Monday's MLB Best Bets !

Not the way i wanted to start the month of August.......luckily there is 30 more days left in the month to get back on the positive side.

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
08/01/10 8-19-1 29.63% -6740 Detail
Totals 8-19-1 29.63% -6740


Monday, August 2Game Score Status Pick Amount

Toronto - 7:05 PM ET Toronto +169 500
NY Yankees - Over 9.5 500

Cincinnati - 7:05 PM ET Cincinnati -138 500 *****
Pittsburgh - Over 8 500

Cleveland - 7:10 PM ET Boston -200 500
Boston - Over 9 500

Minnesota - 7:10 PM ET Minnesota +108 500 *****
Tampa Bay - Over 8 500 *****

NY Mets - 7:10 PM ET Atlanta -133 500
Atlanta - Over 6.5 500 *****

Milwaukee - 8:05 PM ET Chi. Cubs +110 500
Chi. Cubs - Over 8 500

Houston - 8:15 PM ET Houston +143 500 *****
St. Louis - Over 7.5 500

Washington - 9:40 PM ET Washington +115 500 *****
Arizona - Over 9.5 500 *****

Kansas City - 10:05 PM ET Kansas City +201 500 *****
Oakland - Over 7.5 500

San Diego - 10:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -127 500
LA Dodgers - Over 6.5 500



Good Luck !

MLB
Write-Up


Monday, August 2

Hot pitchers
-- Wood has a 2.42 RA in his last four starts.
-- Hudson is 4-2, 2.08 in his last six starts. JSantana is 1-0, 1.23 in his last three road starts.
-- Wells has a 1.79 RA in his last six starts.
-- Myers is 3-0, 1.67 in his last five starts.
-- Kuroda has a 1.80 RA in his last three starts. Richard is 4-1, 4.81 in his last seven starts.

-- Burnett is 2-0, 0.00 in his last two starts (11.1 IP). Morrow is 2-0, 2.77 in his last couple starts.
-- Pavano is 4-0, 1.76 in his last four starts.
-- Red Sox won last three Lackey starts (1-0, 2.02).
-- Cahill is 4-2, 2.96 in his last seven starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Ohlendorf is 0-2, 4.80 in his last four starts.
-- Gallardo is 2-2, 8.31 in his last four starts.
-- Lopez is 1-3, 8.16 in his last five starts. LHernandez is 1-3, 4.31 in his last five starts.

-- Hellickson is making MLB debut; he was 12-3, 2.45 in AAA ball.
-- Carmona is 1-3, 6.38 in his last four road starts.
-- Bannister is 0-5, 7.15 in his last six starts.

Totals
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Pittsburgh home games.
-- Five of last six Atlanta home games went over the total.
-- Five of last six Wells starts stayed under the total.
-- Four of last five Houston road games went over the total.
-- Under is 7-3 in last ten Arizona home games.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in Dodgers' last eleven games.

-- Over is 9-1-1 in last eleven games in the Bronx.
-- Last four Minnesota road games went over the total.
-- Over is 8-4 in last twelve Lackey starts.
-- Over is 7-3-1 in last eleven Kansas City road games.

Hot Teams
-- Reds won six of their last nine games.
-- Braves are 29-9 in their last 38 home games, but lost five of their last seven games overall.
-- Cardinals won 11 of their last 12 home games. Astros won last four games, outscoring foes 30-4.
-- Padres won 11 of their last 15 games.

-- Blue Jays won six of their last eight games. Bronx won 18 of its last 25 games.
-- Red Sox won four of their last five games.
-- Rays won 12 of their last 14 home games. Twins won their last eight games, scoring 67 runs.
-- Oakland won six of its last eight home games.

Cold Teams
-- Mets are 5-12 since the All-Star break.
-- Pirates lost eight of their last ten games.
-- Cubs lost last five games, allowing 45 runs. Brewers lost 18 of their last 23 road games.
-- Nationals lost seven of their last nine road games. Arizona lost eight of its last ten games overall.
-- Dodgers lost their last five games, scoring nine runs.

