MLB Baseball Betting Tips, Picks and Odds

Ex-Creed frontman has baseball in his blood

2005-11-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

Baseball is in Scott Stapp's blood.

The grandfather and father of the former lead singer of Creed played college ball, and Stapp's own high school career was highlighted by a game against Red Sox superstar Johnny Damon. Stapp returned to the game earlier this month, when he dropped by MLB.com's studios to perform two songs, "The Great Divide" and "Surround Me," from his debut solo album, "The Great Divide." Stapp also sat down with MLB.com's Sam Marchiano to chat about the album, his friendship with David Wells and the time he tried to gun down Damon on his high school's basepaths.

Stapp didn't stick with baseball after high school, deciding instead to embark on the rock and roll lifestyle. But even that led him back to the diamond. After selling more than 30 million records as the lead singer of anthemic rockers Creed, he was invited to baseball's biggest stage, singing "God Bless America" at Game 4 of the 2004 World Series.

His father isn't the only person who thinks Stapp sounds "pretty good." Creed's powerful anthems dominated radio playlists during the band's existence, and songs such as "Arms Wide Open" and "My Sacrifice" shot to No. 1 on the rock charts. But Stapp isn't afraid to say that he's made a stylistic leap on "The Great Divide."

Now, baseball and music fans can check out how Stapp's musicianship has evolved. Through the league's "Best Records" program, fans who pre-order "The Great Divide" today can listen to five full-length audio streams from the album right away. And everyone who orders the record will gain automatic entry to The Great Divide Sweepstakes, which will award one a pair of tickets to a night on Stapp's inaugural solo tour - as well as airfare, so the winner and a friend can see that show no matter where they live.

MLB Baseball Betting Odds: SportsInterAction
Odds to win 2006 World Baseball Classic
Dominican Republic 2.00
USA 2.50
Venezuela 9.00
Japan 11.00
Puerto Rico 11.00
Taiwan 16.00
Korea 21.00
Cuba 31.00
Prediction: With Roger Clemens in the lineup, the US team is definitely the odds-on favorite to lift the title.
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tags: Sportsbook, MLB Betting, MLB Baseball , Baseball, MLB, Roger Clemens, World Baseball Classic, Albert Pujols, Derrek Lee, Andruw Jones, Baseball betting tips Baseball Betting Picks, Baseball Betting Odds

A Roy of hope for Astros in World Series Game 3

2005-10-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

If you had to pick one game of the first three World Series games that the Houston Astros were most likely to win, you would pick the one that was going to be started by Roy Oswalt.

This should be a particularly comforting thought for the Astros and their supporters because, after two straight losses to the Chicago White Sox, Game 3 on Tuesday night will be Oswalt's turn to pitch.

It is also the Astros' turn to be at home, which will be another comforting concept, in more ways than one. Including the postseason, the Astros are 57-29 at home this year. The fans will be friendlier here. The climate will be friendlier, whether or not the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park is closed.

The Astros will now return home to an environment where the climate is controlled whenever it has to be controlled, which is fairly often. The Astros haven't played a home game with the roof open since May. Whether the roof is open, closed, or just slightly ajar, the climate will be more hospitable for the Astros than it was on Chicago's South Side.

But the real comfort should come with the knowledge that Oswalt will be on the hill. How can it be said that his presence on the mound will be more comforting than that of Roger Clemens or Andy Pettitte? Because Oswalt recently has been the best Houston starter. In fact, recently, he has been as good as anybody in baseball.

Oswalt is the only pitcher who has won 20 games in each of the last two years. In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately category, he was the MVP of the NL Championship Series, beating the imposing St. Louis Cardinals twice.

The White Sox aren't exactly sending a lamb to the slaughter here. Jon Garland had a breakthrough season for Chicago, winning 18 games. He did not get to start in the Division Series because he was the scheduled Game 4 starter, but the White Sox swept Boston in three games. Garland hadn't pitched in 13 days when he got a start in the AL Championship Series, but as usual, the "rust" concerns were misplaced. Garland made up for lost time in the ALCS, pitching a Game 3 gem against the Angels; two runs, four hits, one walk, seven strikeouts. It was the second in the Sox series of four straight complete games and it gave the Sox a series lead that they never relinquished.

World Series betting odds: Bodog
Odds to win Game 3 World Series:
Houston Astros -174
vs Chicago White Sox +169
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Astros down Cardinals, finally wrap up NLCS

2005-10-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

Roy Oswalt allowed four balls out of the infield over seven dominant innings Wednesday as Houston beat St. Louis 5-1 to reach baseball's World Series for the first time in club history.

The Astros completed a four-games-to-two victory over the Cardinals in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, avenging last year's NLCS seven-game loss to the Cardinals. It's the first trip to the Fall Classic in the 44-year history of the Houston franchise. They will face American League champions the Chicago White Sox in Chicago in game one on Saturday.

Albert Pujols' three-run homer Monday in the ninth inning off Astros closer Brad Lidge gave the Cardinals a miraculous 5-4 win and one more breath heading home for game six. But Oswalt quickly ended any talk of momentum for St. Louis. Working off an overpowering fastball that routinely registered 95 miles per hour, Oswalt yielded a run and three hits. He walked one, hit two batters and struck out six to improve to 3-0 this postseason and 58-4 when Houston provides him a three-run lead.

The 20-game winner beat the Cardinals and counterpart Mark Mulder 4-1 in game two, allowing a run and five hits in seven innings. Mulder was no match for Oswalt and lost his third straight postseason elimination start. With Oakland, the lefthander lost game five of the 2001 AL division series to New York and game five of the 2002 AL division series to Minnesota, surrendering 16 hits and six runs in 11 1/3 innings.

World Series betting odds: Bodog
Odds to win World Series:
no odds yet
for live MLB Baseball betting tips, picks, odds and lines, visit Bodog Sportsbook or Sports Interaction. Daily MLB betting tips and predictions at MLB Playoff Baseball and World Series Baseball.
Bodog is an online gambling site offering online sports betting, online casino gambling and online poker with great betting odds, fantastic customer service and fast payouts.
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Pujols crashes the Astros' Party

2005-10-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

They were one strike away. The Houston Astros had endured 43 previous seasons, eight trips to the postseason without a league title to show for it and a miserable start to this season with 30 losses in their first 45 games.

Now they were one strike away.

Leading the St. Louis Cardinals three games to one in the National League championship series and leading Game 5 at Minute Maid Park by two runs with two out and the bases empty in the top of the ninth inning of Game 5 on Monday night, the Astros needed only to retire shortstop David Eckstein.

They were one strike away.

The sellout crowd of 43,470, almost lost in a sea of waving white towels, reached a decibel level that hurt the ears. On the mound, seemingly in command after having retired the first two batters of the inning, was closer Brad Lidge.

They were one strike away. But they never got it.Eckstein hit a sharp grounder that somehow found its way between third baseman Morgan Ensberg, straining to his left, and shortstop Adam Everett, diving to his right. Eckstein wound up with a single, Jim Edmonds followed with a walk, and Albert Pujols crushed the Astros with a towering home run to give the Cardinals a stunning 5-4 victory and keep their season alive.

Pujols' reluctance to aim for the spotlight won't diminish the welcome he is sure to receive when the Cardinals return to St. Louis, where the series will resume with Game 6 on Wednesday and Game 7, if necessary, Thursday.

The emotional meltdown that swept over Minute Maid Park was so pronounced because the fans had been riding a wave of euphoria for two innings after Houston's Lance Berkman had broken open a tight pitching duel between St. Louis' Chris Carpenter and Houston's Andy Pettitte.

MLB playoffs betting odds: Bodog
Odds to win NLCS:
St. Louis Cardinals -153
vs Houston Astros +138
Prediction: The Cardinals are very lucky to have extended the series to a sixth game but will eventually succumb to Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens.
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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, World Series, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals

White Sox shoot down Angels; will host first World Series since '59

2005-10-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

Chicago will play host to a World Series game for the first time in 46 years. And it still doesn't involve the Cubs. Instead it's the White Sox, who defeated the Angels, 6-3. Chicago wins the AL championship series 4-1, and swept the three games in Angel Stadium.

They now wait for the National League winner to come out of the Houston-St. Louis series. The Astros have a three games to one lead after their 2-1 victory on Sunday. Even if the Astros close out the Cardinals, the World Series won't open in Chicago until Saturday.

Joe Crede drove in three runs on Sunday for Chicago, none bigger than his eighth-inning run-scoring single that broke a 3-3 tie and gave the White Sox the lead for good. Chicago added two insurance runs in the ninth.

The White Sox last appeared in the World Series in 1959, when they lost to the Dodgers in six games. You have to go back to 1917 for Chicago's last World Series victory, when the White Sox defeated the New York Giants, also in six games.

Jose Contreras seemed like the perfect pitching choice for Chicago, since he was undefeated on the road this season (6-0). He wasn't perfect Sunday, but he was good enough to hold the Angels to three runs and five hits. And he pitched the fourth straight complete game by the Chicago staff.

Paul Byrd, who defeated Chicago on Tuesday for the Angels' only win in the series, wasn't quite as sharp as he was in his first start. He gave up two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings before being bailed out by the bullpen.

Kelvim Escobar, the third of four Angel pitchers, was tagged with his second loss of the series, Chicago failed to score in the first inning Sunday for the first time in three games. But the White Sox did scratch out a run in the second on a double by Aaron Rowand, a sacrifice bunt by A.J. Pierzynski, and a sacrifice fly to center by Crede.

MLB playoffs betting odds: Bodog
Odds to win NLCS:
no odds yet
Prediction: The Cardinals will extend the series to a sixth game but will eventually succumb to Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens.
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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, World Series, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals

Astros hope to oust Cards in NLCS Game 5

2005-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

The biggest game in the 44-year history of the Houston franchise will be played when the Astros and St. Louis Cardinals meet for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros lead the NLCS, 3-1, following their 2-1 victory Sunday night and can clinch a berth in what would be their first World Series with one more victory. It won't be easy. The defending National League champion Cardinals will send Cy Young candidate and Game 1 winner Chris Carpenter to the mound against Andy Pettitte of the Astros.

Pettitte took the loss in Game 1. The left-hander gave up five runs on eight hits in six innings as Carpenter and the Cardinals claimed a 5-3 win. Though Pettitte refused to use it as an excuse for his subpar outing, he had been hit on the knee by a batted ball during batting practice and the knee swelled up during the game.

Carpenter, whose string of scoreless innings in the postseason was snapped at 12 when he gave up a two-run home run to Chris Burke in the seventh inning of Game 1, is 5-0 in six starts this year against Houston, counting the regular season and playoffs.

The right-handed Carpenter went eight innings in Game 1, allowing just five hits and two runs. The Cardinals will try to regroup following a disappointing defeat Sunday during which manager Tony La Russa and center fielder Jim Edmonds were ejected. The Cardinals had runners on first and third with nobody out in the ninth, but were unable to score as Houston took a 2-1 win.

The Cardinals have been outscored, 13-10, and are hitting just .215 in the series.

MLB playoffs betting odds: Bodog
Odds to win NLCS:
no odds yet
Prediction: The Cardinals will extend the series to a sixth game but will eventually succumb to Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens.
for live MLB Baseball betting tips, picks, odds and lines, visit Bodog Sportsbook or Sports Interaction. Daily MLB betting tips and predictions at MLB Playoff Baseball and World Series Baseball.
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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, World Series, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals

Mulder says he's ready to pitch NLCS Game 2

2005-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

Mark Mulder said he felt no discomfort for the first time since being hit on his pitching arm last week by a line drive in the National League division series, and the St. Louis Cardinal left-hander expected to make his start as scheduled tonight in Game 2 of the championship series.

Mulder said the line drive off the bat of San Diego's Joe Randa would not be on his mind tonight when he takes the mound against the Houston Astros. Mulder, a member of four Oakland Athletic teams that lost in the first round of the playoffs, said advancing in the postseason is a matter of "just playing good at the right time."

Mulder called the Cardinal pitching staff "more complete" than an Athletic staff that included him, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson because of their more reliable bullpen.

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa said Jeff Suppan, who was 3-0 with a 1.93 earned-run average in September and tossed eight shutout innings in his last start, Sept. 25 against the Milwaukee Brewers, would start Game 4, relegating Jason Marquis to the bullpen.

La Russa said Marquis, who was 4-0 with a 3.22 ERA against the Astros this season, would be more valuable pitching in relief because he could make multiple appearances and help fill the void created by the loss of Al Reyes, the reliever who tore elbow ligaments in the Cardinals' regular-season finale.

MLB playoffs betting odds: Bodog

Odds to win NLCS:

St. Louis Cardinals -200

vs Houston Astros +170

Prediction: The Astros will overcome their homecourt disadvantage and shoot down the Cardinals in six gruelling games.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball,Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, NL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Mark Mulder, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals

Astros vs Cardinals: Expect another thrilling NLCS

2005-10-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

David Eckstein wasn't in St. Louis last October and none of his Cardinals teammates have mentioned much to him about the classic battle in the National League Championship Series with the Houston Astros.

Now, Eckstein is eager to dive into the rematch. He is one of several key players who either were not a Cardinal last fall or were not playing in the series because of injuries. While some of the names have changed on both sides, the rivalry is growing into a classic battle.

The Astros won Game 4 of the NL Division Series against Atlanta in dramatic fashion. The teams played 18 innings before Chris Burke hit a walk-off solo home run for a 7-6 win. Houston was forced to use two of its regular starting pitchers, Brandon Backe and Roger Clemens among eight total pitchers. Despite having to use so many pitchers, the Cardinals expect the Astros to be rested and at full strength for Wednesday.

What will give the rematch an extra edge are the pitching matchups. Last season's series was dominated by hitting, when the two teams combined to score over nine runs a game. Game 1 will feature Pettitte vs. Carpenter - both sat out the 2004 playoffs with injuries. Carpenter has been the driving force for the Cardinals this season, finishing 21-5 with a 2.83 ERA. Between June 14 and Sept. 18, Carpenter did not lose a start in a total of 18 games.

Pettitte was part of the Astros' three-headed pitching attack that also featured seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and All-Star Roy Oswalt. Clemens (1.87 ERA) and Pettitte (2.39) finished 1-2 in the NL in ERA. Oswalt finished seventh (2.94) while Carpenter finished fifth.

The Cardinals won 11 of 16 games against the Astros this season, but each time it had the intensity of a game played in October. Some of the highlights from the season series include a 10-inning complete-game, 1-0 victory by Mark Mulder over Roger Clemens on April 23. There was also a walk-off home run by Albert Pujols in the 13th inning on July 15, a game the Cardinals won, 4-3, and a walk-off RBI single by Houston's Eric Bruntlett in the 13th inning on Sept. 2 to give the Astros a 6-5 win.

MLB playoffs betting odds: Bodog

Odds to win NLCS:

St. Louis Cardinals -180

vs Houston Astros +160

Prediction: The Astros will overcome their homecourt disadvantage and shoot down the Cardinals in six gruelling games.

for live MLB Baseball betting tips, picks, odds and lines, visit Bodog Sportsbook or Sports Interaction. Daily MLB betting tips and predictions at MLB Playoff Baseball and World Series Baseball.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball,Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, NL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Anaheim Angels

Red Sox are back in a Familiar Position

2005-10-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Back to Fenway Park, where, if the local guys are going to go on about their backs being against the wall, at least it's big and green and friendly. The widely held view here is the Boston Red Sox have played themselves into a familiar place; they have lost the first two games of a best-of-five American League division series to the Chicago White Sox, and in their best scenario have a weekend of elimination games ahead.

In their worst, they have only one, tonight's. The White Sox tend to believe they have put the Red Sox here, just as the Cleveland Indians did in 1999 and the Oakland A's did in 2003 in division series, and the New York Yankees did last October in the American League championship series. The Red Sox won each series.

The White Sox have lined up 14-game winner Freddy Garcia, 18-game winner Jon Garland and Game 1 winner Jose Contreras for the final three games, if all three are necessary. The Red Sox would follow Wakefield (10-4 at Fenway Park) with Curt Schilling, then would get creative - David Wells? Bronson Arroyo? A little of both? - in Game 5.

A year ago, in their comeback against the Yankees, they started Pedro Martinez, an inspired Schilling and, twice, a sharp Derek Lowe. Neither their rotation nor their bullpen is in good shape, the Red Sox have been outscored in the series, 19-7, out-homered, 6-0, and the middle of their order - David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez - has two RBI.

The Red Sox won a league-best 54 home games, however, and won two of three from the Yankees there to finish the regular season. The White Sox answer with Garcia, who was 10-3 in 17 road starts. He won at Detroit to clinch the White Sox's AL Central title in his last start.

They have three chances to eliminate the Red Sox. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he would give the ball to Garcia and hope the series ends there.

