Cleveland +1.20 over CHICAGO
We can almost assure you that the Indians are going to win plenty more games than the South Side and thus, we’ll kick off the year against a team that looks to be in serious trouble. The White Sox lost Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez and Frank Thomas is out for at least another month. This team is going to struggle to score runs all year and likely will do so here against the Indians Jake Westbrook. Westbrook had a breakout year last season with 14 wins and a 3.38 ERA. Westbrook has a nasty slider which he throws for strikes and he also possesses a good change and cut fastball to lefties. His ERA was third best in the AL and his five complete games ranked second. Westbrook is a good one and the Indians are blessed with a ton of young talent that includes first baseman Ben Broussard, shortstop Johnny Peralta, outfielders Casey Blake, Coco Crisp and Grady Sizemore, catcher Victor Martinez and designated hitter Travis Hafner. Chicago will send lefty Mark Buehrle to start the opener. Buehrle is a good one also, however, he’s certainly no better than our guy and he gave up 33 bombs last year compared to 19 by Westbrook. Bottom line here is value on a live pooch and anytime the White Sox are favored this year we’re going to take a serious look at the other side. Of course the Indians can win this one. Play: Cleveland +1.20 (Risking 1.5 units).
Oakland +1.10 over BALTIMORE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Plenty of excitement surrounds this years Orioles because of the signing of lying Sammy Sosa and the batting line-up that surrounds him. The Orioles will hit and they will score runs but we’re not buying for a second that Sammy’s bat (without cork and steroids) is going to be a big apart of it. We’d be thrilled to see Sammy at the plate with two outs and runners on base. Rafael Palmeiro is also on the decline and who knows how Jay Gibbons will hit this year after a horrible year last season. Anyway, the A’s lost some serious punch too but anytime we can get a tag with Barry Zito against Rodrigo Lopez you can instantly pencil us in. Lopez is a reliever turned starter that appeared in 37 games last year, 23 of them as a starter. He has a career ERA of 4.42 and although he looked good in parts last year he also looked awful in others. Zito had an off year last season, however, he has one of the best curves in the game and we’ll look for him to bounce back this year starting here. Lopez favored over Zito is ludicrous. Play: Oakland +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units).
Washington + 1.20 over PHILADELPHIA <o></o>
You know you’ve got problems when your opening day pitcher is Jon Lieber. That’s precisely the situation the Phillies find themselves in and we’re stepping in. Leiber’s best days are far behind him and this guy is going to give up tons of hits and likely plenty of runs to go along with it. Leiber gave up 216 hits in 176 innings last year and pitching in this hitter’s park is only going to fatten those numbers. His best asset is his ability to throw strikes and seldom does he walk a batter. However, his velocity is down and so his effectiveness. We’ve seen his numbers decline over the years and numbers do not lie. This park with Leiber pitching in it is not a good marriage. The Nationals will counter with the ever-reliable Livan Hernandez. Hernandez threw 255 innings last year and only surrendered 234 hits and 105 runs for an ERA of 3.60. He'll alter the speeds on any of his pitches and has great instincts for throwing what the hitter isn't expecting. He’s a master of the craft and Washington is thrilled to have him. The Nationals are an enthusiastic bunch thanks to their relocation from Montreal, a fact that was all too evident this spring. Players had a bounce in their step not seen in previous years, while 69-year-old manager Frank Robinson looked and acted half his age. Play: Washington +1.20 (Risking 1.5 units).
We can almost assure you that the Indians are going to win plenty more games than the South Side and thus, we’ll kick off the year against a team that looks to be in serious trouble. The White Sox lost Carlos Lee and Magglio Ordonez and Frank Thomas is out for at least another month. This team is going to struggle to score runs all year and likely will do so here against the Indians Jake Westbrook. Westbrook had a breakout year last season with 14 wins and a 3.38 ERA. Westbrook has a nasty slider which he throws for strikes and he also possesses a good change and cut fastball to lefties. His ERA was third best in the AL and his five complete games ranked second. Westbrook is a good one and the Indians are blessed with a ton of young talent that includes first baseman Ben Broussard, shortstop Johnny Peralta, outfielders Casey Blake, Coco Crisp and Grady Sizemore, catcher Victor Martinez and designated hitter Travis Hafner. Chicago will send lefty Mark Buehrle to start the opener. Buehrle is a good one also, however, he’s certainly no better than our guy and he gave up 33 bombs last year compared to 19 by Westbrook. Bottom line here is value on a live pooch and anytime the White Sox are favored this year we’re going to take a serious look at the other side. Of course the Indians can win this one. Play: Cleveland +1.20 (Risking 1.5 units).
Oakland +1.10 over BALTIMORE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Plenty of excitement surrounds this years Orioles because of the signing of lying Sammy Sosa and the batting line-up that surrounds him. The Orioles will hit and they will score runs but we’re not buying for a second that Sammy’s bat (without cork and steroids) is going to be a big apart of it. We’d be thrilled to see Sammy at the plate with two outs and runners on base. Rafael Palmeiro is also on the decline and who knows how Jay Gibbons will hit this year after a horrible year last season. Anyway, the A’s lost some serious punch too but anytime we can get a tag with Barry Zito against Rodrigo Lopez you can instantly pencil us in. Lopez is a reliever turned starter that appeared in 37 games last year, 23 of them as a starter. He has a career ERA of 4.42 and although he looked good in parts last year he also looked awful in others. Zito had an off year last season, however, he has one of the best curves in the game and we’ll look for him to bounce back this year starting here. Lopez favored over Zito is ludicrous. Play: Oakland +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units).
Washington + 1.20 over PHILADELPHIA <o
></o>You know you’ve got problems when your opening day pitcher is Jon Lieber. That’s precisely the situation the Phillies find themselves in and we’re stepping in. Leiber’s best days are far behind him and this guy is going to give up tons of hits and likely plenty of runs to go along with it. Leiber gave up 216 hits in 176 innings last year and pitching in this hitter’s park is only going to fatten those numbers. His best asset is his ability to throw strikes and seldom does he walk a batter. However, his velocity is down and so his effectiveness. We’ve seen his numbers decline over the years and numbers do not lie. This park with Leiber pitching in it is not a good marriage. The Nationals will counter with the ever-reliable Livan Hernandez. Hernandez threw 255 innings last year and only surrendered 234 hits and 105 runs for an ERA of 3.60. He'll alter the speeds on any of his pitches and has great instincts for throwing what the hitter isn't expecting. He’s a master of the craft and Washington is thrilled to have him. The Nationals are an enthusiastic bunch thanks to their relocation from Montreal, a fact that was all too evident this spring. Players had a bounce in their step not seen in previous years, while 69-year-old manager Frank Robinson looked and acted half his age. Play: Washington +1.20 (Risking 1.5 units).
Do I understand correctly that you
