It Is Almost Now Or Never For The New York Yankees
As They Open 4-Game Series Tonight With Red Sox
And With Red-Hot Tampa Bay Next Up
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Diamondbacks Still Be In First Place In NL West
With Sub-.500 Record Of 42-43 But This Is
A Team About To Run Out Of Miracles
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Opening Of NFL Pre-Season Just 31 Days Away
And That Means Futures Betting Is Going Full Blast
And You Will Have To Lay $1,100 To Win $100 With NE
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By Kelso Sturgeon
The Major League Baseball season gets more interesting by the day and just in case you missed it the New York Yankees are now 8-1 to win the American League pennant and 15-1 to win the World Series. In other words, bettors believe that what they are now seeing with the struggling Yankees is what they are and what they will get from them from the rest of the season.
It is difficult to argue with logic. The Yankees are up one week, down the next and then repeat the cycle. Baseball’s highest paid team in history ($209 million) just can’t seem to get it together and it heads into tonight’s crucial showdown four-game series with the Boston Red Sox 45-40 and 7 ½ games behind first place Tampa Bay and 4 ½ games in back of the second place Sox.
While there are 77 games left in the regular season, it is folly to write off a team as talented as the Yankees but reality says the team has reached the now-or-never part of the year. After playing Boston for four games, Tampa Bay comes to town for two games.
After getting swept 3-0 by Tampa in its last three games, there is no doubt Boston has had its reality check and knows the Bays are the real deal and not some mirage that is about to fade away. Tampa Bay gets better by the week. The Bays are 9-1 in their last 10 games and 15-5 in their last 20 and the pitching and hitting are as steady as it gets.
The bottom line on the Red Sox-Yankees series is simple and direct. If Boston can go 3-1 at Yankee Stadium between now and Sunday they can basically bury the Yankees. However, if New York can go 3-1, it will have Boston in its sights.
But the biggest question of all is whether Boston, which has gone 0-5 in its last five games, and the Yankees, which have gone 1-3 in their last four, actually can catch Tampa Bay—a team that shows no signs of coming back to the pack.
If you want to bet on tonight’s Red Sox-Yankee game, here are a few facts you might want to consider, some restated from above.
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
For Boston Left-Hander Jon Lester (6-3, 3.48)
For New York Left-Hander Andy Pettitte (9-5, 3.98)
Boston arrives at Yankee Stadium for this 4-game series riding a 5-game losing streak (4 of the losses by one run), having been swept 3-0 by Tampa Bay and with a very tired bullpen, The Yankees are just 1-3 in their last four games but started hitting again last night in knocking off Texas, 18-7. Now, to the big issue: Boston is 3 ½ games back of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East while the Yankees are 7 ½ back. This means the Red Sox can all but bury New York by winning this series—and the Yankees can head for second place by knocking off Boston. In other words, there is no absence of importance in this series and it is of note Tampa Bay comes to town next week for two against the Yankees. Pettitte who has been at his absolute in his last four starts, winning them all while recording an ERA of 1.00 in those contests. Lester is 3-0 with an ERA of 3.35 in his last six starts.
Just a little food for thought.
DIAMONDBACKS ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF MIRACLES
One of the most interesting scenarios in this baseball season comes to us courtesy of the National League West, where not one single team has a winning record.
First place Arizona is 42-43 (.494)
Second place Los Angeles is 40-44 (.476)
Third place San Francisco is 37-48 (.435)
Fourth place Colorado is 34-51 (.400)
Fifth place San Diego is 33-53 (.384)
And this is Major League Baseball?
The only thing that has kept Arizona in first place in this division is the fact it can’t lose enough games to let anyone take over the top spot. The Diamondbacks are 3-7 in their last 10 games and 7-13 in their last 20—figures that would bury almost any team.
It is against this background it is not out of order to suggest the Diamondbacks, showing no signs of improvement, are about to run out of miracles. The Los Angeles Dodgers are just 1 ½ games back and, as limited as they are as a team, need only make a slight move to get into first place.
The Diamondbacks host Milwaukee in an interesting game tonight and those who are thinking of betting it might want to consider the following facts, some previously stated.
Milwaukee Brewers at Arizona Diamondbacks
For Milwaukee Left-Hander Manny Parra (8-2, 3.95)
For Arizona RH Brandon Webb (12-4, 3.21)
Say what you will about the Diamondbacks, but this is one snake-bitten team (no pun intended). Arizona has lost three of its last four, is 3-7 in its last 10 games, 7-13 in its last 20 and still is in first place in the NL West with a 42-43 (.494) record. Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb (12-4, 3.21) will be on the mound for Arizona tonight. Parra has gone 6-0 with an ERA of 2.41 in his last 10 starts while Webb, who opened the season 9-0, is 3-4 with an ERA of 4.07 in his last eight starts.
Again, just food for thought.
BOOKMAKERS SAY PATRIOTS WILL BE NO BARGAIN
It goes without saying bookmakers do not run a charity. They work hard to challenge bettors with each and every number they offer and, when they don’t want your action, make certain they don’t get it. Nothing reflects this more than the betting line on the New England Patriots to win the American Conference East.
In futures lines posted at Station Casinos properties in Las Vegas, New England is being offered at 1-11 to win the AC East. This means, if you wanted to bet the Patriots to win their division you would have to lay $1,100 to win $100. In other words, bookmakers are saying if you are sucker enough to make this bet, they are generous enough to take it, but the truth is they don’t want any action on the Patriots in this particular betting category.
Here are the betting lines on the favorites to win each NFL division.
NFC East—Dallas Cowboys 10-13
NFC North—Green Bay Packers 7-4
NFC South—New Orleans Saints 1-1 (even money)
NFC West—Seattle Seahawks 4-5
AFC East—New England Patriots 1-11
AFC North—Pittsburgh Steelers 10-11
AFC South—Indianapolis Colts 5-9
AFC West—San Diego Chargers 1-4
The longest prices on the board to win their respective divisions are the Miami Dolphins at 25-1 in the East, the Houston Texas at 15-1 in the AFC South and the Kansas City Chiefs at 15-1 in the AFC West. Atlanta is posted at 12-1 and the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens at 8-1.
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