Record: 0-0
My lines:
Boston -160, U8.5 -115
Actual lines:
Boston -150, U9.5 -110
Bet:
Boston/Oakland Under 9.5 -110
Daisuke does have some issues but he is pitching in his home country and will likely get a great night's sleep and come out prepared. Alot of his inadequacies last year were after he tired and had a fatigued arm. His arm should be good to go and it's not like Oakland has a ton of offense. Swisher is gone, Bradley is gone, Stewart is gone, Chavez is injured. Is a lineup of Suzuki, Barton, Ellis, Crosby, Hannahan, Brown, Denforia, Buck, and Cust going to scare anyone? Didn't think so.
Blanton did give up alot of runs to the Red Sox the last time they met last season but it was after Oakland was out of the playoff picture and you didn't see Joe's best stuff. The Red Sox struggled to hit away from home last season and just weren't in a rhythm away from the Green Monstah (my Boston accent). Blanton pitched against the Red Sox earlier in the season and was very effective.
The ballpark does have a short left field fence but everything else is very similar to your average American ballpark. The only way this goes over is if alot of balls go over the left field wall, but I don't see that happening enough to discourage my bet.
Both teams also have good bullpens. Neither of them should give up late runs in bunches.
Good luck to everyone this season.
My lines:
Boston -160, U8.5 -115
Actual lines:
Boston -150, U9.5 -110
Bet:
Boston/Oakland Under 9.5 -110
Daisuke does have some issues but he is pitching in his home country and will likely get a great night's sleep and come out prepared. Alot of his inadequacies last year were after he tired and had a fatigued arm. His arm should be good to go and it's not like Oakland has a ton of offense. Swisher is gone, Bradley is gone, Stewart is gone, Chavez is injured. Is a lineup of Suzuki, Barton, Ellis, Crosby, Hannahan, Brown, Denforia, Buck, and Cust going to scare anyone? Didn't think so.
Blanton did give up alot of runs to the Red Sox the last time they met last season but it was after Oakland was out of the playoff picture and you didn't see Joe's best stuff. The Red Sox struggled to hit away from home last season and just weren't in a rhythm away from the Green Monstah (my Boston accent). Blanton pitched against the Red Sox earlier in the season and was very effective.
The ballpark does have a short left field fence but everything else is very similar to your average American ballpark. The only way this goes over is if alot of balls go over the left field wall, but I don't see that happening enough to discourage my bet.
Both teams also have good bullpens. Neither of them should give up late runs in bunches.
Good luck to everyone this season.
