2012 MLB O/U Record: 254-248-27, -$1,858 (Been making bigger bets this year, with countless fluke breaks, obviously. I also undoubtedly lead the country in half-run/one-run losses)
2011 MLB O/U Record: 366-270-42, +$1,104
Posted a 1-1 record yesterday, but certainly a rare instance where I was 100-percent wrong on a game, as in the case with lost Ohlendorf vs Cueto matchup, which really got to me personally because at least with most of my losses, I’m completely on target (Hence why I lead the entire country in half-run/one-run over/under losses). That one, however, was well off the mark, and those are the kinds of games that motivate me more because, I don’t know about the rest of you, but to me, that’s just inexcusable when you possess the starting pitcher knowledge that I have, and being a perfectionist who wants to win every single game, that really gets to me. Let’s see if the motivation and extra work I put in, on top of the usual amount of hours every single day and night that I spend on this stuff, come throughf or me on this first Friday evening in July…
Miami Marlins @ Washington Nationals - $33 for $30
Brad Hand vs John Lannan
UNDER 8.5
Well, actually I won’t be waiting for the evening, as I am instead starting my card off with the one and only late-afternoon ballgame, that being this delightful pitching matchup that marks the return of one of my favorite pitchers from a year ago. Yup, that’s right, it’s the grand return (At least to me in my own little world) of the BRAD HAND, a guy that I followed very, very closely throughout his rookie season of 2011. First off, don’t be fooled by his 1-8 record from his rookie campaign - this is a kid that can throw and put together a gem. His acceptable 4.20 ERA is an indication of that, and while his 38:35 K:BB ratio leaves a lot to be desired, I think this youngster has figured it out this year in Triple-A. If you take a look at his overall performance thus far, you’ll notice he’s gone 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 22 starts, but the most impressive item on his statline is the much-improved 116:54 K:BB ratio in 128 innings this year. That immediately tells me he has made necessary strides in progressing his development into becoming a legitimate Major League starter, and considering I actually liked what I saw out of him last year, as long as he has cut down his walks and raised the strikeouts, which it appears he has done considerably, then this is someone who is ready to take off and solidify a permanent spot for himself in the Marlins’ rotation.
Opposing Mr. Hand will be the re-return, for lack of a better term, of former Nationals’ ace John Lannan, who has had quite the odyssey this year. Of course, he was the highest profile name to not make a Major League roster coming out of spring training, given his recent past starting consecutive Opening Day games for the formerly lowly Nationals, and while he hasn’t responded well at Triple-A, he did come through tremendously in his one and only start in the bigs this year, that being about a month ago when he handled the feisty Braves’ lineup surprisingly with ease, limiting them to two runs and five hits over seven terrific innings. You know what that tells me from a veteran? He’s just itching to get back to the Majors after experiencing extensive success, and while his Triple-A numbers are mediocire, that’s a perfectly normal route for a veteran to go through, since he's simply going through the motions against lesser competiton. The fact is, a lot of veterans, when they’ve been spoiled by former glory, somewhat don’t give it their all at Triple-A, because of the mental variable of having to deal with below-average competition when they’ve been successful before at the highest level, but when they do return to the grand stage, they know how to pitch and what to bust out on the mound. In other words, we should expect the normal John Lannan this afternoon that we’ve grown accustomed to. He’ll be looking forward to this one, especially since he could be leaned on heavily again later on with the eventual 2012 demise of Stephen Strasburg. Lannan is a name we will start hearing again more often as this season rolls on, and his potential impact begins again today. He knows it, which is very crucial.
