you?re a baseball fan, you?ve read all the publications, seen all the predictions. All the rosters, trades, free agent pickups and losses?they?re all there. Predictions of the division races, the playoffs and the World Series. They all tell you who will win. Finally, an article on who will win?the money!
Jay Martin is a professional gambler in Las Vegas and the owner of the Sports Information Network. He was the 1999 SportsNetwork Baseball Champion and the SportsPlays "Handicapper of the Year" 2000-2001. Baseball is a MAJOR strength at SIN, with Jay having won the SportsNetwork Baseball Championship in 2002, with MOST UNITS WON and BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE!! Get today?s winners at
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES (92-70) Don?t think it?s automatic to win the division this season. Mike Hampton is 7-1 vs Florida but 1-5 against Arizona, and won?t replace Millwood and Glavine. John Smoltz IS the bullpen. Greg Maddux is 0-5 vs Arizona. The left side of the infield is under construction, with 3B Mark DeRosa and 2B Marcus Giles. SS Rafael Furcal and CF Andruw Jones strikeout too much. Friday has been good to the Braves, sporting a 23-4 record. The Braves are just 1-8 at Ted Turner Field vs Arizona. Atlanta is 15-3 against the AL.
PHILADELPHIS PHILLIES (89-73) The Phils need to start better than 9-19, which dug them too big a hole. 1B Jim Thome and 3B David Bell will rock Veterans Stadium. Kevin Millwood, with a 9-0 record in August, and Randy Wolf, who is 3-9 in April, could BOTH win 20. Jose Mesa goes for third 40-save season, Carlos Silva is setup man. LF Pat Burrell hits 40 HR, too. In interleague play, the Phillies are 7-2 on the road vs the AL.
NEW YORK METS (88-72) Tom Glavine, who is 6-1 against Florida and 16-4 at Cincinnati, will be the ace over Al Leiter. Problems are not advancing runners and running poor when on base. C Mike Piazza is beat up. LF Cliff Floyd looks for a 30 HR/100 RBI season on a team with the worst outfield production in the NL in 2002. RF Jeromy Burnitz doesn?t cut it. Should a DH?er arise, the Mets are 13-2 in Game #2. Steve Trachsel is 6-21 in road day starts. P Pedro Astacio is 11-3 vs Florida. New York is 16-3 vs Milwaukee at Shea Stadium. The Mets can?t win at San Francisco, with an 0-10 record.
FLORIDA MARLINS (78-84) Look for the Fish to concentrate more on pitching without the luxury of a 30-homer player. The problem being that their starting three (A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett and Brad Penny) come off the DL. Did you know Florida led the majors in stolen bases last year? Brandon Looper CAN close. The Marlins are only 10-40 on the road Wednesday. Friday isn?t any better, as they are 3-22, away. A.J. Burnett is 6-0 in interleague play.
MONTREAL EXPOS (73-89) The Expos will have a 25-day road trip in June (including Puerto Rico) and 27 of their last 37 games away. Javier Vazquez and Tony Armas, Jr., who is 2-8 vs Florida, 3-10 in July, 0-6 against Florida and 2-12 UNDER in interleague play, will share the ace ?title? with Colon gone. 2B Jose Vidro hits .300 five years running. RF Vladimir Guerrero swings at everything and STILL hits. Montreal is only 16-45 on the road Sunday. The Expos are 4-14 vs San Diego. Success has come against Pittsburgh, with a 6-1 mark.
NL Central
ST LOUIS CARDINALS (91-71) 3B Scott Rolen gets a full season to carry team at Busch. RF J.D. Drew comes off knee surgery. Jason Isringhausen comes off offseason shoulder surgery. 1B Tino Martinez can?t hit lefties?watch for platooning. 2B Fernando Vina swings at the first pitch and average is dropping. Matt Morris is 9-1 in August. Mondays are fun, with a 13-1 mark at Busch. The Cards are 5-1 vs hated Kansas City. They OWN San Diego with a 19-2 record. Joey Hamilton is 9-2 vs Los Angeles.
