Satyr
Paster of Muppets
Another poor day behind me, despite the fact Minny had a 9-2 lead, White Sox had a 5-3 lead and Philly lead 3-1. All 3 lost. Add to that that Fenway under was one of the worst picks I've made (and I did have a lot of losing plays in the last week or so) and you have yourself another bad day.
Oh well. A friend told me yesterday, don't worry you're good, just wake up feeling like a winner despite the fact you've been losing lately. It should even out.
I hope he's right. Anyways, I have several plays I like for tonight.
Angels (RL) (2.03 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
I might sound a bit bold right now, but I'll say it anyway: I don't think the Astros will finish the season above .500 this year. I know, they've been doing it for years now, and even when behind they found their ways to go on winning streaks just in time to either complicate the Wild Card fight or just storm passed .500.
I don't think it happens this year. I've been looking at this team for a while, watching their games, following the ones I couldn't watch, as they intrigue me quite a lot. At first glance they have a very talented lineup, but they've been lackluster and I can't see them improving much, as they obviously lack chemistry and don't make the winning mix.
Now let's analyze their season in a couple of sentences: started off at 9-6, finished April at 10-14, then started improving, winning 4 out of 5 series and tying their record at 20.
Everyone thought ok, this is the turning point of the season.
What happened since? The team went 10-19 and lost 7 out of 8 series before sweeping Seattle.
Ok, Seattle. The M's are my favorite team and I think I have a good take on them. They were hitting .330 or more for almost a month, and finally got back to Earth hitting around .190 (as I said yesterday, Sexson-like numbers) in their last 5 games.
What could be the reason? Well Jose Lopez lost his brother in a car crash, they were forced to make lineup reshuffles (Beltre in and out, Guillen, Sexson) and suddenly they were losing games and losing big. I don't think they're fully focused at the moment, and I believe Astros' sweep might be a bit too hyped up.
What happens now, the Astros take a trip to California, and will face one of the best teams in baseball.
The Angels are 27-10 since May 9, and have won 11 of their last 12 series. To add to that, they are 9-3 in the Interleague, and are coming off a 6-3 road trip against NL teams.
The fun doesn't stop here folks.
Los Angeles is a major league-best 24-9 at home, winning 12 of its last 15 there. The Astros (30-39), meanwhile, are an NL-worst 13-21 on the road, losing 12 of their last 15 away from Minute Maid Park.
I'm well aware Chris Sampson (6-5, 3.29 ERA) has been the bright spot in their rotation. Sampson, who has made seven straight quality starts, has gone 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA and .197 opponents batting average in three June starts. He allowed two runs -- both on solo homers -- and three hits in seven innings, but did not receive a decision in Houston's 7-3 loss to Oakland on Wednesday.
SEVEN straight quality starts. And playing against some solid teams, right? He faced Oakland in June, that went well, even though the Astros lost, he was in for 7 innings, let in 3 hits, 2 ER. Before that at CWS, 6 hits in 6 IP, again 2 ER. Then solid outings against SF (twice) (even though they lost one), ARI, MIL...and before that he was completely shelled by the Phillies, allowing 14 hits and 7 ER in 4 IP.
I hate using the word "due" as I don't believe in it, let me just say I think he gets shelled again. These Halos are hot again. I know I said a week ago or so, that they're unclutch but they caught some fire since then, beating Cincinnati and the Dodgers in the Freeway series. And beating them with style. I think that Sampson won't be as solid tonight and the Halos will win behind their ace John Lackey (10-4, 2.53 ERA).
Cardinals (1.62 @ Pinnacle) 10 units
The Cards are catching some momentum and unlike the Astros one (which I think is bogus) I rate these guys really highly at the moment. They've been winning games in style, and winning them with offense which is en fuego at the moment. Had it not been for the incredible surge the A's went on in Game 1, the Cards would sweep them in Oakland.
And that was without Eckstein, with sub par pitching, etc...
Now they'll return home with one thought on their mind. How to take advantage of the momentum, and how to get back to .500 as soon as possible.
