5-21-10

[spook]

REGULAR SERVICE PLAYS go here!! NEW GUYS! LURKERS!

Dont be afraid to post services if you come across them. Your posts will be appreciated for sure.

Just put them in the appropriate section (regular or premium).......bol

[kar261]

Re: 5-21-10

Steven Budin-CEO
SATURDAY'S PICK
The New York Crew has a 50 Dime Release on Boston as the home favorite Saturday night againet Orlando in Game 3. As I release this play on Thursday at 5:45 PM Eastern, the Celtics are betwheen -3 and -3 1/2 in Las Vegas and offshore. In either case, I would purchase the insuralce and buy down the 1/2 point on Boston, reducing the price to -2 1/2 or -3 depending on your beginning number.

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

LADY LUCK

Friday's Best WNBA Bets

New York Liberty at Washington Mystics (-3.5, 150)

The new look New York Liberty opened the season in style with an 85-82 win over the Chicago Sky at Madison Square Garden Sunday.

The Liberty made serious moves towards a WNBA title this season, bringing in two-time champ Cappie Pondexter from Phoenix along with Taj McWilliams-Franklin from the Shock and Nicole Powell from the defunct Sacramento Monarchs, who also bring championship experience to the Big Apple.

"After last year's disappointing season we just had to take a look and say, let's start over," GM Carol Blazejowski told ESPN.

Pondexter scored 22 points in her Liberty debut Sunday, while McWilliams-Franklin added 20 and Powell chipped in with 11 points in the win.

Despite those stars, New York couldn’t cover the 6.5-point spread as home favorites and now take this growing team on the road Friday. Washington opened the season with two wins on the road, covering as underdogs both times.

"Our chemistry will have to evolve, but so far it's been fantastic," coach Anne Donovan told reporters.

While the Liberty wait for chemistry and cohesiveness, WNBA bettors will be fading New York.

Pick: Washington -3.5

Connecticut Sun at Atlanta Dream (-4.5, 159.5)

The saga of six-time WNBA All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw continues. Holdsclaw was recently dropped by the Dream after asking for a trade three days before training camp then not reporting.

Atlanta was shocked by the trade demands and attempted to keep Holdsclaw, who sat out the first two games of the season. The Dream have jumped out to a 2-0 start without the talented forward, who averaged 14 points per game last year after coming out of retirement.

"We appreciate all that Chamique has done to help our young franchise and we wish her well," Dream General GM and head coach Marynell Meadors said in a statement. "We are excited about the team we have in place and look forward to building on our strong start to the season."

Holdsclaw was a huge part of the team’s turnaround last season, going from a four-win year to a playoff contender in 2009. Atlanta brings in 6-foot-5 center Yelena Leuchanka to fill the void in the frontcourt. Leuchanka was the first Belarusian in the WNBA and played for the Charlotte Sting and Washington Mystics in 2006-2007.

The Dream’s newest member will be active for Friday’s contest with the Sun and will have the tough task of guarding rookie center Tina Charles, who scored 17 points and grabbed 10 boards in her pro debut.

Pick: Connecticut

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Friday Interleague Tips

Like it or not, the first round of interleague begins this weekend in Major League Baseball. This is basically the appetizer before we see two straight weeks of interleague play in the middle of June. Several of the standard rivalries take place including the battle of Ohio, the Beltway Series, the battle by the Bay, and the Subway Series. We'll start in Flushing with the struggling Mets battling the Yankees.

Yankees at Mets - 7:10 PM EST

The Big Apple rivals play the first of six games in interleague on Friday at Citi Field. The Yanks captured five of six meetings last season, including a three-game sweep on the road. Javier Vazquez looks to turn around his luck, while Hisanori Takahashi gets the ball for the Mets.

Vazquez (2-4, 8.01 ERA) has been the weak link of the Yankees' rotation, as New York is 2-5 in his seven starts. The veteran turned in a scoreless performance his last time out; granted, it was a strikeout in relief against the Red Sox, but it's a start. Vazquez's last start was his best of the season, going seven innings in a 2-0 loss at Detroit, scattering two earned runs and five hits. That start actually improved his road ERA to 7.48, while the loss to the Tigers was his first quality start of 2010.

