MLB Spring Exhibition games

2 games I'm playing today.

Brewers at White Sox. Guys are getting sent down and this game holds some travel advantage for the Sox playing in Tucson. Getting better price than any other books on the net.

CHI -112 for 2 units(W)

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Devil Rays at Reds. I don't need to say much about this match up do I? Tampa Bay has shown very little in the spring. Kind of expensive, but Reds should win hands down.

CIN -146 for 1 unit(W)

2-0 +3.00 units

Tuesday MLB Houston vs Atlanta

This looks like a good card for today's exhibition game at Kissimmee, Florida.
Astros take a short trip to The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to meet up with Atlanta Braves. Pitchers are having longer outing as players are getting sent down.
On the mound Hudson for Braves and Oswalt for Astros. Taking the Stros as the visiting dog.

HOU +111 for 2 units(W)

Astros come up big!
1-0 +2.22 units

MLB Saturday

Yankees travel to Brandenton today to face Paul Maholm and the Pirates. I think Maholm is headed for a winning 2007 season. He will face Kei Igawa who is known as a slow starter. Igawa is not pitching like he was in Japan during his Hashin Tiger days. He was a mid 85~86 mph fastball guy with good change up to keep the hitters off balance. Now he is throwing harder in the 90's and pitching off balance, according to Posada. I would attribute that to Igawa trying to impress his new team doing more than he should. Until he settles down I expect more of the same type of outing in his last game, hard time hitting the strike zone.
I've also learned Yankees will be without Giambi, Jeter and Matsui today.

PIT ML +116 for 1 unit

Friday Grapefruit League

Have not seen the line up, but from Ft. Myers to Clearwater is a good travel distance and Boston playing NL team after a split squad game yesterday. I think Phillies have the edge at home.

PHL ML -115 for 1 unit(L)

0-1 -1.15 units

Wednesday Grapefruit League

Finally the Twins will be at home playing the Grapefruit league. I'd like to see the Twins turn it up a notch here as they face the National league Pirates. Getting a decent ML with Twins is a good value in my view.

MIN -118 for 1 unit(L)

Wow, got moosed in grapefruit game.
0-1 -1.18 units

Grapefruit League

I've got to watch couple of Yankee games, one at Legends field and another at Progressive Energy field, my feeling is the projected line up is not quite up to to their potential. I was expecting Yankees to run up the score against the D-Rays, but Shields did a pretty good job.
A-Rod doesn't seem to be up to speed and Matsui doesn't seem to be up to speed. The Pitchers are looking pretty impressive though. If I was feeling bit more daring I would go against the Yanks and take a shot with visiting Pirates today, I think you can get the Bucs at +150 or so, but it looks like good chance of rain and I have not seen Mussina on the mound. Going against the National League at Legends field today Torre might mix the line up a bit and give some of the young guys a chance to play. That means good value for the visiting Bucs with short distance travel from Brandenton. One advantage I do have being in Tampa is I'll get a peak at the starting line up when it first comes out unfortunately I'm not going to carry my computer around so at this point this game is a no play. Too bad there's no totals for the games out NYY games have been low scoring for the first two games which is unusual for March games and very likely to erupt soon.

Another come from behind win for the Yanks second game in a row! The rain did come, but it didn't stop the game. I'll be looking forward to the match up with Detroit Tigers on Monday when the new Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa takes the mound. Tomorrow's game will feature Pavano on the mound for the Yanks on the away game, but no wager here as it looks like a split squad will go on the road trip.

Legends Fields where the grass is Greener

Today was the first day of live batting practice. Chilly weather has turned around and finally it's starting to feel like spring. No Bernie Williams at Yankees camp I guess he's rejecting minor league offer as non roster invitee. Roger Clemens sighting was reported at Astro's camp I've heard he's working out with his son. Boston camp is a total media circus.
It's not like I have some kind of insight just because I'm here in Florida, but it sure is fun.
Live batting practice will give future speculation into upcoming exhibition games with some tell tale signs as to who will be pitching when. It'll be an educated guess nothing else besides who can tell how these pitchers will perform. Oh yeah, Pavano threw some live ball as well as Pettite and Moose. The hot prospect for the Yanks pitching staff will be young Hughes. I'll be back with the other pitchers tomorrow.

Smell the Grass....No, I'm talking Baseball

It's a cool Feb. night here in Tampa, Florida. Pitchers and Catchers will be reporting soon. I'll be checking in on Yankees camp and few other places within driving distance. My interest will be with Yanks pitching hopefully there's telling tales in the spring for what will come in the summer. Days will warm up and it should be fun.

CARIBBEAN DREAMS 2007

Here we are 13 days away from Pitchers and Catchers reporting to camp, but in the meantime Caribbean Series is about to start. We have Hermosillo representing Mexico, Gigantes will represent Puerto Rico, Aragua represents Venezuela, and Aguilas the Dominican.

Venezuela and Dominica comes in with momentum. These two teams will match up in the early game. Dominica boasts the big league talent, but Venezuela can roll with the best. Jose Lima expected to start for Dominica and I'm backing the high total to go
Over.

Under is taking in some money. That was expected with big number like this so don't panic, 6-4 or 6-5 type game is not unusual in the free flowing Caribbean.

Venezuela/Dominica Over 9.5 (L)

That was a good game, but no where close to going Over.

MLB 2007 is Coming Up!

