5-23-09

[Mr. IWS]

B LANG:

Saturday ...
15 Dime Nuggets (first half)

15 Dime Nuggets

15 Dime Lakers/Nuggets Under

5 Dime Rangers

5 Dime Giants



Free pick - Brewers

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

Larry Ness Saturday (More to come)

Larry's Las Vegas Insider - MLB

LA Angels


Larry's Weekend Wipeout Winner - MLB

Braves

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

Ben Burns

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*7 Personal Favorite - Toronto Blue Jays at Atlanta Braves 7:00 PM ET Atlanta Braves -145

*9 Blue Chip - Milwaukee Brewers at Minnesota Twins 7:10 PM ET
under 10

*6 Annihilator - Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes 7:30 PM ET Carolina Hurricanes -125

*10 Top Western Conf. Finals Side - Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets 8:30 PM ET
Los Angeles Lakers 3.5

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

Larry Ness

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Weekend Wipeout Winner on the LA Lakers (7.5*)

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets 8:30 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers 3.5

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

BIG AL's SATURDAY 3-GAME INTERLEAGUE BASEBALL CARD
Our 3 selections include the Rangers, White Sox and Reds.

At 4:10 pm our selection is on the Texas Rangers over the Houston Astros. It's the battle for bragging rights in the Lone Star State, and while Houston's slow start certainly shouldn't surprise anyone, the fact that the Rangers are in first place in the AL West has to be considered one of the major unexpected developments of the season so far. It's always a good barometer for a team like Texas to take a surprising winning record and test it against the other league. Texas had a winning inter-league record in 2008, but then again, the Americans so dominated the Nationals that you'd be hard-pressed to find an AL team that didn't do well. In fact, only two American League teams had losing inter-league records last season, while only three National League teams had winning records. Likely adding to Texas' confidence is the fact that it is sending one of its best road starters, righthander Scott Feldman to the mound. Feldman is 2-0 with a 2.17 ERA as a starter this season, with both of those victories coming away from Arlington. Expect a strong outing this afternoon at Minute Maid Park against the over-matched Houston lineup and an equally over-matched starter in Brian Moehler. Take the Rangers.

At 7:10 pm our selection is on the Cincinnati Reds over the Cleveland Indians. Reds starter Homer Bailey has gone from his status as a "can't miss kid" to a big question mark in just over two seasons. The Reds have brought up their former #1 prospect to the Majors in each of the last two seasons, only to have the just-turned 23-year-old righthander land with a giant "THUD" both times. Perhaps this is the season that Bailey finally makes an impact and sticks with the club. There are several reasons to think that, for tonight at least, Bailey will come through. First, although his numbers in AAA aren't spectacular so far this season, he has shown great stuff and his strikeouts to walks stats in Louisville have been outstanding. Secondly, he gets not only a weak opponent in the Cleveland Indians, but the team who last season had the worst inter-league record in the entire American League (6-12) and one of only two AL teams with a losing one. Also, one of Bailey's four career Major League wins was against this Indian squad in 2007. Finally, in this pitching matchup tonight, Bailey actually assumes the role of the veteran starter with more Major League experience than his opponent. While Bailey only has 17 MLB starts in two seasons that is 16 more than the Indians' rookie southpaw David Huff. And that single outing did not go well (seven runs in 3 2/3 innings) for the Cleveland youngster. Take the Reds.

At 7:05 pm our selection is on the Chicago White Sox over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Young White Sox southpaw Clayton Richard has been in the headlines a bit recently, but not for his performance on the field. Richard was included (along with the even younger Chicago southpaw Aaron Peroda) in the offer to the San Diego Padres for ace Jake Peavy. But Peavy invoked his no-trade clause and nixed the deal with the Sox, so now perhaps Richard can concentrate on his role as a (recently added) member of his team's rotation. After 12 relief appearances to start the season, Richard has now had back-to-back starts, and while the first one against the Indians in Cleveland was nothing special, his last start against Toronto showed the Sox a nice preview of the pitcher they're hopeful Richard can become. Against the best offense in the Majors, Richard pitched seven very strong innings, surrendering only one earned run on three hits while issuing only three walks. Tonight he goes from one of the best lineups in baseball to one of the weakest. Don't let the recent four-game stretch in which the Pirates scored 38 runs fool you as two of those games were against the Nationals and the other two were against the Rockies. In most of their other recent contests, Pittsburgh's offense has barely made a whimper, including the opening game of this set in where the Pirates were up to their old tricks, getting shut out in a 2-hitter. Chicago had the fourth-best inter-league record in baseball last season going 12-6 against the NL. Take the Sox.

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

Scott Spreitzer's 25* NBA **TOTAL** DOMINATOR! *1st of the Postseason!

I'm playing the Over between the Lakers and Nuggets on Saturday night. Denver needs to play uptempo basketball if they wish to hand the Lakers another loss. The Nuggets have no trouble picking up the pace in Denver, and the Lakers will follow suit. Denver has averaged 113 ppg in six home playoff tilts, and I expect more of the same tonight. The difference between this one and their first-round homers against New Orleans, is that the Lakers will trade points all night long. Denver is 31-19 to the Over this season when playing on one day of rest, which is obviously the case tonight. Two talented and athletic teams will go at it at an intense pace, and I believe we'll see this one sail Over the posted total. Thanks! Good Luck! Scott.

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-23-09

ROOT

CC---Tampa Bay Rays
Mill---Denver Nuggets
NL----Chi White Sox