MLB Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win 2005 World Series:

Anaheim Angels 8/1
Atlanta Braves 16/1
Boston Red Sox 13/1
Chicago White Sox 7/2
Houston Astros 4/1
New York Yankees 3/1
San Diego Padres 20/1

St Louis Cardinals 2/1

Prediction: The Red Sox will again dominate the postseason and will face bitter rivals NY Yankees in the ALCS. But the Red Sox will be too much for the Bronx Bombers. Boston to dispose NY in six close games. The World Series winner will come from the American League.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball,Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, AL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Boston Red Sox, NFL Football, Manny Ramirez

Jeter becomes latest 'sicko' letter victim

2005-09-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

A poison-pen racist being hunted for threatening dozens of prominent African-American men because of their interracial marriages has added Yankees captain Derek Jeter to the hate list.

The letter, mailed to the superstar shortstop at Yankee Stadium, called Jeter a "traitor to his race" for dating white women. It warned the 31-year-old heartthrob to "stop or he'll be shot or set on fire. Other letters written by the racist have threatened to "castrate" and "burn" Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, among other notables.

The NYPD hate crimes unit is also probing the letter, which came to light as Jeter told 60 Minutes he's experienced the scourge of racism before. Jeter, whose father is black and mother is white, said he and his sister were taunted for being biracial while growing up.

Jeter, known nearly as much for his good looks as his baseball prowess, has been linked with a bevy of models, actresses, singers and athletes of various races and ethnicities. Among his reported gal pals have been singer Mariah Carey, Miss Universe Lara Dutta and actresses Jordana Brewster, Jessica Alba, Stacy Lynn Spierer and Scarlett Johansson.

Investigators believe the hatemonger has mailed more than 80 threatening letters to jurists, athletes, entertainers and even ordinary people over the past three years.

Thomas and his wife, Virginia, have gotten the letters, as have married actors Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel, Miami Dolphin player Jason Taylor and tennis star James Blake's parents. Investigators said some of the notes tried to paint the author as a black woman angry at black men for dating white women.

Investigators are trying to develop a profile of the author based on similar language, typeface and spelling in the letters. The letter writer is believed to live in the Midwest because many of the notes have been postmarked out of Canton, Ohio.

MLB Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

League to win World Series:

National League +135

American League -145

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, AL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Boston Red Sox, NFL Football, Derek Jeter

Red Sox, Yankees prepare for crucial season-ending series at Fenway Park

2005-09-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Any true baseball fan would have to admit that when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox play, it's must-see stuff. The passions that exist between the two teams and their followings are boundless and unmatched. The games are almost always great theatre. It's the best rivalry in baseball today. By miles and miles.

Friday in Boston, the beginning of the final weekend of a stuttering season for both teams, the Sox and Yankees unite again for a three-game series that probably will determine who wins the American League East. This one, fittingly, could be even more important. The loser of the series could be knocked out of the postseason altogether.

So, then, it's just another nail-chomping chapter in this ridiculously rabid rivalry. Truth be told, Yankees-Red Sox is noticeably different these days. The Red Sox made sure of that last fall when, down 3-0 to the Yankees in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series, they fashioned the biggest comeback in baseball history. Boston went on to win the World Series for the first time in 86 years, forever ridding Sox-Yankees of ghosts and curses and references to 1918.

If it's Yankees-Sox, you have to figure, something's going to happen. In a lot of ways, it's impressive that the Yankees and Sox have put themselves into position for another critical, must-watch postseason-defining series. The teams sport the two biggest payrolls in the game, yes, but their pitching staffs have been decimated by injury and for the most part have been barely mediocre this year. The Sox, in fact, have the worst bullpen in the AL.

Good luck with finding the good pitching, though. If the rotations hold true until the weekend, this is how the series sets up:

Friday's game will pit Yankees' rookie Chien-Ming Wang against Sox lefty David Wells, a former Yankee.

Saturday should be the dream matchup: former co-World Series MVPs Randy Johnson of the Yankees against Boston's Curt Schilling, who has been wildly inconsistent in fighting his way back from injuries.

And Sunday's possible season-clinching game would match veteran Mike Mussina against Boston's Tim Wakefield in a showdown between big-game pitchers.

All in all, it'll be impossible to get more over-the-top than last season's historic ALCS. There's also no way a season-ending series can reach the madness of the seven-game ALCS in 2003. But, you know, we've all thought that before about Sox-Yankees. And we've been wrong. Which is why this weekend, for any true baseball fan, is a must-see.

MLB Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

League to win World Series:

National League +135

American League -145

Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, AL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Boston Red Sox, NFL Football, NCAA Football

American League playoffs race head for wild finish

2005-09-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

Baseball's wildly successful wild-card format has meant the death of the pennant race. Who cares about division titles, who cares about finishing in first place, they say, when second place is often good enough to go all the way?

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the junior circuit has become a joyous pot full of possibilities. No division leader is safe. The wild card is nobody's guaranteed booby prize (two of the six teams still in the mix are going to be left out). In effect, the American League is now four races in one, every one of them changing nightly.

The National League is much more settled. The division races over there, barring some big-time collapses by the Braves or Padres, are done. The wild-card race is about all there is to look forward to in the NL.

But the AL teams with intrigue and drama in the final fortnight. For instance.

AL Central: Can the White Sox hold on in the face of the charging Indians?

The Cleveland Indians are the media darlings of the moment, a well-balanced, hungry, hard-playing team with a small payroll and some big-time talent. And what is better, story-wise, than watching the Chicago White Sox flounder?

The Sox had the best record in the majors at the All-Star break, a 15-game lead at the beginning of August. But things have turned terribly wrong in the Windy City. The steady pitching is failing and the hitters aren't hitting. White Sox players have publicly questioned their mental makeup. Manager Ozzie Guillen has ripped and railed. That massive lead is down to 3 1/2 games.

The Sox have owned the Indians this season (they're 10-3), including a deflating four-game sweep in Cleveland right after the All-Star break. For Chicago's sake, the Sox better keep that up. Or Ozzie's going to blow.

AL East: Red Sox or Yankees? Or both?

As bad as the starting pitching is on these two teams - Boston is ranked seventh, New York ninth, both of them with plus-4.50 ERAs - the Red Sox and Yankees each figure to win at least 92 games this year. And, if that's all one of them can manage, that very possibly won't be good enough for a spot in the postseason.

Boston holds a slim 1 1/2-game lead at week's start, but the Sox clearly are scrambling. If we can say that the starting pitching is suspect, the Boston bullpen is red-handed guilty of being bad. The pen's 5.36 ERA is the worst in the AL.

The two teams have been almost dead even since the break, and they play in Boston in the final three games of the season. The AL East race, and any shot at the wild card, may come down to that.

Or, in fact, the race could turn on Baltimore. The Sox have three games remaining with the Orioles, the Yankees eight. Boston is 7-8 against the O's, the Yanks are 4-6.

AL West: Who wobbles home with the title?

This may be the purest of the AL's division races because the loser of the West almost assuredly will be out of the wild-card chase, too. Nobody knows that more than the Athletics and Angels.

The A's have been one of the streakingest teams in the game since the All-Star break, with the fourth-best record and the best second-half ERA in the AL. The Angels, winning-wise, are way down the post-break list and that only after winning their final three games against the Detroit Tigers last weekend.

Still, the A's are hurting. Since shortstop Bobby Crosby was felled with another ankle injury, Oakland has never been the same. The A's are struggling to consistently score and suffering without starter Rich Harden in the rotation. Oakland gets a little help when Crosby returns to the lineup this week, but the A's will need more than that.

The Angels, also disturbingly inconsistent with the bats, have been leading the West for most of the season. But they've been tooth-and-nailing it with the A's since mid-August, after Oakland's amazing surge returned the A's to the race. Since the middle of last month, the team from Anaheim has been up by as many as 3 1/2 games and down by as many as two games. And that was all in the stretch of six games.

The two teams still have four games remaining against each other, in Oakland, starting this week. Those four games could well mean division title or nothing.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win 2005 American League Pennant:

Anaheim Angels 9/2

Boston Red Sox 9/4

Chicago White Sox 7/2

Cleveland Indians 5/1

New York Yankees 3/1

Oakland Athletics 9/2

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB, AL Pennant, Baseball Tips, New York Yankees, American League, Boston Red Sox, NFL Football, NCAA Football

Bonds returns for big West showdown; slugger returns to Giants for start of crucial series

2005-09-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants' playoff run begins now. They're seven games back of the San Diego Padres in the National League West with 20 contests left, still time to make their bid for the divisional title, especially with seven games remaining against the Padres.

Second baseman Ray Durham, one of the Giants' hottest hitters since the All-Star break, realizes how important this series is and loves the fact that seven-time MVP Barry Bonds will be back in the lineup Monday for the first time all season.

Right-hander Kevin Correia (2-5) returns to the rotation Monday to oppose the Padres' Adam Eaton after missing his last starting assignment due to a right shoulder bone bruise.

The San Diego native is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in three career outings vs. the Friars. Unfortunately for the Giants, that wonderful six-game winning streak that bounced them back into contention last week is long gone, San Francisco having lost five of its last six games since that nice ride ended.

Eaton is in the midst of a comeback of his own. Projected as the Padres' No. 2 starter in October after Jake Peavy, the right-hander won his first game in three months when he beat the Rockies, 4-2, at PETCO Park on Sept. 7.

Bonds has tortured the Padres historically, batting .338 with 80 homers - 21 more than against any other team. He has driven in 199 runs while scoring 201 in 229 games against the Padres, slugging at a .722 clip. Against Eaton, who is 2-4 with a 3.91 career ERA against the Giants in 11 starts, Bonds is a .316 career hitter (6-for-19) with three homers and three RBIs. He's been walked four times by Eaton.

Giants manager Felipe Alou made it official Sunday after a little pregame chat on the field with the left-handed slugger, who will resume his pursuit of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron for the all-time homer record. Bonds is at 703, 11 behind Ruth's 714 and 52 away from Aaron's 755.

The bad news is that Moises Alou probably won't be batting behind Bonds. The younger Alou left Sunday's game in the eighth inning with a strained left groin and is considered day-to-day. The fact that he came out of the game so late led his father to believe that he won't be available for the big Bonds return.

MLB Baseball Betting Game Odds: Bodog

Spread:

San Diego Padres -105

vs San Francisco Giants -115

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Prediction: Bonds' return will lift the spirits of the struggling Giants. San Francisco will break the game wide open early on. SF to win 6-2.

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Move over Derrek Lee, A-Rod also chases Triple Crown

2005-09-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Alex Rodriguez has already put himself in position to become the first Yankee to win an AL MVP award since Don Mattingly in 1985, but he's also got a shot at another uncommon honor.

With 26 games remaining, A-Rod is a legitimate contender for the Triple Crown aside from NL's Derrek Lee. His 40 home runs lead the league, his .323 average is only three points behind leader Michael Young (the player who replaced him at shortstop in Texas) and his 108 RBI are 11 back of Boston's David Ortiz.

When asked if the Triple Crown was important to him, Rodriguez shook his head. Having played on plenty of last-place teams in the past, A-Rod said he's more interested in wins and losses.

A-Rod said thatb iIn another year, that might serve as good motivation late in the season but here, it's only good if it helps his team win. Rodriguez pointed out that the Yankee's playoff run is his main concern. Gary Sheffield, who joins Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui as the three Yanks with at least 100 RBI, said he's sensed that all the sluggers on the team aren't paying attention to their numbers anymore.

The Yankees are now four games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. With still two months of baseball action, The Bronx Bombers are eyeing to overtake the Red Sox or grab the wildcard slot from the Athletics, Indians and Angels.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

New York Yankees -250

vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays +210

Chicago Cubs +170

vs St. Louis Cardinals -200

Prediction: Yankees will live up to their favorite status by disposing the Rays. The Cubs will again upset the Cards behind Maddux's superb pitching.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, Triple Crown, Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs NFL Football, NCAA Football

MLB marquee matchup: Carpenter set to duel Burnett

2005-08-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

If you're attending Monday night's St. Louis Cardinals-Florida Marlins game at Dolphins Stadium, be sure to arrive early. If you're just settling into your seats 20 minutes after first pitch, it could be the third inning already.

Two of the National League's best pitchers square off in the opener of a three-game series, as Chris Carpenter toes the rubber for St. Louis while A.J. Burnett hurls for the homestanding Marlins. The two right-handers both rank among the league leaders in strikeouts, but they're also both in the top 10 in groundball/flyball ratio. Put simply, it won't be a fun night for hitters.

Carpenter is trying to become the Majors' first 19-game winner, and the first Cardinal to reach that total since Matt Morris in 2001. He's won 10 straight decisions, and the Cardinals have won the last 13 times he's taken the mound. Carpenter is undefeated on the road this year, and no National League team has beaten him anywhere since a May 29 loss to Washington at Busch Stadium.

Carpenter is in the midst of a caraeer year, having notched 18 wins and earned a spot near the top of almost every pitching catergory in the National League. His 2.07 ERA on the road is the second best in the NL, while his overall ERA of 2.34 ranks second behind Astros hurler Roger Clemens.

Burnett, however, is one of the few pitchers even breathing the same rarefied air as Carpenter in recent weeks. He's 4-1 with a 1.43 ERA in August. A pitcher who has had some control problems in the past, Burnett's walk rate has improved dramatically the last two years.

Burnett has also had a year to remember. The right-hander has won seven games since the All-Star break, most in the Majors. A win on Monday would also set a single-season high in wins for the 28 year old.

A win would greatly help Florida to stay in the thick of the NL Wild Card race after dropping its game on Sunday to the Chicago Cubs, 14-3. The Marlins have been strong at home, going 38-28 at Dolphins Stadium.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

St. Louis Cardinals -136

vs Florida Marlins +116

Prediction: The Marlins will shoot down the Cardinals. Burnett will continue his amazing pitching form while Carpenter will struggle in the early innings. Marlins to win 4-3.

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Bodog sponsors Bronson Arroyo's debut album release

2005-08-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Online gaming powerhouse Bodog has sponsored Desperate Housewives star James Denton's private party for Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo to help celebrate the release of Arroyo's successful debut album Covering The Bases (Asylum Records/WEA) held last Saturday at the legendary Red Sox bar Sonny McLean's in Los Angeles.

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When athletes move in to the entertainment field - whether it's acting, singing or talk-show hosting - catastrophe usually isn't far behind. Arroyo released his debut album recently, and based on fan reviews . . . it's not bad! Covering the Bases is a collection of 1990s cover songs, including Black by Pearl Jam, Plush by Stone Temple Pilots and Pardon Me by Incubus.

The project pays tribute to his favorite artists and songs of the 90's including Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains among others, and features an All-Star line up of backing musicians and special guests including Mike Inez , novelist Stephen King and heavyweight session players Kenny Aronoff, Tim Pierce (Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen), Leland Sklar (James Taylor, Jackson Browne) and Mike Landau (Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt).

Arroyo's Red Sox co-champs also get in the team spirit with featured cameos by Johnny Damon, Kevin Youkilis, Lenny DiNardo and General Manager Theo Epstein. The project was produced by Loren Harriet (Bernie Williams). The album averaged four stars out of a possible five based on customer reviews at Amazon.

Covering the Bases debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, which monitors new artists, and was No. 123 on the Billboard 200 chart. Arroyo's rookie effort in the recording world also was the No. 1-selling CD in Boston (OK, not a surprise), Providence, and Springfield. It was alsothe second-best selling CD in Portland, Maine. On Amazon, Arroyo reached No. 6, behind such artists as Coldplay, Green Day, and Black Eyed Peas.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

Philadelphia Phillies -110

vs San Francisco Giants -110

Houston Astros -140

vs San Diego Padres +120

Prediction: Road teams will rule tomorrow's MLB games. The Phillies will dismantle the Giants by more than two runs while the Astros will shoot down the Padres by one run.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, James Denton, Triple Crown, Rafael Palmeiro, New York Yankees, Covering The Bases, Bronson Arroyo NFL Football, NCAA Football

Superman? or just plain stupid...

2005-08-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just as Derek Jeter laid down a bunt, a man plunged from the sky.

Scott Harper, 18, of Armonk, Westchester County, jumped or fell 40 feet from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium, landing feet-first on the safety net behind home plate. He sat motionless for a few minutes, then crawled up the net to the upper suites, where police and Yankee security pulled him to safety.

Hours later, Harper, breathing through an oxygen mask, was wheeled from the Stadium on a gurney, his neck immobilized, and taken to Lincoln Hospital for observation. Police said they expect to charge him with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

Harper's pals said he worked as a busboy at a restaurant in Westchester and was a lifelong Yankees fan. Spencer Rubicco and another friend, Mike Spadafino, smirked and shrugged when asked whether their pal, Harper, had been drinking alcohol. They said they weren't sure if Harper jumped or fell, but they remembered his last words before he went over the rail in the eighth inning.

After the game, which the Yankees lost 2-1 to the Chicago White Sox, Yankees manager Joe Torre said he remembered a fan plunging from the upper deck during the 2000 season.

Torre didn't know Harper was wheeled out on his back. Harper's friends didn't seem too very worried about his condition. They planned to call him on his cell phone as soon as they finished their interviews. They also didn't seem to think Harper's stunt was all that dangerous.