Takahashi (3-0, 3.12 ERA) takes the place of the injured Jonathon Niese as the lefty makes his first start of the season. The Mets are running out of options in their rotation, as Takahashi turned in his second-longest outing of the season with a three-inning performance at Florida last Sunday.

The Mets struggled in many facets last season, as Jerry Manuel's team went 5-10 in interleague, including batting a league-worst .232. The Yankees weren't impressive with a 10-8 mark, but half the wins came against the Mets. Nine of the last 11 meetings have been won by the road team, while five of the previous six matchups at Citi Field have finished 'under' the total.

Red Sox at Phillies - 7:10 PM EST

A pair of four-win pitchers get together when Boston and Philadelphia hook up for a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are coming off a split against the Cubs, while the Red Sox are 2-6 the last eight games away from Fenway Park.

Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29 ERA) has turned things around following a tough 2010 campaign, coming off a win in his last start at Milwaukee. The former World Series MVP has allowed six earned runs in his previous three outings (19.2 innings), as the Phillies are 4-0 his last three trips to the mound. Hamels beat the Red Sox in his lone start against Boston back in 2008 by scattering seven hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work.

The Sox counter with John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA), who is coming off a pair of tough starts against the Tigers and Blue Jays. Lackey gave up 17 hits and 11 earned runs in those two outings, but the Sox managed a split of those games. Dating back to 2003, the Angels went 16-4 in Lackey's 20 starts against National League opponents, while 13 of those games finished 'under' the total.

Boston grabbed two of three from Philadelphia in 2009, while going 13-3 in the series dating back to 2004. The Phillies struggled in interleague last season with a 6-12 ledger, the most losses of any NL team.

Angels at Cardinals - 8:15 PM EST

These two teams meet up for the first time since 2007, as the Angels play in their third different city since Monday. The Cardinals managed a split against the Marlins on Thursday, while managing their seventh 'under' in eight games.

Former Cardinal Joel Pineiro (3-4, 3.71 ERA) faces his old squad in the series opener, as the righty has delivered three terrific starts in a row. Pineiro hasn't allowed a run in either of his last two outings, home wins over the Rays and A's. The righty has pitched in three tough ballparks this season with a victory over the Yankees, but also dropping decisions at Boston and Detroit. The Cardinals finished 8-8 in Pineiro's 16 home starts last season, but St. Louis lost each of his last four outings.

Brad Penny (3-4, 2.73 ERA) started the season on fire, but has quickly cooled off with St. Louis losing each of his last four outings. Penny has compiled quality starts in seven of eight starts, as the veteran was knocked around to the tune of 13 hits and seven earned runs in five innings of a 7-2 setback at Cincinnati his last time out. Six of Penny's eight outings have finished 'under' the total, with the Cardinals averaging two runs/game in his starts. Penny faced the Angels twice last season as a member of the Red Sox, splitting a pair of one-run decisions, while going six innings each time.

The Cardinals and Angels have played just six times with all six meetings coming in Eastern Missouri. The Halos took two of three back in 2007, as all three matchups finished 'over' total. Los Angeles owned the best interleague record in baseball last season by winning 14 of 18 games against NL opponents.

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

What Bettors Need To Know: Sharks at Blackhawks

United we fall

With a 2-0 series lead, you assume the Chicago Blackhawks would be happy to have home ice for the next two games of the Western Conference final.

However, Chicago has struggled inside the United Center, posting a 3-3 record at home this postseason. The Blackhawks dropped their last game in Chicago, 4-1, to the Vancouver Canucks and surrendered home ice in Game 1 of the conference semifinals, losing 5-1. Overall, Chicago has been outscored 14-19 at the United Center in the playoffs.

"We know how we want to play at home," forward Patrick Kane told NHL.com. "Keep it simple, not give too big of a show. Keep (fans) in the game right off the hop. Sometimes I think at home, whether it's the national anthem or just playing in front of a big crowd, you want to put on a show for them. That's not necessarily what we have to do. The biggest thing is playing a simple game like we have on the road."

The Blackhawks were one of the most successful home teams in hockey this season. They went 29-8-2-2 inside the United Center, scoring 3.26 goals per home contest – third best in the NHL.

Blood in the water

Getting pushed around for the first two games of the series would make any team angry. The San Jose Sharks would rather get even, after losing both games at home to the Blackhawks.