-- Indians lost six of their last nine games.
-- Royals lost 14 of their last 20 games

MLB


Monday, August 2

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Trend Report
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7:05 PM
TORONTO vs. NY YANKEES
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 9 of NY Yankees's last 11 games at home

7:05 PM
CINCINNATI vs. PITTSBURGH
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Pittsburgh's last 24 games when playing at home against Cincinnati

7:10 PM
CLEVELAND vs. BOSTON
Cleveland is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cleveland
Boston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home

7:10 PM
NY METS vs. ATLANTA
NY Mets are 6-15 SU in its last 21 games
NY Mets are 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games at home

7:10 PM
MINNESOTA vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Tampa Bay is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home

8:05 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. CHI CUBS
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
Milwaukee is 4-8 SU in their last 12 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Milwaukee

8:15 PM
HOUSTON vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Houston's last 13 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Houston
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

9:40 PM
WASHINGTON vs. ARIZONA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games on the road
Washington is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Arizona's last 10 games at home
Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington

10:05 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. OAKLAND
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Kansas City's last 13 games when playing Oakland
Kansas City is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Oakland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Kansas City
Oakland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

10:10 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. LA DODGERS
San Diego is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
LA Dodgers are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games
LA Dodgers are 12-5 SU in their last 17 games when playing at home against San Diego

MLB


Monday, August 2

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Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets
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Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Rays (-110, 8)

Both teams are on a roll, winning nine of their last 10, and pitching has big a big part of their recent surges.

The Twins are coming off back-to-back shutouts and have allowed a total of only 19 runs during the 10-game stretch. The Rays have allowed just 20 in the same span.

But the roll has taken a toll on the Rays' starting pitchers, all of whom lasted at least six innings in each of their two starts during the team's hot streak.

So manager Joe Maddon has decided to give them all an extra day of rest and has called up righthanded prospect Jeremy Hellickson to face the hot-hitting Twins.

"It's our attempt at being prudent, monitoring their pitches and innings," Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's about having a very capable pitcher like Hellickson who we feel good about throwing out there in that moment."

The big difference between the two team's success has been hitting. The Twins scored in double-digits in three straight games and tallied 68 runs during their 10-game stretch. The Rays managed just 39.

Hellickson is a top prospect, going 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Durham, but he's making his big-league debut against some big-time hitters. Welcome to the show, kid.

Pick: Twins


Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates (145, 8)

Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions, this matchup between the red-hot Reds and the piss-poor Pirates only matters in one dugout.

The Reds have won four of their last five after getting a rare series win against the Braves over the weekend. They showed true grit by rallying late to win the last two.

The Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 and have scored only 25 runs during that span. The Bucs are batting just .246 against lefties this season.

But pitching is the real concern for Pittsburgh, with starter Ross Ohlendorf (1-8) returning to the mound for the first time since getting hit in the head by a liner against the Rockies.

Ohlendorf has lasted more than six innings only three times in his last 10 outings and the Bucs traded away closer Octavio Dotel, throwing their bullpen in disarray. This one probably won't be close enough to matter.

Pick: Reds


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Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
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Streaking

John Lackey (10-5, 4.26 ERA), Boston Red Sox

Lackey is finally starting to live up to that five-year, $82.5 million he signed in the offseason. The former Angels ace survived a miserable first two months of the season and has rebounded nicely in June and July.

The Red Sox are 3-0 in his last three starts and 8-4 in his last 12. He also owns a 2.35 ERA over his last three appearances.

Brett Myers (8-6, 3.10 ERA), Houston Astros

Houston traded away most of its talented veterans but held onto Myers. There’s even talk the Astros are close to signing the former Phillies hurler to an extension.

So while Houston begins its youth movement, the club wants Myers to hang around and anchor the rotation – and for good reason. Just take a look at dude’s stats.

Even with a brutal lineup and relief staff, the ‘Stros are 4-0 in Myers’ last four outings.


Slumping

Monday’s group of hurlers doesn’t feature a guy who’s really been piss poor lately, but there are three quality arms coming off terrible starts.