Other 8/3 MLB Over/Unders I’m Taking:
Brett Cecil vs Dan Straily UNDER 7.5 -$25 for $20 (Straily looks like the real deal. Cecil has shown, especially lately, that he can hang in there against an elite pitcher like the one Straily is projected to be. The extra half run made it enticing for me)
**Will Add More Over/Under(s) Throughout Day Leading Up To Gametime**
**Remember that if you have a question concerning an over/under, I will gladly assist you with it if I see it before the game starts, even the ones I don’t bet on, as I have at least a small vibe one very single over/under from studying this stuff several hours every single day and night**
2011 MLB O/U Record: 366-270-42, +$1,104
Posted a 1-1 record yesterday, but certainly a rare instance where I was 100-percent wrong on a game, as in the case with lost Ohlendorf vs Cueto matchup, which really got to me personally because at least with most of my losses, I’m completely on target (Hence why I lead the entire country in half-run/one-run over/under losses). That one, however, was well off the mark, and those are the kinds of games that motivate me more because, I don’t know about the rest of you, but to me, that’s just inexcusable when you possess the starting pitcher knowledge that I have, and being a perfectionist who wants to win every single game, that really gets to me. Let’s see if the motivation and extra work I put in, on top of the usual amount of hours every single day and night that I spend on this stuff, come throughf or me on this first Friday evening in July…
Miami Marlins @ Washington Nationals - $33 for $30
Brad Hand vs John Lannan
UNDER 8.5
Well, actually I won’t be waiting for the evening, as I am instead starting my card off with the one and only late-afternoon ballgame, that being this delightful pitching matchup that marks the return of one of my favorite pitchers from a year ago. Yup, that’s right, it’s the grand return (At least to me in my own little world) of the BRAD HAND, a guy that I followed very, very closely throughout his rookie season of 2011. First off, don’t be fooled by his 1-8 record from his rookie campaign - this is a kid that can throw and put together a gem. His acceptable 4.20 ERA is an indication of that, and while his 38:35 K:BB ratio leaves a lot to be desired, I think this youngster has figured it out this year in Triple-A. If you take a look at his overall performance thus far, you’ll notice he’s gone 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 22 starts, but the most impressive item on his statline is the much-improved 116:54 K:BB ratio in 128 innings this year. That immediately tells me he has made necessary strides in progressing his development into becoming a legitimate Major League starter, and considering I actually liked what I saw out of him last year, as long as he has cut down his walks and raised the strikeouts, which it appears he has done considerably, then this is someone who is ready to take off and solidify a permanent spot for himself in the Marlins’ rotation.
Opposing Mr. Hand will be the re-return, for lack of a better term, of former Nationals’ ace John Lannan, who has had quite the odyssey this year. Of course, he was the highest profile name to not make a Major League roster coming out of spring training, given his recent past starting consecutive Opening Day games for the formerly lowly Nationals, and while he hasn’t responded well at Triple-A, he did come through tremendously in his one and only start in the bigs this year, that being about a month ago when he handled the feisty Braves’ lineup surprisingly with ease, limiting them to two runs and five hits over seven terrific innings. You know what that tells me from a veteran? He’s just itching to get back to the Majors after experiencing extensive success, and while his Triple-A numbers are mediocire, that’s a perfectly normal route for a veteran to go through, since he's simply going through the motions against lesser competiton. The fact is, a lot of veterans, when they’ve been spoiled by former glory, somewhat don’t give it their all at Triple-A, because of the mental variable of having to deal with below-average competition when they’ve been successful before at the highest level, but when they do return to the grand stage, they know how to pitch and what to bust out on the mound. In other words, we should expect the normal John Lannan this afternoon that we’ve grown accustomed to. He’ll be looking forward to this one, especially since he could be leaned on heavily again later on with the eventual 2012 demise of Stephen Strasburg. Lannan is a name we will start hearing again more often as this season rolls on, and his potential impact begins again today. He knows it, which is very crucial.
Other 8/3 MLB Over/Unders I’m Taking:
Brett Cecil vs Dan Straily UNDER 7.5 -$25 for $20 (Straily looks like the real deal. Cecil has shown, especially lately, that he can hang in there against an elite pitcher like the one Straily is projected to be. The extra half run made it enticing for me)
**Will Add More Over/Under(s) Throughout Day Leading Up To Gametime**
**Remember that if you have a question concerning an over/under, I will gladly assist you with it if I see it before the game starts, even the ones I don’t bet on, as I have at least a small vibe one very single over/under from studying this stuff several hours every single day and night**
