07/27/2010 -
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren is expected to start on Saturday
when the Angels take on the American League West-leading Rangers after X-rays
of his right forearm came back clean on Tuesday.
Haren, acquired by Los Angeles on Sunday in a trade with the Diamondbacks,
left in the fifth inning in his debut on Monday after Boston's Kevin Youkilis
hit a line drive back to the mound that caromed off his pitching arm.
Angels doctor Dr. Lewis Yocum said the liner missed the bone by about an inch,
and Haren was able to throw a long-toss session on Tuesday despite some
initial stiffness.
Haren took the loss on Monday after allowing two runs on seven hits in 4 2/3
innings. He also fanned eight and did not walk a batter in a 6-3 decision.
The three-time All-Star has made 190 consecutive starts since 2005.
<< Memphis rookie Vasquez has ankle surgery
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Greivis Vasquez
underwent surgery on his right ankle Tuesday to remove a bone spur.
Vasquez, who starred at the University of Maryland, had the procedure
performed in B
<< Lee fans 13, Cruz hits game-winning HR in 10th as Rangers down A's
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Lee set a career high with 13
strikeouts over nine brilliant innings and Nelson Cruz belted a two-run, game-
winning home run in the bottom of the 10th, as the Texas Rangers edged the
Oakland
<< Myers' CG, six-run seventh gets Astros past Cubs
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Myers went the distance and Lance
Berkman's grand slam capped a six-run seventh inning as Houston downed
Chicago, 6-1, in the second of three between the clubs at Minute Maid Park.
Hunter
<< ECU assistant resigns over possible NCAA violations
Greenville, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - East Carolina assistant football coach Mark
Nelson announced his resignation Tuesday after possible NCAA violations were
uncovered regarding the illegal observation of voluntary summer workouts.
Nelson s
<< Phillies use long ball vs. D'Backs to stay hot
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Howard finished 2-for-4 with a two-
run homer, three RBI and two runs scored as Philadelphia rallied past Arizona,
9-5, in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Cody Ransom and
Pirates extend Rockies' slide in series opener >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Neil Walker finished 3-for-4 with a solo home
run as Pittsburgh continued Colorado's second-half slide with a 4-2 victory at
Coors Field.
Zach Duke (5-9) started the three-game set with six solid innings,
Phillies' Victorino leaves game >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane
Victorino left Tuesday's 9-5 victory over Arizona with a strained left oblique
muscle.
Victorino stated after the game that he suffered the injury while sliding i
Valencia, Twins stay hot in rout of Royals >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danny Valencia knocked in three and
collected four more hits while Carl Pavano turned in his eighth consecutive
winning decision in an 11-2 Twins victory over Kansas City.
Valencia was coming of
Reds subdue Brewers with 19-hit barrage >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Rolen was one of three Cincinnati
players with four hits and drove in three runs as the Reds walloped the
Brewers, 12-4, snapping Milwaukee's five-game winning streak.
Brandon Phillips we
Bay out of Mets lineup >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Bay is experiencing concussion-like
symptoms several days after crashing into the outfield wall while making a
catch against the Dodgers and was not in the Mets' lineup against St. Louis on
Tuesday
NFL Football Betting Online
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.