Fausto Carmona (10-8, 3.92 ERA), Cleveland Indians

Carmona was rocked for seven runs on 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings last week against the Yankees.

"Fausto just didn't have it," Indians manager Manny Acta told reporters after the game. "That's the wrong lineup not to have your pitches working for you. They hit him around and put him in a big hole."

Yovani Gallardo (9-5, 2.77 ERA), Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers’ ace was a victim of the Big Red Machine in his last outing. Gallardo surrendered six runs, five of which were earned, in just 2 2/3 innings.

"It was one of those days that it just felt like anything I threw up there was going to get hit," Gallardo said after getting the hook.

Johan Santana (8-5, 3.11 ERA), New York Mets

This two-time Cy Young winner allowed a career-high 13 hits in his last trip to the hill. He got tagged for six runs in the first inning and need 38 pitches just to get out of that first frame.

"Johan really did a great job of settling down, saving our bullpen a little bit," Mets third baseman David Wright told the Associated Press after the game.

Santana allowed just one more run before being lifted in the top of the sixth inning.

MLB


Monday, August 2

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August's best and worst pitchers
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With the MLB trade deadline at hand and the NFL preseason whetting our pigskin appetite, the month of August sets the table for the stretch run of the baseball season. Take a look below at the pitchers can we count on to satisfy our tastes and which ones figure to turn our stomach.

Listed are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of August. On the flip side, we’ve also listed pitchers that struggle in August team starts, winning 33 percent or less of their efforts.

To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts with at least one start each August over the last three years.

August’s best pitchers

Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins (12-6)

Minnesota’s starting rotation has been mediocre for a large part of the season and Scott Baker has been part of the problem, with ERA hovering around 5.00. This would be the right time for the right hander to pitch up to expectations with the Twins looking for another AL Central crown.

Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers (8-3)

Milwaukee’s Dave Bush begins this month with below-average career record of 53-63, however, he has flourished in the dog days of summer. With fastball topping out at 90 mph, he has to have his variety of breaking stuff working to be effective, which it is usually this month.

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (13-5)

Last season, Hernandez was 19-5 with a WHIP of 1.114 and hitters batting .227 against him. This year, his WHIP to start this month is exactly the same, opponents are hitting ever so slightly better at .231, yet with an inferior team, he is 7-7. With run support, King Felix could have typical August.

Scott Kazmir, Los Angeles Angels (12-5)

On the DL, expected to have rehab assignment the middle of August and could return if all goes well.

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants (12-6)

Being a two-time Cy Young winner, there are not many bad months. Though still extremely effective, the ERA is up over 3.00 this season with strikeouts down and opponents batting average up to .239 (compared to .221 career). Let’s see if Lincecum pitches to usual high standards with San Francisco back in pennant race.

Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia Phillies (13-3)

Always a strong closer at the end of the year, Oswalt got the energy boost he needed being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees (13-5)

On the DL since July 19, Pettitte has been soft-tossing without discomfort and could be back before projected 4-5 weeks initial outlook to continue August dominance.

Joel Pineiro, Los Angeles Angels (12-2)

In the midst of solid 10-7 season and career innings pitched, the Angels’ right hander is out six to eight weeks with oblique strain.

C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees (14-4)

The big left hander is 8-1 with 2.10 ERA in his last 10 starts, proving he is primed for another awesome August.

Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels (10-4)

Always a quality No. 3 starter, Santana has often been an important cog in the Angels’ success in the AL West. While this might not occur in 2010, this Dominican dandy is poised for another sharp month.

James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays (12-6)

If Tampa Bay is to catch the Yankees, getting better pitching from James Shields would make a difference. His 9-9 record with 4.79 ERA is far cry from 2007 and 2008 when he was 26-16, with ERA a full run lower. It’s time for Shields to find a way to avoid bats.

Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals (10-3)

The Cardinals have a pair of aces with Chris Carpenter and Wainwright and the Georgia native could be on to a 20-win campaign if he has his usual stellar August. Opposing teams are batting a career low .219 against him.