Oh, one more think will be on their minds. That 17-8 defeat at the hands of the Royals less than a week ago. Now they'll send out Adam Wainwright (5-5, 4.66 ERA) who shut down these same Royals in his last start.
The Royals are hot as well, 6-4 in last 10 and barely won against the slumping Marlins last night. But the thing is, they're still a 28-42 team, and despite winning 3 straight series, they're still one of the lousiest road teams in the league, and frankly I don't think they'll win this series.
This is a copy/paste of last Wednesday's pitching matchup; Odalis Perez gave up seven runs and 10 hits in only three innings against the Cardinals, who have made a habit of knocking him around.
Perez has allowed at least four runs in each of his seven career starts against St. Louis, going 2-3 with a 8.91 ERA in those games. The left-hander has been tagged for 10 runs in 8 1-3 innings in his last three games at St. Louis.
His troubles aren't just limited to the Cardinals, though, as he is 1-3 with a 7.92 ERA in his last five games. He has just one win since April 30.
The Cards are coming together, champs spirit is taking up the locker room, and they're determined to get back to winning ways, making up for mediocre pitching by stepping up in the offense.
Phillies (Hamels) (1.85 @ Pinnacle) 4 units
I will back the Phillies again, after losing that bet on them last night. They had their chances to put the game away, but Ryan Howard failed to step up, bases juiced, 2 on, he squandered it all, and the Tigers raced back.
However, the Phillies are still one of the hottest NL teams and despite the fact they'll be facing the AL's best home team, that team is in a slump right now.
The Indians are only 7-9 in June. Cliff Lee (3-4, 6.04 ERA) is far from a reliable pitcher, and I'm thinking he gets back to his old ways after leading his team to a win against the Marlins.
Cole Hamels (9-2, 3.47 ERA) is a young stud. This guy can go long into the game, and will rarely give up much. Cleveland won last night but their series with Atlanta clearly showed this team is ready to land for at least a week or two, before making another run for the Ws.
I just like what the Phillies have done lately, and don't find the price unjustified.
Leans:
Washington (Chico)
Atlanta (James)
Oakland RL (Blanton)
Oh well. A friend told me yesterday, don't worry you're good, just wake up feeling like a winner despite the fact you've been losing lately. It should even out.
I hope he's right. Anyways, I have several plays I like for tonight.
Angels (RL) (2.03 @ Pinnacle) 6 units
I might sound a bit bold right now, but I'll say it anyway: I don't think the Astros will finish the season above .500 this year. I know, they've been doing it for years now, and even when behind they found their ways to go on winning streaks just in time to either complicate the Wild Card fight or just storm passed .500.
I don't think it happens this year. I've been looking at this team for a while, watching their games, following the ones I couldn't watch, as they intrigue me quite a lot. At first glance they have a very talented lineup, but they've been lackluster and I can't see them improving much, as they obviously lack chemistry and don't make the winning mix.
Now let's analyze their season in a couple of sentences: started off at 9-6, finished April at 10-14, then started improving, winning 4 out of 5 series and tying their record at 20.
Everyone thought ok, this is the turning point of the season.
What happened since? The team went 10-19 and lost 7 out of 8 series before sweeping Seattle.
Ok, Seattle. The M's are my favorite team and I think I have a good take on them. They were hitting .330 or more for almost a month, and finally got back to Earth hitting around .190 (as I said yesterday, Sexson-like numbers) in their last 5 games.
What could be the reason? Well Jose Lopez lost his brother in a car crash, they were forced to make lineup reshuffles (Beltre in and out, Guillen, Sexson) and suddenly they were losing games and losing big. I don't think they're fully focused at the moment, and I believe Astros' sweep might be a bit too hyped up.
What happens now, the Astros take a trip to California, and will face one of the best teams in baseball.
The Angels are 27-10 since May 9, and have won 11 of their last 12 series. To add to that, they are 9-3 in the Interleague, and are coming off a 6-3 road trip against NL teams.
The fun doesn't stop here folks.
