Monday:
4* NY Yankees -1.5 -125
Wang gts the start tonight for the Yankees. His sinker should be on tonight and he is on short rest, and thus may not get full extension out front of his pitches. The short arm, arm stroke should cause the sinker to fall off the table tonight.
Besides all of that, Wang is an outstanding pitcher when he is at home. People forget that Wang is still a young pitcher, and may have been a bit rattled at Cleveland. They bumped his start up, they will now start him at home with the support of Yankee fans behind him.
The Yankees meanwhile face off against Paul Byrd. This is the exact type of pitcher that the Yankees should be able to light up. Time and time again, you see young rocket armed pitchers shut down veteran lineups. You see veteran pitchers shut down young lineups that have a propensity to overswing.
Byrd is a crafty veteran, but the Yankees hitters are crafty as well. You can beat the Yankees with the Carmonas and Sabathia's of the world, young live armed pitchers that blow it by the old men.
But Byrd will try to get by with smarts tonight, and these Yankee pitchers have show great patience at the plate yesterday, and I think they wait for their pitch. Byrd will have to come to the Yankee hitters, and that should be ugly as Byrd is a pitcher that likes batted balls in play and allows his defense to work behind him.
Everyone knows the Yankee motivation by now, with Toree, Steinbrenner, the playoffs, etc.
And the win yesterday, specifically A-Rod's hits, I truly believe were the signs of a turning point for these Yankees. They produced with men on base, they got the monkey off their back, and despite the pressure being on NY tonight, these are veteran players that have been here before and I think they will approach this game like the Hall of Fame players that they are.
Yankee Stadium has an aura about it come playoff time. Decades and decades of postseason magic. I dont think Paul Byrd ends it tonight. I think this series heads back to Cleveland.
The Yankees bullpen blew their 2 best yesterday, but I still believe we see Joba again in this game if necessary, and I although I believe they let up runs late, but I think their lead will be well in hand by that point and Rivera cruised through the Indian lineup yesterday - and looks confident.
Yankees 9
Indians 4
4* NY Yankees -1.5 -125
Wang gts the start tonight for the Yankees. His sinker should be on tonight and he is on short rest, and thus may not get full extension out front of his pitches. The short arm, arm stroke should cause the sinker to fall off the table tonight.
Besides all of that, Wang is an outstanding pitcher when he is at home. People forget that Wang is still a young pitcher, and may have been a bit rattled at Cleveland. They bumped his start up, they will now start him at home with the support of Yankee fans behind him.
The Yankees meanwhile face off against Paul Byrd. This is the exact type of pitcher that the Yankees should be able to light up. Time and time again, you see young rocket armed pitchers shut down veteran lineups. You see veteran pitchers shut down young lineups that have a propensity to overswing.
Byrd is a crafty veteran, but the Yankees hitters are crafty as well. You can beat the Yankees with the Carmonas and Sabathia's of the world, young live armed pitchers that blow it by the old men.
But Byrd will try to get by with smarts tonight, and these Yankee pitchers have show great patience at the plate yesterday, and I think they wait for their pitch. Byrd will have to come to the Yankee hitters, and that should be ugly as Byrd is a pitcher that likes batted balls in play and allows his defense to work behind him.
Everyone knows the Yankee motivation by now, with Toree, Steinbrenner, the playoffs, etc.
And the win yesterday, specifically A-Rod's hits, I truly believe were the signs of a turning point for these Yankees. They produced with men on base, they got the monkey off their back, and despite the pressure being on NY tonight, these are veteran players that have been here before and I think they will approach this game like the Hall of Fame players that they are.
Yankee Stadium has an aura about it come playoff time. Decades and decades of postseason magic. I dont think Paul Byrd ends it tonight. I think this series heads back to Cleveland.
The Yankees bullpen blew their 2 best yesterday, but I still believe we see Joba again in this game if necessary, and I although I believe they let up runs late, but I think their lead will be well in hand by that point and Rivera cruised through the Indian lineup yesterday - and looks confident.
Yankees 9
Indians 4
im keeping all picks in this thread, be careful with dates
2-1, EVEN money so far on the playoffs
didnt get a chance to have a huge play on cleveland back in cleveland vs. NY, really thought theyd win tonight and was hoping for it not only for the wager tonight, but i thought they would lay a huge egg in cleveland
2-1, EVEN
Thursday:
4* Arizona D-Backs -128
It's not everyday that you get a premiere pitcher like Brandon Webb at this kind of price. I dont care what his past history is vs. the Rockies, the big money pitchers step up in the post-season, and Webb is that kind of guy.
The D-Backs have flown under the radar as a team loaded with young talent, a bunch of names nobody has ever heard of, while the Rockies have become America's team behind their huge winning streak.
IMO, that streak stops tonight. Streaks in baseball just sort of happen. You go out to the yard and play everyday, and get hot. But I think these past few days off have really hurt the Rockies more than any other team because the Rockies are a team playing over their heads. If any pitcher on the staff exemplifies that - it is Jeff Francis. Franics had his best season, but IMO, this is a whole new ballgame and I dont feel comfortable with my money on him.
Upton, Drew, etc for the D-Backs, these guys are all first rounders, big-time talent, not some punk rookies having a nice season. You put that talent at home, with Webb on the mound and the MLB Saves leader on the back-end and I think you have a nice recipe vs. the overachieving Rockies. Rockies had too many days off while they were streaking, now go on the road to a team with some expansion franchise magic of their own.
Arizona 5
Colorado 3
Thursday:
4* Arizona D-Backs -128
It's not everyday that you get a premiere pitcher like Brandon Webb at this kind of price. I dont care what his past history is vs. the Rockies, the big money pitchers step up in the post-season, and Webb is that kind of guy.
