MLB
Sunday, July 11
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Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets
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Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays (+120, 9.5)
Toronto catcher John Buck got a glimpse of Jose Bautista’s potential six years ago. The two played with each other for a month on Kansas City’s roster before Bautista was dealt to the Mets.
"For some reason, they let him go," Buck said about the Royals trading Bautista in 2004. "I remember talking with Tony Pena – he was the Royals' manager at the time – and he was, like, 'We shouldn't have let that kid go. He's going to be really good.'
"I said, 'Yeah, what were we doing? That kid is going to be awesome,” Buck concluded.
Bautista blasted his major league-leading 24th home run Saturday but wasn’t invited to participate in the Home Run Derby at his first All-Star Game. While Bautista won’t be teeing off on batting practice pitching Tuesday one thing is for certain – this Blue Jays club is going to swing for the fences night in and night out.
Toronto leads MLB in long balls with 132 – 16 more than the Red Sox in second place. The Jays connected for three homers Saturday and have 10 in their last three games. The OVER is 6-0-1 in Toronto’s last seven games and the team has hit 20 jacks during that stretch.
With two pitchers with ERAs of 4.70 or higher on the bump Sunday, these two powerful offenses are licking their chops. Look for a barrage of runs in the series finale.
Pick: Over
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox
It seems like just a few weeks ago we were talking about how the South Siders had completely turned the season around after it looked like hell had broken loose inside the clubhouse.
Oh wait, that was just a few weeks ago that Chicago strung together an 11-game win streak and was victorious in 15-of-16 contests. And now it’s déjà vu all over again.
The White Sox came into Saturday rolling along on a six-game streak while winning 23 of their past 28 ballgames. Chicago earned backers 19.93 units in that timeframe.
"I think if we would have said we were going to win that quick and be back in it as quick as we did, I don't think anybody would have believed us. We're starting to believe it,” Mark Buehrle said. "I think everybody knows the way we're playing, everybody is having fun right now.”
Chicago trails Detroit by just a half-game in the AL Central standings. Even with Zack Greinke on the mound Sunday, there isn’t any way the Royals can slow Chicago’s momentum heading into the break.
Pick: White Sox
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Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
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Streaking
Wandy Rodriguez (6-10, 5.00 ERA), Houston Astros
This 31-year-old lefty is starting to pitch the way he did in his career season a year ago. Rodriguez, like the rest of his Houston teammates, did not get off to the best start and his numbers are still pretty ugly.
But over his last three starts, the southpaw hurler is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA with 19 strikeouts to just four walks. This quality pitching seemed to come from nowhere. Rodriguez had allowed 14 runs in his last two starts before he turned it around.
C.J. Wilson (7-4, 3.24 ERA), Texas Rangers
You could make the case that this former closer was the Rangers’ staff ace before Texas acquired Cliff Lee. Wilson is having no trouble with the transition from the bullpen to the rotation. He’s riding a six-game stretch where he’s allowed two runs or less in each start.
The Rangers, not surprisingly, are 6-1 in Wilson’s last seven trips to the bump.
Slumping
Cole Hamels (6-7, 4.05 ERA), Philadelphia Phillies
This former World Series MVP really hasn’t been pitching that bad lately. It just seems like his team is destined to lose every time Hamels takes the mound. Philly is 1-5 in the lefty’s last six starts even though he sports a respectable 4.02 ERA over the stretch.
The Phillies average 4.8 runs per game this season but have given Hamels three or fewer runs in six of his last eight outings.
Jeff Francis (2-3, 5.12 ERA), Colorado Rockies
This Canadian left-hander has not been enjoying the 2010 campaign. It got off to a bad start when he had to sit out the first two months because of an injury and it hasn’t got much better since he returned to action.
Francis has allowed 13 runs in the last seven innings he’s tossed and the over is 4-1 in his last five starts.
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Sunday Night Baseball: Cubs at Dodgers
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Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers (-140, 8)
The final game before the 2010 MLB All-Star game takes place Sunday night at Chavez Ravine where the Dodgers host the Cubs. Let’s see how this game shapes up.
Furcal en fuego
After going 3-for-3 in the Thursday night series opener against the Cubs, shortstop Rafael Furcal was hitting .429 with a 1.201 slugging percentage since returning from his bereavement leave on June 23.
Furcal, who lost his father in a tragic equine accident, was named NL Player of the Week and is enjoying a career year. He was extremely close to his dad and is dedicating the rest of the season in his honor.
After the leadoff man’s 12-game streak of scoring a run - the longest since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles - and 10-game hit streak ended Wednesday, he bounced right back with the big performance Thursday.
"He's made such a big difference in our ballclub," said Los Angeles manager Joe Torre.
Man power shortage
Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 30 with a strained right hamstring. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class-A Inland Empire on July 10.
Barring a setback, Ramirez will likely be activated from the disabled list when he's eligible July 15, the day the Dodgers return from the All-Star break.