Principal owner George Steinbrenner seemed angry as he left the Stadium, but at the Yankees and Torre, not at the fan.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Pinnacle Sports

Baseball Betting Odds:

New York Yankees -159

vs Cleveland Indians -184

New York Mets +109

vs San Diego Padres -117

Prediction: It will be a tale of two contrasting fortunes for the Bronx teams. The Yankees will continue their road woes while the Mets will wax hot in San Diego. Yankees to lose while the Mets will crush the Padres.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Derek Lowe, Triple Crown, Rafael Palmeiro, New York Yankees, Derrek Lee, Scott Harper NFL Football, NCAA Football

Another scandal hits MLB

2005-08-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

It's been rumored and talked about for a while now, but it's finally being reported in specific terms by big papers... Derek Lowe has left his wife and children to shack up with Fox Sports reporter Carolyn Hughes.

Ugly stuff, but hardly surprising given Fox's habit of hiring "babes" and beauty queens - Hughes is a former Miss Texas - and presenting them as credentialed reporters whose most revealing work is generally limited to their cleavage. Yep, it's all part of the relentless quest to win the hearts and minds of young and not particularly bright male viewers.

Hughes' presence among the Dodgers and on FSN-W was predicated upon her beauty and sex appeal. Anything else might have counted, but not for much. And such a reality, when attached to even the thinnest form of journalism, is not likely to make for a pretty ending.

In TV, any bad idea is worth copying. Lisa Guerrero was a FSN regular with meager sports knowledge. But her considerable body of work could be evidenced through her Web site, where she appeared in various degrees of undress. She had no more business serving as a network sportscaster than John Madden would have as an erotic dancer.

But that didn't prevent ABC Sports from hiring Guerrero from Fox to become a Monday Night Football sideline reporter. And it was ABC/ESPN execs, not just Guerrero, who weekly were left embarrassed by such a pathetic transparency. It was one season and out for her.

Every legitimate female sports journalist should be livid with what TV has done, and that includes those who left newspapers for TV, having been hired away primarily because they have sex appeal. In other words, for all the noble strides taken on behalf of female equality, we keep advancing to the rear. Not that the Hughes-Lowe fling thing is anything new.

But back then it kind of happened by accident, as an eventuality of the human condition. What could happen, happened. What's different today is that network practices - the hiring of "hot babes" to be sports reporters - ensures that what should happen certainly will.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays +144

vs Baltimore Orioles -154

Detroit Tigers +103

vs Toronto Blue Jays -113

Prediction: Expect the birds (Blue Jays and Orioles) to chirp their way to convincing victories. Orioles will win by a run or two while the Blue jays will tame the Tigers by more than three runs.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Derek Lowe, Carolyn Hughes, Rafael Palmeiro, Trinka Lowe, LA Dodgers, MLB Rumors MLB Scandal, MLB Steroids

The Cubs' Lee Is Hitting, and Thinking Triple Crown

2005-08-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

Derrek Lee stands wagging his big, black bat over his right ear as if there is a log lying across home plate that he is preparing to subdivide.

And then, for emphasis, the long-limbed, right-handed hitter for the Chicago Cubs who is 6-foot-5, raises his left leg can-can style in his wide-open stance and swings at the spheroid that speedily approaches.

Chances are better than excellent that Lee, the Cubs' prized first baseman, will meet the ball squarely and propel it to the far reaches of the ballpark, or beyond.

For much of this season - indeed, until as recently as July 20 - Derrek Leon Lee, 29, has led the National League in the three most prestigious categories: batting average, home runs and runs batted in. After last night's game in Philadelphia, Lee leads in batting average, at .360; is tied with Andruw Jones of Atlanta and Adam Dunn of Cincinnati in home runs with 32; and is third in R.B.I. with 83, 6 behind Carlos Lee of Milwaukee.

In recent days Derrek Lee, who spent the early part of the season flirting with a .400 average, has slackened off - a not-unusual cooling-off period for any athlete. He is getting fewer opportunities at the plate as teams walk him more frequently. In recent games against the Giants, he was walked twice in late-inning situations with one or more runners on base.

Winning the triple crown is a rarity. It has not been done since 1967 when Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox led the American League with a .326 batting average, 121 R.B.I. and tied Harmon Killebrew of the Minnesota Twins with 44 home runs. In the National League, you have to go back further, to Joe Medwick, who was known as Ducky, of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937. And only two men have done it twice - Ted Williams of the Red Sox in 1942 and 1947, and Rogers Hornsby of the Cardinals in 1922 and 1925.

Lee has never challenged this pinnacle, though he has had several outstanding seasons in his nine years in the major leagues. He has never batted higher than .282 (for the Florida Marlins in 2001) and had a .266 career batting average before the start of this season. He had never hit more than 32 homers and never had more than 98 R.B.I. - both last season.

Lee said he learned to play baseball "the right way," as a team game, from his father, Leon Lee, who played in the major leagues and was a star in the Japanese leagues. It was there that Derrek Lee, a Gold Glove winner, learned to play a well-rounded game, and today he is considered one of the finest fielding first basemen in the majors.

Willy Mays - who at 74 now wears a hearing aid - led the league in batting once, and although he led in home runs four times, those seasons were never the ones in which he achieved the highest batting average.

Stan Musial came close to a triple crown in 1948, with a league-leading .376 batting average and 131 R.B.I., but only 39 homers - one short of Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner.

Yes, but what does it take to win a triple crown? You simply need to have a good year. As simple as that.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays +185

vs Los Angeles Angeles -205

Los Angeles Dodgers -105

vs Pittsburgh Pirates -105

Prediction: It is very intriguing to see the Devil Rays at +185. They have reeled of six straight wins before losing to the Rangers today. This is a good bet for you guys. There will be no double celebration in LA as the Angels will lose while the Dodgers will go back to their winning ways.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, Triple Crown, Rafael Palmeiro, New York Yankees, Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs NFL Football, NCAA Football

Baseball Debate: Will Palmeiro Make the Hall?

2005-08-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

Rafael Palmeiro appeared destined for the Hall of Fame.

With a smooth, graceful left-handed swing that produced 3,018 hits and 569 home runs, the Baltimore Orioles first baseman became only the fourth player in major league history to record 3,000 hits and 500 homers, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray. Some baseball writers predicted that Palmeiro would be inducted into the Hall on the first ballot.

But now, following a 10-day suspension for violating baseball's steroids policy, his chances, as well as his worthiness, for the Hall of Fame are being hotly debated, more than five years before anyone may know for certain. Speculation about his shot at the Hall is the favored topic of sports columns and talk shows, while fans are weighing in on blogs and in polls.

In response to a Yahoo! Sports poll asking if his suspension would hurt Palmeiro's chances, 83 percent of the 40,000 respondents said it would. In a poll of 865 baseball fans released by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, asking whether players who test positive for drugs should be banned from the Hall, 52 percent said yes, and 42 percent said no.

A similar divide is found among the people who actually have a vote: members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Some are arguing that with the present testing system, there is no way of telling who is using steroids.

Players in this "steroid era" cannot be punished for the sins of a few, some write, just as a test cannot determine whether a player was using steroids when he got his first 1,000 hits. Others are insisting that they will not vote for anyone who has tested positive, or is even accused of using steroids.

Palmeiro, a 40-year-old Cuban native who was raised in Miami, was suspended for steroid use only five months after telling Congress that he "never used steroids. Period." Emphasizing his testimony by pointing his finger, he said, "I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never."

Palmeiro had said he planned to retire after this season, after which there would be a mandatory five-year waiting period before he became eligible for induction. Now his integrity - and legacy - is in question.

Those eligible to vote players into the National Baseball Hall of Fame are active or honorary members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who have been baseball writers for at least 10 years. A minimum of 75 percent of votes is needed for induction. In the 2005 elections, 516 ballots were cast.

The Hall of Fame was never meant for choir boys but steroids have changed the tone of baseball, forcing fans to "regard home run records with a jaundiced eye, with skepticism."

The true home run hitters - Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth - their stature will be raised by all this. Bonds, Palmeiro and Sosa may hit over 600, but people will say, 'So what?'

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

New York Mets -140

vs Milwaukee Brewers +132

New York Yankees -104

vs Cleveland Indians -104

Prediction: Expect the Bronx teams to humiliate their foes. Mets will win by a run or two while the Yankees will triumph over the Tribe by more than three runs.

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Technorati tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA Finals, Rafael Palmeiro, Baltimore Orioles, NBA basketball betting, Betting NBA online NFL Football, NCAA Football

Orioles' Palmeiro Has Thrown Away His Credibility. Period.

2005-08-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

With his Wayne Newton mustache and his expensive suit, Rafael Palmeiro oozed sincerity, under oath. He claimed he wanted to distance himself from the accusations of Jose Canseco, sitting right there, who had written that Palmeiro had used steroids when they were teammates in Texas in 1992 and '93.

Now a new word has crept, and I do mean crept, into Palmeiro's vocabulary. The word is "intentionally." Because Rafael Palmeiro, with his 3,018 hits and 569 home runs, has tested positive for steroids and must sit out a 10-day suspension that sounds more like lifetime suspicion.

Palmeiro has been detected with some form of steroids in his system, in the first year of serious testing after many years of stonewalling by the players union.

The players were finally forced - against the dig-in-your-heels tactics of their union's executive director, Donald Fehr - to undergo tougher testing, and look who got caught: a bona fide candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame, at least until yesterday.

Good tactic. Given the current suspension, the brazen Canseco now comes off as the most forthright of that sorry lot. Palmeiro wants us to believe he has no idea how the foreign substance got into his system. But something good will come out of this, he insisted yesterday. From this shameful day onward, Rafael Palmeiro is volunteering to be an object lesson to children.

Of course they must. Children must also be careful not to stuff beans up their noses or stick their tongues against frozen playground poles in winter. But they probably already know that. Only a ballplayer with 20 years in the major leagues is dumb enough to swallow a bunch of stuff without getting it cleared by a doctor or a pharmacist.

People cheat. People get caught. People rationalize. Having been around other sports in which drugs and testing are part of the culture - track and field, Olympic cross-country skiing and cycling come to mind - I have come to regard athletes as essentially an addicted subsociety, even worse than the general population because the rewards are so high.

Unless Palmeiro can come up with proof that somebody maliciously sprinkled bad stuff on his pancakes, he has to live with the broader shame that now comes from this suspension. Ten days are nothing. Welcome back, Raffy, you're hitting fifth tonight.

But if he retires after this season, Palmeiro will be up for election to the Hall of Fame in five years. He was already facing skepticism as a hitter with excellent career totals who had never dominated his sport. But from now on, Rafael Palmeiro will forever be known for his positive test, four and a half months after his steadfast denial to Congress. What a coincidence.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Baseball Betting Odds:

Baltimore Orioles +127

vs Los Angeles Angels -137

Oakland Athletics -148

vs Minnesota Twins +138

Prediction: Pick the Angels and Twins to win. Minnesota is playing at home so the +138 on them is a good bet.

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Rocket still firing, even at this late stage

2005-07-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong won another Tour de France. Tiger Woods romped to the British Open title. Big deal. Roger "Rocket" Clemens, one week from his 43rd birthday, is the sporting marvel of the summer. His season is full of marvels.

Clemens ignored a bad back to pitch seven grinding innings Wednesday night in Houston's 3-2 win against Philadelphia at Minute Maid Park. He has brought a dead team back into playoff contention. The white-hot Astros have won 38 of the last 54 games and trail National League wild-card leader Washington by one game. Clemens is 6-1 in that span.

With his best pitch often missing, Clemens challenges Hall of Famer Bob Gibson's standard-of-excellence season of 1968. Compared with Clemens, Armstrong took a leisurely bike ride, and Woods won a weekend scramble. This time, Clemens put his grit on display.

Clemens experienced sharp back pain Tuesday, putting his start in doubt. Before the game, the Astros considered putting Clemens on the disabled list. They had reliever Mike Burns warm up to be the starter should Clemens not make it. The old guy fought through the pain, again.

Clemens produced his 19th quality start, most in the majors. The Phillies had several threats, but Clemens made the important pitch every time. That Clemens still has the drive to take the ball when his body aches is remarkable. That he continues to perform at the highest level two years after a brief retirement is staggering.

Clemens could win his eighth Cy Young award. He could win his seventh league ERA title, 19 years after the first. He could have a season for the ages. Hall of Famer Gibson had a 1.12 ERA in 1968, lowest since the end of the dead-ball era in 1920. He allowed 49 total runs in 34 starts and held opponents to a .184 batting average.

Clemens' ERA rose all the way to 1.46. He has allowed only 27 total runs in 21 starts and has held opponents to a .189 batting average. Gibson had 304 2/3 innings and 28 complete games, totals that Clemens will not match. Gibson also pitched at Busch Stadium when it was a pronounced pitcher's park. Clemens' home park favors hitters. His road ERA is 0.31 for 59 innings.

According to teammate and longtime Rocket watcher Andy Pettitte, go back to 1997-98 if you want to talk about vintage Clemens. After former Boston general manager Dan Duquette said Clemens was in the twilight of his career, he went 41-13 with Toronto in those seasons.

Pettitte based his observation on Clemens' use of the split-finger fastball. It is Clemens' out pitch and one of the most devastating single pitches in the game. He throws it harder than anyone else, and it drops down later than any other split-finger. It is a paralyzing pitch.

Clemens has been inconsistent with the split-finger. It is as if Armstrong rode on a flat tire, or Woods used an old driver. Clemens has done that with exceptional command of the fastball. No power pitcher works the corners with the fastball as well as Clemens does.

He excels in what Nolan Ryan called "aces," low and away fastballs that clip the outside corner. When normal pitchers miss location, the ball carries over the heart of the plate. When Clemens misses his target, the pitch stays out of the hitters' zone.

That fits. At an advanced age, Clemens surpasses the field. Let's see Lance Armstrong or Tiger Woods do that in their 40s.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

Odds to Win 2005 World Series Championship:

Baltimore Orioles 30/1

Boston Red Sox 6/1

Houston Astros 15/1

Chicago White Sox 6/1

New York Yankees 5/1

Oakland Athletics 15/1

tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA Finals, MLB betting, Houston Astros, Roger Clemens, Betting NBA online NFL Football, NCAA Football

A's Still Go by the Book, Having a Ball With Little Money

2005-07-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

Amazingly, Billy Beane's team is tied with the Minnesota Twins for the American League wild-card lead, half a game ahead of the Yankees. Did he ever think that his poor Oakland Athletics would be in a playoff race with the obscenely wealthy Yankees?

Beane, the general manager of the A's, laughed, thinking how that would sound to Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager and his good friend. Cashman hasn't had a chance to laugh too often this season. The Yankees' injured starting pitchers and dreadful middle relievers have made it hard for him to smile even occasionally. Other general managers, of course, don't feel sorry for him. They would like the opportunity to struggle with a $200 million payroll.

The Athletics are playing the game this season with a $55 million payroll, one of the 10 smallest in the major leagues. As they have for a number of years, the Athletics are contending because they are operated intelligently. Like General Manager Terry Ryan in Minnesota, Beane deftly uses the money available to him to put together a good team.

Other teams lament their lack of fortune but don't seem to have a basic plan to build a decent group of players. They either change plans midstream, or they shed their good young players prematurely, thinking they won't be able to afford to keep them into their free-agency years.

Last off-season, Beane traded two of the team's three outstanding pitchers, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. As a result, the Athletics were given no chance of contending this season for the American League West division title or the A.L. wild card. Here they are, though, leading the wild-card race by a half-game after last night's 13-4 victory while the Yankees challenge the Red Sox for the A.L. East title.

It wasn't this way all season for the Athletics. After a loss on May 29, they were 17-32. Their dismal record was reflected in the records of the individual pitchers: Barry Zito, the lone remaining member of the three pitching musketeers, was 1-6; Danny Haren, acquired in the Mulder deal with St. Louis, was 1-7; Joe Blanton, a rookie replacement for Hudson, was 0-5; Kirk Saarloos, a 2004 addition to the staff, was 1-4.

Today, Blanton is 5-8, Haren 8-7, Saarloos 6-6, and Zito is 9-8 after the A's victory over Cleveland. Combined, their 25-7 record since May 29 was reflective of the team's performance since that date, a 37-13 run that has propelled them from last place in the four-team A.L. West, 12Â½ games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels, into second place, five behind the Angels, and into the lead in the wild-card race.

Rich Harden, the No. 2 starter, strained an oblique muscle and sat out from May 14 to June 21. In seven starts since his return, Harden is 6-1 with a 1.77 earned run average and a .145 batting average against him.

Like the Braves in the National League, the Athletics have done well with rookies and other young players. Street, Blanton, Swisher, reliever Keiichi Yabu and first baseman Dan Johnson are rookies. Haren began the season with less than a full season's experience in the majors; Harden, Crosby, Saarloos and Duchscherer have not had a lot of major league experience.

Beane and the Athletics have produced their own track record, and they're on that track once again.

