Sabathia remains unbeated with Milwaukee, tops Padres
Baseball Betting Lines
08/14/2008 -
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - CC Sabathia threw seven effective innings and
Corey Hart went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in to help Milwaukee tie a
season high with its eighth consecutive win, a 7-1 victory over San Diego.
The Brewers also won eight in a row from July 13-24, and matched the feat
thanks in part to a solid outing from Sabathia (7-0), who gave up nine hits
but only one run, and struck out eight. Sabathia remained unbeaten since being
traded to the Brewers in early July, and is 10-0 is his last 13 starts.
Prince Fielder homered for the second straight game and walked twice, while
Sabathia added an RBI in the win.
Josh Banks (3-5) took the loss after surrendering all seven runs on five hits
and six walks in 4 1/3 frames. Banks hadn't lost a start since July 6, but was
1-0 with three no-decisions in the four starts since.
Nick Hundley had the only RBI for San Diego, while Scott Hairston and Brian
Giles each collected two hits. The Padres have lost the first two contests of
this three-game set.
Milwaukee took an early edge as Fielder hit his 28th homer of the season to
lead off the second inning. Hart followed with a single, but was caught
stealing, before Craig Counsell and Mike Cameron walked. Jason Kendall then
singled in a run, and Sabathia plated another with a ground out to short.
The Padres made it a 3-1 game in the fourth when, with runners on the corners,
Hundley grounded the ball to shortstop, allowing Chase Headley to score.
But the Brewers got that run back, and much more, in the next frame. J.J.
Hardy walked with one out, and Gabe Kapler reached on an infield single. Both
runners advanced on Kevin Kouzmanoff's throwing error.
Fielder was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Hart, who tripled to
left field, plating three runs. That ended Banks' day as Justin Hampson came
on to pitch. Counsell lofted a fly ball to center that got Hart home,
increasing the Brewers' lead to 7-1.
Sabathia almost let the Padres back in the game in the home half. Three
straight singles loaded the bases with none out before Kouzmanoff popped out,
Adrian Gonzalez fanned and Headley grounded out to end the threat.
David Riske worked a scoreless eighth inning for Milwaukee, despite walking
two batters, and Guillermo Mota worked around a one-out walk to finish the
game.
Game Notes
The Brewers have outscored opponents 49-12 during their eight-game win
streak...Milwaukee placed third baseman Russell Branyan on the 15-day disabled
list, retroactive to August 12, on Wednesday. Branyan, who is suffering from a
right oblique strain, has appeared in 48 games this season and is batting .252
with 12 home runs and 20 runs driven in. To take his place on the roster, the
team recalled outfielder Laynce Nix from Triple-A Nashville...On Wednesday the
Padres claimed pitcher Brian Falkenborg off outright waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
<< Zobrist, Rays edge A's
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ben Zobrist hit the go-ahead RBI double in the
seventh and the Rays took the second test of their three-game series against
the Athletics, 3-2, at McAfee Coliseum.
Andy Sonnanstine (12-6) threw his third
<< Izturis leaves after injuring thumb
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim shortstop Maicer
Izturis left Wednesday's contest against the Seattle Mariners in the top of
the ninth with an injury to his thumb.
Yuniesky Betancourt hit a grounder towards
<< Oklahoma City
Acquired forward Joe Smith from Cleveland and forward Desmond Mason from Milwaukee in exchange for forward Adrian Griffin and guard Luke Ridnour.
<< The San Jose Earthquakes
Waived defender/midfielder Amir Lowery.
<< Blazers' G Roy to undergo surgery
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will
have arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday to repair a tear in the meniscus of
his left knee, the club announced Wednesday.
An MRI taken Tuesday revealed the tear
Im in front at Montreal Open >>
Ile Bizard, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Im fired an eight-under 63 on
Thursday to take the first-round lead of the Montreal Open at The Champions
Course at Saint-Raphael Golf Club.
George Bradford is alone in second place at six-
May leads Xerox Classic >>
Rochester, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bob May, who lost the 2000 PGA Championship
in a playoff to Tiger Woods, posted a six-under 64 on Thursday to take the
first-round lead of the Xerox Classic.
Dave Schultz is alone in second place at fi
Giants' Rowand leaves game with back tightness >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco Giants center fielder Aaron
Rowand left Thursday's game against the Astros in the second inning with
tightness in his lower back. He is day-to-day with the injury.
Rowand batted and f
Cubs' Ramirez leaves game >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez
left Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves with a left hip contusion.
Ramirez scored from second on a double by Geovany Soto in the fifth inning and
grimaced
Owners approve change at top for Giants >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Baseball owners unanimously
voted on Thursday to approve Bill Neukom as the new majority owner for the San
Francisco Giants.
Giants managing general partner Peter Magowan announced his p
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
 The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com
Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
|
