bet to reach the majors at least.

Overall: If this deal was for the Peavy of 2 years ago, I would have a tough time arguing against it. But, Kenny Williams has taken a huge risk without much of a reward in my opinion and gave up some of his better pitching prospects. Win, Padres.