MLB Betting Game Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

Odds to Win 2005 World Series Championship:

Baltimore Orioles 30/1

Boston Red Sox 6/1

Chicago Cubs 30/1

Chicago White Sox 6/1

New York Yankees 5/1

Oakland Athletics 15/1

tags: Sportsbook, Baseball, MLB Baseball, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA Finals, NBA betting, NBA betting line, NBAbasketball betting, Betting NBA online NFL Football, NCAA Football

AL keeps its edge: Tejada and Teixeira homers

2005-07-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

The All-Stars from the American and National leagues played their game unremarkably, save a couple of home runs, a big lead that was plenty, and a streak that reached nine.The American League won, 7-5, at Comerica Park on Tuesday night, so it will have home-field advantage in the World Series, a midseason benefit the Boston Red Sox rode to a four-game sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals last October.

Nine months later, with the same managers in the dugouts, Miguel Tejada hit an early home run and was the most valuable player, Mark Buehrle pitched two scoreless innings and was the winner, and the National League went another year without a victory, a string of eight losses and one tie that dates to 1997.

If the Red Sox are to defend their championship to the end, then they will have Tejada and Mark Teixeira, who also homered, to thank, along with Ichiro Suzuki, who singled home two runs in the fourth inning. Suzuki's soft hit ran the score to 5-0, and Teixeira's two-run homer off Dontrelle Willis pushed the lead to 7-0 in the sixth.

AL Manager Terry Francona's first five pitchers threw mini shutouts, beginning with Buehrle, through Bartolo Colon, Johan Santana, Matt Clement and Jon Garland. Mariano Rivera struck out Morgan Ensberg for the final out. As Rivera, the New York Yankee closer, trotted from the bullpen, Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon muttered, "Come on, Mo," drawing a chuckle from his manager.

NL starter Chris Carpenter did not give up a run in his inning, but the next three - John Smoltz, who was the loser, Roy Oswalt and Livan Hernandez - did, and so did Willis. When the NL bats livened - Andruw Jones hit a two-run home run against designated villain Kenny Rogers, and Miguel Cabrera, Luis Gonzalez and Carlos Lee drove in runs - the game was running out of innings, and a mist fell over Rivera's final fastball.

The game lacked a close feel, and a bit of its usual familiarity. There were 22 first-time All-Stars, and there were starters named Abreu, Eckstein and Roberts. The home crowd had its favorite in Tiger catcher Ivan Rodriguez, but he was hitless in two plate appearances.

Indeed, the game returns to its regular-season programming, with injuries to heal and strokes to be found and division races to be decided. The players return to lineups and situations just as they left them, the Red Sox ahead in the AL East and the Yankees apparently closing, the NL West looking for someone capable, the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals seemingly real.

MLB Baseball Betting Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

Moneyline:

Toronto Blue Jays -220

vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays +180

Detroit Tigers -225

vs Kansas City Royals +185

for more Major League Baseball betting scores, odds and lines, just log on to PinnacleSports or BODOG Sportsbook. There are wide array of MLB Baseball betting propositions to choose from including odds to win the Game, runline and over/under betting.

Prediction: Pick the Blue Jays over the Devil Rays. Blue Jays will win by more than three runs. Detroit will flush the Royals by a run or two.

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Technorati: Jeremy Bonderman, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Detroit Tigers, 2005 MLB Season, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

All-Star format invites La Russa to manage all-out

2005-07-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Though he hardly understands the potential consequences of his actions, baseball commissioner Bud Selig has done a dangerous thing: He's turned Tony La Russa loose at the annual All-Star Game. The All-Star Game could become La Russapalooza.

So now La Russa has no reason to observe the old-school gentlemen's rules for this classic. Forget the idea of utilizing the entire National League roster to give the fans a glimpse of all their favorite stars. Nix the notion that this is a harmless exhibition featuring baseball's ribbon-winning show ponies, and that the purpose is to have a good time.

La Russa can go full psycho in trying to win this one. He won't have to apologize for being intense or impolite. He can make myriad pitching changes in the late innings in an effort to gain the edge in matchups. Fearing extra innings, La Russa can hold players in storage, never use them, and get hammered by criticism in the postgame analyses.

The NL had won 28 of the previous 34 games before La Russa won three in a row as the American League's manager in 1989, 1990 and '91. La Russa's parade of pitchers worked impressively, limiting the NL to five runs, total, in the three games. La Russa was questioned for starting his own pitchers in 1989 (Dave Stewart) and 1990 (Bob Welch). That's likely to be repeated when he gave the start to Cardinal Chris Carpenter on Tuesday.

La Russa can, and probably will, treat Tuesday's affair as if it's the seventh game of the World Series. Because in his mind, the edge in any Game 7 scenario is there to be claimed on Tuesday in Detroit. For the record, eight of the past 10 World Series were won by the teams that had home-field rights, but only three of the 10 went as far as Game 7.

La Russa will be extra motivated for other reasons: (1) He'd like to preserve his unbeaten record in All-Star Games; (2) this is his return to the national stage after the embarrassment in the World Series; (3) six Cardinals are on the NL squad and their presence reflects on him; (4) he will start Carpenter, which would draw squawks from supporters of Roger Clemens and Dontrelle Willis.

If it's a tight, tense game Tuesday night, this could get very interesting. Two or three pitching changes in the eighth inning, sacrifice bunts, eye-raising pinch-hitting maneuvers, using the hit and run and brush-back pitches. .

MLB All-Star Game Betting Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

Player to hit the First HR in the Game:

Alex Rodriguez (AL) 10/1

Alfonso Soriano (AL) 19/1

David Ortiz (AL) 15/1

Carlos Lee (NL) 22/1

Albert Pujols (NL) 10/1

Bobby Abreu (NL) 16/1

Jason Bay (NL) 35/1

Mark Teixeira (AL) 14/1

for more Major League Baseball betting scores, odds and lines, just log on to PinnacleSports or BODOG Sportsbook. There are wide array of MLB All-Star Game betting propositions to choose from including odds to win the All-Star Game and All-Star Game MVP.

Prediction: Pick the National League to win the All-Star Game. Albert Pujols will be named as the MVP.

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Technorati: Mark Teixeira, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Texas Rangers, 2005 MLB All Star, Home Run Derby, MLB All Star, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Midsummer Classic Roars: Matchups, rivalries and traditions give baseball the best all-star game

2005-07-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hawaii has blue Pacific waters and white-sand beaches. But dreamy settings don't much help an NFL Pro Bowl that is one of the football season's few yawners.

Then there's the NBA, which has a midseason dunk contest and an All-Star Game that might as well be a dunk contest. Hockey? There are square dances with more contact than sometimes occurs at an NHL All-Star bash. It leaves us, naturally, with baseball. Baseball pioneered the All-Star Game in 1933, and remains home to the most distinguished version of a contest featuring a sport's best and most visible players.

The All-Star Game comes to Detroit on Tuesday night, and all we have to say is, it's about time. Detroit, a four-time host, waited 34 years for its latest shot, which suggests there are comets whizzing through outer space with greater commitments to return trips. Detroit is ready, perhaps because a charter major-league town identifies with the game's heritage. We have had All-Star Games here. We know All-Star Games.

And, you over there - Pro Bowl - you're no All-Star Game. Nor are you impostors in the NBA and NHL, which don't begin to feature the authenticity of competition served up by baseball's appropriately nicknamed Midsummer Classic (note upper-case designation).

Pitcher vs. hitter is the best measure there. A pitcher honored with an All-Star Game assignment will be throwing his best stuff, all powered by a rookie-brand adrenalin rush. A hitter, likewise, is on the national stage, staring straight into a spotlight, hoping to bash one, not only for his honor, but for the collective gain of his team, his big-league city, and his league.

The All-Star Game's stakes were fairly standard for the better part of 70 years. This was a tug of war between two rival leagues, and the winner had the satisfaction of putting its opponent in its place, at least until the World Series.

But everything changed in 2002. That year, at Milwaukee, the All-Star Game was deadlocked 7-7 after 11 innings. The teams had pretty much exhausted their rosters. And at that point, commissioner Bud Selig stepped to the field to announce that the game was history.

Was it ever.

There was outrage when Selig willingly put the stops to an incomplete game. This wasn't football or hockey, which can abide the occasional tie. This was baseball, a sport devoted to an outcome, no matter how many innings, or hours, might be required.

Selig and baseball's brass decided there would be no more ties. And to safeguard against thoughts this game was turning into, ahem, one of those other sports' All-Star Games, the commissioner decreed that from now on, the winner would have home-field advantage in the World Series. Whether the home-field edge means much to participating players is debatable. Most of them, of course, aren't going to be playing in the postseason.

Baseball loves tradition, of course, which is why the game had a tough time catching up with all the bells and whistles of the NBA and NHL all-star games. Like those sports, baseball has decided to turn the All-Star break into a multi-day celebration, complete with its own set of skills contests.

Its centerpiece event is the Home Run Derby. The game's top power-hitters vie to see who can hit the most pitches out of a ballpark. There are other sideshows spanning the four days before Tuesday night's game. Baseball's All-Star Game also has about it a distinct sense of heritage. It has been 72 years since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and a host of immortals suited up for the first game, in Chicago.

MLB All-Star Game Betting Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

Odds to win the Century 21 Home Run Derby:

Andruw Jones (NL) 3/1

Bobby Abreu (NL) 6/1

David Ortiz (AL) 5/2

Carlos Lee (NL) 5/1

Ivan Rodriguez (AL) 11/1

Hee-Seop Choi (NL) 13/1

Jason Bay (NL) 9/1

Mark Teixeira (AL) 4/1

Prediction: Teixeira will definitely feel the pressure since this is his first All-Star appearance. 'Big Daddy' David Ortiz should win the Home Run Derby easily.

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Technorati: Mark Teixeira, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Texas Rangers, 2005 MLB All Star, Home Run Derby, MLB All Star, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Teixeira is US rep to HR Derby

2005-07-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

Mark Teixeira will take on the world.

The Rangers first baseman, who began Tuesday leading the AL in home runs, was invited to represent the United States in next Monday's Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Detroit.

Teixeira, 25, was voted into a starting role in what will be his first All-Star appearance. Off the season he is having, you believe that this will be the first of many All-Star appearances. Off the game he had on this Fourth of July evening, you believe that the voting for the American League starting first baseman had no business being as close as it was.

The derby is undergoing a format change for this season. In anticipation of next year's World Cup, the eight invited players will represent eight different countries. Teixeira, who began Tuesday with 22 homers, is second among U.S.-born players to the Chicago Cubs' Derek Lee.

Lee, however, pulled out of consideration for the derby on Tuesday after sustaining a shoulder injury. Lee underwent an MRI on his shoulder and was examined by Atlanta Braves orthopedic specialist Dr. Joe Chandler. Cubs athletic trainer Mark O'Neal said the MRI showed Lee had some joint inflammation in his shoulder, but nothing more serious than that.

Lee leads the National League with a .377 average, and is second in home runs (25) and third in RBIs (67). He was the National League's top vote-getter for the All-Star Game, which will be played Tuesday in Detroit.

Teixeira was a member of Team USA in 2000, but did not participate on the Olympic team. Teixeira is hitting .287 with 22 home runs, 65 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .556. This is not an unusual development. Last season he hit .281 with 38 homers, 112 RBIs and a .560 slugging percentage.

The derby is expected to include representative from the Dominican Republic (David Ortiz), Panama (Carlos Lee), The Netherlands (Andruw Jones), Canada (Jason Bay), Venezuela (Bobby Abreu), Puerto Rico (Ivan Rodriguez) and an undetermined Japanese player.

Prediction: Teixeira will definitely feel the pressure since this is his first All-Star appearance. 'Big Daddy' David Ortiz should win the Home Run Derby easily.

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Technorati: Mark Teixeira, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Texas Rangers, 2005 MLB All Star, Home Run Derby, MLB All Star, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Beckett resumes comeback bid vs Brewers

2005-07-05T00:52:00.000-07:00

During a stretch in which Florida has gone 8-4 in its last 12 games, the Marlins have made a push in the crowded National League East to sit seven games behind the first-place Washington Nationals. In an effort to creep closer, the Marlins will send Josh Beckett to the mound against Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

In his last outing, Beckett pitched six dominant innings of one-hit ball to earn a 6-2 victory over Atlanta. It was his first appearance since coming off the disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger. For the year, Beckett is 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 85 strikeouts. At home, Beckett is 6-1 this season with a 2.26 ERA. This will be Beckett's second career start against the Brewers.

Countering Beckett will be left-hander Chris Capuano, who is making his second career start against Florida. The third-year player is having a career year with an 8-6 record and a 3.38 ERA. Although he has won his last three straight decisions, Capuano has been prone to walking hitters. During his last outing, Capuano gave up four earned runs and two homers over six innings in a 10-6 win at Chicago.

Capuano has won his last three starts and will try to join Doug Davis as a nine-game winner when he faces Marlins ace Josh Beckett at Dolphins Stadium. Capuano won his only career start against the Marlins, a six-inning shutout effort last season in Miami.

Milwaukee celebrated the mathematical start to the second half with a tense, 3-2 win in the 82nd game of the season. Ben Sheets pitched eight-plus solid innings and the Brewers manufactured all three of their runs with only two extra-base hits.

Florida holds a 27-26 edge in the all-time series following Monday's 3-2 loss. With that win, the Brewers improved to 16-27 on the road and won for the second time in their last nine games at Florida.

Milwaukee's third baseman Russell Branyan is a perfect 2-for-2 lifetime with a double and a home run against Beckett. Branyan was activated from the 15-day disabled list (broken finger) before Monday's game and could be back in the starting lineup on Tuesday.

Game Odds:
Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG
Spread:
-200 Florida Marlins
-170 Milwaukee Brewers
Total (Over/Under): N/A
Prediction: Beckett will once again prove why he was adjudged as the 2003 World Series MVP. He will be hard to hit and won't give up a run in this game. Marlins to win by 2-0.
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Technorati: Josh Beckett, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Cubs face Braves on USA's b-day

2005-07-04T00:15:00.000-07:00

Time to be patriotic and salute baseball. The Chicago Cubs will celebrate the Fourth of July in Atlanta, playing the Braves for the first time this year.

Kerry Wood will face Kyle Davies on Monday to open this four-game series at Turner Field. Greg Maddux will make his first start against his former team in Atlanta on Tuesday, and Wednesday will be an interesting matchup between Mark Prior and the Braves' John Smoltz. Jerome Williams will face Horacio Ramirez on Thursday in the series finale.

Wood is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA for his career against the Braves, and that does not include two wins against them in the 2003 National League Division Series. None of the Cubs have faced Davies. The Cubs were 3-3 against the Braves last year.

After taking two of three from the Phillies over the weekend, the Braves return to Turner Field to kick off a seven-game homestand, beginning Monday with the opener a four-game series against the Cubs. Rookie Kyle Davies, who is coming off a no-decision against the Marlins on Wednesday, will face the Cubs for the first time in his career in the series opener. He allowed two runs on five hits in five innings against Florida.

It remains to be seen who will be leading off for the Cubs. Manager Dusty Baker decided to sit center fielder Corey Patterson and give him time to regroup. Patterson has scuffled since volunteering to hit leadoff. Atlanta is Patterson's home town, and maybe seeing some friendly faces will help.

All-time, the Cubs have a 115-90-3 record on the Fourth of July. The 208 games and 115 wins are the most on one day in franchise history. The Cubs are 42-37-1 on the road on Independence Day. The last time the Cubs played in Atlanta on Independence Day was 2002; they lost, 5-1. In that game, then-Braves reliever Mike Remlinger got the win over Prior. The Cubs are 0-6-1 against the Braves on July 4 with all the games in Atlanta.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

+108 Atlanta Braves

-116 Chicago Cubs

Total (Over/Under): 8.5

Prediction: Wood will be chopped by the Braves into pieces. Atlanta will celebrate Fourth of July with a bang. Braves to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Kerry Wood, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Red Sox, Cardinals dominate All-Star Game roster

2005-07-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

Another Big Red Machine will have a large presence at the All-Star game. Four Boston Red Sox were elected Sunday to start for the American League at the July 12 game in Detroit. It's the most starters for one team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds had five.

Catcher Jason Varitek, outfielders Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, and designated hitter David Ortiz all topped their positions in fan balloting. Ortiz had the most votes of any player, 4.14 million. Ortiz, Damon and Varitek were elected for the first time, and Ramirez was elected for the seventh straight season.

Boston's first World Series title since 1918 probably was a factor in the voting. Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn't select any of his players as reserves, leaving off starting pitcher Matt Clement, who is 9-2, and reliever Mike Timlin, who has the top ERA on the team at 1.59.

In the National League, third baseman Scott Rolen, shortstop David Eckstein and outfielder Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals were all voted to start the mid- summer classic. Rolen was selected in fan balloting despite being sidelined most of this season with a shoulder injury. This is Rolen's fourth consecutive All- Star appearance and Edmonds' fourth in his career.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee (3,560,316) was the top vote-getter among National League players and was chosen for his first All-Star appearance. Lee leads the majors with a .383 batting average. New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza was selected to his 12th All-Star contest, while teammate Carlos Beltran was voted to start in the outfield.

Baseball fans cast a record 16 million ballots in voting for the contest. While fan balloting determined the American League's nine starting players and the National League's eight, 45 of the 47 remaining pitchers and reserves were determined by the player ballot and the two All-Star managers, Tony La Russa of the Cardinals, Terry Francona of the Red Sox, and Major League Baseball.

