ChiSox grind out win against Tribe
Baseball Betting Lines
09/04/2008 -
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run home run as the
Chicago White Sox avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Indians with a 4-2 win at Progressive Field.
Orlando Cabrera drove in a run while Nick Swisher hit a solo home run for the
White Sox, who had dropped five of six coming into the game.
Javier Vazquez (11-12) worked six innings and gave up two runs on five hits
with a walk and five strikeouts for Chicago, which moved a game ahead of
Minnesota for first place in the AL Central. The Twins were 5-4 losers in 11
innings at Toronto Wednesday night.
Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run double while Jeremy Sowers (2-8) was handed the
loss for giving up four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work for the
Indians, who have lost four of their last six.
Neither team had a baserunner until Asdrubal Cabrera walked with two outs in
the bottom of the third. He was subsequently caught stealing to end the
inning.
Chicago threatened in the fourth when its first two batters reached base.
Sowers, though, got Jermaine Dye to pop out to second, Paul Konerko to look at
strike three and Ramirez to ground out.
The White Sox did get on the board in the fifth. Swisher led off the
frame with a blast that went well over the wall in left field, his 23rd homer
of the season. Josh Fields later hit a one-out single and moved to second on a
groundout from Toby Hall. Cabrera then doubled for a 2-0 lead.
The Indians got their first hit of the game with one out in the fifth on a
single from Shin-Soo Choo. Ryan Garko followed with a single to put men on the
corners, but Sal Fasano struck out and Andy Marte hit into a fielder's choice
to end the inning.
In the sixth, Ramirez golfed a pitch over the wall, which also plated Dye, in
left field for a 4-0 lead.
Cleveland cut its deficit in half in the sixth. Cabrera led off with a single
and moved to third as Grady Sizemore followed with a double. The next two
batters recorded outs, but Peralta came through with a double to right that
brought home both runners and made it a 4-2 contest.
The Indians threatened in the eighth as they had runners at the corners with
one out, but Bobby Jenks relieved Matt Thornton, who got the final out of the
seventh, and induced a double play from Garko to end the threat.
Jenks stayed in to begin the ninth and gave up a lead off single to Jamey
Carroll, but induced a ground ball double play from Kelly Shoppach and struck
out Cabrera to pick up his 28th save of the season.
Game Notes
The White Sox were without third baseman Joe Crede, left fielder Carlos
Quentin and center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. for the game. None of the players
are expected to miss significant time, with Quentin and Griffey expected to
play on Friday when the team opens a three-game series against the
Angles...Cleveland hits the road for a three-game set in Kansas City starting
on Friday...Swisher set a career-high in home runs...Choo has an eight-game
hitting streak and has reached base safely in 24 straight...Chicago has won 10
of 15 against Cleveland this season.
<< Around FCS: Week 2 - Top 25 Predictions
Philadelphia (The Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
SATURDAYS TOP-25 GAMES
Jacksonville (1-0) at No.1 Appalachian State (0-1) 3:30 p.m.
Appalachian State will look to rebound after their trip into the Bayou,
evacuating in time to avoid Hurricane Gustav
<< Nats win slugfest against Phils
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ronnie Belliard had the go-ahead RBI
single in the eighth and Cristian Guzman hit a bases-clearing, three-run
double to put the game out of reach as the Nationals notched a 9-7 victory
over t
<< Cubs' Zambrano to miss next start
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will miss
his next scheduled start Sunday against Cincinnati after meeting with the
team's orthopedic specialist Wednesday.
Manager Lou Piniella announced the decis
<< "Thunder" in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma City's NBA team will be called
the Thunder.
The franchise formally revealed the nickname and logo at an afternoon press
conference on Wednesday.
"The bold, traditional lettering and shiel
<< NCAA denies final appeal of Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben
Mauk had his request for reconsideration on his original waiver for a sixth
year of eligibility denied for the final time by the NCAA on Wednesday.
The NCAA re
BoSox rally late to edge O's >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Cora scored the game-winning run in the
ninth to help the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles to
complete a three-game sweep at Fenway Park.
In the ninth, Cora led off with a si
The brothers LaRoche lead the Bucs past the Reds >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brothers Adam and Andy LaRoche each had RBI
singles in the eighth inning to boost Pittsburgh to a 6-5 victory over the
Cincinnati Reds.
Adam LaRoche, who ended an 0-for-16 slump, drove in two runs,
Blue Jays edge Twins in extras >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John McDonald's hit in the bottom of the 11th
inning sent Toronto past Minnesota, 5-4, in the middle contest of a three-game
set from Rogers Centre.
Eddie Guardado (3-4) allowed a leadoff double to Scott Role
Wolf leads 'Stros to eighth straight and sweep of Cubs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Wolf threw his eighth career shutout,
guiding Houston to its eighth straight win and a three-game sweep of the
Chicago Cubs with a 4-0 triumph Wednesday night.
Wolf (9-11) scattered six hits and
Church's grand slam lifts Mets over Brewers >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Church set the tone with a grand
slam in the first inning and New York went on to beat Milwaukee, 9-2, to
complete a three-game sweep at Miller Park.
Brian Schneider added a solo homer fo
Big East Conference odds
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence
 Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.
Work left to do:
Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.
Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.
DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...
West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.
Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.
For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com
For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
My fellow Americans, as tempting as it may be to don the coat and HD-ready tie in order to deliver this State of the Game address before the cameras, I know better. As Brad Paisley sings on his latest album, "I'm so much cooler online."
