81-68, +33.40
2-2, -1.45 today
4 straight winning days, but 2-2, -1.45 so far today. 2 wins on 2 seperate games, and 2 losses coming on the same game between the Bluejays on the ML and RL. Felt like breaking down Sunday Night Baseball, feel like I have some good info and opinions to help some action junkies with, and figured I'd do a full writeup for baseball's highest profile game.
3* Philadelphia Phillies -122
1* Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 +125
Showdown between two young pitcher's, Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum, that will be frontline guys in this league for years to come.
Umpire Alert
Tim Reynolds umpires tonight's game, and this could be a facotr in this game. Reynolds is 4-1 on overs this year, averaging 7+ walks per game, indicating a small strike zone that frustrates pitchers and creates runs. This is an advantage for pitchers that have good command, remain composed, and hitting teams that can take advantage.
Right off the bat, you have a rookie making his 1st start, who has had his share of control problems, and is backed by a very weak lineup, missing its best RBI guy, that may not be able to take advantage of this. The other side has Hamels, who is a great commander of the strike zone, and has a lineup that can take advantage and score runs.
This is proven by the Giants being 1-4 when Tim Reynolds umpires their games last 5.
Tim Lincecum
The focus tonight will be on the MLB Debut of highly touted prospect Tim Lincecum of San Fran. Lincecum can run it up to 98-99MPH, throws a curveball with plus potential, and has a deceptive, twisty, rotary delivery. This helps his already electric fastball, sneak up on hitters. Where Lincecum runs into problems with overthrowing, leading to walks, and a hard time feeling his 2nd pitch. Tonight, making his MLB Debut on National TV, I imagine he will overthrow. Lincecum will leave a few balls up in the zone tonight, and you can't do that with some of the power bats that the Phillies have in their lineup. Outside, of that, Lincecum has had his share of control problems, which can be natural with a strikeout pitcher. Standing 5'9", Lincecum does not create a very good downward plain to home plate. What I mean by that, is there is a reason why baseball teams pass on short pitchers. Part of it is projecting durability and velocity. The other part is creating a downward angle. Think of it in terms of raising the mound creates an advantage for a pitcher, because his pitches come in on a downward plain, thus harder to hit. I don't care how hard you throw, MLB hitters can time a 747 if they get enough looks. And where Lincecum will run into problems is his fastball has a tendency to go flat because of his lack of height. With his curveball grading as a plus POTENTIAL pitch, he hasnt mastered it yet. He has relied on blowing his heat by minor league hitters. And when you do that, you just need a show-me curveball and he will need more of that tonight. I think the pressure will be great on Lincecum tonight and he will have a hard time feeling and controlling his breaking ball, especially with the small strike zone of Tim Reynolds.
Giants Bullpen
How far will the Giants let their golden arm go in this game? He has a big career ahead of him, and even if he comes out and is lights out for 5 innings, this guy is averaging 5-6 innings in the minors. They rarely let this guy go deep into games, that means we could see the Giants bullpen play a significant role in this game.
Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels starts opposite Lincecum. While Lincecum has sported a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors, Hamels has that same k:bb ratio, but in the big leagues. Hamels has quietly done well against his competition, keeping the Phillies in games and giving his team a chance to win. He does it with a heavy 92-94MPH fastball, an oustanding changeup, and a decent curve. With Hamels pitching at Citizens Bank, regarded as a great hitter's park, he has done respectable. When he gets away from Citizens, and goes on the road, he has been phenomenal. Pitching at AT&T tonight, a pitchers park, will be benficial for Hamels. His changeup gets hitters out on their front foot, and allows them to hit lazy fly ball outs, that should find their way into camped out gloves in this park. Hamels has a better ERA on the road and at night, as his out-pitch, the changeup, is harder to read out of the hand at night. Hamels has great command of the strike zone and has been striking guys out with consistency, and that can be big getting him out of jams tonight. Because in order for the Giants to plate runs with Bonds out, they will have to string together big innings, hit after hit, and play station to station baseball. He will face a very weak Giants lineup tonight, that should have a hard time doing that.
Phillies Own Giants
Phillies have had the Giants number, winning 11 of the past 15. With San Fran winning the last 2, there seems to be no better spot than this for Philly to take another from the Giants.