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Technorati: David Ortiz, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB All Star, MLB All Star Game, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Tigers welcome Yankees, Big Unit to Motown

2005-07-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Bonderman has one more chance to make an impression on American League All-Star manager Terry Francona. He can shut down Boston's hated rival with its staff ace going when the Yankees open a three-game series with the Tigers in Detroit on Friday. The Yankees swept the Tigers in their lone visit to New York from May 24-26.

For Bonderman to earn a chance to pitch on a national stage at Comerica Park in the All-Star Game, he likely needs a solid outing on just about the next-biggest stage the Tigers have before then. A near-capacity crowd is expected on Friday night when the Yankees come to town for the start of a three-game series. Randy Johnson is scheduled to take the mound for New York.

Of greater concern to Bonderman than All-Star recognition is his team, which could use a strong performance from him, too. The Tigers have lost four straight and six of seven, including a three-game sweep by the White Sox in which they were held to five runs. The losing streak began when the Arizona Diamondbacks roughed up Bonderman for eight runs in two-plus innings on Sunday in Phoenix, handing the 22-year-old starter one of his worst losses since his rookie season of 2003.

Johnson is unbeaten in his last four starts, all of them Yankees victories. He'll face the Tigers for the first time since 2002, when he struck out 13 in seven innings with one unearned run allowed to pick up the victory. He has never pitched in Comerica Park, which will become the 43rd ballyard to host him in his Major League career.

The Big Unit has not lost since June 6 despite some performances that have been less than dominant. He allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings Sunday against the Mets, but only three of the runs were earned, and Johnson wound up with a no-decision in the Yankees' 5-4 comeback win.

Johnson is one win shy of tying Jack Morris and Red Faber for 38th all-time with 254 victories. Johnson's last pitched in Detroit on June 6, 1997. He allowed just one hit in eight innings for the Mariners in that game. The Tigers are 0-3 against New York this season, having been swept at Yankee Stadium in May.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

-171 New York Yankees

+163 Detroit Tigers

Total (Over/Under): 8.5

Prediction: The Big Unit will pummel the Tigers with nasty pitches and booming strikes. Yankees will tame the Tigers at Comerica Park. NYY to win by two runs.

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Technorati: Randy Johnson, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Sheffield Warns 29 Teams: 'You Don't Want Me'

2005-07-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Gary Sheffield has always considered himself a tough street kid from Tampa, Florida who developed into a superb baseball player by doing it his way. If Sheffield was pushed, he pushed back harder. Sometimes, he has pushed back even when he has not been pushed or has only been nudged.

Sheffield, the Yankees' right fielder, pushed back hard after learning that the Mets had asked about obtaining him for outfielder Mike Cameron. In a blitz of a 10-minute interview before the Yankees' game against the Orioles was rained out, Sheffield repeatedly warned teams about the possible repercussions of acquiring him.

Sheffield said that he would not join another team if he were traded and would forfeit his salary. After the trade discussions between the Mets and the Yankees were reported in The New York Post on Wednesday, Sheffield quickly changed his mind about possibly leaving. But he was adamant about being a divisive influence if the Yankees ever moved him.

While Sheffield was issuing warnings, the usually boisterous Cameron was mostly silent with reporters at Shea Stadium before the Mets game against the Phillies. Cameron, who requested and received a Yankees cap during last year's interleague games, said he knew nothing about the trade discussions and deferred questions to General Manager Omar Minaya.

Sheffield, who agreed to defer $13 million when he signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Yankees before the 2004 season, said his words were intended to prevent potential suitors, including the Mets, from pursuing him. Sheffield said that the deferments were his concession to the Yankees, so, if displaced from the Bronx, he would seek a lucrative contract extension.

The Yankees, who want to improve their defense in center field, have been aggressive in pursuing Cameron and asked about him three weeks ago. The Mets countered by asking for Sheffield because they would love to sandwich him between Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd in their lineup. The Yankees like Cameron and would benefit from his athleticism, but they instantly refused to sacrifice the powerful Sheffield.

So the Sheffield-for-Cameron discussions barely advanced, and the talks have not reopened. As much as Yanks GM Brian Cashman wants to jolt the Yankees out of their malaise, he would create more problems by giving up Sheffield for Cameron. Sheffield, who is batting .300 with 13 homers and 55 runs batted in, finished second in the balloting for most valuable player last season.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

-171 New York Yankees

+163 Detroit Tigers

Total (Over/Under): 8.5

Prediction: The Big Unit will pummel the Tigers with nasty pitches and booming strikes. Yankees will tame the Tigers at Comerica Park. NYY to win by two runs.

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Technorati: Randy Johnson, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Mulder, Cards out for redemption

2005-06-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking for a little payback against the Cincinnati Reds, but they'll have to do it quickly - Cincinnati comes to Busch Stadium for a brief two-game series, starting Tuesday. The Reds will bid adieu to the American League and get reaquainted with familiar territory this week in St. Louis.

The Redlegs have been rejuvenated since Jerry Narron took over as manager. That started when they took a pair of games from the Redbirds at Great American Ball Park last week, roughing up Jason Marquis and Mark Mulder in consecutive starts.

Mulder will be looking to redeem himself in the series opener, and he'll also be hoping to turn around a June swoon. Mulder is 1-4 in his last five starts, and he has a 9.00 ERA in June. His ERA has ballooned from 2.70 after a May 9 win over the Dodgers to its current unbecoming mark of 4.75.

A two-game set against the NL Central-leading Cardinals begins Tuesday, with left-hander Brandon Claussen taking the mound. Claussen has won three of his last five starts, though he's yet to show a consistent string of solid outings this season.His last outing against the Cardinals got the job done, though. Backed by some strong offensive support early, Claussen went six innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. Strangely, Claussen didn't strike out a single batter after striking out a career-high nine his previous time out.

The Reds are hoping they'll have just as much success against Mark Mulder as they had last Wednesday. They roughed him up for seven runs on 12 hits over four innings in that win. Mulder will be looking to redeem himself in the series opener, and he'll also be hoping to turn around a June swoon. Mulder is 1-4 in his last five starts, and he has a 9.00 ERA in June. His ERA has ballooned from 2.70 after a May 9 win over the Dodgers to its current unbecoming mark of 4.75.

You can expect to see Japanese slugger So Taguchi in the lineup on Tuesday. Taguchi has been playing a lot in Larry Walker's absence, and he seems to have a good read on Claussen, going 4-for-6 against the lefty.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

-211 St. Louis Cardinals

+193 Cincinnati Reds

Total (Over/Under): 9

Prediction: The Cardinals will slay the visiting Reds. Mulder will pitch a strong game while the Redbirds' batters will score runs after runs. St. Louis to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Mark Mulder, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Morris puts unbeaten record on the line vs Pirates

2005-06-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

The St. Louis Cardinals finished up a nine-game road trip Wednesday in which they were just 5-4, dropping one series to the Toronto Blue Jays and one to the Cincinnati Reds. Now St. Louis returns to the comfort of Busch Stadium to continue divisional play against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The four-game weekend series, which opens Thursday, will be the Redbirds' third this season against Pittsburgh. St. Louis has yet to drop a game in 2005 against its National League Central rival. The Cardinals will look for a solid start from Matt Morris (8-0, 3.16 ERA) to put an end to the struggles Cardinals starters have had in the past two outings. To close out the road trip, Jason Marquis and Mark Mulder gave up 17 runs in just 6 1/3 innings combined in Cincinnati.

But Morris has fared well against Pittsburgh this season and throughout his career. In his first start of the season, he allowed only one run over six innings to the Pirates in a 7-1 victory. The former 20-game winner is 9-4 with a 2.32 ERA in 14 career starts against the Pirates, including a 7-1 win at PNC Park on April 19.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have grown accustomed to playing division leaders over the past three weeks. But a visit to Busch Stadium could prove to be the Bucs' most daunting challenge since, well, the last time they made a trip to St. Louis in May.

The Pirates were swept by the Cardinals in a three-game set to fall to 0-5 against the defending National League champions this season. Dating back to 2004, the Bucs have dropped 12 straight against the Redbirds.

The Pirates will turn to Dave Williams in Thursday's series opener. Williams has struggled on the road this season, garnering a 1-3 record with a 5.74 ERA, and opponents are hitting .321 against him. The southpaw is 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA at PNC Park, where he has held the opposition to a .188 batting average.

In 11 career at-bats, Reggie Sanders has done well against Wiliams. Sanders has five hits, one for a double, and an RBI against the lefty. Jason Bay is batting .500 (6-for-12) with a double, home run and three RBIs lifetime against Morris.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

-207 St. Louis Cardinals

+189 Pittsburgh Pirates

Total (Over/Under): 9

Prediction: The Cardinals will slay the visiting Pirates. Morris will pitch a strong game while the Redbirds' batters will score runs after runs. St. Louis to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Matt Morris, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Minute Maid Park readies brooms as Astros try finish off Rockies

2005-06-22T01:03:00.000-07:00

Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros go for the sweep while seeking to extend their home winning streak to seven consecutive games in an Wednesday afternoon game against the Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid Park.

Clemens leads the Major Leagues with a 1.53 ERA. He beat Kansas City on June 17 in his last start for career win No. 333. The Astros have won 15 of their last 24 games, a .625 winning percentage.

The Rockies finish their nine-game road trip Wednesday in Houston, and will be glad to return home to Coors Field. Colorado is 5-30 away from home, the worst record in the Major Leagues, and 3-14 lifetime at Minute Maid Park.

Colorado hopes right-hander Jason Jennings can help them avoid the sweep. Over his last five starts. Jennings is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. He won at Baltimore last Friday, throwing seven scoreless innings. Jennings, a Dallas native, is 0-2 lifetime against the Astros with an 18.00 ERA. In his only career start at Minute Maid Park, on Opening Day, 2003, Jennings gave up eight runs and nine hits in four innings of a 10-4 loss.

Colorado has lost four in a row, and seven of its last eight. The Rockies offense has struggled over the last eight games, scoring 20 runs, an average of 2.5 per game. The Rockies will face the Major League leader in ERA, future Hall-of-Famer Clemens. Clemens makes his third career start against Colorado, the last coming in April, 2004. He earned a win despite allowing three home runs, one to Todd Helton.

Against Jennings, Brad Ausmus is 1-for-3 (.333), Lance Berkman is 0-for-2 (.000), Craig Biggio is 2-for-6 (.333), Adam Everett is 1-for-3 (.333), Orlando Palmeiro is 1-for-3 (.333) and Mike Lamb is 3-for-3 (1.000). Outfielder Brad Hawpe is one Rockie who enjoys playing away from Coors Field. He is 6-for-17 so far on Colorado's nine-game trip, with one homer and three RBIs.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-235 Houston Astros

+195 Colorado Rockies

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: An Astros sweep. Houston will continue its winning streak while Colorado will suffer another road sweep. Astros to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Roger Clemens, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Greinke hopes for a Royal performance vs Garland, White Sox

2005-06-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

Zack Greinke will try for his second win of the season when he takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night against the AL Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox. Greinke pitched well against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing, although he lasted just five innings.

This thing with the White Sox is beginning to get annoying for the Royals. Not only do the Royals trail the first-place Sox by 22 games, they haven't managed to beat them all season. After Monday night's 11-8 loss, the Royals are 0-7 against the South Siders. And, going back to 2004, the White Sox have won 12 of the last 13 games between the Central rivals.

Trying to change all of this Tuesday night will be Royals right-hander Zack Greinke, who has had problems of his own lately. Although he was 0-4 in his first eight starts, his ERA was still only 3.09. However, in the six starts since then, he's 1-3 with a 10.67 ERA.

Following a nightmarish start at Arizona, Greinke looked more aggressive with a better fastball against the Dodgers. But he had to make a lot of pitches - a career-high 111 in just five innings - and that indicates his command is not back to its previous pinpoint state.

In just his 14th start of 2005, Jon Garland can match a win total that he took 33 starts to reach in 2004, 32 in 2003 and 33 to hit again in 2002. But picking up victory No. 12, which would be a Major League high, doesn't seem to add any extra importance into this appearance for the right-hander.

Garland gave up six runs in six innings during his last start on Wednesday against Arizona, but a 10-run sixth inning for the White Sox produced victory No. 11. He has a 6-0 record with a 3.30 ERA at U.S. Cellular Field this season. And he's always been tough on the Royals, with a 10-4 record and a 4.30 ERA in his career.

David DeJesus seems to have Garland on his radar. DeJesus is 7- for-14 with a double and a walk against Garland, all the confrontations coming last season. Maybe Garland, with several months to think it over, has figured out a new tactic against the Royals center fielder.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-240 Chicago White Sox

+200 Kansas City Royals

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Garland will pitch strong enough for the White Sox and avoid an otherwise humiliating defeat at the hands of Kansas City. Paul Konerko and A.J. Piercinsky will continue to pour RBIs for the South Siders. Chicago to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Jon Garland, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Birds will fly as Blue Jays host Orioles

2005-06-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

Birds will fly as Blue Jays host Orioles

Right-hander Rodrigo Lopez will take the hill for the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday as Baltimore battles the Blue Jays. Lopez has won his last four decisions, and against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 2 he only allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings.

Baltimore's hold on the American League East lead loosened up a little after Monday's 11-2 loss to Blue Jays in the first game of a four-game series at the Rogers Centre. With the loss, the Orioles are just two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, who have won seven of their last eight games.

Lopez has won his last four decisions, and against the Jays on May 2 he only allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. Against Toronto in his career, though, he is 1-4 with a 6.80 ERA in 10 games.

Toronto's Gustavo Chacin gets the start on Tuesday, just three days after his last outing. Chacin could only get seven outs in that start, which tied the briefest appearance of his career. Chacin only last seven outs in his last start, against the Brewers on June 17. He has a 1-1 record with a 3.52 ERA in June and has gone 2-3 since starting the season 4-1. Against Lopez on May 2 he allowed just two runs across 7 1/3 innings. Neither pitcher earned a decision in that game.

The Blue Jays moved one game closer to first place on Monday night, the by-product of an 11-2 win over Baltimore. Three games remain in the current series and these two teams will play 12 more times this season. The Blue Jays have won this season series three out of the last four years. The Blue Jays are 49-34 against Baltimore since the start of the 2001 season, but they're just 22-20 against the O's at home over that span.

Blue Jays Utilityman Frank Menechino has reached base safely in nine straight plate appearances and is two more safeties away from tying the franchise record set by Tony Fernandez.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-140 Baltimore Orioles

+120 Toronto Blue Jays

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Orioles will shoot down the Blue Jays relying heavily on Lopez's strong outing. Baltimore to win by two runs or more.

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Technorati: Sammy Sosa, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Pirates try to even series vs surging Nationals

2005-06-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

The Pittsburgh Pirates will need to post back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a week if they hope to continue their streak of five consecutive home series wins.

After dropping five of six games on the road, the Pirates were defeated, 7-4, Monday night at PNC Park by the Washington Nationals in the first visit to Pittsburgh by a team from the nation's capital since the 1925 World Series. Former Pirate Jose Guillen went deep twice against Bucs lefty Mark Redman to help Nationals starter Livan Hernandez earn his ninth straight win.

Oliver Perez will take the hill for the Pirates on Tuesday night in his first career appearance against the franchise formerly known as the Montreal Expos. The southpaw had won four consecutive decisions before suffering a 6-1 setback to Randy Johnson and the New York Yankees last Thursday night in the Bronx. Perez allowed just two earned runs while fanning 17 in 14 innings during his previous two starts at home.

Ryan Drese, who was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers on June 10, will make his second start with the Nationals. After posting a 4-6 record and a 6.46 ERA in 12 appearances with Texas, Dreese held the Angels to two hits in eight scoreless innings last Wednesday in his Washington debut.

If Ryan Drese is anywhere as effective in his second start as a National Leaguer as he was in the first, the Washington Nationals will be mighty satisfied.

Since being swept in a two-game series at PNC Park on May 17 and 18, the Bucs have earned home series wins against Colorado, Florida, Atlanta, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

Right fielder Jose Guillen has two hits in each of his previous two games, including two home runs Monday night in Pittsburgh. The ex-Pirate is 9-for-27 (.333) in his last seven games.

Despite being in first place and possessing the second-best record in the National League, the Nationals are under .500 (17-20) away from RFK Stadium. Reliever Luis Ayala leads the league with 42 innings pitched and 39 appearances. The Nationals/Montreal Expos have not lost a series to the Pirates since 2000. They are 2-0-2 since.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Spread:

-142 Pittsburgh Pirates

+134 Washington Nationals

Total (Over/Under): 7.5

Prediction: Their win-loss records are deceiving because if that would be the basis, the Nationals will just simply destroy the Pirates. However, Pittsburgh has been proven to be tough at PNC Park. Pirates to win this one by two runs or less.

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Technorati: Ryan Drese, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Streaking Yankees out to demolish Rays at home

2005-06-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

Sean Henn made his Major League debut against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on May 4, and was hit for five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Henn looks for revenge when he faces them again Monday night.