"To me, there's no reason to gamble. We already had lost him for six games. For the tradeoff of having him as a pinch-hitter, I thought this was safer. When the second half starts, we won't have time to nurse him," said Torre.
Clearing house
Several baseball sources have confirmed that the Cubs are ramping up their efforts in the trade market to start clearing the books of unwieldy salaries.
The problem is, who wants what the Cubs are selling?
• A sore-armed spot starter/middle reliever with more than $30 million left on his contract and a reputation as a hothead (Carlos Zambrano).
• A broken-down corner infielder due $14.6 million next season, hitting .204 with nine homers and 30 RBIs (Aramis Ramirez).
• A former All-Star first baseman who has only what's left on his $13 million contract for this season, but is hitting .230 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs (Derrek Lee).
• A .276 hitting outfielder with 15 homers and 43 RBIs, but a major liability in any defensive position that is under contract through 2014 at $18 million per year - with a full no-trade clause (Alfonso Soriano).
"It has been very difficult for the family and the team the first half of the season," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts told season ticket holders Thursday at Wrigley Field. "This is not where the family wanted to be in the first half of the season.”
Arms race
Chicago right-hander Carlos Silva worked 6.0 innings in his last start, snapping a four-game, team start loss skid in a 6-4 win at Arizona.
Silva left after experiencing some pain behind his knee. He has had various aches and pains for most of the season but has been able to pitch through them for the most part.
The Cubs are 11-5 in Silva’s 16 starts this season, including 5-2 on the road.
Silva, 2-5 in his last seven-team starts during July, is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in his career starts against the Dodgers.
After a rugged 1-5 effort in his first six-team starts for the Dodgers this season, veteran right-hander Vicente Padilla is 2-0 in his last two outings.
Padilla has been in commanding strikeout-walk ratio with 33 strikeouts and three walks in his last five starts. He has cashed in four of six-career team starts against the Cubs.
Parting thought
The Dodgers have ruled this series of late, going 12-6 the last 18 games entering the weekend, including 5-1 at home.
Chicago had won 14 of its previous17 road games in July prior to its series opening defeat to the Dodgers Thursday night.
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This Day in Baseball
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On July 11 in Baseball History...
1914 - Babe Ruth breaks in with Boston, pitching a 4-3 win over Cleveland. In his first Major League at-bat, Ruth strikes out. He will be 2-1 with Boston, spending most of the year in the International League at Providence.
1939 - With another Yankees-dominated lineup, the American League defeats the National League 3-1 in the seventh All-Star Game, at Yankee Stadium. Cincinnati outfielder Ival Goodman fractures his shoulder diving for a ball.
1944 - Phil Cavarretta of the Cubs sets an All-Star Game record by reaching base five successive times on a triple, single, and three walks in a 7-1 National League romp.
1950 - Making a leaping, off-the-wall catch of a Ralph Kiner drive, Ted Williams fractures his left elbow in the All-Star game at Chicago. Remaining in the game, he puts the American League ahead, 3-2, with an RBI single. Kiner's ninth-innving home run ties the game, and Red Schoendienst's blast in the fourteenth inning wins it.
1960 - Home runs by Ernie Banks and Del Crandall pace the National League to a 5-4 win over the American League at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in the first of two All-Star Games. Bob Friend notches his second All-Star win.
1961 - Strong winds dominate the first All-Star Game of 1961. A capacity crowd sees pitcher Stu Miller blown off the mound in the ninth inning at Candlestick Park. A balk is called, and it enables the American League to forge a 3-3 tie before losing 5-4 in ten innings.
1962 - For the first time since 1938, when the Waner brothers pulled the trick, brothers Hank and Tommie Aaron homer in the same inning. Both were hit in the last of the ninth, and Hank's grand slam provides the winning margin in a 8-6 Braves win over the Cards.
1968 - Earl Weaver, who never played in the Majors, replaces Hank Bauer as manager of the Orioles. Weaver will become famous for his boisterous temper and run-ins with umpires, but his 1,480 wins and .583 winning percentage in Baltimore will land him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
1976 - In a pre-game promotion at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, thirty-four couples are married at home plate. The nuptials are then followed by Championship Wrestling in an evening billed as 'Headlocks and Wedlocks.' The Braves then pin a 9-8 loss on the Mets.
1978 - At San Diego, the National League wins the All-Star Game 7-3. Steve Garvey singles and triples to earn the game's MVP trophy. Vida Blue starts for the National League, becoming the first pitcher to start for both leagues. Blue also started in 1971 and 1975 for the American League.
1985 - Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to record 4,000 strikeouts, fanning Danny Heep in the sixth inning of Houston's 4-3 win over the Mets. Ryan finishes with eleven strikeouts in seven innings, but gets no decision.
1987 - Billy Ripken, 22, joins his brother Cal in the Orioles starting lineup in Baltimore's 2-1 loss to the Twins. Orioles manager Cal Ripken, Sr., is the first to manage two sons in the Majors.
1989 - Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs lead off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs off Rick Reuschel to spark the American League to a 5-3 win in the All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium. Jackson earns MVP honors.
