Wednesday: 3-2, + 7.06 units
Baltimore. One unit. ML. (+120). What was Buck Showalter thinking Wednesday night, putting Tommie Hunter into a tie game? Orioles should be 2-0. Oh well, he's a good manager, and must have his reasons. On Thursday, the O's send Miguel Gonzalez, who looked magnificent in the last 2 months last year. Great stuff for a young pitcher, and deceptive. I'd play this at 2 units, but the Rays have seen him a couple of times already(last year). Gonzalez's last spring tune-up was a 5 Ip, one hit outing. Meanwhile the Rays are sending Roberto Hernandez(aka Fausto Carmona) out on the mound. He was arrested in the DR for using a false identity. Whatever his real name is, he's a sinker pitcher who gives up a lot of hits per inning, and rarely strikes out anyone. If he was any good, don't you think the pitching-poor Indians would have signed him- he was cheap. Cheap is what the Rays are, but they signed him, so now he has to pitch. The Rays also seem to have no at-home advantage at times, or at least can't hit at Tropicana Park. They really struggled to hit in the last 2 weeks of spring, while the O's hit fairly well. Both bullpens are really good, if you don't count Tommie Hunter.
Baltimore. One unit. ML. (+120). What was Buck Showalter thinking Wednesday night, putting Tommie Hunter into a tie game? Orioles should be 2-0. Oh well, he's a good manager, and must have his reasons. On Thursday, the O's send Miguel Gonzalez, who looked magnificent in the last 2 months last year. Great stuff for a young pitcher, and deceptive. I'd play this at 2 units, but the Rays have seen him a couple of times already(last year). Gonzalez's last spring tune-up was a 5 Ip, one hit outing. Meanwhile the Rays are sending Roberto Hernandez(aka Fausto Carmona) out on the mound. He was arrested in the DR for using a false identity. Whatever his real name is, he's a sinker pitcher who gives up a lot of hits per inning, and rarely strikes out anyone. If he was any good, don't you think the pitching-poor Indians would have signed him- he was cheap. Cheap is what the Rays are, but they signed him, so now he has to pitch. The Rays also seem to have no at-home advantage at times, or at least can't hit at Tropicana Park. They really struggled to hit in the last 2 weeks of spring, while the O's hit fairly well. Both bullpens are really good, if you don't count Tommie Hunter.