HOUSTON ASTROS (90-72) Jeff Kent and the Killer B?s are built for Minute Maid Park. Wade Miller is 10-1 against Milwaukee and 5-0 away in the series, and Roy Oswalt, who?s 11-1 in August and 5-0 vs Cincinnati, lead the staff. Billy Wagner can save 40+ games this year with Octavio Dotel as setup man. How will 1B Jeff Bagwell come back from shoulder rehab? RF Richard Hildago is in a two-season slump. Peter Munro is 5-0 against Milwaukee.
CHICAGO CUBS (83-79) The Cubs are building for the future with their farm system (instead of trading it away). Patience isn?t a virtue in Chicago?the Cubs struck out 1,269 times. How can Mark Belhorn NOT start with 27 HR?s? OF Sammy Sosa hit .288, a drop of 40 points. Manager Dusty Baker has his hands full. Kerry Wood likes the night in Chicago, where he?s 8-2. P Matt Clement is 4-12 against Montreal. The Cubs hate St. Louis, where they are 3-17.
CINCINNATI REDS (80-82) CF Ken Griffey, Jr. is IN. The dimensions at the Great American Ballpark will lead to fewer HR?s?on a team that had the worst batting average with runners in scoring position. Chris Reitsma is 4-18 at home. Jimmy Haynes is 1-5 vs Houston. Reliever Scott Sullivan has led the Reds in games played five straight years, and it?s showing (elbow, shoulder). The Reds are 7-1 at Los Angeles. Interleague play shows Cincy at 2-10. Ryan Dempster is 12-3 in home day starts, 5-1 against the Mets but just 1-7 vs Atlanta and 0-5 vs San Francisco. Like most, they have success at Milwaukee with an 8-1 mark.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (72-90) The Bucs had the worst on-base percentage in the league in 2002. C Jason Kendall must regain his power stroke. Rotation of Kris Benson, Kip Wells and Josh Fogg shows promise. Mike Williams could get 50 saves. LF Brian Giles only player to hit over 18 HR?s last year. Thursday?s are bad days with an 8-31 mark, 3-24 on the road. Wednesday is no better at 4-20 on the road. The Pirates are 3-11 on turf. Pittsburgh is 15-4 against Milwaukee and 6-1 on the road. During interleague play, their record is just 3-9. And only 1-8 vs St. Louis.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (61-101) It?s eleven straight years under .500. 1B Richie Sexon WILL hit 40 HR, knock in 100. RF Jeffrey Hammonds didn?t homer after July. LF Geoff Jenkins comes off an ankle injury?is .300 and 30 HR?s possible? Reliever Mike DeJean converts most saves, again. The Brew Crew is 5-32 on the road Wednesday. Glendon Rusch is 0-6 vs Pittsburgh, 0-5 against Atlanta, but 7-1 against the Cubs. P Ben Sheets, who could be the ace, is 5-0 against the Cubs. The Brewers are just 2-10 vs the AL.
