Saturday: Volstad is Back YTD: 313-279, + 73.8 units

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Friday: 7-1, + 14 units. Best day of the year so far. Can't say it was easy. Each of my big plays were fairly close. But if enough factors point to a winning play, then even if things don't go as planned, you can still win. Hudson, Matt Moore and Harrison all pitched great games to make up for their underperforming offenses. Also think that you can play a little above or below .500 for long periods, and then get hot for one or two days, or longer, to make your money. Anyways, that's how my first season has gone.

* On another note: How bad are the Astros? Well, the Braves looked disinterested Friday night and still won 4-1. Heyward struck out 3 times to guys he should be ashamed to strike out to. The Astros have a good leadoff hitter, and a few guys in the middle of the order that would be okay at the bottom of other team's batting orders. Defense is poor. They have a couple of decent, but not good middle relief guys, and Norris and Harrell can occasionally pitch a good start. That's about it. On their last home stand they showed some life and still only won 1 game. This road trip is exposing a truly horrible team.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Dodgers: RL. 4 units. (-125). Hardly can believe it's only -125. Does this mean that if there were 8 bets identical to this one, Kershaw vs. Volstad, Cubs vs. Dodgers, that the oddsmakers are saying the Dodgers would win 5 and the Cubs 3? I'm probably off on the math, but that's what -125 looks like to me. I would say the Dodgers would win 7 out of 8- the Cubs one because of the old blind squirrel adage.Volstad was returned to the minors after his early July flame out, and preceded to get hit hard for 3 starts-12.2 innings, 20 runs. Then he pitches an 8 inning shutout vs. the Astros AAA team, Okla. City. Maybe he's turned the corner, but beating the Astros AAA team isn't saying much since most of the players that had any value had already been called up. In Volstad's last majors game, his manager, Dale Sveum, was openly critical of how he pitched, saying it was the same old mistakes, that Volstad didn't stick with the plan, couldn't keep the ball down and inferred that he was lucky not to get bombed earlier than he did. That the Braves were hitting him hard in the earlier innings. Now he faces Kershaw, who few of the Cubs have even seen much. The Cubs don't hit lefties well, and LaHair, Valabuena and Clevenger are all slumping. Kershaw hasn't given up a HR in his last 6 starts. The Cards hit him well, but they hit lefties well as a team anyways. Other than that, Kershaw has been sharp.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Dodgers-1/2. One unit. First 5 innings. Volstad looked okay in April, though none of his starts were truly quality. He was striking out 4-6 batters per game. Now, even in the minors, he's lucky to get 3 Ks. This is a number one draft pick who truly fits the "never learned to pitch, depended on talent only" tag.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Oakland:-1/2 First 5 innings. One unit.
Oakland-1. One unit. I saw Romero pitch in Seattle. He has no control over his breaking pitches and has to rely on his fastball for strikes. Some of his breaking pitches were way off the plate. He's been hit hard his last 3 starts, including an absolute thrashing to Oakland in Toronto. AJ Griffin is just the opposite. He is able to place his pitches perfectly on the corners, and uses his change and curve as his out pitches. Griffin pitches to poor contact early in the count, then throws his great change for a K or weak out. Also, the Blue Jays might be a bit discouraged after tying the A's in the ninth Friday only to lose it in extras.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Another sidebar on the Cubs. Last in the mlb in walks, and 2nd to last in OBP. It's a sign of poor plate discipline.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

ATL: RL. One unit. Maholm has been unbelievable. This play is just riding on the Astros continuing their dreadful road trip. Harrell has the chance of pitching well, but he might regress to his norm too. Remember, the White Sox waived this guy last year, not traded, but waived outright.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

o fred said:
Dodgers: RL. 4 units. (-125). Hardly can believe it's only -125. Does this mean that if there were 8 bets identical to this one, Kershaw vs. Volstad, Cubs vs. Dodgers, that the oddsmakers are saying the Dodgers would win 5 and the Cubs 3? I'm probably off on the math, but that's what -125 looks like to me. I would say the Dodgers would win 7 out of 8- the Cubs one because of the old blind squirrel adage.Volstad was returned to the minors after his early July flame out, and preceded to get hit hard for 3 starts-12.2 innings, 20 runs. Then he pitches an 8 inning shutout vs. the Astros AAA team, Okla. City. Maybe he's turned the corner, but beating the Astros AAA team isn't saying much since most of the players that had any value had already been called up. In Volstad's last majors game, his manager, Dale Sveum, was openly critical of how he pitched, saying it was the same old mistakes, that Volstad didn't stick with the plan, couldn't keep the ball down and inferred that he was lucky not to get bombed earlier than he did. That the Braves were hitting him hard in the earlier innings. Now he faces Kershaw, who few of the Cubs have even seen much. The Cubs don't hit lefties well, and LaHair, Valabuena and Clevenger are all slumping. Kershaw hasn't given up a HR in his last 6 starts. The Cards hit him well, but they hit lefties well as a team anyways. Other than that, Kershaw has been sharp.

Make this 5 units on the RL.

ofred · Aug 4, 2012

Washington-1. One unit. Marlins are decimated by trades and injuries, losing Bonafacio last night. If Reyes and Lee weren't hitting well, this team would be in serious trouble. The Marlins, with their many replacements, are even more challenged defensively. Buehrle has been pretty tough this year, But he's had a drop off his last 3 starts- giving up 12 runs in 14 IPs. Zimmerman has been incredible, like Vogelsong, consistently pitching well- almost one HR his last many starts, and very few walks. The Nats get no respect but they have a few hitters that are also hitting well, Morse, LaRoche, and even Werth looks like he's coming off the DL hitting well. Just like the continuity and consistency of the Nats at home vs. a tumultuous, Ozzie led club on the road. Nats also have BP edge.