The Yankees, winners of their last six games, open a four-game series with the Devil Rays on Monday. After sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs, the Yankees have won two consecutive series after dropping five in a row.

Henn takes the mound for the Yankees, making just the second start of his career. His other start also came against the Devil Rays, but it was an inauspicious debut. Henn was touched for six runs in just 2 1/3 innings and earned the loss.

He's opposed by former Red Sox left-hander Casey Fossum, who has been shuttled between the bullpen and starting rotation this season. Fossum has been successful in relief, going 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 20 2/3 innings, but less so as a starter. When toeing the rubber from the beginning of a game, Fossum is 0-4 with a 4.65 ERA in six games.

The Yankees have battered left-handed pitching this season, batting .290 against southpaws - good for second in the league. Individually, Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez are leading the team, batting .391 and .364, respectively.

Hideki Matsui has been relegated to DH duties because of an ankle sprain, but his batting remains healthy. In five games as the Yankees' DH, Matsui has gone 10-for-22 at the plate, scoring six runs, hitting three doubles, three home runs and amassing 10 RBIs.

The Rays hold a 4-2 advantage over the Yankees in 2005. After concluding their four-game series with the Yankees, the Rays will return home to play three against the Marlins and three against the Blue Jays.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-230 New York Yankees

+190 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Yankees will continue winning while the D-Rays will have to wait for another day in search for their first win after consecutive losses. NYY to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Alex Rodriguez, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Red Sox aim to freeze hot Indians

2005-06-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

The Boston Red Sox make their only visit to Cleveland this week, and will be catching one of the hottest teams in baseball. The Indians have won nine straight and are making noise in the American League Central. David Wells gets the ball for Boston on Monday.

The Sox, winners of five of six on their recent homestand, have also been strong. Outstanding starting pitching has been the primary reason. Matt Clement and Alan Embree combined to shut out the Pirates, 8-0, on Sunday at Fenway Park.

Wells starts Monday for the Sox. In his last outing, a 7-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Boomer went seven innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out five. Boston first baseman Kevin Millar is hitting .471 (16-for-34) with six doubles and eight runs in his last 12 games. He went 7-for-18 on the homestand.

If ever the Indians were looking for a top-shelf performance from C.C. Sabathia, Monday's series opener against the Red Sox would be it. For one thing, the Indians can't count on is scoring a lot of runs in this one.

The Tribe will be facing Wells, a left-hander who has owned the Indians during his career. Wells is 8-2 with a 3.68 ERA in his career at The Jake, and those numbers suggest that Sabathia might want to keep the Red Sox to one or two runs.

The left-hander had plenty of trouble holding anybody down in his last outing, which pushed his ERA from the low to the high 3.00s. Sabathia's problem was his lack of sharpness, which has been a too-consistent theme throughout his career.

This series marks the first meeting between the two teams this season. In 2004, the Indians took the season series, 4-3. But this is the present, and if he can start to pitch like the team's ace, Sabathia will prove more than an effective counter to the ageless Wells.

It's gonna be Sabathia vs. David Ortiz: The heavy-hitting Ortiz leads Boston in home runs (16) and RBIs (57). Sabathia should have the edge in this lefty vs. lefty matchup, but that edge won't mean a thing if Sabathia can't make his pitches.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-108 Boston Red Sox

-112 Cleveland Indians

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: A rare road win for the defending MLB champions. The Tribe's winning streak will have to end at nine games. Wells will continue his dominance of the Indians. Boston to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: David Wells, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

NL West action sizzles once more as D-backs take on Giants

2005-06-20T01:39:00.000-07:00

With Interleague action over, the Arizona Diamondbacks will turn their focus to handling fellow National League West resident San Francisco Giants. Javier Vazquez gets the first crack at the Giants in Monday night series opener.

No more visits to American League ballparks. Now, it's time for the Diamondbacks to do some damage within their own division. They'll have four shots to take their swings at San Francisco, where the Diamondbacks begin a four-game series Monday night.

The Giants return home to SBC Park for the four-game series, then cross the Bay Bridge for more Interleague action against the Oakland A's over the weekend.

There's no place like home, and San Francisco Giants pitcher Noah Lowry hopes that the confines of SBC Park work favorably for him. Lowry, 2-1 in his last five starts, is the starter for Monday's opening game of a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his last effort, Lowry defeated the Minnesota Twins, 8-4, and had seven strikeouts. Lowry has won two of his last three starts, and over his last five starts, he has a 4.30 ERA.

San Francisco's standing doesn't mean the Diamondbacks can afford to slouch. The D-Backs did enough of that in Cleveland, where the Indians just completed a sweep. The D-Backs have been fortunate, however, to be just a couple of games out of first place. Still, they'll have to build a winning streak at some point to catch the front-running San Diego Padres.

Troy Glaus has been one of the hottest Diamondbacks at the plate lately, batting 16-of-45 (.360) with three homers and six RBIs in his last 11 games. His hitting streak was halted at nine games Sunday afternoon, but he'll try to start a new one against Lowry.

Giants second baseman Ray Durham has improved since the days of April, when he was struggling to hit his weight. Durham performed well against the Twins, but stumbled a bit against the Detroit Tigers. Back at SBC Park, Durham could hit a more consistent groove.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-130 Arizona Diamondbacks

+110 San Francisco Giants

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Glaus will explode once again at the plate. If the two other members of the D-backs' dreaded G-force (Green and Gonzalez) will compliment Glaus on offense, Arizona will humiliate the Giants in front of their fans. Diamondbacks to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Troy Glaus, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

It's strikeouts galore as Peavy meets Santana in Padres-Twins finale

2005-06-19T00:57:00.000-07:00

Baseball fans will be treated to an expected thrilling pitching duel between two of the most talented and feared pitchers in the majors as Jake Peavy goes head-to-head with reigning AL Cy Young Awardee Johan Santana in the third and final game of their series.

The bounce is back in his step, the confident smile back on his face. Jake Peavy, flat on his back for several days, close to pneumonia, has emerged from upper respiratory doldrums to put the swagger back in the Padres' step.

The infection hit Peavy almost two weeks ago, on May 31, the night of his start at home against the Brewers. In a weakened condition, he lasted only four innings, allowing four runs and six hits. Nine days later, still far from healthy, he went five innings against the Indians, allowing four runs and absorbing his first loss of the season.

In spite of his un-Jake-like performances against the Brewers, Indians and Tigers in his last three starts, Peavy (5-2) is still seventh in the NL in ERA (2.67), second in strikeouts (84) and fifth in opponents' batting average (.212). His road ERA of 2.13 is the best in the league.

Santana is slowly going back to his usual form winning two of his last five starts. Against Arizona on the road, Santana threw a four-hitter and extended his remarkable road success and major-league strikeout lead in the Twins' 10-0 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Santana still leads the majors in strikeouts (121), leads AL in opponents' batting average (.209), third in AL in complete games and second in innings played. It's one thing to win 17 games in a row. It's another to dominate your sport as completely as Santana did while winning 17 in a row. Unlike Clemens, who had only the seventh-best ERA among big-league starters during his 20-game streak, Santana was a clear No. 1 during his streak, at 1.77.

Prediction: Twins will destroy the Padres at the Metrodome. Minnesota to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Jake Peavy, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Willis gun for win no. 12 in weekend series vs Angels

2005-06-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Dontrelle Willis shoot for his 12th win of the season as he and the Florida Marlins continue their weekend Interleague Series against Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The D-Train Express has been rolling so far this season, just becoming the first major league pitcher to earn eleven victories.

Off to an 11-2 start with a 2.06 ERA, Willis is having a blast. With each win, he is moving closer to securing his second All-Star appearance since being called up from Double-A Carolina in May 2003.

Willis is not only a strong All-Star candidate, he is making a strong case for National League manager Tony La Russa to start him in the MidSummer Classic, to be played in Detroit.

Willis' affable personality has been on display since he posted a 14-6 record as a rookie and helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series. During the first three months of this year, Willis has received considerable national attention. He is making a case for the Cy Young Award, the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove.

Willis has already surpassed his wins total from 2004, which was 10. If the D-Train keeps rolling, he stands a strong chance of not only making the All-Star Game, but being the starting pitcher. On the road, the 23-year-old is 4-1, 2.81 ERA after he collected a win on Monday over the Cubs, in which he gave up one run in seven innings.

He will be pitted up against Angel right-hander John Lackey. Lackey has recorded three straight no-decisions over his last three starts. In his last outing, Lackey allowed a season-high six walks while also reaching a season-high 118 pitches in 5 2/3 innings against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Lackey last won on May 26, when he held the White Sox to a pair of runs over seven innings.

With Florida playing in arguably the most competitive division in baseball, the National League East, making a run at the pennant is going to likely come down to the final weeks of the season. The taste of winning it all in 2003 has Willis even hungrier to get back to the playoffs and experience another magical run.

Prediction: Pick the Marlins because of who else? Dontrelle Willis. The D-Train will run all over the Angels. Marlins to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Dontrelle Willis, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angeles, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Hard-hitting Rangers host new DC squad

2005-06-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

Following a day off, the Rangers, once known as the Senators, continue Interleague Play with baseball's newest addition, the Washington Nationals. Left-hander Kenny Rogers will make the start for host Texas against John Patterson.

Younger fans might not realize the historical connection between the Rangers and our nation's capital. In 1972, the Senators moved from Washington to Arlington, becoming the Rangers.

The Nationals are the first Major League team to play in Washington since the Senators left D.C. for Texas following the '71 season. The Washington-Texas franchise is the expansion Senators franchise that began play in 1961.

After winning the final two games of their series with the Angels, the Nationals roll into Texas looking for more against the Rangers.John Patterson gets the start for Washington. He's allowed only one run in each of his last three starts, but has won only one of them -his most recent outing.

The Rangers' Kenny Rogers has had an incredible 2005, but the 40-year-old allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings in his last start (he won nonetheless). In May, Rogers was 6-0 with an 0.98 ERA.

Ryan Drese (1-0) allowed two hits in eight innings and Chad Cordero escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth Wednesday as the Nationals shut out the Angels, 1-0. Brian Schneider's homer in the sixth was the game's only run.

Alfonso Soriano is on one of his streaks. Over the last 17 games, Soriano is batting .358 with seven homers and 18 RBIs. Washington's Carlos Baerga is 11-for-32 (.344) lifetime against Rogers with a double and a triple.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-160 Texas Rangers

+140 Washington Nationals

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Washington will suffer a national humiliation at Arlington. Texas bats will continue to sizzle while Rogers will still be phenomenal on the mound. Texas will win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Kenny Rogers, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Marlins sail to Pacific coast vs Angels

2005-06-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Building momentum by taking two of three against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Florida Marlins now head to Los Angeles to face the Angels in a three-game set. Right-hander Brian Moehler will get the ball for Florida on Friday.

The Marlins rebounded from a 14-0 loss on Tuesday by rolling to a 15-5 win in the series finale on Wednesday. Off on Thursday, the Marlins resume Interleague Play on Friday with the beginning of a three-game set with the Angels. It will be the first time Florida has faced the Angels at Angel Stadium.

In 2003, the Angels visited the Marlins, taking two of three at Dolphins Stadium. The Marlins are in the midst of their longest road trip of the season, 12 games in 14 days. This season, Marlins are 6-3 in Interleague Play.

Right-hander Moehler, a steady surprise, makes his 11th start, and 15th appearance. As a starter, Moehler's ERA is a sterling 2.98. What's troubled him is a lack of run support. The Marlins are scoring 2.54 runs when Moehler takes the mound, that's the lowest of any Florida starter.

Jarrod Washburn will try to stop a streak of tough luck Friday, when he starts for the Angels in the opener of an Interleague set against the Marlins. Washburn has thrown three consecutive quality starts, but he's picked up a no-decision in each of them. What's worse, the Angels have lost the last four times he's taken the hill. He's 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in four starts at home this season.

Ryan Drese (1-0) allowed only two hits and the Angels couldn't capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday as the Nationals won, 1-0. Bartolo Colon (8-4) pitched a complete game, allowing only Brian Schneider's homer in the sixth.

Carlos Delgado gets another look at the Angels. With all his years of experience in Toronto, the first-base slugger has a career .253 average with 20 homers and 66 RBIs off the Angels. Delgado blasted a three-run homer off Cubs reliever Todd Wellemeyer on Wednesday.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-135 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

+115 Florida Marlins

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Go for the Angels. The Halos are performing at their best at Angel Stadium. Angels to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Vladimir Guerrero, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angeles, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Mulder aims to get back on track as Cardinals try to avoid Rays of Tampa Bay

2005-06-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Mark Mulder is 3-0 when pitching at Tropicana Field, although he's struggled a bit recently. He and the Cardinals will try to get back on track as they visit the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for a three-game set of continuing Interleague action.

Considering that the two franchises have absolutely no on-field history against each other, this weekend's Cardinals-Devil Rays series will feel a lot like a reunion.

For St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, it will be a homecoming. La Russa hails from Tampa, and speaks fondly of his days as a youthful baseball fan in the area. He's never managed a regular-season Major League game so close to home.

La Russa has also seen a great deal of the man who will be matching wits with him from the other dugout. Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella has gone against La Russa repeatedly over the years; when Piniella helmed the Yankees and later the Mariners, he saw La Russa's Athletics repeatedly. And Piniella's Reds swept the La Russa-managed A's in the 1990 World Series.

Overall, La Russa is 38-29 against Piniella in regular-season matchups, but there's that 0-4 World Series mark that's hard to swallow. The two men have quite a bit in common, from their hometown to their ages (they were born 14 months apart during World War II) to their intense demeanors.

For the Cardinals, it will be a slightly different kind of homecoming. From 1938-42 and 1946-97, St. Louis made its Spring Training home in St. Petersburg, where Tropicana Field is located. John Mabry and Matt Morris are the only current Cardinals who trained there, but plenty of members of the organization have, over the years, made the city their six-weeks-a-year home.

Tampa Bay slugger Alex Gonzalez has done well against Cardinals starter Mark Mulder. In 13 career at-bats, Gonzalez has six hits, good for a .462 average.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-170 St. Louis Cardinals

+150 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Mulder will notch his first win after a long dry spell. Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals will pound on Rays mistakes in the early innings. St. Louis to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Albert Pujols, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Tigers howl 'sweep' at home vs Padres

2005-06-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Bonderman will try to become the fastest Tiger to eight wins in a season since David Wells in 1993 and earn Detroit its first three-game home series sweep since last July with an Interleague matinee against the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Though Bonderman's ERA has increased from 3.38 to 4.05 over his last four outings, he's won two of his last three starts. Bonderman survived a rough first inning and difficult control to churn through six innings against the Rockies at Coors Field last Saturday to record a 6-4 victory, giving him a 1-1 record in three Interleague starts this season.

Padres starter Woody Williams has lost both of his starts since returning from a month-long stint on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. The longtime National Leaguer hasn't faced the Tigers since his final year in the American League, as a member of the Blue Jays in 1998. When he makes his first career start at Comerica Park, it'll become the 40th different ballpark in which Williams has pitched as a Major Leaguer.

On Wednesday night, the Padres turned to pitcher Adam Eaton, who had won eight consecutive starts, but Eaton left the game in the third inning with an injured middle finger on his right hand. Meanwhile, the Padres will hold their collective breath as they are expected to find out if Eaton will miss any starts. Should that happen, the Padres will rely on their bats, which have been inactive lately. The exception has been shortstop Khalil Greene, who has gone 4-for-8 in the first two games of the series.

Ivan Rodriguez is 6-for-22 with two home runs and six RBIs lifetime against Williams. The Padres have lost 10 of their last 14 games. The Tigers are 5-6 in Interleague games so far this season.

With the Padres' offense struggling, Greene has been the lone bright spot. In eight at-bats in two games against the Tigers, he has managed four hits, including an RBI double that scored a run in the first inning of Wednesday night's 8-2 loss. Greene has been active and remains atop the Padres batting order for good reason.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-120 Detroit Tigers

EVEN San Diego Padres

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Tigers will growl loud at Coerica Park. The law of averages have finally caught the overachieving Padres. Detroit to sweep San Diego by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Jeremy Bonderman, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Reds will be brave enough to outclass Braves

2005-06-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

Fresh off a three-game sweep in Boston, the Cincinnati Reds will be eager to kick off a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on Thursday. Reds starter Brandon Claussen square off against veteran right-hander John Smoltz.

The Reds will return home Thursday for the continuation of a stretch in which they are playing 10 of 13 games at Great American Ball Park. The way things have played out this season, the Reds must wish the schedule called for 162 out of 162 at home. All but six of the Reds' 26 wins this season have come at home, which is where they'll be for the next seven games.

The opener of a four-game home set against the Braves will see left-hander Brandon Claussen on the mound. If Claussen is anywhere near as effective as he was in his last outing, the Reds will have a good chance at continuing their success at home.

Claussen was simply masterful against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. In the longest start of his big-league career, Claussen lasted eight innings, giving up a mere run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts. He was perfect through 4 1/3 innings. Though he has been up and down this season, a start like the one he put up against the Orioles just might spark a strong run from Claussen.

