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05/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Of all the surprises through the first month-and-a-half of the major league season, nothing may be more shocking than the fact that the Washington Nationals are .500 heading into this weekend's slate of interleague play.
The Nationals, who even spent some time in first place in the National League East, have hit a rough patch, though. They have dropped six of seven and have fallen into fourth place in the division, just a game in front of the last- place New York Mets and five back of the first place Philadelphia Phillies, who are getting healthy.
However, the Nationals do have another trick up their sleeve. And that weapon comes in the form of perhaps the best pitching prospect ever in right-hander Stephen Strasburg.
Strasburg is ready. Truth be told, he was probably ready at the end of spring training. The Nats, though, wanted to get him some seasoning in the minors, not to mention an extra year under their control. I have no problem with that, but now their season could be slipping away.
Stop messing around and bring Strasburg up now.
Most people are pointing to June 4 against the Cincinnati Reds as the probable date of his MLB debut, meaning Strasburg would likely make two more starts for Triple-A Syracuse.
Why wait, though? Let him make his next start on Monday in San Francisco, where the Nats start a 10-game road trip that, as crazy as it sounds, really could make or break their season.
What is the point of having Strasburg go into that first start after the trek, when Washington could be 10 games out of first place? Have him get a few starts in on the road - one of which would be in his hometown of San Diego - before he returns home for that June 4 outing against the Cincinnati Reds.
Most teams have to wait until June to bring up a player like Strasburg because they don't want his arbitration clock starting any sooner than it has to. Strasburg, though, is a different case. He already has a major league contract.
Strasburg is signed for $3 million in 2012, which in all likelihood will be his third year in the big leagues. That means that Strasburg's 2013 salary is going to be at least $3 million, whether he's arbitration-eligible or not.
According to baseball's most recent collective bargaining agreement, a year of service time is defined as 172 days. However, of the players that fall short of this mark, the top 17-percent with at least two years of service time are also granted arbitration eligibility. These players are called "Super 2s". The exact amount of service time varies from year-to- year, but has been as low as 128 days and as high as 140 days, although the number is usually between 130-135.
So, say Strasburg gets called up on Monday and does in fact become a Super Two and has to go to arbitration for the first time in 2013. Chances are he is not going to get more than $4.5 million. In fact, the figure is likely to be lower, based on previous pitchers who were in similar situations like Cole Hamels, who netted $4.35 million in his first year of arbitration.
If the Nats don't think he is ready, that is one thing, but there is no financial reason to keep him out of the majors at this point. And it is hard to argue that he is not ready at this point.
After going 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts for Double-A Harrisburg, Strasburg has been even better at Triple-A, posting a 3-0 mark without allowing a run in 18 1/3 innings.
It is clear. Strasburg is ready. Get him up now, before it is to late for him to make a difference.
<< MLB - Stay away from high-priced favorites
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Favorites of -180 or more are 61-35
through the first six weeks of the baseball season. That's a solid 64% clip, a
higher mark than all but one major league club.
However, when a team is favored by such
<< World Cup 2010 Preview: Dutch want elusive title
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bert van Marwijk took over the Netherlands
following Euro 2008, when the Oranje breezed through the group stage only to
be eliminated in the first knockout round in their second straight major
tournam
<< Zheng, Dulgheru will decide Warsaw champion
Warsaw, Poland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Zheng Jie of China and
reigning champion Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania will square off in Saturday's
final at the $600,000 Warsaw Open, a final French Open tune-up.
Zheng handled Hung
<< Serbia trims roster to 24 players
Belgrade, Serbia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Radomir Antic trimmed Serbia's World Cup
roster to 24 players Friday, leaving one more player to be cut before the last
squad has to be submitted June 1.
Forwards Dejan Lekic and Miralem Sulejmani, mi
Breeders' Cup ultimate goal for Mine That Bird >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne
Lukas has 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in his barn, the
veteran horseman needs to map out a way to get the gelding to the 2010
Breeder
Nats release Taveras >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals released Willy
Taveras on Friday, six days after designating the outfielder for assignment.
Washington signed the 28-year-old to a minor-league deal prior to the season.
Tavera
AL Central: What lies ahead for Royals? >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now that the manager has been replaced and the Royals are
settling back into their customary place toward the bottom of the American
League Central standings, the next question is, where do they go from here?
Well, let's t
Toronto ready to defend BMO against New England >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC returns to BMO Field on Saturday and
actually has a road result to build on as it looks to remain perfect at home.
Toronto split its first six matches this season, winning all three at home and
losin
Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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