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (90-72) The D-Backs have Randy Johnson, 14-0 against Milwaukee, 6-0 against Florida, 11-1 vs San Diego, 7-1 vs Colorado and 7-1 against Philadelphia, Curt Schilling, 5-0 against San Diego and 6-0 against Los Angeles?and not-exactly. They are even starting reliever Byung-Hyun Kim. OF Luis Gonzalez had 57 HR?s two years ago and 29 LESS last year. 2B Junior Spivey was the ONLY player to hit .300. SS Tony Womack is in a contract year. The D-Backs are 19-3 vs Colorado and 15-1 in the series at the BOB. They carry an 11-1 record against Cincinnati, 6-0 on the road.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (88-74) Jeff Kent won?t be kicked around anymore (he?s in Houston). And manager Felipe Alou is in charge. Jason Schmidt, 6-1 vs Colorado, looks to be the ace, along with tomorrow?s ace, Damian Moss. CF Ray Durham is a .300 leadoff hitter. 3B Edgardo Alfonzo was a .330 hitter with RISP and comes from the Mets. The G-Men are 7-1 at home Tuesday and 35-10 at PacBell on Monday. Kirk Rueter is 14-3 in night games. San Francisco is 11-1 at Houston. The Giants are 6-0 against the Mets.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (87-75) The Dodgers were last in the NL in walks and need MORE runs. Darren Dreifort hasn?t pitched since June 2001. Kevin Brown comes off back and elbow surgery. Can Eric Gagne come off his first season as a closer (77 appearances) strong? OF Shawn Green only 30+ HR man. The Dodgers love to be home on Saturday where they are 21-4. Hideo Nomo is 10-3 vs San Francisco and 8-0 away, in the series, 1-10 against Florida and 10-1 on the road in July. LA has won 10 of 12 against Milwaukee. Andy Ashby is 8-2 vs the Cubs.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (76-86) RF Phil Nevin is OUT. Rondell White comes from the Yankees. Brian Lawrence looks to lead. Staff gives up two more runs away than at Qualcomm. Trevor Hoffman will flirt with 50 saves. CF Mark Kotsay will have a breakout year. 1B Ryan Klesko only Padre with 20 + HR?s. San Diego is just 5-27 at Arizona. P Adam Eaton is 10-3 in day starts.
COLORADO ROCKIES (75-87) How effective will RF Larry Walker be after six weeks as trade bait? The Rockies pitching staff got rocked with only ONE complete game last season. Denny Neagle is 1-5 against Los Angeles. C Charles Johnson can help the ?D? throwing out baserunners. Sophomores Jason Jennings and Denny Stark will lead the pitching staff. Midweek is rough as the Rockies are 5-16 on the road Wednesday. They are a slow starter at 5-18 opening a road trip. Denny Stark is 8-1 at home. Colorado is 7-2 against Milwaukee and 6-0 at home.
Jay Martin is a professional gambler in Las Vegas and the owner of the Sports Information Network. He was the 1999 SportsNetwork Baseball Champion and the SportsPlays "Handicapper of the Year" 2000-2001. Baseball is a MAJOR strength at SIN, with Jay having won the SportsNetwork Baseball Championship in 2002, with MOST UNITS WON and BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE!! Get today?s winners at
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES (92-70) Don?t think it?s automatic to win the division this season. Mike Hampton is 7-1 vs Florida but 1-5 against Arizona, and won?t replace Millwood and Glavine. John Smoltz IS the bullpen. Greg Maddux is 0-5 vs Arizona. The left side of the infield is under construction, with 3B Mark DeRosa and 2B Marcus Giles. SS Rafael Furcal and CF Andruw Jones strikeout too much. Friday has been good to the Braves, sporting a 23-4 record. The Braves are just 1-8 at Ted Turner Field vs Arizona. Atlanta is 15-3 against the AL.
PHILADELPHIS PHILLIES (89-73) The Phils need to start better than 9-19, which dug them too big a hole. 1B Jim Thome and 3B David Bell will rock Veterans Stadium. Kevin Millwood, with a 9-0 record in August, and Randy Wolf, who is 3-9 in April, could BOTH win 20. Jose Mesa goes for third 40-save season, Carlos Silva is setup man. LF Pat Burrell hits 40 HR, too. In interleague play, the Phillies are 7-2 on the road vs the AL.
NEW YORK METS (88-72) Tom Glavine, who is 6-1 against Florida and 16-4 at Cincinnati, will be the ace over Al Leiter. Problems are not advancing runners and running poor when on base. C Mike Piazza is beat up. LF Cliff Floyd looks for a 30 HR/100 RBI season on a team with the worst outfield production in the NL in 2002. RF Jeromy Burnitz doesn?t cut it. Should a DH?er arise, the Mets are 13-2 in Game #2. Steve Trachsel is 6-21 in road day starts. P Pedro Astacio is 11-3 vs Florida. New York is 16-3 vs Milwaukee at Shea Stadium. The Mets can?t win at San Francisco, with an 0-10 record.
