OAK @ SEA 5/1/09

SEA 8 OAK 7

Carlos Silva RHP Marniers 3.2IP 6H 6ER 4BB 3K
He is an sinker ball pitcher that likes to work quick. He's an average pitcher with average command, but in this game he had below average command. He had trouble commanding his offspeed offerings. He left the ball up and it was hit hard (4 of the 6 hits he gave up were for extra bases). He is at best a number four starter.
FB(89-91) CH(82-83) SL(80-81) CB(none seen)

Miguel Batista RHP Mariners 2.1IP OH OR 2BB 0K
He came in and held the Oakland hitters in check. He showed an above average FB(91-94) with average sinking movement, an average CUT(85-89) and an average SPLT(81). He is a solid long reliever and can spot start if you need. He has average to below average command and his lack of an out pitch will impede his chances of consistently starting.

Sean White RHP Mariners 1.1IP 2H 1ER 1BB 0K
He showed two above average pitches FB(92-94) and SL(85-88), an average CB(80) and below average CH(83). He has below average command. He gave up a long HR on a hanging SL to Matt Holliday, but other than that pitch he looked like a solid middle reliever.

Shawn Kelly RHP Mariners 1.2IP 0H 0R 2K
I really like the way he attacks hitters. He pounds the zone using his two above average offerings: FB(92-96) and SL(82-84). He looks to be one of their "go to" relievers this year.

Dana Eveland LHP Athletics 4.2IP 10H 7ER 3BB 3K
He had trouble finding the plate with his FB in the first inning so he used his SL to get ahead in the count. His FB(87-91) is an average pitch and it has some natural cut. He was able to throw it for strikes after the first inning. His SL(81-84) was his only above average offering and was his strikeout pitch. His CH(81-84) is straight and nothing better than average. His CB(75-78) is slow and average. His ceiling is a number four or five starter.

Dan Giese RHP Athletics 3.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K
He is a two pitch reliever that would be best suited for a long reliever role. He has a below average FB(86-89) and an above average SL(76-79) that has great tilt. He was able to pound the zone and kept the A's in the game.

Russ Springer RHP Athletics 0.2IP 2H 1ER 2BB 0K
He is a solid pitcher but had a bad outing. He has an average FB(91-92), an above average CUT(82-89) and an average CB(76-79). He lost a 14 pitch battle to Jose Lopez with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, but credit Lopez for fouling off 9 pitches.

POSITION PLAYERS
Kenji Johjima SEA C- He looked bad behind the plate and cost his pitchers some strikes with his terrible job at framing pitches

Russell Branyan SEA 1B- He showed off his 80 Power with a 400+ foot HR to dead center. It looked like he didn't even get all of it.

Ryan Sweeney OAK CF- He has impressed me with his defense and showed off his above average range with an amazing over the shoulder Willie Mays catch.

Eric Patterson OAK 2B- He mishandled two routine groundballs but recovered in time to throw the runners out at first. I wonder if his hands defense will eventually force him to move to the OF.

Matt Holliday OAK LF- It was nice to see him break out of his hitting funk. He hit an second deck HR to Left field off Sean White in the 7th inning to tie the game. Hopefully he'll keep this hot streak up.