San Jose is looking to up the intensity and push back as the Western Conference semifinal swings to Chicago. The Sharks veteran members are trying to keep that intensity focused on winning and not boil over into frustration.

"Obviously, I don't want to be in this position, but this is a good time for us to come together here and kind of raise our middle finger and just do it together," defenseman Dan Boyle told ESPN. "It's going to take a lot of work."

The Sharks have outshot the Blackhawks in both games but have just three goals to show for their 72 shots on goal.

San Jose struggled on offense against the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round, scoring just one goal in Game 1, getting shutout in Game 3 and netting only two goals in Game 4. However, the Sharks dug in to close out the series with 10 total goals in the final two games. Then they blasted the Detroit Red Wings with three straight four-goal performances before the well went dry again.

The Sharks offense has netted only six total goals in their last four contests, playing under the total in two of those outings.

“I expect them to respond, it’s as simple as that,” San Jose coach Todd McClellan told reporters. “We’ve worked hard to get to where we are. We’ve had to overcome a lot. We’re in a situation where we have to do it again. I think throughout this playoff we’ve built character. This gives us an opportunity now to add to that.

“We’ve always boasted about our leadership in the locker-room, the ability for guys to take others with them and lead them in the right direction. We’ll need that now.”

Weakest link?

Heading into the postseason, most analysts picked the Blackhawks to contend for the Stanley Cup. Their biggest knock against Chicago was goaltender Antti Niemi.

The rookie was thrust into the playoff blender and, while there have been some rough outings, he’s come out as one of the biggest stories in the NHL. Niemi has turned away 69-of-72 shots in this series including holding the Sharks’ talented offense to one goal on 45 shots in Game 1.

“He works hard every day,” defenseman Brian Campbell told Yahoo! Sports. “He’s a good goalie, he’s come a long way. Give him credit for the work he’s put in. He deserves a lot what he’s getting.”

In the postseason, Niemi is 10-4 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. He’s also well aware of the pressure that San Jose will bring after falling two games behind.

“We were ready for them to come at us hard early, and I think they might have got a little frustrated when they didn’t score,” he told reporters. “It would have been a real bad situation for us if they scored, they would have got a lot of energy from this.”

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Can the Sharks win in Chicago?

The Sharks have been dogged by a past that has earned them the mantle of being “underachievers.” But times appeared to be changing this season after they dropped the Red Wings in five games during the second round.

Two games into the Western Conference Final against the Blackhawks and San Jose’s fans and bettors alike are beginning to feel like they got conned. Now the Sharks, down two-games-to-none, must try to their hopes alive by winning Game 3 in Chicago.

If you’re looking at the stats, then you can see the Sharks are at least trying to make something happen on the attack. They took 45 shots on goal in Game 1 and another 27 in the second game of the series. And what do the kids from Silicon Valley have to show for those cannon shots? Three goals…three freaking goals.

Normally you’ll blame Patrick Marleau along with Joe Thornton for all of San Jose’s past playoff flameouts. But Marleau has actually made himself useful in scoring two goals on the three shots he’s fired against Chicago. Thornton, however, has done his usual disappearing act with just five shots to his credit. Dany Heatley has taken Marleau’s place as a non-factor so far with just one assist to show for his work.

As bad as the effort has been by the Sharks’ top players, some of their woes can be attributed to some fantastic goaltending. Antti Niemi has been on fire between the pipes for Chicago in the last two rounds of the playoffs. He’s posted a 2.15 goals against average and an impressive .930 save percentage since May 3 at home against Vancouver.

What could be problematic for Niemi is his play during the playoffs at the United Center. The Finnish backstop is just 3-3 in six home postseason tests, posting a 2.82 GAA and surprisingly lackluster .887 save percentage.

Niemi does have the advantage of having one of the better attacks in front of him for the playoffs. Jonathan Toews has rolled up seven goals during the postseason, while Patrick Kane has lit the lamp seven times on his own in this tournament. Someone who has come out of nowhere to become an X-Factor for the Blackhawk is right winger Dustin Byfuglien. The Minnesota native has scored all six of his goals in Chicago’s last six games. Plus, Byfuglien is riding a three-game goal scoring streak.

That trio of strikers has made Evgeni Nabokov’s life a living hell. Nabby has stopped 91 percent of the shots he’s seen in the playoffs with a 2.53 GAA. Yet Nabokov can’t help but give up some really weak goals. It may sound like opinion, but San Jose’s goalie has surrendered about four softies to the ‘Hawks in this season.

