Hi Wise...thanks for the posting you do. I don't post picks a lot but often check yours, along with several others here.
Just a bit of baseball talk from here. I think that Doc is a good bet tonite, even at seemingly high chalk. For one thing, he is likely to go about (let's say) 17-4 or better this year, and I feel that any odds on him of less than -300 or so is a reasonable bet. He had a Cy Young 2003 year and then a couple of years when hurt. In 2004 his shoulder tired out bacause he kept throwing in the offseason like he was trying to make the team. He said he would never make that mistake again. Last year he was on Cy Young course again and likely would have started the All-Star Game, but was hit by a line drive to end his season. This year he is back on track, tho not quite at the top of his form. He is an awesome ace.
NOW...Blue Jays analysts last nite were saying something interesting, to me at least. They said that a pitching staff functions as a group, with starters forming a group themselves. If someone does really well, the others tend to step up because they want to outdo the other guy. They were explaining why Lilly had such a good start right after AJ Burnett came back with that brilliant game. He will be the Jays' second ace in the rotation, if he keeps on.
That being said, it is interesting that Halladay is coming in right after AJ and Lilly pitched such good games. As the ace, it is unlikely that he would want to let the rotation down, so will likely be focussed. Of course it is said that pitchers have a third of their games when they have their good stuff, a third when they don't have it, and a third when they have to fight thru it. Halladay is good a working thru a tough nite.
So with all this verbiage, I guess I am saying that I think you have Halladay in a good spot tonite. And while the Jays' lineup is not murderer's row, they are a very good hitting lineup. I think your bet on the Jays tonite makes a lot of sense!
Once again,Thank You for all the work you do for this Board, unlike my leeching self.
