Monday's six-pack
The six college football teams whose 2010 schedule has the teams with the worst winning percentage last year (Source: Phil Steele magazine)
115) Western Michigan, 64-85, .430
116) Northen Illinois, 63-85, .426
117) Ohio U, 62-85, .422
118) Texas-El Paso, 59-89, .399
119) Middle Tennessee, 58-89, .395
120) Buffalo, 59-91, .393
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Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend.........
13) Ubaldo Jimenez won again Sunday, but his ERA jumped from 0.78 to 0.93 after Conor Jackson's 8th-inning home run. He has second-lowest ERA ever after 14 starts, trailing Dutch Leonard (0.83, 1914 Red Sox).
12) As stupid as it is that AL/NL have different rules with regards to the DH, same thing holds in Japan, where the Central League uses a DH but Pacific League doesn't. Not sure why its so hard to have uniform rules.
11) I'm sure Laker coaches wrote a great scouting report for the Finals, but it would be nice if the Laker players would read it. This just in: #20 in the green jerseys can really shoot the ball. This is a business where there are millions of dollars at stake, but no one guards Ray Allen. Brilliant!!!
10) Would the NHL be better off not going head/head with NBA Finals, or does it even matter? Not really sure how many viewers they compete for with pro basketball. NHL needs Flyers to win next game to set up a dramatic, winner-take-all 7th game. By the way, the Stanley Cup playoffs are more fun than the NBA Finals. Hockey is better suited for best-of-7.
9) Very cute lady named Lindsay Czarniak is host of TNT's NASCAR pre-race show; had never seen her before. If I run ESPN, next time her contract is up, she's hosting one of my NFL or college football shows.
8) Golfer Justin Rose won't be 30 until July 30; he turned pro in 1998; know what his career earnings are? $17,440,489, thats what. In his long and great career, Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest player in history of golf, has earned $9,108,352, and that counts the Senior Tour.
7) You don't think the game can be addicting? Phil Nevin was first pick of the 1992 draft, played 12 years in major leagues for five different teams, earned an estimated $40M in his career. Wasn't a bad player-- he hit 208 homers, batted .270. Know what he does now? He rides the buses as the manager of the Erie Seawolves, AA farm team of the Tigers. He could do anything he wanted with his money-- he manages minor leaguers. Cool.
6) Is Dioner Navarro Tampa Bay's version of Wally Pipp? John Jaso is hitting .292 with an OB% of .410 and batted leadoff this weekend. He is the Rays' new starting catcher, all because Navarro got hurt.
5) A's lost a screwy game Saturday because they walked Justin Morneau intentionally with bases empty and one out in a tie game. Morneau scored the winning run after doubling Friday, but he was ill Saturday and had to be run for as soon as he got to first base. He pinch-hit again Sunday and actually made an out, as Oakland salvaged the series finale.
4) Patrick Leyland, son of Detroit manager Jim, is a high school catcher who will be drafted sometime this week, of one many story lines that will unfold as teams restock their minor league systems.
3) Before Mr Jimenez did it this year, last time pitcher had two scoreless streaks of 25+ innings in same season was Jack Morris, back in '86. This kid had his 33-inning scoreless streak snapped by Arizona Sunday- he will start in All-Star Game-- doubt he can stay under Bob Gibson's 1.12, but maybe what he's doing at high altitude is more impressive anyway.
With Steven Strasburg pitching Tuesday, here are couple wagering props for Strasburg in his rookie season; keep in mind, it looks as if his innings limit is going to be around 105.5 for the rest of this season........
2) Over/under for Strasburg wins this season: 8.
1) Over/under for his ERA: over 3.65, -$120; under 3.65, -$130
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