The D-Backs have flown under the radar as a team loaded with young talent, a bunch of names nobody has ever heard of, while the Rockies have become America's team behind their huge winning streak.
IMO, that streak stops tonight. Streaks in baseball just sort of happen. You go out to the yard and play everyday, and get hot. But I think these past few days off have really hurt the Rockies more than any other team because the Rockies are a team playing over their heads. If any pitcher on the staff exemplifies that - it is Jeff Francis. Franics had his best season, but IMO, this is a whole new ballgame and I dont feel comfortable with my money on him.
Upton, Drew, etc for the D-Backs, these guys are all first rounders, big-time talent, not some punk rookies having a nice season. You put that talent at home, with Webb on the mound and the MLB Saves leader on the back-end and I think you have a nice recipe vs. the overachieving Rockies. Rockies had too many days off while they were streaking, now go on the road to a team with some expansion franchise magic of their own.
Arizona 5
Colorado 3
3-2, -3.12
Winner last time out on Colorado. Tonight, probably my best play of the playoffs goes tonight:
6* Redsox/Indians over 10 -110
Tim Wakefield vs. Paul Byrd tonight.
Wakefield has not pitched in a long time, and that is not a good thing for a knuckleball pitcher. When you have a fresh arm as a knuckleballer, sometimes you overthrow a bit - which isnt good. The knuckleball is a feel pitch, and if you havent thrown it in awhile, and you arent sharp with it, you have a hard time feeling out where it is going. I dont expect Wakefield to do well tonight, and I dont expect him to last long in this game. Over is 9-4 in Wakefield's last 13 starts as a favorite. The Indians have gotten clutch hit after clutch hit, and they are hot on offense. Some bad weather in Cleveland, so if it is a slick ball, another reason why it wont "knuckle" as well. Indians have hit right handers well: Over is 4-1-1 in Indians last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 7-2-1 in Red Sox last 10 playoff games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
On the flip side, Paul Byrd is exactly what this Redsox team needs to get their bats back going. Boston has not faired well vs. the power arms. But, Byrd is a finesse pitcher and I think the Redsox can handle him. Guys like Manny Ramirez dont allow slow pitchers to catch them off balance. Manny is a guy that doesnt get cheated at the plate, and takes hacks no matter what the count. Expect Manny to go big fly tonight if he gets something to hit.
Byrd has been the medicine for many struggling teams as Over is 4-1 in Byrd's last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
In addition:
This is a huge game for Boston, and this team will be ready to hit tonight. Cleveland has been hot, and these Redsox will come out with the mentality that they need to put up runs.
Umpire tonight is Emmel. Over is 7-3 in his last 10 games behind home plate.
Cleveland 8
Boston 5
Winner last time out on Colorado. Tonight, probably my best play of the playoffs goes tonight:
6* Redsox/Indians over 10 -110
Tim Wakefield vs. Paul Byrd tonight.
Wakefield has not pitched in a long time, and that is not a good thing for a knuckleball pitcher. When you have a fresh arm as a knuckleballer, sometimes you overthrow a bit - which isnt good. The knuckleball is a feel pitch, and if you havent thrown it in awhile, and you arent sharp with it, you have a hard time feeling out where it is going. I dont expect Wakefield to do well tonight, and I dont expect him to last long in this game. Over is 9-4 in Wakefield's last 13 starts as a favorite. The Indians have gotten clutch hit after clutch hit, and they are hot on offense. Some bad weather in Cleveland, so if it is a slick ball, another reason why it wont "knuckle" as well. Indians have hit right handers well: Over is 4-1-1 in Indians last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 7-2-1 in Red Sox last 10 playoff games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
On the flip side, Paul Byrd is exactly what this Redsox team needs to get their bats back going. Boston has not faired well vs. the power arms. But, Byrd is a finesse pitcher and I think the Redsox can handle him. Guys like Manny Ramirez dont allow slow pitchers to catch them off balance. Manny is a guy that doesnt get cheated at the plate, and takes hacks no matter what the count. Expect Manny to go big fly tonight if he gets something to hit.
Byrd has been the medicine for many struggling teams as Over is 4-1 in Byrd's last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
In addition:
- Over is 4-0 in Byrd's last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-1 in Byrd's last 8 home starts.
- Over is 7-1 in Byrd's last 8 home starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
- Over is 10-2-2 in Byrd's last 14 starts on grass.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Byrd's last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Byrd's last 6 starts overall.
This is a huge game for Boston, and this team will be ready to hit tonight. Cleveland has been hot, and these Redsox will come out with the mentality that they need to put up runs.
Umpire tonight is Emmel. Over is 7-3 in his last 10 games behind home plate.
Cleveland 8
Boston 5
Box, really respect your work and always look for your plays..
Quick question, I really like the play a lot but the fact it is pouring down rain and it is supposed to keep raining until around 10, that sort of makes me want to hold off.
Does the weather change your decision or does not fact enough to matter??
Thank you and keep up the solid work
Quick question, I really like the play a lot but the fact it is pouring down rain and it is supposed to keep raining until around 10, that sort of makes me want to hold off.
Does the weather change your decision or does not fact enough to matter??
Thank you and keep up the solid work
First off, thanks for the comments.
2ndly, rain does not scare me for an over at all. IMO, the pitcher's are the ones who suffer. They have a specific pre-game routine that they like to go through. And if they break that, they freak out.
If the rain delays the game, then you have pitchers sitting on the bench getting "cold". A lot of teams are forced to bring in new pitchers because arm-wise, it is dangerous to bring a pitcher back into the game if he has been sitting for an extended period of time and is no longer "warm" or "loose".
IMO, it's also difficult to pitch in the rain, especially for knuckleballers.
Good luck whatever you decide tonight.