The oddsmakers aren’t liking the Sharks’ chances in Game 3 as they’ve tabbed Chicago as a $1.55 home “chalk” (risk $155 to win $100) with a total of 5 ½.

This is a rough spot for gamblers to want to back San Jose. Over the last five season, the Sharks have gone 3-6 in games as road pups when they have scored two goals or less in back-to-back tilts. The ‘over’ is 7-2 in those games.

Chicago has been a great wager when posted as a home favorite after giving up two or fewer goals in back-to-back contests, evidenced by a 12-4 mark. The ‘under’ is 10-5-1 for the Blackhawks in this spot.

Gamblers can always take the Sharks on the puck line (+1 ½-goals) at minus-220 (risk $220 to win $100). While that is a lot of money to lay down at the betting shop, it isn’t a bad risk. That’s because Chicago has only covered the puck line in (-1 ½-goals) in three of its last 10 home games after giving up two or fewer goals in its past two fixtures.

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 5-21-10

Steven Nover

15 dime rays/astros over 7 1/2
15 dime angels
15 dime blue jays

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Jr. O'Donnell (RedZone Sports) free internet play:

Atlanta Braves -160 laying the smack down on Pitt in Pennsylvania tonight.

Last night's Atlanta Braves come back will power the Bravos again tonight as Hudson is a flat out stud. We are real high on Tim Hudson 4-1 and 2.41 ERA, he has owned the Pirates the last few times he has faced them He also has spun a couple a gems the last few games. 13-1 winner over the D Backs. He has only given up a lone run the last 4 starts. Laying the lead on the road has been deadly for some MLB cappers , but in this spot it = $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Let's ride the winning wave and play on the Atlanta Bravos with T. Hudson Friday

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Outlaw Sports Advisors

Tigers +160

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Mighty Quinn

Mighty missed with the Flyers Thursday night.

Friday it's the Sharks (86% System). The deficit is 960 sirignanos

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Hondo

Losses don't come much worse than yesterday's disaster with the Reds in Atlanta, even for a veteran loser like Hondo. What could be more sickening than taking a six-run lead in the ninth and giving up seven, with the last four scoring on a glove-aided grand slam? Just answer the damn question!

Tonight, with 505 gulletts owed, Mr. Aitch will slap another kiss of death on Cincy, mainly because they deserve it so much -- 10 units

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

Arthur Ralph Sports
449 - 326 run 58 %

Free play FRI Braves - 150

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

SPORTS ADVISORS

FRIDAY, MAY 21

INTERLEAGUE

Boston (22-20) at Philadelphia (26-15)

The Red Sox hit the road to begin interleague play with right-hander John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA) taking the hill at Citizens Bank Park opposite Phillies’ lefty Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29).
Boston wrapped up a brief two-game home sweep of the Twins on Thursday, winning 6-2 for its seventh win in its last 11 outings. However, the Red Sox went just 2-3 during a recent road trip and are 2-6 in their last eight on the highway and 7-22 in their last 29 as an underdog. On the bright side, Boston has dominated in interleague action, sporting runs against the N.L. of 63-23 overall, 30-12 on the road and 38-13 against the N.L. East. Philadelphia has won 11 of its last 15 games, including a 5-4 home win over the Cubs on Thursday. The Phillies are 45-19 in their last 64 games as a home favorite and 20-8 in their last 28 against right-handed starters. However, unlike the Red Sox, Philadelphia has struggled in interleague action, as it is on slides of 1-8 at home against the A.L., 5-16 as a favorite and 5-11 against right-handers. Boston has crushed the Phillies over the last several seasons, winning 13 of the last 16 meetings, including four of the last five Citizens Bank and two of three there last season. Lackey is coming off back-to-back rough outings, allowing 11 runs on 17 hits in 13 innings (7.62 ERA) against the Blue Jays and Tigers, but he’s still 2-1 in his last three outings. In his long career, Lackey has faced the Phillies just once, back in 2003 as a starter for the Angels, and he allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-1 victory. Hamels is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in his last three starts and is coming off a solid effort in Milwaukee on Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-2 win. The Phillies are 6-2 behind Hamels this season, winning the last four in a row. The only time the San Diego native faced the Red Sox was in 2008, and he held them to two runs on seven hits in seven innings of an 8-2 Phillies’ victory. That said, Philadelphia is 0-4 in Hamels’ last four interleague starts and 3-8 in his last 11 home starts against a winning team. The Red Sox have topped the total in five of six against southpaws, five of six on the road against National League lefties and three of five on the highway, but they are on “under” runs of 25-11-1 as an underdog, 21-6-1 as a road ‘dog and 29-14-8 on Friday. The Phillies have gone above the posted number in four straight interleague games and eight of Hamels’ last 11 Friday starts, but they’re also on “under” streaks of 14-6-1 as a favorite, 19-6-1 on Friday, 5-2 in Hamels’ last seven interleague starts and 7-3-1 when Hamels is favored at home against A.L. opponents. Finally, these two have topped the total in eight of the last 11 meetings overall and six of the last eight at Citizens Bank Park.

ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON and OVER


Detroit (24-17) at L.A. Dodgers (23-18)

The surging Tigers send left-hander Dontrelle Willis (1-1, 4.68 ERA) to hill at Dodger Stadium to open an three-game interleague set against the Dodgers and right-hander Chad Billingsley (4-2, 4.03). Detroit has won seven of its last 10 and finished a two-game sweep in Oakland on Thursday with a 5-2 victory. The Tigers are in slumps oft 2-6 in interleague road games, 17-37 as an interleague ‘dog, 2-7 on Friday and 7-16 in series openers, but they are on positive streaks of 53-23 overall in interleague action, 6-2 versus the N.L. West and 42-19 against N.L. right-handers. One night after their nine-game winning was streak halted with 10-5 home loss to San Diego, the Dodgers bounced back Thursday and beat the Padres 4-1. In addition to winning 10 of its last 11 games, Los Angeles is on positive runs of 13-7 at home, 7-1 as a favorite, 84-29 as a home favorite, 12-4 at home against winning teams, 4-1 in series openers and 6-1 on Friday. On the flip side, Joe Torre’s troops are in slumps of 29-52 in interleague play, 6-20 versus the A.L. Central, 11-28 against A.L. teams with winning records and 7-20 against left-handed A.L. starters These teams haven’t met since 2008 when the Tigers swept a three-game set in Detroit, and they haven’t squared off at Dodger Stadium since 2005 when the Dodgers took two of three. Willis had his worst start of the season on Saturday at home against the Red Sox, giving up four runs on four hits and a season-high seven walks in 3 1/3 innings, but his offense bailed him out and rallied for a 7-6 victory. The former Marlin starter has had no luck against the Dodgers, going 1-5 with a 6.93 ERA in seven career starts against them, including 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) in just 18 2/3 innings. The Tigers are just 2-8 in Willis’ last 10 road starts, and the southpaw is 0-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three starts on the highway this season. Billingsley is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in his last three starts, most recently blanking the Padres on Sunday as he scattered four hits over 7 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking one in a 1-0 road victory. The Dodgers have won three of Billingsley’s last four outings, but otherwise they’re 4-10 in his last 14 starts as a favorite, 2-7 in his last nine on Friday and 2-8 when he’s coming off four days of rest. Detroit has topped the total in seven of its last 11 on the road and 10 of its last 15 as a road ‘dog, but otherwise Jim Leyland’s team carries “under” streaks of 7-1-1 as an underdog, 15-5-1 against N.L. West teams, 14-6-1 in interleague road games, 8-3 as an interleague underdog and 10-4 on the road against National League right-handers. Also, with Willis on the hill, the Tigers have stayed under the total in seven of 10 as ‘dogs, five of six against winning teams and four straight after he gets five days off. Los Angeles is on “over” runs of 8-3 at home, 8-1 as a home favorite, 11-5-1 in series openers and 18-7-2 when Billingsley starts against a winning team, but it is on “under” streaks of 11-5 in interleague home games, 12-4 at home against American League squads with winning records and 4-1 in Billingsley’s last five outings overall. Finally, these teams stayed under the total in two of three meetings in 2008 and six of nine clashes since 2003.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

MVPLocks

Yats -175 (lock of the day)
Braves -160
Black Hawks -155
Cubs/Rangers over 9

[spook]

Re: 5-21-10

NY Players Club

3* on San Jose Sharks +150