Randy Wolf, Milwaukee Brewers (10-3)

The lefty has found the difference between Miller Park and Dodger Stadium to be severe this season. In 2009, opponents hit .227 against Wolf, presently they are at .269. His strikeout totals this season are more reflective of his poorer career years with 87 to begin August, compared to 160 last season. Will Wolf turn it around?


August’s worst pitchers

Zach Duke, Pittsburgh Pirates (2-8)

When opponents are batting over .300 against a starting pitcher for his career, the front office should look in the mirror and question themselves.

Mark Guthrie, Baltimore Orioles (5-13)

His ERA is up nearly a run in last 10 starts, explaining a 1-6 record. When Guthrie struggles, it’s because the fastball comes to the plate like it is on a string and breaking stuff lacks bite to keep hitters off balance. Pitching for Orioles doesn’t help.

Livan Hernandez, Washington Nationals (4-11)

His ERA is creeping up, yet still highly respectable 3.22. For most of his later career, Hernandez has worn down as the year progressed, making him a play-against pitcher.

Scott Olsen, Washington Nationals (2-9)

Has made one start since being placed on the DL in May and difficult to determine how the left hander might do for Washington with only 20 total appearances the last two years.


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This Day in Baseball
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On August 2 in Baseball History...

1906 - Doc White launches the White Sox on a 19-game winning streak (longest in AL history) with a 3-0 win over Boston. The streak, interrupted only by a tie with New York, catapults Chicago from fourth place to first in ten days.

1907 - Walter Johnson, 19, debuts with Washington and loses 3-2 to Detroit. The first hit off him is a bunt single by Ty Cobb.

1921 - A Chicago jury brings in a verdict of not guilty against the Black Sox. That night, jurors and defendants celebrate with a party in an Italian restaurant. Ignoring the verdict, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis bans all eight defendants from baseball for life.

1938 - Larry MacPhail has official baseballs dyed dandelion yellow, and they are used in the first game of a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Cardinals at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers win 6-2. The Dodgers will use up their yellow balls in three more games in 1939.

1959 - Bill Bruton of Milwaukee hit two bases-loaded triples to lead the Braves to an 11-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

1959 - Giants first baseman Willie McCovey hits the first of his 521 major league home runs, off Ron Kline, as San Francisco downs the Pirates 5-3. Johnny Antonelli wins his 15th game.

1970 - In their last meeting of the year, Baltimore defeats Kansas City 10-8. It is the Orioles' 23rd straight win over the Royals over a two-year span, a major league mark.

1979 - Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, 32, perishes at Canton, Ohio, in a crash of the plane he was piloting. A crowd of 51,151 will attend the memorial tribute at Yankee Stadium the following day.

1982 - Oakland's Rickey Henderson steals his 100th base of the season in a 6-5 win over Seattle, tying the American League record he set last season. Henderson is the first player ever to steal 100 bases twice.

1986 - Dodgers Alejandro Pena and Tom Niedenfuer combine to one-hit the Reds, 7-1, allowing only Eddie Milner's leadoff home run off Pena in the sixth inning. It is the fifth time Milner has collected the only hit in a one-hitter, tying Cesar Tovar's Major League record.

1987 - Eric Davis led off the bottom of the 11th inning with his 30th home run of the season, giving the Cincinnati Reds a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Davis' homer made him the seventh player with 30 homers and 30 steals in the same season.

1987 - Kevin Seitzer went 6-for-6 with two homers and drove in seven runs to pace a 20-hit Kansas City attack as the Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 13-5 in 102-degree heat.

1990 - Yankees rookie Kevin Maas hits his tenth home run in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. But the Yanks lose to Detroit 6-5 in 11 innings.

1991 - Mike Jeffcoat becomes the first American League pitcher to get an RBI since 1972 in a 15-1 Rangers rout of Milwaukee.

1992 - Tom Seaver, Rollie Fingers, Hal Newhouser and Bill McGowan are enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

1993 - An investor team of Baltimore lawyer Peter Angelos and Cincinnati businessman William DeWitt submit a winning bid for the Orioles during a bankruptcy court auction in New York City. Also on the winning team are popular author Tom Clancy and ABC broadcaster Jim McKay.