Los Angeles is a major league-best 24-9 at home, winning 12 of its last 15 there. The Astros (30-39), meanwhile, are an NL-worst 13-21 on the road, losing 12 of their last 15 away from Minute Maid Park.
I'm well aware Chris Sampson (6-5, 3.29 ERA) has been the bright spot in their rotation. Sampson, who has made seven straight quality starts, has gone 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA and .197 opponents batting average in three June starts. He allowed two runs -- both on solo homers -- and three hits in seven innings, but did not receive a decision in Houston's 7-3 loss to Oakland on Wednesday.
SEVEN straight quality starts. And playing against some solid teams, right? He faced Oakland in June, that went well, even though the Astros lost, he was in for 7 innings, let in 3 hits, 2 ER. Before that at CWS, 6 hits in 6 IP, again 2 ER. Then solid outings against SF (twice) (even though they lost one), ARI, MIL...and before that he was completely shelled by the Phillies, allowing 14 hits and 7 ER in 4 IP.
I hate using the word "due" as I don't believe in it, let me just say I think he gets shelled again. These Halos are hot again. I know I said a week ago or so, that they're unclutch but they caught some fire since then, beating Cincinnati and the Dodgers in the Freeway series. And beating them with style. I think that Sampson won't be as solid tonight and the Halos will win behind their ace John Lackey (10-4, 2.53 ERA).
Cardinals (1.62 @ Pinnacle) 10 units
The Cards are catching some momentum and unlike the Astros one (which I think is bogus) I rate these guys really highly at the moment. They've been winning games in style, and winning them with offense which is en fuego at the moment. Had it not been for the incredible surge the A's went on in Game 1, the Cards would sweep them in Oakland.
And that was without Eckstein, with sub par pitching, etc...
Now they'll return home with one thought on their mind. How to take advantage of the momentum, and how to get back to .500 as soon as possible.
Oh, one more think will be on their minds. That 17-8 defeat at the hands of the Royals less than a week ago. Now they'll send out Adam Wainwright (5-5, 4.66 ERA) who shut down these same Royals in his last start.
The Royals are hot as well, 6-4 in last 10 and barely won against the slumping Marlins last night. But the thing is, they're still a 28-42 team, and despite winning 3 straight series, they're still one of the lousiest road teams in the league, and frankly I don't think they'll win this series.
This is a copy/paste of last Wednesday's pitching matchup; Odalis Perez gave up seven runs and 10 hits in only three innings against the Cardinals, who have made a habit of knocking him around.
Perez has allowed at least four runs in each of his seven career starts against St. Louis, going 2-3 with a 8.91 ERA in those games. The left-hander has been tagged for 10 runs in 8 1-3 innings in his last three games at St. Louis.
His troubles aren't just limited to the Cardinals, though, as he is 1-3 with a 7.92 ERA in his last five games. He has just one win since April 30.
The Cards are coming together, champs spirit is taking up the locker room, and they're determined to get back to winning ways, making up for mediocre pitching by stepping up in the offense.
Phillies (Hamels) (1.85 @ Pinnacle) 4 units
I will back the Phillies again, after losing that bet on them last night. They had their chances to put the game away, but Ryan Howard failed to step up, bases juiced, 2 on, he squandered it all, and the Tigers raced back.
However, the Phillies are still one of the hottest NL teams and despite the fact they'll be facing the AL's best home team, that team is in a slump right now.
The Indians are only 7-9 in June. Cliff Lee (3-4, 6.04 ERA) is far from a reliable pitcher, and I'm thinking he gets back to his old ways after leading his team to a win against the Marlins.
Cole Hamels (9-2, 3.47 ERA) is a young stud. This guy can go long into the game, and will rarely give up much. Cleveland won last night but their series with Atlanta clearly showed this team is ready to land for at least a week or two, before making another run for the Ws.
I just like what the Phillies have done lately, and don't find the price unjustified.
Leans:
Washington (Chico)
Atlanta (James)
Oakland RL (Blanton)
?
Am I the wizard or what 