Yes I am early, but Spring Training camp is almost here.

Let's consider some pedigree teams with value for 2007 World Series.

Twins +2000
A's +2000

Padres +3000
Braves +3500

I'll be watching these for now and see what develops.

The MLB Season is Over

And just like that I get the big moose job to close out the season. It was disappointing, but the 2006 season was not kind. Made a short run late in regular season and World Series was a good chance to make up ground with some momentum it was not in my cards. I guess my emotions got the best of me not even pulling a trigger on St Louis when I knew Tigers were barely afloat.
Well the rules of the trade is Never Look Back and I will move on.
I'll make my rounds at Arizona fall league, Asian series and Caribbean ball to sharpen my selections.

Yall come back and see me for MLB 2007 or if you've got the Basketball Jones come drop by Money Plays NBA.

No Play for me in St Louis

Tigers are at the edge. As much as I want them to get back to Detroit I can not back them here. Yes I'll watch the game and root for the Tigers, but that's about it. I may have a play if they stay alive nothing today.

Having technical problems with NBA blog. I'll be on T-Wolves, Bobcats and Kings tonight.

Another Bad Weather Day

This is not a game to take any early position.
Wait for better conditions.

Raining in St Louis

Starting to think they might try to get this game going with forcast getting worse the next two days. I don't like it, this game may not go full 9 innings if it gets going, make this a pass.

World Series game 3

Had to post this early as the line is moving fast.

Now it's Monday night the Moneyline at Pinnacle is down to Detroit +133, but being on the right side of fast money does not guarantee a win and there's been little movement today. I said this before, but underdog teams coming into the playoffs and reaching the World Series have historically been very tough to beat. LaRussa is making his move at home with his best guy Carpenter. The dropping total (now O/U 7.5 at Under -113, Over +103) tells the expectations of an pitching battle so that means Carpenter comes out of the gate sharp with no control issues and Robertson, a LHP with long rest, is expected to keep the Cards at bay. I have to factor Robertson with some questions because of the extended rest, but doubt he'll be good as Rogers and hope much sharper than Verlander. Carpenter looked good, but got out pitched in game 6 NLCS before that he didn't have good command throwing 92 pitches in 5 innings in game 2 NLCS no decision St Louis bats did the talking 9-6 in a rally win.
Robertson is similar giving up no runs to Oakland in game 1 ALCS before that he got knocked out by the Yankees.
It'll be a good game day. Sun will be out with some cloud coverage very little wind and temperature will be cool 53 degrees and dropping as game progresses. The value is still on the dogs and I predict a two run differential.

DET +147 for 2 units(L)
Carpenter at home was right on. Now the series is getting interesting.
0-1 -2.00 units

World Series game 2 redo

Lost another post.

For the record these were the published plays
STL/DET O4.5 First 5 innings +103 for 1 unit(L)
STL/DET O4 First 5 innings -116 for 2 units(L) (buy 0.5)

STL/DET IN GAME UNDER 5.5 -108 for 2 units(W) (bottom of 6th)

1-2 -1.32 units

World Series 2006

If you don't know the big loser for this match up is Fox Broadcasting with heavy wager on this World Series getting big ratings. Well that bet is a huge Underdog with the big market teams, named Yankees & Mets, out of this picture. The brain trusts of Fox wagered on New York/New York series or New York/Los Angeles series and basically lost. Now to minimize their losses the best hope is the series to go 7 games, fat chance. Maybe they'll be better off following my selections.

I'm already on Tigers taking the World Series and that was published long ago in late regular season.
For the first game of World Series I plan to take St. Louis Cardinals with rookie Reyes against the rested Detroit Tiger and Verlander. I'm playing into the long rest for Tigers having adverse effects coupled with Verlander not showing his top stuff in the Post Season, but I'm also weighing the impressive stretch of playoff Underdogs. Cinderella teams in post season making it to World Series have always played tough and there's bit more magic to the Cardinals than what I felt with Houston last year. I'm not looking to hedge the Tigers on the series it's a good play with value on the first game and public is all over Detroit today.

Stay tuned for my selection. Just looking for a spot to pull the trigger.

SLC +180 for 2 units(W)
1-0 +3.60 units

Game 7 NLCS *Redo

I'm sure there was a post here earlier? Did anyone see it?

I don't like the full game in Shea though Cardinals are my lean. I might take a unit wager if the price improves near game time, but my take will be on the First 5 innings to play the pitchers angle and fade Perez against Suppan.
Watching the line...

I'd like to hold off longer, but I can't without a chance of not making the window so taking it now.

SLC First 5 innings at +107 for 2 units(Push)
Did take Cardianls money line just before game, but not recording it with no post. My apologies to Perez, Willie Randolph and the New York Mets, they played to the last man loading the bases bottom of the 9th with Beltran at the plate the game was a coin flip.

Now the Tigers are the favorite for World Series, how about that.

Dog days of October to continue...

National League Championship Series 2-2

It's going to be a perfect baseball weather in October. I'll have my selection in awhile stay tuned.

Need a turn around tonight. The rain outs kill momentum and the momentum was with the bats in the last game. Good pitching condition to make this a tight game.

NYM/STL UNDER 9 at -102 for 2 units(W)
1-0 +2.00 units

Rain, Rain go away

It'll give me more time to tinker with the Cardinals and Metropolitans.