April 18th...1st of '05

[EXTRAPOLATER]

Back in the ring to take another swing.

Fifth year with off-shores, now. Got in just in time to cash in on my confidence in the Ravens defense once the NFL playoffs started ... still some of my sweetest gambling memories. I have been following baseball, religiously (many seasons on a daily basis), for the past 22or23 seasons now, since about the first time I saw a baseball card price guide, which was back in 1982. For each of the past 5 years--true story--I have been up 3,4, even 500% on my money. Alas, another true story is that last year was the first time I posted an OVERALL profit for the entire baseball campaign; my money management has been as atrocious in gambling as it has been in most of my other endeavours. Still, a modest 100% return on my investment, for '04 (80 units in, 160 out), was encouraging.

While my wagers will undoubtedly vary somewhat from my posts, as, no doubt, most posters could attest to, I am in for 50 units to start, here, and will add only another 50, if needed, and no sooner than the all-star break. I'd like to say that my withdrawel schedule includes me picking up the phone to the man at 75 units, but such, alas, is not set in stone; discouraging.

Rock n Roll

 

[MadJack]

good luck this season and nice to see you back!

 

[EXTRAPOLATER]

quickie thoughts

--Never thought very highly of Ohka and Marlins have seen him once already this year; Willis has been outstanding and shouldn't suffer a meltdown from overuse until later in the season
--Ishii has been solid though historically rather wild; Wolf has been better at home until the past couple of seasons; Phillies bats have the edge
--is Mulder for un real, so far?...I'm a spectator 'cuz of it; Williams, though, was probably pretending in his last start; Cards killed lefties last year
--Wood is not tempting until he shuts down a better club than Brewers; Belisle might give Reds 5 or 6 quality innings
--Perez has looked great; Capuano has been decent; scary concept, but Dodgers bats have probably been overachieving so far
--Hudson has shined; Clemens has been unreal; only problem with under seems to be ballpark and unknown umpire
--Webb(2 GS) and Chacon(1 GS) have both looked good; Rockies bats have not; D'Backs another club that has maybe overachieved, offensively, so far (without tons of runs to show for it)
--I put Tomko in the Ohka camp--does not impress me; Peavy was, and is, hot-hot-hot; Pads look like most likely winners in the NL, but line reflects it

--game just started, but I avoided the temptation on my Jays--Schilling is an X-factor right now, and so is Bush, who has, so far, performed great vs the tougher opponents; Jays bats also overachieving
--Johnson is a good candidate for poundage each time out; Bedard is a decent lefty, but has faced no competition yet...not much here, either; Orioles bats have decent edge
--Hendrickson and Wright are both very unpredictable; Yankees bats have monster edge but Lou will undoubtedly be looking to grab at least one win in his old stomping grounds--this game could be his best shot
--Lohse and Contreras are also unpredictable; I think the Chisox have overachieved thus far, but not the scariest division, unless the Twins scare you (beyond Santana, that is)
--Haren has outpitched Mulder so far, but that won't last; Chan can go, if I were pitching coach--only 1 HR allowed, so far, in his first 12 IP--that could very well triple today; Rangers bats may finally be waking up
--Cliff has been a stiff for Cleveland; Greinke has been stellar--many teamates claim that watching him develop gives them hope, making me think that they play harder for him
--Sele has been better than Byrd so far, but they are equivalent C+ pitchers (so to speak); Mariners bats look improved over last year (not saying tons, maybe), while Angels bats look somewhat weaker than last year

Plays
-------
marlins 1.45/1
braves@Astros un 8 .6/.5
ariz@Rockies un 12.5 .6/.5
Pads -1.5 1/1.2
Orioles 1.4/1
Royals 1.65/1.5

Total Risk 6.7 units

Make money, but, more importantly,
enjoy life.

 

[EXTRAPOLATER]

Thanks Jack

Keep up the good work