UPDATE:
BIG GAME PLAY--UNDERDOG GAME OF THE MONTH WINS IN AN UNDERDOG BLOWOUT!...BIG GAME PLAYS, in All Major Sports Combined are again
Second to None!
**BIG 5 UNIT UNDERDOG GAME OF THE MONTH PLAY ON:
Tampa Bay D-Rays +114
(EZ Blowout Winner, 10-2)
-When your Hot your Hot.....and when your not, your not.....Well this Tampa Bay squad is freakin Smoking Hot....And although they lost last night to Florida, they did win the series vs the Defending World Champions.....Plus, last night they were facing a Smoking Hot Pitcher in Pavano who btw has a Smokin Hot Girl(Milano) who is simply lighting his Fire Big Time....TB faced a monster on the hill last night, who is on a roll, but that lost I feel will do more for this TB squad in todays game and play right into the sikee needed to get this one Big Time...
Today, TB faces off against the Toronto BJays and their Ace and last years Cy Young Award Winner Roy Halladay....I like TB today to get a solid win, and back to their winning ways.....Heres what and why, I like them....
TB's Zambrano and BJay's Halladay faced off in the Skydome on June 23 , with the BJays getting the win by a low score of 2-1, but a No Decision for both Zambrano and Halladay....In that game, both pitchers had excellent days with both giving up just one run each.....Halladay went 8 innings allowing just 5 hits and getting 8 K's.....Zambrano lasted 7 innings in that one while ONLY giving up 4 hits total...Ok that was in Toronto and now this one is in Tampa, and things should work in favor of the D-Rays here....
One of those things that I see working in TB's favor is the fact that Halladay, though a solid pitcher, has not fared well on the road this year....posting a poor 1-4 road record with a 4.00 ERA to boot.....In his last 3 road games, he has given up 20 hits, 15 runs (5 runs in each game), 10 walks, in just a little over 17 innings on the hill....Not Good!
Zambrano, on the other hand, is an animal at home posting a Solid 6-1 record at home this year with an ERA of 3.31.....In his last 3 starts at home, he went 3-0 and allowed ONLY 10 hits, ONLY 2 runs, in just a little over 19 innings on the hill.....OUTSTANDING!....Based on these figures and performances, its clear to see that Zambrano has the edge at home over Halladay on the road....
Now, another advantage that I want to mention which favors TB today is the fact that Halladay though he has one of the lower ERA's in the AL, he also gives up a high amount of hits as well.....In fact, Halladay on the year has pitched a total of 96 innings and have given up 94 hits so far....On the road this total is 47 innings and 46 hits given up....
Zambrano, on the other hand, is the AL's leader in Walks given up....Still, he makes up for this by ranking 4th in the League in Strike Outs with 84 K's...and as far as giving up hits, Zambrano overall this year in 90 innings on the hill, has ONLY given up 76 hits....At home he gave up just 35 hits in a little over 47 innings on the hill....SOLID!
So eventhough, Zambrano gives up a lot of walks, the fact that he gets a hell of a lot of K's and gives up very little in hits, plus the fact that the BJays are in the lower half of the League in hitting and also rank 2nd to last in SB w/ only 22 successful attempts this year, gives me nothing so much to worry about with his high tendency to allow walks....His ability to control hitters at the plate and the BJays inability to take advantage of his weakness while at the plate and on base gives TB and Zambrano an advantage here...
Next, this situation or asset is one that is vastly overlooked and very undervalued by many handicappers but not me...This asset, is the ability of a team to move runners on base via Stolen Bases....This can be a very effective weapon for teams with a lot of speed like TB has, and as well for teams who is not a power hitting team like the DRays....This type of aggressive base running get more players on base into scoring position, and thus allowing teams like TB more opportunities to set them up to score more runs, or at least an opportunity to get runs period....Having the ability to play this type of aggressive ball allows TB to not have to fully depend on getting a lot of hits from its guys at the plate, in order to move runners.....Also, having this ability to steal a lot, helps to put opposing pitchers on the defensive and working on the hill double time....Instead of having to worry about the guy at the plate, they must now also worry about the guy on the base....This in effect can help out the hitter at the plate by allowing him to get more hittable or bad pitches which would help teams who are especially struggling at the plate....So far this year, TB has used this to their advantage many times and allows them to always be a threat to opposing teams when they have someone on base....TB in this very undervalued catergory is ranked 3rd Best in the League in Stolen Bases with 62 on the year...
How is this going to help get a win for TB....Well, I cant guarantee having the ability to steal second or third for that matter will get a team a win, but it will help them in giving them more opportunities to get runs in off of hits and maybe even possible throwing errors, instead of primarily depending on the guy at the plate to bring me in....The more opportunities a team gets to score, the more chances they have to win...This is Lou Piniella ball, and he is not just a master of motivation, but a master at playing aggressive ball and always keeping the pressure on their opponents at all times...
With this style of ball playing by TB and their ability to exploit it when they are on base....and the fact that Halladay has a tendency to give up a lot of hits allowing base runners to get on base....I have to say that one, it will play right into the hands of this TB Offense, and Two it will allow them more opportunities to score especially because Halladay is still one of the Best on the hill....I like it also that Halladay struggles on the road as well, and today in this ballpark, it will be very hostile place for him to have to pitch in.....
*Other stats, insights, and info that favor Tampa Bay in this one:
-Toronto is just 2-6 in their last 8 games on the road...
-Toronto is 1-4 in Halladay's last 5 games on the road...
-TB is 6-1 in Zambrano's last 7 starts...
-TB is 15-2 in their last 17 overall...
-Halladay in his last 3 starts has an ERA of 4.00...
-Zambrano in his last 3 starts has an ERA of 2.21...
-TB's BP is also pitching well...In their last 3 games they have a combined ERA of 3.49 in 59 innings...
-Toronto's BP combined in their last 3 games has a ERA of 6.52 in ONLY 29 innings...
-TB will have a lot of motivation on their side today as they will be facing Halladay, and looking to get Revenge, as he and Toronto ended their 12 game win streak....
-Tampa's house will be Rockin tonight and energies and motivations will be high as they welcome last years Cy Young Winner...and look for payback...
-TB should be fully focused after suffering a loss yesterday to Florida....But taking the series from the Defending World Champs should do a lot for their confidence...
-TB is at home, while Toronto had a long trip to Florida....
-TB should be motivated to get back above .500 after they became the first team in Major League history to get above .500 after being below it by 18 games...I am thinking that they want to show it was no fluke...
-Toronto will be without its Top 3 hitters again in the lineup...in Carlos Delgado, Vernon Wells, and Frank Catalanotto...
-TB's first baseman Tino Martinez is expected to return to the lineup today...and this is very good news for TB..as he is batting .281 and also leads the DRays in HR's with 12 on the year...
-Zambrano is the Great Yankee Killer as he beat that All Star lineup of the Evil Empire Twice this year...
-Lastly, Toronto has lost 13 of 24 games this month...
*OUCH!...Thats gotta hurt your Pride and Ego....Not like I didnt try to warn you...
FADING MY BIG GAME PLAYS IS SIMPLY SUICIDAL....Still, maybe next time fivefagsdown....LOL...Maybe next time...LOL...
