60ft6in – Pitcher Scouting Reports

Francisco Liriano / LHP / starter

Liriano was simply filthy before TJ surgery. He threw 95 mph consistently with a sharp slider that could touch 90. Returning from surgery in ’08 and ’09, Liriano was touching 94 if he was lucky, and his slider had flattened out terribly. It took over two years for him recover, and he is finally pitching well again in 2010. Francisco has rediscovered his biting slider, and is back-ankling it to RHs consistently. Francisco also deals a solid changeup, a pitch that can be effective at any velocity. The Dominican left-hander has become ace of the Twins once again. 10/4/10 CSJ

[fastball(91-95), slider(82-89), changeup(83-86)]



Carl Pavano / RHP / starter

Pavano is an amazing example of what two years of mildly successful pitching will get you; a big contract and extra chances to come back from injury and ineffectiveness. He deals a very hittable fastball that may touch 90 mph nowadays. His slider is neither sharp, nor sweeping, and his changeup looks awful. He still deals the occasional splitter as well.

However injury prone he appears, he will always be a favorite of mine for pitching well against the Yankees in the 2003 WS, then being awful while pitching for them. 7/28/11

[fastball(87-93), changeup(79-84), slider(80-87), splitter(80-85)]

Matt Capps / RHP / closer

Capps is a strike throwing machine. He can locate his mid-90s fastball well, setting up his razorblade slider and sinking changeup. In 2011, I have noticed a slower, 80 mph breaking ball from Capps.

Matt's career blossomed when the Pirates converted him from a below average A ball starter, to an effective late inning reliever. 8/19/11

[fastball(90-96), slider(84-87), changeup(88-89), curve(80-82)]

Scott Baker / RHP / starter

Baker is a fly ball pitcher. His fastball gets some arm side run, but little sink. Scott will snap plenty of curveballs around 80 mph and guide some changeups to LHs and RHs. His fourth pitch is a slider normally thrown away from RHs. Baker is one of those pitchers that works quickly and won't hurt himself with walks.

Baker attended Oklahoma State University and is a man of faith. 5/15/11

[fastball(88-95), changeup(81-84), curve(78-83), slider(85-87)]

Nick Blackburn / RHP / starter

Blackburn throws a good sinking 2-seamer and a straight changeup. As his career has progressed, he is using more and more changeups against both LHs and RHs. For breaking balls, he works with a slow curve and a tight cutter. Blackburn can also crank up his Oklahoman 4-seamer to 95 mph. Nick allows lots of base hits, but limits the damage by posting extremely low walk totals. Blackburn was born in the same town (Ada, Oklahoma) as NFL tight end Jeremy Shockey. 9/6/10 CSJ

[fastball(88-95), changeup(80-83), cutter( 85-90), curve(78-82)]

Brian Duensing / LHP / starter

Duensing combined with Joba Chamberlain, Zach Kroenke, and Tony Watson in 2005, to give the University of Nebraska four future major league pitchers. The team eventually fell to Arizona State in the College World Series and they finished the season ranked #6 in the country.

Duensing reached the majors just four years later with the Minnesota Twins. Duensing throws the standard four pitches with good control. He doesn't rely on any one pitch in particular, making it a true guessing game for the hitters. However, the lack of a put away pitch can make him vulnerable at times. 8/19/11

[fastball(90-95), changeup(83-88), slider(83-87), curve(73-77)]

Glen Perkins / LHP / reliever

Perkins is a Minnesota guy. He went to high school and college in Minnesota, becoming a 1st round draft pick of the Twins.