Smoltz will take the mound after tossing his first complete game in more than six years against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday in a 5-3 Atlanta win. He has thrown six or more innings in each of his last four starts while giving up at least three runs during that stint and registering a 2-2 record.

One player to watch for Cincinnati is veteran slugger Rich Aurilia. This current group of Reds batters hasn't had a great deal of success against Smoltz in the past. Aurilia has the most experience against the veteran right-hander, having faced him in 15 at-bats. Aurilia has hit .200 in those at-bats.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-125 Atlanta Braves

+105 Cincinnati Reds

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Cincinnati will end their skid with a superb performance at home. The Reds will scatter runs early on en route to an easy win. Reds to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: John Smoltz, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Lowe tries to save Dodgers as Royals go for rare sweep

2005-06-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Bring out the brooms. Again. Seeking a sweep of the series and a fifth straight victory, the red-hot Kansas City Royals call on youngster Zack Greinke to face the Derek Lowe and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Thursday's series finale at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals, who didn't sweep any opponent during a 79-series stretch that lasted from September 2003 to June 2 of this season, can notch their second sweep in their last five series in Thursday's finale. And over the Dodgers, no less, who have been battling all season for the top spot in the National League West.

The task will be a tough one for 21-year-old Greinke, who will carry his 1-7 record and 6.01 ERA to the mound. After his last start, during which he allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in just 4 1/3 innings, the right-hander sat in a Phoenix hotel room with pitching coach Guy Hansen and broke down his delivery, searching for ways to adjust and improve.

Lowe's breaking ball wasn't fooling the Minnesota Twins in his last start, as he allowed a pair of home runs and five runs in six innings. He's 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA lifetime against the Kansas City Royals and was 1-1 last year.

After the worst outing of his career, Greinke and the Royals' staff were trying to make adjustments in his delivery. The wake-up call: 11 runs on 15 hits in 4 1/3 innings (and, remarkably, no decision) against the Diamondbacks. His fastball has been up and flat, he's not moving batters off the plate and he might even be tipping his pitches. He's a big and important project.

With those days now passed, the Royals just need Greinke to turn in a vintage performance - and that term is used very loosely, as the righty has been old enough to have a celebratory beer for all of eight months. That would be sweep, indeed.

Kansas City's Emil Brown continued his hot streak Wednesday night by rapping two hits and driving in two runs. His batting average, which stood at .161 on April 29, is now a solid .286. He is batting .395 (17-for-43) in June with two homers and 12 RBIs in 11 games.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-142 Los Angeles Dodgers

+122 Kansas City Royals

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Lowe will pitch strong enough for the Dodgers and avoid an otherwise humiliating sweep at the hands of Kansas City. Jeff Kent and Milton Bradley will continue to pour RBIs for the Dodgers. LA to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Derek Lowe, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

No 'mo room for error for Nomo as D-Rays battle Brewers

2005-06-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

Hideo Nomo takes the mound against Milwaukee on Wednesday, hoping to give Tampa Bay the series win. Fans are eager to see if Jorge Cantu, who's hitting .405 so far in June, can get the offense clicking and help Nomo start a new Rays winning streak.

Academy award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, who portrayed Annie Savoy in the baseball classic "Bull Durham," will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Wednesday's game.

Tomo Ohka got the Brewers turned around. It's up to Victor Santos and the Brewers' offense to keep the team moving in the right direction. Ohka pitched his first career shutout as Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

He got offensive help from Lyle Overbay and Wes Helms, and Santos would love to see some crooked numbers on the board when he makes his 13th start in the series finale. Santos owns a 2.74 ERA but has just two wins to show for it, mostly because of poor run support.

He allowed two runs to the Phillies in his last start and the Brewers lost, 5-2, on a three-run home run in the ninth. Santos has allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive outings and in 10 of his 12 starts, but he has just one win since April 22 and none in his past three quality starts.

Right-hander Hideo Nomo will start for the Rays. He is has a 5-2 career mark against the Brewers with a 2.14 ERA. After concluding their three-game series with the Brewers, the Rays will play a three-game series against the Cardinals.

Milwaukee's ace slugger Carlos Lee is 2-for-3 lifetime against Nomo - every other Brewer has a career .250 average or worse against the veteran right-hander. Geoff Jenkins is 0-for-16 against Nomo with eight strikeouts.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-135 Milwaukee Brewers

+115 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Devil Rays will get the series upperhand by taking the series finale. Nomo will pitch strong and will get run support from his teammates. D-rays to win by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Hideo Nomo, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Rockies troop to Jacobs Field to face Indians

2005-06-14T23:46:00.000-07:00

Winners of four straight, the Cleveland Indians began their 12-game homestand in fine fashion with a win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. In order to extend the streak, they'll need a solid outing from C.C. Sabathia in Wednesday's evening start.

As the Indians try to make progress on the Twins and the White Sox in the American League Central, they are putting more and more in the hands of their pitchers. Nobody has a bigger burden in that regard than C.C. Sabathia, the staff ace.

He's often struggled to live up to that title, but nobody can say Sabathia's struggled lately, though. He's looked like the best pitcher on the staff - and one of the best pitchers in the game - in recent outings. For him, the difference has been his willingness to rely on all of his pitches. Not that he's abandoned his mid-90 mph fastball.

No such foolishness on that front. Instead, he's been more willing to showcase his curveball and his changeup, which make his high-powered fastball even more difficult to handle.

In facing the Rockies on Wednesday, Sabathia will be taking on a team that hasn't seen much of him over the years. That should be an advantage for him. But if he's right, he won't need any advantage to beat Colorado. His stuff is good enough to beat any ballclub.

Sabathia looked good - on the mound and with the bat. He'll not get a chance to use the latter again in his next start. He'll be pitching at The Jake, so the DH will play in that Interleague game. No matter, the Indians prefer Sabathia use his arm, which has been very, very production this season. He's throwing strikes, he mixing his pitches like an old pro; and he's winning.

Indians starter Joe Kennedy will be coming off nine idle days. He was skipped after giving up eight runs in five innings of a 9-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, and is 0-2 with an 8.62 ERA in his last three starts.

Against left-handers, the switch-hitting Victor Martinez remains the key. He sits in the middle of the order, and he has to generate offense to protect the hitters around him. It's a fact that the 26-year-old Kennedy must remain aware of.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-240 Cleveland Indians

+200 Colorado Rockies

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Tribe will dismantle the Rockies. Cleveland to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Cliff Lee, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Arroyo try to break slump vs aching Reds

2005-06-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

Bronson Arroyo hopes that good pitching is contagious, and that he can follow in the footsteps of his fellow rotation mates with a strong start. The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, will attempt to thwart a series sweep behind Aaron Harang on the mound.

Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement and David Wells have surrendered a combined four runs over the last three games. Arroyo, who has struggled in recent weeks, will try to keep the Sox on a pitching roll.

Red Sox ace slugger Manny Ramirez, who has uncharacteristically struggled this season, looks to be getting hot. The slugger has bashed three homers in his last three games.

Harang is ready to show up at Fenway Park on Wednesday night, and he hopes his supporting cast shows up at the plate. Harang hasn't received a great deal of offensive support this season, most notably in his last start.

Harang went seven innings against the Orioles on Friday, giving up three runs on five hits. His only real mistake was a three-run home run allowed to Melvin Mora in the third inning. From that point on, he was stellar, as has been the case for much of this season.

But Harang didn't get much help from his offense - an offense that has struggled mightily during this three-game set in Boston. He's hoping the bats come alive in his favor Wednesday night, and the Reds, who are just 6-23 on the road this season, are hoping to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Sox.

One player to watch for the Reds is Wily Mo Pena. Before walking in the seventh inning Tuesday, Pena had a streak of five straight strikeouts. With Austin Kearns out of the picture down in Triple-A Louisville, it's Pena's time and turn to prove he can be a consistent offensive presence while manning right field on a daily basis.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-190 Boston Red Sox

+165 Cincinnati Reds

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: There's no way for the Reds to avoid a sweep. Arroyo will return to winning ways while the Reds will continue bleeding at Fenway Park. Boston to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Manny Ramirez, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Santana leads Twins in hopes of toppling Giants

2005-06-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

After a 3-3 West Coast trip, the Minnesota Twins will open a 10-day, nine-game home stand Tuesday with the first of three games against the San Francisco Giants.

A knee injury will keep the Barry Bonds sideshow from invading the Metrodome, but the Interleague meeting still offers some intrigue. Reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who was dealt from the Cubs to San Francisco on May 28, will make his first visit to Minnesota since he departed as a free agent after the 2003 season.

There are some Giants with American League experience who can offer a scouting report on the Metrodome, but none with better insight than reliever Hawkins, who pitched for the Twins from 1995 through 2003. Hawkins confirmed what everyone else says, that finding a fly ball against that roof can be tough, but dispelled the notion that the air conditioning in the building can affect the way balls carry.

But the biggest incentive to watch Tuesday's game should be Twins starting pitcher Johan Santana. All indications are that the lefty is poised for another sizzling summer. Two starts ago against Cleveland, Santana tied a season high with 14 strikeouts. On Wednesday he threw a four-hit shutout without a walk and struck out nine in a 10-0 blanking of the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.

Santana leads the Major Leagues with 114 strikeouts this season. He has just a scoreless third of an inning of relief lifetime vs. San Francisco - which came in 2003.

Righthander Jim Brower, who lives in Eden Prairie, has been released by the Giants a year after appearing in a club-record 89 games for them. He was 2-1 with a 6.53 ERA. The move made room for the addition of Jesse Foppert, who will start tonight.

Ray Durham is one of a handful of Giants with experience against Santana, and it's been a pretty good experience. Durham is 4-for-10 lifetime against the Twins ace, with a double and a homer among those hits.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-320 Minnesota Twins

+260 San Francisco Giants

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Twins will lord over the Giants. Santana will be out there to prove why he is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Twins to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Johan Santana, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Dodgers make first appearance in KC

2005-06-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Dodgers open their longest trip of the season with their first Interleague series ever against Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Jeff Weaver starts for the Dodgers, who finished their recent homestand only 2 1/2 games behind first-place San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers are hopeful of getting Gold Glove shortstop Cesar Izturis back in the lineup. Izturis left Saturday night's game with a tight right hamstring and did not play in Sunday's 4-3 win over Minnesota.

But Hee-Seop Choi not only played, he hit three home runs, giving him six for the series and 12 on the season. The Dodgers hit eight solo home runs in a 14-inning span, and will have the use of a designated hitter this week for the first time this year.

Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez, coming off two impressive outings against the Rangers and the Giants, will start for the Royals. He's allowed just two earned runs and seven hits in his last 12 innings. The Royals won both games and Hernandez got the verdict, his third win, against the Giants.

It's the second game of the series, though, that really has the Royals' Jose Lima pumped. He was 13-5 for the Dodgers last season and pitched a memorable shutout against the Cardinals in the playoffs.

Lima has not yet won this season, though, and he'd like nothing better than to achieve his first victory over the team that cut him loose after last season.

Kansas City's Mike Sweeney is supposed to return to the lineup on Tuesday night, just in time to face his old buddy Weaver. Who can forget Sweeney's body-slam of Weaver during a 2002 brouhaha with the Tigers? Sweeney, by the way, has hit .357 against Weaver with 15 hits (two homers) in 42 at-bats.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-125 Los Angeles Dodgers

+105 Kansas City Royals

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Dodgers will overwhelm KC right at their own turf. Weaver will pitch a superb game while getting key run support from his batters. LA to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Jeff Weaver, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Royals continue their NL West trip; faces tough D-backs in the desert

2005-06-12T00:48:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City Royals continue their journey into uncharted territory, leaving the first visit to San Francisco's SBC Park for the second game of theirthree-game series at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.

However, the Royals do have some history with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who took two out of three at Kansas City in 2001 and did the same thing two seasons later.

Kansas City's D.J. Carrasco shoots for his thierd win od the season against Arizona's ace Barndon Webb who's been superb for the Diamondbacks this seson. Carrasco is currently 2-1 with an ERA of 2.48 while Webb is vene better at 7-2 with 3.44 ERA.

The converted right-handed reliever is coming off the best start of his career, a complete-game 8-1 win in San Francisco in which he allowed one run on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts. That was on the heels of six shutout innings in a 3-1 win over the Yankees on June 1.

Of the Diamondbacks' current lineup, only five have faced Carrasco. Good news for the D-backs, those five have a combined three hits in six at-bats against the Royals starter. Alex Cintron is 1-for-1 while Luis Gonzalez and Jose Cruz, Jr are both 1-for-2.

Webb got the win in his last outing against the Phillies, but it didn't come easy. The right-hander sweated through five innings on a steamy day in Philadelphia, allowing four runs on eight hits over five innings. Webb got plenty of offensive support in the 10-8 Arizona win.

Last year, the trade of Curt Schilling to Boston thrust Webb into the No. 2 spot in the rotation as a second-year player. He pitched better than his record indicated, though he did have trouble with control, setting a team record for walks in a season. Like Randy Johnson, Webb suffered from poor run support, with three or fewer runs scored in 17 of his 35 starts. Over his final 10 starts in 2004, Webb was 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA.

Prediction: Royals will lose again. So, what else is new? Arizona to torch the Royals on Sunday by more than three runs.

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Technorati: Brandon Webb, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

A's try to avoid being 'Smoltzed' in Atlanta

2005-06-11T00:48:00.000-07:00

The Atlanta Braves try to keep withing sriking distance of the NL East leading Washington Nationals as they host the Oakland Athletics in the second game of their three-game series at Turner Field. John Smoltz takes the mound for the perennial divisional champions while Kirk Sarloos starts for the Athletics.

Saarlos will try to win consecutive starts for the first time this season. He won his first start of the year in Baltimore on April 6 but didn't get another victory until beating Toronto on June 2. Saarlos went eight starts without a win but didn't pitch that badly, he just didn't get a whole lot of offensive support.

In his last outing, Sarloos snapped a 10-game winless stretch for his first victory since beating Baltimore 9-0 in Oakland's second game of the season by leading the A's to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Since then, he'd had four losses and six no-decisions.

Saarloos faced one batter more than the minimum in each of the first four innings, then plunked two in a fifth inning that featured a two-run double by Aaron Hill. Saarloos allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking two with no strikeouts.

The Braves veteran has lost two of his last three starts and has one win in his last seven outings, primarily because of little run support. Smoltz has allowed 15 earned runs in 42 innings, but the Braves have only scored a total of 16 runs in those seven games.

In his last game, Smoltz retired his first 14 batters and carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth, but the Angels put runners at the corners with one out as they rallied to beat the Braves 4-2. Smoltz allowed four runs and 13 hits in 8 1/3 innings, striking out five.

With their rash of injuries and inability to add to their payroll, the Braves have been forced to accelerate the rise of many of their top prospects to the Majors.

Consequently, they've lost 17 of their past 28 games. But they're still three games over .500 (31-28) and just two games out of first place in the National League East.

Prediction: A's to lose their fourth straight road game. Atlanta will win this one by more than two runs.

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Technorati: John Smoltz, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Tigers, Rockies try rejuvenate slow season start

2005-06-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Detroit Tigers will make their third visit to Coors Field in as many years Friday when they open a three-game set with the fifth-place Colorado Rockies.

Left-hander Mike Maroth will start for the Tigers. He'll try to buck a tough stretch that has seen him yield 30 runs (26 earned) in 44 innings over his last seven starts. He's 1-1 in his career against the Rockies with a 6.48 ERA.

The Rockies will counter with Jamey Wright, who has yielded 82 hits and 10 homers in 62 1/3 innings this year. Last season at home, Wright posted a 3.98 ERA, but this year at Coors Field, he is 2-3 with an 8.02 ERA.

The Tigers dropped a 3-1 decision at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday as former Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver (6-5) allowed only two hits in seven innings. Jason Johnson (4-5) made his fifth consecutive quality start and drilled his first Major League home run for the Tigers' only run.

Colorado threatened changes in its starting rotation heading into this homestand, and much of the speculation centered on right-hander Jamey Wright. Now, Wright has put himself on as solid footing as one can expect with his record and ERA.

In two starts this homestand, Wright is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA. In his last start, he gave up four first-inning runs but pitched five shutout innings from there to earn a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The three-game Interleague series with the Tigers will complete a 13-game homestand for the Rockies, who thus far are 5-5. They split a four-game set with St. Louis, swept three games from Cincinnati and were three-game sweep victims against the Chicago White Sox.

Wright is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his career against the Tigers in two starts (both victories) and a relief appearance. The last time he faced them, Sept. 13, 2003, at Comerica Park, he struck out seven en route to his third career shutout, 7-0, for Kansas City.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-110 Detroit Tigers

-110 Colorado Rockies

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: On paper, the Tigers have more firepower than the last placed Rockies. With a win against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, the Tigers are in a high mood in this West Coast swing. They will take game one by two runs.

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Technorati: Jamey Wright, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Busch Stadium ready for epic Cardinals-Yankees matchup

2005-06-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

Chien-Ming Wang makes a spot start for the injured Kevin Brown on Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals the opener of a three-game series trying to help the Yankees continue the momentum of Wednesday night's big win over the Brewers.

