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08/25/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only a monumental collapse or some gypsy curse over the next few weeks can derail the San Diego Padres in their quest for a third division title since 2005.
The Padres won the NL West five years ago and shared the title with Los Angeles the following season. The 2006 campaign was also the last time they reached the playoffs.
Great pitching can be attributed to San Diego's surprising success this year. A little help too from All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has the division leaders sitting 5 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco.
Will Venable became the latest star at the plate on Tuesday and clubbed a two- run homer in a 5-0 win over rival Arizona.
"[Heading into the] end of August and coming into September, it's time to grind it out and there can't be any letdowns," Venable told MLB.com after San Diego matched last season's win total at 75.
San Diego (75-49) clinched a seventh straight month of winning baseball with last night's win. Including this current series with the Diamondbacks, the Padres will face division opponents eight times until the end of the regular season.
On a bullpen note, Padres closer Heath Bell has converted each of his last 24 save chances and is first in the National League with 37 on the season. San Diego's bullpen has the best ERA in the majors at 2.82.
WILL MANNY STAY OR WILL HE GO?
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez has played two games since returning from the disabled list, but are his days in Dodger blue over?
Ramirez is rumored to be placed on waivers sometime this week, and both the White Sox and Rays are allegedly interested in his services.
"I don't think it's anything different than [what] goes on in July with all the rumors that fly around in July about trade possibilities," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said on the team's site. "I don't see any concern."
Ramirez hasn't been much of a contributor this season as evidenced by his eight homers and 39 runs batted in. He is, however, batting .306, but it hasn't been enough to keep the ballclub within striking distance of a playoff spot. Los Angeles is 6 1/2 games off the wild card lead and 12 games behind San Diego in the NL West.
LA (64-62) has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games and will face a tough stretch after this current series in Milwaukee. Torre's club will visit Colorado before hosting the Phillies and Giants, while the Padres are scheduled to welcome the Dodgers to Petco Park from Sept. 6-8.
In other team news for Los Angeles, starting pitcher Chad Billingsley has been pushed back until Saturday at the Rockies because of a mild calf injury. According to Torre on the club's website, the right-hander probably could take the hill on Thursday in Milwaukee, but needs the extra rest.
SLUG LINE: GIANTS HOPE BATS STAY HOT BY THE BAY
The additions of Pat Burrell and Jose Guillen were excellent, but they didn't come into focus in San Francisco's 16-5 win over Cincinnati last night.
Instead rookie Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Juan Uribe and Freddy Sanchez each played longball for a club that has outscored the Reds, 27-7, so far over the first two portions of a three-game series. Sandoval has hit safely in 12 of the last 17 games, batting .313 with five homers and 12 RBI in that span.
"Panda's back," Giants outfielder Andres Torres said of his teammate. "You've seen how his swing is, and that's the Panda that I know. He's amazing. He hits the ball really hard, that's how he hits the ball. And not just him, the team, it's been everybody. It's been fun."
The power display enabled the Giants to pull even with Philadelphia atop the National League Wild Card standings, while St. Louis is a game behind. San Diego won as well last night and still leads the NL West by 5 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco, which is embroiled in an easy homestand versus the Reds, Diamondbacks and Rockies.
San Francisco (71-56) must not overlook its opponents on this residency because it will hit the road for 10 games against the Dodgers, D'Backs and Padres. Meanwhile, Cody Ross earned his first start as a Giant Tuesday, finishing with two hits, a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Ross was acquired from Florida and joins a jumbled, but talented, outfield by the Bay.
"They're all going to play and if they're not starting they're probably going to be in there," Giants skipper Bruce Bochy said of the outfielders.
ROCKIES' PLAYOFF HOPES ON LIFE SUPPORT
The playoff fate of the Colorado Rockies could be decided within the next week in matchups against the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies and Padres.
At five games off the final postseason berth in the National League, Colorado (65-60) must get solid pitching out of its starters, most notably Cy Young candidate Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez has lost two of his last three starts and is only 2-3 with a 4.04 earned run average in his last seven outings.
Jimenez is tied with CC Sabathia (Yankees) and Adam Wainwright (Cardinals) for the league lead in wins with 17, and was denied his 18th victory of the season last Saturday in a 3-1 loss to the lowly Diamondbacks.
"I made a lot of mistakes in the whole game and they just made me pay in those two pitches," said Jimenez, who is trying to become the first Rockies pitcher in team history with 18 wins in a season. "I was trying to be there for my team, throw strikes and get hitters out. I wish every time I go out there I can throw a shutout but it's not like that."
The hard-throwing right-hander isn't scheduled to pitch again until August 27 against the Dodgers. Jason Hammel is next on the team in wins with an 8-7 mark, while NL MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez just became the seventh player in team history with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season.
Colorado has won three in a row and will shoot for a three-game sweep of the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves Wednesday at Coors Field.
D'BACKS READY TO END DISAPPOINTING CAMPAIGN
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been in existence since 1998 and suffered through their worst season in 2004, when the club ended 51-111.
Arizona is headed for another downtrodden season in 2010 and currently sports a dismal 49-77 record. It has lost two straight and six of its last eight games, including the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday from Petco Park.
Young prospect Ryan Roberts was recalled from Triple-A Reno this week and did not impress last night, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.
"He went down to Reno and did a good job. It's his time. It's his job to go out and prove he belongs on the 2011 roster," Arizona interim general manager Jerry Dipoto said on the team's site before Roberts went hitless in San Diego.
Justin Upton had a hit and three walks for Arizona last night and has reached base via a hit or walk in six straight games, batting .381 over that stretch. Adam LaRoche struck out three times in four at-bats, however, after entering the game batting .304 over his last 12 contests.
Arizona will visit rival San Francisco over the weekend.
<< Kroenke becomes majority owner of Rams
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Rams announced on Wednesday
that E. Stanley Kroenke has become the majority owner of the club.
The decision was made via a vote by the rest of the league's owners at a
meeting in Atlanta.
"St
<< FIBA World Basketball Championship Preview - Group D
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
Country: Canada
FIBA Ranking: 19
Head Coach: Leo Rautins
Key Players: Joel Anthony, Andy Rautins
Overview: It's been sometime since Canada has made an impact on the world
stage and since the de
<< FCD producing positive results under Hyndman
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Suddenly FC Dallas is looking like a legitimate contender
in Major League Soccer under head coach Schellas Hyndman.
That hasn't always been the case since the long-time Southern Methodist
University coach took ove
<< FIBA World Basketball Championship Preview - Group C
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
Country: China
FIBA Ranking: 9
Head Coach: Bob Donewald
Key Players: Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhizhi, Sun Yue
Overview: China will be without the services of superstar Yao Ming as he
continues to battl
Jaguars ink RB Kolby Smith >>
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running
back Kolby Smith, the club announced on Wednesday.
Smith, 25, joins the Jaguars following a brief stint with Denver. The 5-
foot-11, 219-pounder was signe
Could be a wide-open Open >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2010 U.S. Open will get underway in
less than a week, and this year's fields appear to be a bit more wide open
than usual.
We already know we'll have a new men's champion next month, as 2009 winner
Ju
Vikings acquire WR Camarillo from Dolphins >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly
acquired wide receiver Greg Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Dolphins got cornerback Benny
Sapp in return.
M
Carlos Eduardo leaves Hoffenheim for Rubin Kazan >>
Sinsheim, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoffenheim midfielder Carlos Eduardo
completed a move to Russian champions Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Brazilian has spent the past three seasons with Hoffenheim,
scoring 13 goals i
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
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