YTD 80-75 [+4.19]
Since Break 4-3 (+0.70)
Yesterday was tough but could have been worse if not for the Injuns. So, gonna take a page from Blackman's book and change things up a bit today and play some totals:
EXPOS / BRAVES under 9 (-111) Nine?? Wow, this line seems high to me.....the Expos have trouble scoring every time they take the field, and I am looking for John Thompson to build on the good start he had before the break in Philly. Scott Downs shows an ERA of 18.00 on the road, but can you really call Puerto Rico "home"? His last two starts there were very solid, including 6.1 shutout innings against this Braves team. I'm looking for a 4-2, 5-2 type game here.
INDIANS / MARINERS over 8.5 (-116) Jamie Moyer has struggled lately, and his the pitch counts in his two starts prior to the break were 109 and 131. Now, I'm sure the break was a much needed rest for the lefty, but there is no doubt he is going to be forced to log some major innings today, no matter how things are going.....In the last two games, the Seattle has used 6 different relievers, who have combined to pitch 10 innings and thrown 203 pitches!! :scared Granted, George Sherrill logged 68 of these himself, and definitely won't be available, but that still leaves some very tired arms in that pen. Now, in the other dugout, the Indians send Scott Elarton to the hill. How this guy remains in the rotation is some sort of a mystery to me, as he is 0-8 on the year and his ERA is swollen 8.33. Couple this with the fact that the Cleveland bullpen tried to self destruct last night and has been among the league's worst all year, and we could see more runs put on the board this afternoon.
BLUE JAYS / RANGERS under 10 (+103) Again, I hope this isn't a trap, but I'm looking at this line as high. The Jay bats have been very quiet since the break, and facing Kenny Rogers should not help the situation. Throw his last start out, and he has been solid all year. He has pitched the Jays well once already this year, shows a career ERA of 3.34 in over 175 innings against Toronto and his home ERA is 3.10. On the other hand, Batista has been solid both recently (4.26 ERA L3) and on the road (2-3, 2.87 away from home this year). This is starting to become a bit of a ritual, so I can't help myself....
"So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light........" Take it away Doc.......
Have a good one Guys,
Sharky
Since Break 4-3 (+0.70)
Yesterday was tough but could have been worse if not for the Injuns. So, gonna take a page from Blackman's book and change things up a bit today and play some totals:
EXPOS / BRAVES under 9 (-111) Nine?? Wow, this line seems high to me.....the Expos have trouble scoring every time they take the field, and I am looking for John Thompson to build on the good start he had before the break in Philly. Scott Downs shows an ERA of 18.00 on the road, but can you really call Puerto Rico "home"? His last two starts there were very solid, including 6.1 shutout innings against this Braves team. I'm looking for a 4-2, 5-2 type game here.
INDIANS / MARINERS over 8.5 (-116) Jamie Moyer has struggled lately, and his the pitch counts in his two starts prior to the break were 109 and 131. Now, I'm sure the break was a much needed rest for the lefty, but there is no doubt he is going to be forced to log some major innings today, no matter how things are going.....In the last two games, the Seattle has used 6 different relievers, who have combined to pitch 10 innings and thrown 203 pitches!! :scared Granted, George Sherrill logged 68 of these himself, and definitely won't be available, but that still leaves some very tired arms in that pen. Now, in the other dugout, the Indians send Scott Elarton to the hill. How this guy remains in the rotation is some sort of a mystery to me, as he is 0-8 on the year and his ERA is swollen 8.33. Couple this with the fact that the Cleveland bullpen tried to self destruct last night and has been among the league's worst all year, and we could see more runs put on the board this afternoon.
BLUE JAYS / RANGERS under 10 (+103) Again, I hope this isn't a trap, but I'm looking at this line as high. The Jay bats have been very quiet since the break, and facing Kenny Rogers should not help the situation. Throw his last start out, and he has been solid all year. He has pitched the Jays well once already this year, shows a career ERA of 3.34 in over 175 innings against Toronto and his home ERA is 3.10. On the other hand, Batista has been solid both recently (4.26 ERA L3) and on the road (2-3, 2.87 away from home this year). This is starting to become a bit of a ritual, so I can't help myself....
"So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light........" Take it away Doc.......
Have a good one Guys,
Sharky