Philadelphia 5
San Francisco 2
2-2, -1.45 today
4 straight winning days, but 2-2, -1.45 so far today. 2 wins on 2 seperate games, and 2 losses coming on the same game between the Bluejays on the ML and RL. Felt like breaking down Sunday Night Baseball, feel like I have some good info and opinions to help some action junkies with, and figured I'd do a full writeup for baseball's highest profile game.
3* Philadelphia Phillies -122
1* Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 +125
Showdown between two young pitcher's, Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum, that will be frontline guys in this league for years to come.
Umpire Alert
Tim Reynolds umpires tonight's game, and this could be a facotr in this game. Reynolds is 4-1 on overs this year, averaging 7+ walks per game, indicating a small strike zone that frustrates pitchers and creates runs. This is an advantage for pitchers that have good command, remain composed, and hitting teams that can take advantage.
Right off the bat, you have a rookie making his 1st start, who has had his share of control problems, and is backed by a very weak lineup, missing its best RBI guy, that may not be able to take advantage of this. The other side has Hamels, who is a great commander of the strike zone, and has a lineup that can take advantage and score runs.
This is proven by the Giants being 1-4 when Tim Reynolds umpires their games last 5.
Tim Lincecum
The focus tonight will be on the MLB Debut of highly touted prospect Tim Lincecum of San Fran. Lincecum can run it up to 98-99MPH, throws a curveball with plus potential, and has a deceptive, twisty, rotary delivery. This helps his already electric fastball, sneak up on hitters. Where Lincecum runs into problems with overthrowing, leading to walks, and a hard time feeling his 2nd pitch. Tonight, making his MLB Debut on National TV, I imagine he will overthrow. Lincecum will leave a few balls up in the zone tonight, and you can't do that with some of the power bats that the Phillies have in their lineup. Outside, of that, Lincecum has had his share of control problems, which can be natural with a strikeout pitcher. Standing 5'9", Lincecum does not create a very good downward plain to home plate. What I mean by that, is there is a reason why baseball teams pass on short pitchers. Part of it is projecting durability and velocity. The other part is creating a downward angle. Think of it in terms of raising the mound creates an advantage for a pitcher, because his pitches come in on a downward plain, thus harder to hit. I don't care how hard you throw, MLB hitters can time a 747 if they get enough looks. And where Lincecum will run into problems is his fastball has a tendency to go flat because of his lack of height. With his curveball grading as a plus POTENTIAL pitch, he hasnt mastered it yet. He has relied on blowing his heat by minor league hitters. And when you do that, you just need a show-me curveball and he will need more of that tonight. I think the pressure will be great on Lincecum tonight and he will have a hard time feeling and controlling his breaking ball, especially with the small strike zone of Tim Reynolds.
Giants Bullpen
How far will the Giants let their golden arm go in this game? He has a big career ahead of him, and even if he comes out and is lights out for 5 innings, this guy is averaging 5-6 innings in the minors. They rarely let this guy go deep into games, that means we could see the Giants bullpen play a significant role in this game.
Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels starts opposite Lincecum. While Lincecum has sported a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors, Hamels has that same k:bb ratio, but in the big leagues. Hamels has quietly done well against his competition, keeping the Phillies in games and giving his team a chance to win. He does it with a heavy 92-94MPH fastball, an oustanding changeup, and a decent curve. With Hamels pitching at Citizens Bank, regarded as a great hitter's park, he has done respectable. When he gets away from Citizens, and goes on the road, he has been phenomenal. Pitching at AT&T tonight, a pitchers park, will be benficial for Hamels. His changeup gets hitters out on their front foot, and allows them to hit lazy fly ball outs, that should find their way into camped out gloves in this park. Hamels has a better ERA on the road and at night, as his out-pitch, the changeup, is harder to read out of the hand at night. Hamels has great command of the strike zone and has been striking guys out with consistency, and that can be big getting him out of jams tonight. Because in order for the Giants to plate runs with Bonds out, they will have to string together big innings, hit after hit, and play station to station baseball. He will face a very weak Giants lineup tonight, that should have a hard time doing that.
Phillies Own Giants
Phillies have had the Giants number, winning 11 of the past 15. With San Fran winning the last 2, there seems to be no better spot than this for Philly to take another from the Giants.
Philadelphia 5
San Francisco 2