Daily Sports Roundup: August 2

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Blue Jays will try to beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, while the Mets open up a series against the Braves down in Atlanta.

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

The American League schedule for Monday has Cleveland at Boston, Minnesota at Tampa Bay, Kansas City at Oakland, and Toronto at the Yankees. The Blue Jays will send Brandon Morrow (7-6, 4.62 ERA) to the mound in that last contest, while New York counters with A.J. Burnett (9-8, 4.52 ERA). Righthander Morrow pitched at Yankee Stadium back on July 4, surrendering five runs on nine hits over six innings of work in a no-decision. Righthander Burnett faced the Blue Jays at home in his July 2 outing, holding them scoreless on four hits over 6 2-3 innings of work but still settling for a no-decision. Burnett is coming off back-to-back dominant wins over the Royals and Tribe.

Over in the National League on Monday it'll then be Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, Milwaukee at the Cubs, Houston at St. Louis, Washington at Arizona, San Diego at the Dodgers, and the Mets at Atlanta. Johan Santana (8-5, 3.11 ERA) will be trying to pitch New York to a win in that last matchup, while the Braves give the ball to Tim Hudson (11-5, 2.40 ERA). Lefthander Santana was rocked by the Cardinals in his most recent trip to the mound, allowing seven runs on 13 hits over 5 2-3 innings of work in that contest. Righthander Hudson dazzled the Nationals last time out, holding them to one run on seven hits over 7 2-3 innings of work in the victory, walking one and striking out seven.

Bettors' best friend: Monday's wagering tips

Lines off the board

Brewers at Cubs: Total is off pending wind speed and direction at Wrigley Field.

Lines to keep an eye on

Reds at Pirates: Total opened at 8.5 but has dropped to 8 at most books.


Dodgers at Padres: Total opened at 7 but has slipped to 6.5 at some books.

Weather to watch

Nationals at Diamondbacks: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Mets at Braves: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Blue Jays at Yankees: 30 percent chance of showers.

Who's hot

Rays have won nine of their last 10.

Twins have won seven in a row.

Reds have won six of last seven vs. Pirates.

Astros have won six of their last seven.

Athletics have won six of last seven vs. Royals.

Who's not

Orioles have lost six of their last seven.

Indians have lost six of their last seven.

Brewers have lost five in a row.

Cubs have lost five in a row.

Key stat

200/1 - Odds at the start of the season for the San Diego Padres to win the World Series. The Padres, off to a surprising 60-42 start and in first place in the NL West, are now listed at 11/2, tied for third highest with the Rays and trailing only the Yankees (11/4) and Braves (5/1).

Injury that shouldn't be overlooked

The good news is that X-rays taken of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard's ankle and elbow were negative after he left Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Howard was hit by a pitch in the right elbow in the first inning and X-rays were taken as a precaution while his left ankle was being evaluated. The bad news for the Phillies is that Howard, who is batting .282 with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs this season, may be out of the lineup for awhile.

Game of the day

Twins at Rays (-110, 8.5)

Notable quotable

"Don't take this wrong, but they take advantage of us. We bring a Japanese player and they are very good and they bring all these privileges to them. We bring a Dominican kid ... go to the minor leagues, good luck. Good luck. And it's always going to be like that. It's never going to change. But that's the way it is."

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen telling reporters that Major League Baseball gives preferential treatment to Asian players over Latinos.

Tips and notes

Outspoken Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen ruffled feathers again Sunday, accusing Major League Baseball of giving Asian players preferential treatment over Latinos. Guillen, who has had verbal run-ins with White Sox managament and MLB officials in the past for his comments, said Asian players receive additional perks that are not afforded to Latin Americans, such as translators. Guillen is sure to come under fire again in the coming days and, whether you agree with his words or not, his brashness tends to light a fire under his team. As the spotlight heats up on Ozzie, look for the White Sox to catch fire too.