The last time the Yankees and Cardinals met on the baseball field, the baseball world was buzzing over Roger Clemens' 300th win. There will be no major milestone to watch for this weekend, but for the Yankees, the three-game set represents a chance to build on their 12-3 win in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

After losing to the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series last season, the Yankees went on an almost crusade-like free agency hunt. They signed rising stars Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano and traded for Randy Johnson, but they are off to a disappointing 29-30 start.

The Cardinals have done quite the opposite. They have exceeded already high expectations, rocketing to a 38-21 record. It's the team's best start since 1944. Also, two low-key offseason signings - David Eckstein and Mark Grudzielanek - have yielded more than their expected return value. The two have the second and third highest batting averages on the team of players who have appeared in 20 or more games.

The two teams have faced each other five times in the World Series, but just once during the regular season. The Cardinals have taken three of the five Fall Classics (1926, '42 and '64), while the Yankees won in 1928 and '43. In their lone regular-season series, the Yankees swept three games from the Redbirds in 2003, the first win coming in Clemens' 300th.

New York native Jason Marquis (7-3, 3.50 ERA) will take the mound on Friday against Chien-Ming Wang. He has only faced the Yankees once in his career, in a 2001 relief appearance. He pitched two innings, struck out three batters and gave up two runs on a homer by Bernie Williams.

Friday will mark the first game in St. Louis for Joe Torre since he was dismissed as the Cardinals' manager on June 16, 1995 after spending five-plus seasons there. Torre also played with the Cards from 1969-74, winning a batting title and National League MVP award in 1971.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-115 St. Louis Cardinals

+105 New York Yankees

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: St. Louis has no problems dismissing their NL opponents but against the Yankees, the Cardinals offense will crumble. The Bronx Bombers will intimidate the Cardinals. NY to win by a run or two.

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Technorati: Alex Rodriguez, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

It's 'Orange Day' Friday as Indians battle Giants

2005-06-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland Indians will be in San Francisco on Friday to begin their concluding series in the Tribe's season-long 12-game road trip with three games against the San Francisco Giants.

Cleveland, which took two of three from the San Diego Padres, is 4-5 through its first nine games, and will have a chance at a winning, or at least 500, road trip. The Indians are 17-17 on the road this season.

Left-hander C. C. Sabathia will be on the mound for the Indians, making his 11th start Friday. He got a no-decision in his last outing against the White Sox despite leaving the game in the seventh inning with two outs and a 3-1 lead. This will be his first appearance against the Giants.

Right-hander Brett Tomko is seeking his second straight win. Tomko threw 122 pitches in the Giants' 6-3 win over the Mets last Sunday, but it paid off as he lasted 7 2/3 frames. He helped his own cause with a three-run double and has now won two of his last three outings. He's been one of the club's most consistent starters.

Tomko will make his fifth career appearance against the Indians, owning a 1-0 record and 4.15 ERA in two starts. It's "Orange Friday" again at SBC Park - it has proven to be a successful event - and the first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive Giants-Indians Interleague pins, recognizing the clubs' first meeting since the 1954 World Series.

This will be the Indians' first regular-season game against the Giants. The two franchises met in the 1954 World Series with the then New York Giants beating the Indians in four straight games.

Cleveland's Coco Crisp, who hit his seventh home run on Thursday, is hitting .345 (41-for-119) on the road this season. He also posted a .368 road average (21-for-57) in May.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-125 Cleveland Indians

+105 San Francisco Giants

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Indians will fall at the Bay. San Francisco will score early and that will prove to be insurmountable for the visiting Indians. Giants to win by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Barry Bonds, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Astros, Mets slug it out for series win in NY

2005-06-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Houston Astros have a chance for their second straight series win on the road Thursday, when they wrap a three-game set with the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Andy Pettitte, no stranger to New York, gets the nod opposite fellow lefty Tom Glavine.

Glavine starts for the Mets with a chance to even his record for the first time since it was 0-0. Glavine has won three of his last four decisions after opening the season with a 1-4 mark. Six starts after his ERA reached 7.04 on May 3, Glavine has lowered that mark by more than two runs.

Houston counters with left-hander Andy Pettitte, who is 6-2 with a 3.76 ERA in 13 career starts against the Mets. The former Yankee has split his last two starts, pitching well in both. He tossed six shutout innings in the first and allowed one run in seven innings in the second.

This is a pitching rematch of the teams' May 11 game, which the Mets won, 8-4. Glavine outpitched Pettitte then, giving up one run in six innings. Pettitte allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Jose Reyes and Cliff Floyd have been the Mets' hottest hitters. Reyes is 13-for-36 with five steals during the homestand, and Floyd is 9-for-20 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBIs in his most recent five games.

To leave town with another winning series, the Astros will have to lean on left-hander Pettitte for similar success. Pettitte, no stranger to New York, has pitched better than his 3-6 record indicates. He snapped a personal three-game losing streak on May 29 at Milwaukee, allowing no runs and three hits over six innings. Pettitte pitched equally well his next time out, but lost on June 3 to the Cardinals despite seven innings of one-run ball.

Astros manager Phil Garner might want to find a way to slot Jose Vizcaino in against Tom Glavine on Thursday. Vizcaino is 8-for-25 (.320) in his career against the long-time National League nemesis.

New York's Mike Cameron has 10 hits in 43 at-bats against Pettitte, including two doubles, a triple and a home run. He also has eight RBIs. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, scoring eight runs and slamming six doubles.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-155 New York Mets

+135 Houston Astros

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Pettitte vs Glavine matchup is a battle of two of the best MLB southpaw pitchers of all time. Glavine will have his breakout game. He'll outduel Pettitte in this tight series finale. Mets to win by a run.

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Technorati: Tom Glavine, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Hernandez, Nationals go for sweet sweep vs Athletics

2005-06-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

The Washington Nationals look to win their seventh consecutive game as they take on the Oakland Athletics at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Thursday night. Livan Hernandez has rested up since last Friday, when he threw 150 pitches to the Florida Marlins. Thursday, he can extend his winning streak to seven and sweep the Nationals' series with the A's.

The Nationals have already taken the first two games and look for the sweep. If the Nationals win the game, it will be sweet revenge for team that was swept by Oakland in 2003.

Hernandez, who is looking to win his seventh straight decision, will face the Athletics for the fourth time in his career. He is 1-2 with a 5.75 ERA against them. In his last start, Hernandez pitched nine innings, threw 150 pitches and gave up two runs against the Marlins on June 3. He didn't figure in the decision as the Nationals won the game, 3-2, in 11 innings.

Hernandez has been one of baseball's best pitchers this season, but the Oakland A's are hoping to continue with the success they've had against him in the past. The A's have scored 13 earned runs in just 20.1 innings against Hernandez.

Oakland (23-35) will be trying to break its 10-game road losing streak with some help from right-hander Joe Blanton (1-5). He earned his first Major League win in his last start, and the A's are hoping for more of the same.

The A's offense needs to get going, however, to help Blanton. They've scored only three runs in losing the first two games. Bobby Crosby hit his first homer of the year in Washington's 7-2 win on Wednesday, and Bobby Kielty added two hits in the game.

Washington's Jose Guillen finds himself in a 3-for-23 (.136) slump. He has yet to drive in a run during the month of June. Overall, Guillen is hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. Wednesday marked the first time the Nationals hit three home runs in a game at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-180 Washington Nationals

+160 Oakland Athletics

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: Washington will be more athletic than the Athletics. The Nationals will sweep the visiting Athletics, a sweet revenge after last year's Athletic sweep of the now defunct Expos. Washington to win by two runs.

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Technorati: Livan Hernandez, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Phillies try to finish off Rangers in style

2005-06-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Philles staff has dominated one of the American League's most potent lineups over the first two games. Phillies starter Vicente Padilla tries to continue that trend on Thursday as the Phillies try for a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.

Texas had never played the Phillies prior to this season, and hasn't had much fun so far. One of the American League's most potent lineups has been held to five runs in the first two games, including being shutout on Wednesday.

Right-hander Pedro Astacio, who has been up and down this year, appears to be up again. The veteran right-hander was a tough-luck loser his last time out at Kansas City. Despite working seven innings and allowing just two runs, Astacio suffered a 2-1 defeat. Like Padilla, he's been up and down this season.

The Rangers are hopeful that Astacio, a long-time National Leaguer, will thrive against NL competition and help give Texas a springboard into its weekend series at Florida.

The Rangers have had two days to get used to the nuances of Citizens Bank Park. Astacio has seen enough to know that a pitcher had better keep the ball down if he's going to avoid surrendering a siege of long balls in the Philadelphia ballpark.

Padilla will be facing the Rangers for the first time in his career. He's pitched well in two of his past three outings, but has been too inconsistent to predict. His breaking pitches have improved, but not to the point where he can rely on them. He's coming off an outing in which he allowed one run in five innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rangers catcher Rod Barajas appears to be warming up with the bat. Barajas was the only Rangers player to have two hits on Wednesday and lifted his average to .240. The Rangers lead the Majors with 90 home runs and 316 runs scored. The Rangers are now 69-76 overall against the National League.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-130 Philadelphia Phillies

+110 Texas Rangers

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The law of averages have caught the Rangers. Texas is used to scoring runs but in their series against Philly, the Rangers are now groping for form. The Phillies will end their series like the way they started it. Phillies to sweep the Rangers by a run or two.

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Technorati: Bobby Abreu, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Red Sox count on wishing 'Wells' to avoid series sweep

2005-06-08T02:29:00.000-07:00

The Boston Red Sox know all about sweeps after disposing of the St. Louis Cardinals in four games in last year's World Series. Now Boston will try to avoid a three-game sweep in St. Louis with David Wells taking the mound on Wednesday.

Although a regular-season sweep of the world champion Red Sox could never heal the sting of being swept in the World Series, the Cardinals will at least try and dull that pain with a win on Wednesday night.

A win would give the Cardinals a sweep of the much-anticipated rematch between the two clubs in a game that will be televised on National TV. What is most remarkable about the series so far is the way the Cardinals have won. They have done so with relative ease, outscoring the Red Sox, 16-3, in the first two games.

Leading the Red Sox in their quest will be veteran left-hander David Wells, who has started to pitch better over his last two starts. A quality start is just the remedy the Sox need as Tim Wakefield and Matt Clement were both ineffective in the last two games.

However, the Boston bats will have a tough task as they go against Chris Carpenter, a solid right-hander. Jim Edmonds is hitting .313 with seven RBIs against Wells. He also has homered in four of his last five games at Busch Stadium.

Sox catcher Jason Varitek looks primed to get hot after going 3-for-3 with a homer on Tuesday. The Sox have lost seven of their last nine games on the road.

The series may be one-sided in the box score, but it has been anything but boring with new subplots seemingly popping up every night. On Tuesday night, with the game well in the bag for the Cardinals in the seventh inning, two pitchers were ejected for throwing at batters.

Red Sox reliever Matt Mantei hit two batters and was tossed after hitting Larry Walker. That drew a roar of boos from the sellout crowd and a few players from each bench ran out to the field. The next inning the Cardinals returned the favor when reliever Al Reyes plunked Kevin Youkilis.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-160 St. Louis Cardinals

+140 Boston Red Sox

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Red Sox had enough of Cardinal beating. Now is the time to show the form that took them to the MLB pennant last year. Red Sox will avoid a sweep by winning game three. Boston by more than two runs.

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Technorati: David Wells, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Slumping D-Rays hope to rebound vs Reds in Cincy

2005-06-08T02:26:00.000-07:00

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hope to rebound from Tuesday's loss to the Cincinnati Reds as they send right-handed pitcher Doug Waechter to the mound against lefy Eric Milton in the second of three Interleague games at Great American Ball Park.

The first round of the Interleague battle of last-place teams went to the NL Central Division-trailing Reds on Monday night. They stormed back from a 6-1 third-inning deficit to grab a 9-7 win over the Devil Rays, who are last in the AL East.

The Reds can make it two in a row over the Rays and earn their seventh win in their last nine home games when the two teams meet in the second game of the three-game series tonight at Great American Ball Park.

Ken Griffey Jr., who extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single and his 510th career homer on Tuesday, will match Mel Ott for 18th place on the career home run list with his next shot. Two will give him a tie for 16th with Eddie Matthews and Ernie Banks.

Reds starter Eric Milton, who leads Major League pitchers in home runs allowed, will try to build on his last outing in homer-happy Coors Field. He yielded just one roundtripper, though he still suffered his fifth loss in his last six starts.

The pitching woes go a long way towards explaining the two teams' last-place standings in their respective divisions. The Devil Rays are last in the American League in numerous categories, including runs allowed and walks issued.

The Devil Rays are in the midst of 21 straight games against teams below .500 and will be looking to improve their 4-24 road record against the last place Reds. The club will be searching for their first road series win since last year's finale at Detroit.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-135 Cincinnati Reds

+115 Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: 2-0 for the Reds in Cincy. The Rays won't recover from their game one setback and will continue to swing air rather than balls. Griffey will hit a homer in this game. Cincy by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Ken Griffey Jr., MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Milwaukee's brewing for a Yankee sweep

2005-06-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

The New York Yankees' longest road trip of the year was supposed to be a chance for the Bronx Bombers to get away from the craziness of a Boston Red Sox or New York Mets series, settle down and win some ballgames.

Instead, the 12-game journey has turned into a nightmare, as the Yanks have lost seven of the first eight contests. Wednesday night, New York will take the field hoping to avoid its second three-game sweep in just over a week as it tries to salvage the final game against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

The Brewers have made good on the first two games of the series, cashing in on the big crowds and the natural intrigue of playing the storied ballclub, most recently via 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

Chris Capuano will look to continue a string of solid performances when he takes the hill against right-hander Mike Mussina. After logging a 1.94 ERA over six starts in May, Capuano opened the new month by allowing two runs on five hits in six innings to beat Los Angeles on June 3.

Mussina, meanwhile, has allowed 11 earned runs over nine innings in his past two starts after giving up eight in his previous five (35 innings). Mussina is looking to break his personal two-game losing streak.

Milwaukee's Carlos Lee has only six hits in 30 at-bats against Mussina, but he does have two doubles and five RBIs. Current Brewers are a collective 13-for-74 (.176) against the right-hander.

New York has scored more than three runs just once in the past 10 games, losing all nine contests in which it was held to three runs or fewer. For the season, the Yankees are 0-22 when plating fewer than four runs in a game.

The Yankees are hitless in their past 25 at-bats with the bases loaded, the longest such streak by an American League team since the designated hitter was introduced in 1973. The Yankees are 1-7 on their 12-game road trip. Alex Rodriguez needs two home runs to reach 400 in his career.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-138 New York Yankess

+115 Milwaukee Brewers

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Bronx Bombers will unleash their frustrations in the third and final game. There'll be no sweep for the Brew's Crew. NY will steal the series finale by winning the third game by more than two runs.

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Technorati: Alex Rodriguez, MLB Betting, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Baseball Betting, Baseball Tips

Twins head to Grand Canyon state to face D-Backs

2005-06-07T01:53:00.000-07:00

Brad Radke will be the first Minnesota Twins pitcher to wield a bat this season in the opener of a three-game Interleague series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Twins will face Shawn Estes in their first visit to a National League ballpark in '05.

The Twins are coming off a series win against the Yankees and have won seven of their last 10 games. They are 3-3 in their history against the Diamondbacks, and won two out of three games in last season's series in Arizona.

The Diamondbacks enter the series with the heart of their order - Luis Gonzalez, Tony Clark and Green - coming off a very potent game on Monday. Green snapped an 0-for-8 slump with a first-inning triple, while Gonzalez had a torrid series against Philadelphia, going 10-for-14. Clark has a 10-game hitting streak, after picking up a single in the Diamondbacks' five-run first on Monday.

Following the three-game set with Arizona, the Twins will travel to Chavez Ravine for a weekend series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The teams will meet during the 40th anniversary season of their 1965 World Series, which the Dodgers won in seven games.

The Giants (June 14-16) and Padres (June 17-19) will play at the Metrodome for the first time in their histories. The Twins will finish their 18-game Interleague season with a three-game series against regional rival Milwaukee at Miller Park (June 24-26).

Arizona manager Bob Melvin broached the possibility of Greg Aquino rejoining the team during the homestand, giving some stability to the bullpen, as well as possibly giving them a reliable closer.

The Diamondbacks broke their longest losing streak of the season when they handed the Philadelphia Phillies a 10-8 setback on Monday. Arizona gave Brandon Webb a 5-0 lead before he took the mound, highlighted by Shawn Green's three-run triple, and snapped its five-game skid. Royce Clayton had two RBI singles and Jose Cruz Jr. went deep as the visitors headed home on a high note.

Sports Betting Game Odds from: BODOG

Spread:

-125 Minnesota Twins

+105 Arizona Diamondbacks

Total (Over/Under): N/A

Prediction: The Twins will receive a Grand Canyon beating from the Diamondbacks. Arizona's G-force will lead the charge. D-backs will score early and that will prove to be insurmountable for the Twins. Arizona to win by a run or two.

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