FLORIDA MARLINS (78-84) Look for the Fish to concentrate more on pitching without the luxury of a 30-homer player. The problem being that their starting three (A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett and Brad Penny) come off the DL. Did you know Florida led the majors in stolen bases last year? Brandon Looper CAN close. The Marlins are only 10-40 on the road Wednesday. Friday isn?t any better, as they are 3-22, away. A.J. Burnett is 6-0 in interleague play.
MONTREAL EXPOS (73-89) The Expos will have a 25-day road trip in June (including Puerto Rico) and 27 of their last 37 games away. Javier Vazquez and Tony Armas, Jr., who is 2-8 vs Florida, 3-10 in July, 0-6 against Florida and 2-12 UNDER in interleague play, will share the ace ?title? with Colon gone. 2B Jose Vidro hits .300 five years running. RF Vladimir Guerrero swings at everything and STILL hits. Montreal is only 16-45 on the road Sunday. The Expos are 4-14 vs San Diego. Success has come against Pittsburgh, with a 6-1 mark.
NL Central
ST LOUIS CARDINALS (91-71) 3B Scott Rolen gets a full season to carry team at Busch. RF J.D. Drew comes off knee surgery. Jason Isringhausen comes off offseason shoulder surgery. 1B Tino Martinez can?t hit lefties?watch for platooning. 2B Fernando Vina swings at the first pitch and average is dropping. Matt Morris is 9-1 in August. Mondays are fun, with a 13-1 mark at Busch. The Cards are 5-1 vs hated Kansas City. They OWN San Diego with a 19-2 record. Joey Hamilton is 9-2 vs Los Angeles.
HOUSTON ASTROS (90-72) Jeff Kent and the Killer B?s are built for Minute Maid Park. Wade Miller is 10-1 against Milwaukee and 5-0 away in the series, and Roy Oswalt, who?s 11-1 in August and 5-0 vs Cincinnati, lead the staff. Billy Wagner can save 40+ games this year with Octavio Dotel as setup man. How will 1B Jeff Bagwell come back from shoulder rehab? RF Richard Hildago is in a two-season slump. Peter Munro is 5-0 against Milwaukee.
CHICAGO CUBS (83-79) The Cubs are building for the future with their farm system (instead of trading it away). Patience isn?t a virtue in Chicago?the Cubs struck out 1,269 times. How can Mark Belhorn NOT start with 27 HR?s? OF Sammy Sosa hit .288, a drop of 40 points. Manager Dusty Baker has his hands full. Kerry Wood likes the night in Chicago, where he?s 8-2. P Matt Clement is 4-12 against Montreal. The Cubs hate St. Louis, where they are 3-17.
