MLB Wed, Jul 20, 2005
Books giving Duke royal treatment
Josh Hansen
It may only be a matter of time before Zach Duke is ruling major league baseball, but oddsmakers are already giving Pittsburgh’s young rookie the royal treatment.
Duke, who will be making only his fourth career start today, oddsmakers have him listed as a –170 favorite against the Colorado Rockies says one Betcris linesmaker.
“You gotta factor in Colorado is just no good on the road,” says Shane, who preferred not to use his surname. “The public generally doesn’t bet [Colorado] on the road because they’re just a completely different club.”
Shane added that it`s unusual for a rookie to see such a high line, especially after making only three starts. And although playing the lowly Rockies does help his cause, Duke is no ordinary rookie, or cookie for that matter.
"He`s a tough cookie,” said Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon. “He knows what he`s doing out there.”
Duke has looked eerily comfortable for a 22-year-old rookie trying to earn a major league job. In just three starts, Duke has already banked 1.88 units for supporters, thanks to nearly identical back-to-back shutout wins against the favored Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
Duke threw 112 pitches in each game – both times throwing 72 strikes. He allowed six hits both times, without yielding a single earned run.
"Nothing he does will probably ever surprise me," said Ryan Doumit, a teammate of Duke’s at Triple-A Indianapolis. “There`s just no slowing down with him."
Pittsburgh’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2004, Duke hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 17 innings, and has struck out 21 batters on his way to dropping his ERA down to a miniscule 1.23.
Although he’s not known for his punch out abilities, Duke has delivered numerous blows to the confidence of opposing hitters. So you can only imagine how the comatose bats of the Colorado Rockies are sizing up to the 6-foot-2, 212-pound southpaw.
The Rockies have scored a league-low 138 runs on the road this season – nearly 40 less than second-last Cincinnati. Combine that with the league’s second-worst scoring team in the Pirates, add a dash of Duke and Jeff Francis and bettors will likely see a total of about eight or 8 ½ runs, according to the Betcris linesmaker.
Books giving Duke royal treatment
Josh Hansen
It may only be a matter of time before Zach Duke is ruling major league baseball, but oddsmakers are already giving Pittsburgh’s young rookie the royal treatment.
Duke, who will be making only his fourth career start today, oddsmakers have him listed as a –170 favorite against the Colorado Rockies says one Betcris linesmaker.
“You gotta factor in Colorado is just no good on the road,” says Shane, who preferred not to use his surname. “The public generally doesn’t bet [Colorado] on the road because they’re just a completely different club.”
Shane added that it`s unusual for a rookie to see such a high line, especially after making only three starts. And although playing the lowly Rockies does help his cause, Duke is no ordinary rookie, or cookie for that matter.
"He`s a tough cookie,” said Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon. “He knows what he`s doing out there.”
Duke has looked eerily comfortable for a 22-year-old rookie trying to earn a major league job. In just three starts, Duke has already banked 1.88 units for supporters, thanks to nearly identical back-to-back shutout wins against the favored Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
Duke threw 112 pitches in each game – both times throwing 72 strikes. He allowed six hits both times, without yielding a single earned run.
"Nothing he does will probably ever surprise me," said Ryan Doumit, a teammate of Duke’s at Triple-A Indianapolis. “There`s just no slowing down with him."
Pittsburgh’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2004, Duke hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 17 innings, and has struck out 21 batters on his way to dropping his ERA down to a miniscule 1.23.
Although he’s not known for his punch out abilities, Duke has delivered numerous blows to the confidence of opposing hitters. So you can only imagine how the comatose bats of the Colorado Rockies are sizing up to the 6-foot-2, 212-pound southpaw.
The Rockies have scored a league-low 138 runs on the road this season – nearly 40 less than second-last Cincinnati. Combine that with the league’s second-worst scoring team in the Pirates, add a dash of Duke and Jeff Francis and bettors will likely see a total of about eight or 8 ½ runs, according to the Betcris linesmaker.
