We are in the midst of interleague play in baseball. For the next couple of weeks all but one game will involve a National League team playing one from the American League, with the rules of the home team being enforced. I absolutely hate interleague play. Baseball is a game of beautiful traditions, and one that should be completely and absolutely above shameful gimmicks like interleague plays. Seeing things like the two Chicago teams or the two New York squads play is mildly amusing, but it isn’t worth all of the disruption and meaningless matchups that the rest of interleague play creates for us. Those classic matchups become less and less compelling each time they are played as well – a subway series World Series wouldn’t be the novelty it was last time we saw it now that the teams play every year. If I had my way I would not only end interleague play immediately, but also purge the records of every one of the stupid games that has ever been played.
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Month: June 2010
Stephen Strasburg has captured all of the headlines and imagination recently, and he should – his first outing was special in an incomprehensible way. He’s the poster child for the youth movement on the mound these days, but he’s far from the only young guy who is doing some damage against opposing teams. Young pitchers are really paying off at the betting window as well – eight of the 25 most profitable starters who have had at least seven starts this season are under the age of 25, and two more are 25. It seems like it used to take a few years for pitchers to find their stride and settle into the role of strong starter, but guys these days are just jumping out of the gates. Beyond the profitable pitchers there are young guys tearing it up – Tim Lincecum had two Cy Youngs by 25, and David Price is leading the AL in wins at 25.
Boston won back-to-back games for the first time this series and the teams are headed to Los Angeles for Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers have to win both, and they have shown in this postseason that they are capable of dominating at home. They are 9-1 in home games in the 2010 playoffs, and they are looking to add two more wins to this record.
Aces are wild in a rematch of last year’s World Series tonight in the Bronx
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
Philadelphia stumbles into this rematch of the 2009 World Series with a discouraging 8-16 mark since May 17, which is the second-worst record in the National League over that span. The offense has averaged just 2.5 runs per game over the timeframe, which is actually the worst in baseball. 2B Chase Utley will look to break out of a long slump, managing to produce just a .153 average and no home runs since May 20. The Phillies have historically had problems during interleague play and its no different this year. Philadelphia is 2-4 (-310) against the American League this season and 18-32 (-1,790) over the last three years. The club is also a disappointing 5-9 (-1,020) against left-handed starters, after going 72-50 (+700) versus southpaws the past three years.
Continue reading “Tuesday MLB Betting Feature – Phillies at Yankees”
The Rays have come out of their little slump, when they lost eight of 13 games. They have won five of their last eight and still seem to be the team to beat. Rookie catcher John Jaso has provided some unexpected offense, hitting .307 and getting on base a lot.
Austin signs tender with Cowboys
Pro Bowl wide receiver Miles Austin signed his $3.16 million tender with the Dallas Cowboys Friday. Austin had a breakout season in 2009, catching 81 passes for 1,320 yards. He scored 11 touchdowns for the Cowboys. He caught only 13 passes for 278 yards in 2008.
Wow! What a week in college football. Three teams have already announced their moves to a new conference, and more will follow. And it looks like the Big 12 will fall apart in the aftermath of Nebraska’s move.
Continue reading “College Football Weekly Recap Jun 7th – 13th”
The Angels return home after a successful 11-3 road trip and continue interleague play against the visiting Brewers.
Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Angels
Milwaukee continues its 15-game interleague schedule tonight with the first of three games at Los Angeles. The Brewers are 86-104 all-time during interleague play, including 2-4 this season (-180) and 5-10 last season. Tonight’s contest is the Brewers’ first game against the Angels since the team took two of three games in Anaheim in 2004. The club managed to post an even 3-3 record on its recent homestand despite managing just a .125 (6-for-48) batting average with runners in scoring position. One player that has carried the offense is outfielder Corey Hart, hitting 14 home runs in his last 28 games, tops in the majors over that span. The Brewers bullpen has been much better of late, posting a 2.96 ERA over its last eight games.
Continue reading “Monday MLB Betting Preview – Brewers at Angels”
The Cubs look to avoid being swept by their cross-town rivals on national television.
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
The Chicago White Sox have won four straight games and five of their last six as they continue a nine-game, 10-day road trip. It’s only helped to have starting pitchers Jake Peavy, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle scheduled to throw in this series, as the three have combined to go 34-15 with a 3.25 ERA in interleague play. “We’re getting the good pitching and timely hitting,” White Sox outfielder Juan Pierre said following Saturday’s 2-1 victory. The lineup is filled with hitters that have been Cubs’ killers in the past, including OF Mark Kotsay batting .405 in his last 10 games against the club and OF Alex Rios being a red-hot 11-for-16 with six RBI in his last four. The team continues its winning ways against the National League, currently having a 4-1 record this year (+340), after going 12-6 in 2009.
Continue reading “ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Betting Preview – White Sox at Cubs”
Zig-zagging along. The Lakers and Celtics keep trading wins, and Boston’s latest victory came courtesy of “Big Baby”. Davis scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics tied the series with a 96-89 win Thursday night in Boston.
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