His pitching motion is free and easy, producing a low to mid-90s left-handed fastball as a reliever. He uses a sweeping slider and a straight changeup as secondary pitches, relying heavily on the slider now that he's a reliever. Perkins used to show a slower breaking ball in the 70s, but he may have filed that pitch away. 8/19/11

[fastball(90-96), slider(81-85), changeup(79-85), curve]

Jason Marquis / RHP / starter

Marquis works with a 2-seamer, a slider, a changeup and a curveball. His stuff is average and so are the results. He consistently posts high WHIP and low K/9 numbers. Marquis is a native New Yorker and was a high school legend. 8/1/09 CSJ

[fastball(89-93), slider(84-88), changeup(81-86), curve(75-79)]

Joel Zumaya / RHP / setup reliever

Zumaya can be a dominant force on the mound. He owns a fastball that sits in the upper-90s and can routinely touch 100 mph. His second pitch is a curveball that can truly buckle a batter's knees after he sees a few 99 mph fastballs. Zumaya will also show a few changeups.

In 2010, Zumaya broke his own arm throwing a pitch. Somehow, I was not surprised. 1/5/11 CSJ

[fastball(97-100), curve(81-82), changeup(85-87)]

Alex Burnett / RHP / reliever

Burnett shows a standard fastball/slider combination when pitching out of the bullpen. 9/5/11

[fastball(91-95), slider(85-88)]

Jared Burton / RHP / reliever

Burton is a cutter pitcher. He throws a low-90s cut fastball that appears to get tons of natural cut. This movement makes it a tough pitch to hit. Burton's problem is that his other offerings (slider, changeup) are very similar in speed to his cutting fastball. His slider is a mid-80s pitch that can break hard at times, and other times back up. Burton's changeup can get some serious sink, but is also a high velocity pitch. Burton was a Rule 5 draftee that the Reds stole from Oakland. 4/10/09 CSJ

[cut fastball(90-94), slider(83-86), changeup(83-88), fastball(90-94)]

Matt Maloney / LHP / starter - reliever

Maloney is one of those left-handers. You know those guys, the ones that don't look like they could compete in your Sunday beer league, but somehow they're getting major league hitters out.

With a weak fastball and what looks like a straight changeup, everyone believes they can hit this guy. He flips up a very slow curveball as well. I guess it's the combination of these three pitches, and plus control lets him succeed in the pros. 9/22/09 CSJ

[fastball(81-86), changeup(74-78), curve(64-68)]

Daryl Thompson / RHP / starter

"Big D" is a hard thrower and isn't afraid to pound the strike zone. Thompson usually sticks with throwing 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs, making him quite predictable. His secondary offerings are a standard slider and a sinking changeup that looks like a plus pitch. Thompson also mixes in a few big curveballs. 7/30/08 CSJ

[fastball(89-95), slider(81-83), changeup(81-83), curve(67)]

Esmerling Vasquez / RHP / reliever

Vasquez is a young right-hander from the Dominican Republic. He has excellent arm strength and I've seen him get his fastball up to 97 mph. His changeup is progressing to be his best pitch, a weapon he can use to get quick outs or swings and misses. Vasquez has modified his breaking ball over the last couple years. He used to throw a slider that was a non-factor, but now he's throwing a slower, sweeping curve that gives him a better chance against RHs. 5/17/11

[fastball(88-97), changeup(80-85), curve(74-76)]

Jason Bulger / RHP / reliever

Jason Bulger is a tall pitcher with a good fastball. He breaks off 12 to 6 curves as his second pitch. Bulger played collegiately at Valdosta State. 5/22/09 CSJ

[fastball(91-95), curve(76-81)]

Luke French / LHP / starter

French doesn't light up any radar guns, or even own a good breaking ball. Luke survives by spotting his left-handed fastball and fooling hitters with his sinking changeup. 9/6/10 CSJ

[fastball(82-89), changeup(74-77), slider(76-79)]

Lester Oliveros / RHP / reliever

[fastball(90-95), changeup(79-81), slider(82)]

Liam Hendriks / RHP / reliever

[fastball(88-94), curve(71-76), changeup(79-82), slider(80-81)]

Phil Dumatrait / LHP / reliever

[fastball(91-92), slider(81-84)]