The ideas for this annual essay to kick off the MySportsbook.com college football betting preview flowed like frat-house beer, which is to say they were cheap and spilled all over the floor. The 2007 season will be better than 2007, if only because there will be more of it. A year ago, the NCAA Football Rules Committee made two rule changes in the interest of speeding up the game. These changes went over like Kobe burgers at a vegan banquet.
To its credit, the rules committee rectified its mistakes. This season the clock once again will start when a kickoff is received, rather than when it is kicked, and the clock will not start so quickly on a change of possession.
However, kickoffs have been moved back five yards, to the 30, which will force more returns. (Thus forcing the clock to run. Clever, huh?) Special teams might decide a lot of games, because coaching strategy will come straight out of another new Paisley lyric (almost), I'd like to check you for kicks.
Paisley sings with a twang, which is why he's appropriate for this college football season. The sun coming up over the 2007 college football betting lines season rises from the south. It's a Southern football world. As the Southeastern Conference begins its 75th year, the power shift is noticeable.
Eight-figure budgets, glamorous settings -- and that's just for the head coaches. The SEC has four coaches who have won national championships -- the greatest aggregation of coaching know-how since Eddie Robinson dined alone.
Steve Spurrier, Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have given lie to the idea that a conference championship game is too daunting a hurdle on the road to No. 1. In six of the past 10 seasons, the national champions played and won a conference championship game -- three of the six (Tennessee, 1998; LSU, 2003; Florida, 2007) from the SEC.
There will be more of the same this season, if the preseason prognostications are correct. Six SEC teams are in the preseason coaches' poll, more than from any other conference. Only one conference has talent so deep that a team with 15 returning starters, including the best quarterback in the league, from an eight-win season is considered an afterthought. That may speak more to Kentucky's losing legacy than to the wisdom of the predictions, but there you have it. And seriously, keep an eye on Wildcats QB Andre' Woodson.
The reach of the South extends all the way to No. 1. Take a look at the team that is a consensus pick to win the national championship. The quarterback is from Shreveport. The best wide receiver is from Nashville. The top recruit is from New Orleans.
So what's the campus doing in Los Angeles? Hey, it is the University of Southern California.
USC lost two Pacific-10 Conference games a year ago, the first time that had happened in five seasons, and university officials withstood the urge to form blue-ribbon panels to unearth the cause of such a disaster. Instead, the Trojans gathered themselves and routed Michigan, 32-18, in the Rose Bowl.
USC's losses at Oregon State and at UCLA last year should have given pause to those who question the Pac-10's football prowess (such as, without naming names, L.M. from Baton Rouge). The league only got deeper this season; Dennis Erickson is taking over an Arizona State team that never quite got out of its own way under his predecessor, Dirk Koetter.
Erickson will resume his quest to become the first coach to win a national championship at two schools. Both he and Spurrier, now in his third season at South Carolina, returned to college football at schools with lower profiles than where they won their titles.
That isn't the case for the third coach looking for the national championship double. You may have missed this, but NASA reported the astronauts on the space shuttle last spring made contact with what can only be described as beings from another galaxy.
The leader of the aliens said, "We come in peace," followed by, "So how do you think Nick Saban will do at Alabama?"
The public is reacting to the new Crimson Tide coach as if he is the Barry Bonds of college football -- beloved at home for what his fans believe he is going to do, hated on the road for his intimidating attitude and for what his detractors believe he did (bend NCAA recruiting rules). I made this comparison from the dais at a charity dinner in Mobile, Ala., last month, and the chill that washed over me didn't come from the air conditioning.
Saban will attempt to prove that he can remake in Tuscaloosa what he built in Baton Rouge, much like another member of the national championship fraternity. Bobby Bowden is attempting to remake at Florida State what he built at, um, Florida State. Bowden rebuilt his offensive staff, bringing in four new coaches led by Saban's former offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, to jump-start an offense that has been dead for a couple of years.
The Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to show new signs of life, too. That is said with no disrespect toward last season's champion, Wake Forest, which provided one of the best story lines of 2007. The Demon Deacons begin this season in their customary position, overshadowed by the Virginia Techs, Miamis and Florida States.
It's not that Wake will find it difficult to duplicate its success in 2007 as much as the feeling that success engendered. Surprising success is the narcotic of sport. It never feels quite so euphoric the next time. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese has figured this out. He refers to 2007, when a league looked down upon by fans and foes alike took three undefeated teams into November, as "Cinderella."
The fairy tale may be over, but the Big East has four genuine Heisman Trophy candidates in Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White, and Rutgers tailback Ray Rice. Rutgers, as did Wake Forest and, of course, Boise State, proved last season that the have-nots in college football occasionally have quite a lot.
The Broncos' rousing 43-42 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl has raised the profile of all schools in conferences that don't get automatic BCS bids. This season, TCU and Hawaii are the preseason favorites to burst through the BCS doors and earn an at-large bid. The Warriors return 14 starters from an 11-3 team, including quarterback Colt Brennan.
Brennan not only broke the single-season record with 58 touchdown passes in 2007, but he also led Division I-A in passing efficiency (186.0). The senior is expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy, and neither his success nor the rise of his team should come as any surprise in the 2007 season.
After all, Hawaii is the southernmost team in the country.
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
|