Denver Broncos running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were injured in Sunday's workouts. Moreno, who led the team in rushing yards last season with 947 yards, suffered a serious hamstring injury. Moments later Buckhalter, who rushed for 642 yards last season, suffered a leg injury. The Broncos, who are 50/1 to win the Super Bowl, were mum on the severity of the injuries but a 1-2 blow to their top two RBs is a bad way to open training camp.

After a rash of recent injuries to big-name wide receivers (Dallas' Dez Bryant, Minnesota's Percy Harvin and Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson), the Patriots got an injured star receiver back Sunday when they activated Wes Welker from the active/PUP list, enabling him to practice with the team. Welker passed his physical and declared himself fit for action just six months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. The 29-year-old was the top slot receiver in the NFL last season, hauling in a career-best 123 passes for 1,348 yards and six touchdowns. The Patriots are 9/1 to win the Super Bowl.

Monday's six-pack

There have been 15 games this season where the starting pitcher had 30+ pitches called strikes..........here are some notes on those games...

-- 8 of those games came in NL, where pitchers are going to take more pitches than a DH and seven were in AL games.

-- Most called strikes for any pitcher in one game was Cliff Lee against the A's Tuesday night; Kerwin Danley called 36 strikes for him, two more than any other pitcher in any other game this year.

-- Twins/Phillies both had three of those games pitched against them, so you figure they take more pitches than most teams.

-- Pitcher-friendly umps combined to issue 22 walks with 106 Ks; the pitchers were a combined 10-2, 2.30 in those 15 starts. Andy Pettitte, Yovani Gallardo are only pitchers involved in two of those games.

-- 13 of the 15 pitchers involved were favored to win, fueling a theory that umpires often called pitches based on expectation of winning.

-- 15 different games, 15 different plate umpires. That was surprising.


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Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend.......

13) Stuart Appleby shot the first-ever 59 on a par-70 course on the PGA Tour, and still had to sweat out last two holes before winning the PGA tournament this week in West Virginia. It was his first win in four years.

12) Charles Howell didn't have a bogey all week, first PGA golfer in four years to have no bogeys in a 72-hole tournament and not win.

11) Some fantasy baseball leagues are AL/NL only; imagine how hideous it is for guys who had Haren, Cantu or Podsednik on their teams? They just lose those guys for no reason.

10) Jerry Hairston Jr should pay me to watch his games; he's hitting .251 this year, but he has to be hitting .600 when I'm watching his at-bat. Guy never makes an out if I have his at-bat on TV. Very strange.

9) Reds-Braves series drew 122,855 fans this weekend, biggest crowd for a three-game series in history of Great American Ballpark in Cincy.

8) Mets' stellar front office turned down a trade of Octavio Dotel for AA pitcher Robert Carson, who is 0-3, 9.16 in the Eastern League, Terrific.

7) Pirates' acquisition of Chris Snyder might signal an eventual move to 1B for Ryan Doumit, who has had concussion issues behind the plate.

6) Dimaondback fans must be confused; they traded Max Scherzer for Edwin Jackson, they quickly flipped Jackson for Daniel Hudson, who had a good first start Sunday, but if I rooted for a team that traded for the combo of Bobby Crosby/Ryan Church, I'd question their competence.

5) Padre reliever Luke Gregersen is having a stellar season, he was thrown in at tail end of the trade that sent Kahlil Greene to the Cardinals back on March 23, 2009. Somethese these throw-ins become a great bargain. .

4) Dodgers lost last five games of Giant/Padre road trip, are now 8 games out in NL West race, 6.5 out of Wild Card race, and sinking fast.

3) At this point in NFL training camps, except for contract signings, no news is definitely good news. I'd rather read nothing about the Rams until the first exhibition game. Boring is good this time of year.

2) Seems like some people around Jets expect Gang Green to be given the Lombardi Trophy before Labor Day; easy to forget that the Colts went in the tank in Week 16 last year, or the Jets never make the playoffs. With so many combustible personalities and the New York media willing to be the lighter fluid, a team with a second-year QB is no guarantee.

1) For sure, the trading deadline is worst time of year to root for a small market baseball team; it just reinforces how helpless your team is.