It is a bit late and Jack is still out I think so here are my plays for today.
8/26/01 Update
2001 MLB Record: 120-124-1, +7231
2001 NFLX Record: 5-5, -95
Yesterday: 2-0 MLB, +1000; 1-2 NFL -110
8/26 MLB Plays:
I am most likely done with NFL preseason for the year. My profound apologies to anyone who jumped on the overs yesterday. It was just one of those fluke days that happens sometimes. You can go back five years (how long I have been following that trend) and see overs hitting at over 60% on this weekend. The first five games this weekend even went over. But last night was a total debacle. My personal loss was not severe, but I fear that my touting of the overs may have led to some other people getting creamed.
The bright side is that both of my MLB plays came in with ease. Today I have a season high five MLB plays. Those of you who follow my plays know that I am a very conservative person when it comes to the number of plays I make. Today, however, there just happened to be a large number of games that looked solid. We shall see how this pans out.
PITTSBURGH +150 over Houston 500/750
Villone starts for Houston. This virtually assures five innings or less and at least three, likely four runs. Williams is a very solid lefty going for Pittsburgh. The Astros offense is struggling because Alou is in a major 1-17 slump. Certainly Houston has the better bullpen and the incentive of a playoff race, but I will take the hotter hitting team playing at home with a sizable starting pitching advantage.
CUBS +100 over Cardinals 500/500
Cruz has phenomenal stuff. He looked great in his debut. The Cubs are finally hitting the ball as well, which makes them a dangerous team. Hermanson gave up a lot of hits last time out even though he got the win in a wild game. He looks to be struggling right now as he only had one strikeout last time out. Cubs have the better bullpen as well and home field. They should pick up a game on the Astros today.
MILWAUKEE -106 over Colorado 530/500
The Brewers have really feasted on lefties recently and Hampton has struggled. Quevedo just has super stuff. He has been unstoppable his last two times out and there are no signs that he would be any different today. The Brewers have the far superior bullpen and Ray King is now rested so facing lefties late should be no problem. Both lineups are comparable so pitching and home field goes to the Brewers.
Minnesota -133 over Kansas City 665/500
Radke was decent in his first game back from injury. What I liked is that he was really only touched int he first inning, which indicates that it was more rust than his stuff being off. Stein is pitching well but this Royals team is in disarray. Every arm out of the pen besides Grimsley and Hernandez are suspect. Sweeney is still out and they have other injuies as well. Minnesota also has the incentive of a playoff race.
Detroit +160 over OAKLAND 500/800
Weaver completely shut these guys down last time he faced them. Lidle is a decent pitcher, but Detroit hits righties okay. Detroit has the better bullpen as Tam, Mecir and Isringhausen are somewhat inconsistent while Patterson and Anderson almost always do the job in the eighth and ninth when given a lead. Oakland is also slumping badly right now, having lost four of five at home with only Zito picking up wins.
8/26 NFL Plays: PASS
I will most likely pass on the last week of the exhibition season.
MONDAY:
Oakland -6.5 / 34.5 vs. Dallas (a Estadia Azteca en Mexico, D.F.)
You know, I probably should somehow understand this line, but I just don't. Oakland barely beat Dallas, won, but failed to cover against Arizona and then lost to Frisco. Yet they are touchdown faves against the Cowboys. I think the crowd will be strongly pro-Dallas unless half of Los Angeles decides to make the trip down (did you know that Los Angeles has the second largest population of Mexicans in the world after Mexico, D.F.? And all of them are Raider fans.) I will probably pass on this one based on the uncertainty at quarterback for Dallas.
8/26/01 Update
2001 MLB Record: 120-124-1, +7231
2001 NFLX Record: 5-5, -95
Yesterday: 2-0 MLB, +1000; 1-2 NFL -110
8/26 MLB Plays:
I am most likely done with NFL preseason for the year. My profound apologies to anyone who jumped on the overs yesterday. It was just one of those fluke days that happens sometimes. You can go back five years (how long I have been following that trend) and see overs hitting at over 60% on this weekend. The first five games this weekend even went over. But last night was a total debacle. My personal loss was not severe, but I fear that my touting of the overs may have led to some other people getting creamed.
The bright side is that both of my MLB plays came in with ease. Today I have a season high five MLB plays. Those of you who follow my plays know that I am a very conservative person when it comes to the number of plays I make. Today, however, there just happened to be a large number of games that looked solid. We shall see how this pans out.
PITTSBURGH +150 over Houston 500/750
Villone starts for Houston. This virtually assures five innings or less and at least three, likely four runs. Williams is a very solid lefty going for Pittsburgh. The Astros offense is struggling because Alou is in a major 1-17 slump. Certainly Houston has the better bullpen and the incentive of a playoff race, but I will take the hotter hitting team playing at home with a sizable starting pitching advantage.
CUBS +100 over Cardinals 500/500
Cruz has phenomenal stuff. He looked great in his debut. The Cubs are finally hitting the ball as well, which makes them a dangerous team. Hermanson gave up a lot of hits last time out even though he got the win in a wild game. He looks to be struggling right now as he only had one strikeout last time out. Cubs have the better bullpen as well and home field. They should pick up a game on the Astros today.
MILWAUKEE -106 over Colorado 530/500
The Brewers have really feasted on lefties recently and Hampton has struggled. Quevedo just has super stuff. He has been unstoppable his last two times out and there are no signs that he would be any different today. The Brewers have the far superior bullpen and Ray King is now rested so facing lefties late should be no problem. Both lineups are comparable so pitching and home field goes to the Brewers.
Minnesota -133 over Kansas City 665/500
Radke was decent in his first game back from injury. What I liked is that he was really only touched int he first inning, which indicates that it was more rust than his stuff being off. Stein is pitching well but this Royals team is in disarray. Every arm out of the pen besides Grimsley and Hernandez are suspect. Sweeney is still out and they have other injuies as well. Minnesota also has the incentive of a playoff race.
Detroit +160 over OAKLAND 500/800
Weaver completely shut these guys down last time he faced them. Lidle is a decent pitcher, but Detroit hits righties okay. Detroit has the better bullpen as Tam, Mecir and Isringhausen are somewhat inconsistent while Patterson and Anderson almost always do the job in the eighth and ninth when given a lead. Oakland is also slumping badly right now, having lost four of five at home with only Zito picking up wins.
8/26 NFL Plays: PASS
I will most likely pass on the last week of the exhibition season.
MONDAY:
Oakland -6.5 / 34.5 vs. Dallas (a Estadia Azteca en Mexico, D.F.)
You know, I probably should somehow understand this line, but I just don't. Oakland barely beat Dallas, won, but failed to cover against Arizona and then lost to Frisco. Yet they are touchdown faves against the Cowboys. I think the crowd will be strongly pro-Dallas unless half of Los Angeles decides to make the trip down (did you know that Los Angeles has the second largest population of Mexicans in the world after Mexico, D.F.? And all of them are Raider fans.) I will probably pass on this one based on the uncertainty at quarterback for Dallas.
