• Giants' Sanchez needs to pitch inside

  • By Keith Law | March 27, 2009 10:21:17 AM PDT
Lefty Jonathan Sanchez threw for San Francisco on Sunday in a somewhat wind-powered game. He showed average stuff but nothing plus -- an 88-92 mph fastball with glove-side run and a little sink; a changeup with good tumble and a little tail that was probably his best pitch; and a short-breaking slider that had a little bit of a Frisbee action to it. He did throw one slider with better tilt, but the majority were flat. He has some deception in his delivery and mixed up his pitches well, keeping hitters off balance, but despite the high strikeout totals he didn't show anything resembling an out pitch. I'd like to see him pitch inside more, as he attacked hitters primarily on the outside corners, working down and away to right-handed hitters, especially by backdooring his slider. Oakland right-hander Jason Ray missed almost two full seasons due to injuries, including Tommy John surgery, but showed some arm strength in a AA game Monday against the Giants' club. He comes over the top with an 88-93 mph fastball; his curve had good depth but was almost vertical and his change (or splitter) moved straight down, so pitching side-to-side might be an issue, but at least he's healthy and flashing a plus fastball.Craig Whitaker was a sandwich pick in the 2003 draft as compensation for the loss of Jeff Kent; the Giants used their other compensatory pick on David Aardsma, which might be a cautionary tale for teams or fans who look at a player headed for free agency and think "we'll get two draft picks!" Whitaker's now a sidearming right-hander who could end up with value as a specialist if he finds any semblance of command. His fastball is now 87-89 mph with a spinning slider that sweeps away from right-handed hitters; it's fringe-average at best but because it starts in and moves away from righties, it could work in that specialist role. It's not much for a 34th overall pick, but at least it's not zero.Steve Palazzolo is a 6-foot-10 right-hander who split time last year between Connecticut and Fresno, with a sore elbow cutting his season in two. When healthy, which he is now, he throws 90-93 with great downhill plane and some run on his fastball and a solid-average splitter with good bottom and some tailing action as well. His breaking ball is a show-me slurve that has depth but not much tilt; as a third pitch for a reliever, it's adequate. Because he gets on top of the ball so well, it's hard for hitters to elevate anything he throws, particularly the fastball and splitter. Given the opportunity, he could help a club in the majors at some point this year as a short reliever, although a better trip through AAA when his elbow isn't barking would help his cause.Chris Carter is a right/right first baseman who has already won fans among acolytes of the Church of Three True Outcomes after putting up a 3TO% of 46 percent in 2008 (39 homers, 77 walks, and 156 strikeouts in 596 PA). He's big and strong and takes a hard swing, none of which is any surprise given his stat line. He plants his front leg hard and then rotates his hips, so not only is his front side a little open but he's forced to swing upwards, which may all be part of why he has trouble making contact. He was fine at first base today but has had trouble finding a position in pro ball. The power is hard to deny, but at this point I wouldn't expect him to increase his contact rate.

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