CINCINNATI REDS (80-82) CF Ken Griffey, Jr. is IN. The dimensions at the Great American Ballpark will lead to fewer HR?s?on a team that had the worst batting average with runners in scoring position. Chris Reitsma is 4-18 at home. Jimmy Haynes is 1-5 vs Houston. Reliever Scott Sullivan has led the Reds in games played five straight years, and it?s showing (elbow, shoulder). The Reds are 7-1 at Los Angeles. Interleague play shows Cincy at 2-10. Ryan Dempster is 12-3 in home day starts, 5-1 against the Mets but just 1-7 vs Atlanta and 0-5 vs San Francisco. Like most, they have success at Milwaukee with an 8-1 mark.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (72-90) The Bucs had the worst on-base percentage in the league in 2002. C Jason Kendall must regain his power stroke. Rotation of Kris Benson, Kip Wells and Josh Fogg shows promise. Mike Williams could get 50 saves. LF Brian Giles only player to hit over 18 HR?s last year. Thursday?s are bad days with an 8-31 mark, 3-24 on the road. Wednesday is no better at 4-20 on the road. The Pirates are 3-11 on turf. Pittsburgh is 15-4 against Milwaukee and 6-1 on the road. During interleague play, their record is just 3-9. And only 1-8 vs St. Louis.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (61-101) It?s eleven straight years under .500. 1B Richie Sexon WILL hit 40 HR, knock in 100. RF Jeffrey Hammonds didn?t homer after July. LF Geoff Jenkins comes off an ankle injury?is .300 and 30 HR?s possible? Reliever Mike DeJean converts most saves, again. The Brew Crew is 5-32 on the road Wednesday. Glendon Rusch is 0-6 vs Pittsburgh, 0-5 against Atlanta, but 7-1 against the Cubs. P Ben Sheets, who could be the ace, is 5-0 against the Cubs. The Brewers are just 2-10 vs the AL.
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (90-72) The D-Backs have Randy Johnson, 14-0 against Milwaukee, 6-0 against Florida, 11-1 vs San Diego, 7-1 vs Colorado and 7-1 against Philadelphia, Curt Schilling, 5-0 against San Diego and 6-0 against Los Angeles?and not-exactly. They are even starting reliever Byung-Hyun Kim. OF Luis Gonzalez had 57 HR?s two years ago and 29 LESS last year. 2B Junior Spivey was the ONLY player to hit .300. SS Tony Womack is in a contract year. The D-Backs are 19-3 vs Colorado and 15-1 in the series at the BOB. They carry an 11-1 record against Cincinnati, 6-0 on the road.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (88-74) Jeff Kent won?t be kicked around anymore (he?s in Houston). And manager Felipe Alou is in charge. Jason Schmidt, 6-1 vs Colorado, looks to be the ace, along with tomorrow?s ace, Damian Moss. CF Ray Durham is a .300 leadoff hitter. 3B Edgardo Alfonzo was a .330 hitter with RISP and comes from the Mets. The G-Men are 7-1 at home Tuesday and 35-10 at PacBell on Monday. Kirk Rueter is 14-3 in night games. San Francisco is 11-1 at Houston. The Giants are 6-0 against the Mets.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (87-75) The Dodgers were last in the NL in walks and need MORE runs. Darren Dreifort hasn?t pitched since June 2001. Kevin Brown comes off back and elbow surgery. Can Eric Gagne come off his first season as a closer (77 appearances) strong? OF Shawn Green only 30+ HR man. The Dodgers love to be home on Saturday where they are 21-4. Hideo Nomo is 10-3 vs San Francisco and 8-0 away, in the series, 1-10 against Florida and 10-1 on the road in July. LA has won 10 of 12 against Milwaukee. Andy Ashby is 8-2 vs the Cubs.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (76-86) RF Phil Nevin is OUT. Rondell White comes from the Yankees. Brian Lawrence looks to lead. Staff gives up two more runs away than at Qualcomm. Trevor Hoffman will flirt with 50 saves. CF Mark Kotsay will have a breakout year. 1B Ryan Klesko only Padre with 20 + HR?s. San Diego is just 5-27 at Arizona. P Adam Eaton is 10-3 in day starts.
COLORADO ROCKIES (75-87) How effective will RF Larry Walker be after six weeks as trade bait? The Rockies pitching staff got rocked with only ONE complete game last season. Denny Neagle is 1-5 against Los Angeles. C Charles Johnson can help the ?D? throwing out baserunners. Sophomores Jason Jennings and Denny Stark will lead the pitching staff. Midweek is rough as the Rockies are 5-16 on the road Wednesday. They are a slow starter at 5-18 opening a road trip. Denny Stark is 8-1 at home. Colorado is 7-2 against Milwaukee and 6-0 at home.
