9-24-08

Larry Ness' LEGEND Play-MLB (9-2 in MLB the L6 days / 2-0 with LEGEND plays post-July 4!)
My LEGEND play is on the Tor Blue Jays at 7:05 ET. While former Yankee manager Joe Torre has the Dodgers three games up in the NL West with just five games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees, who at 86-71 own a record four games better than the 82-75 Dodgers, were eliminated from postseason play last night when the Red Sox beat the Indians, 5-4. Everyone knows the story. New York had gone to the postseason every year since 1995 (Torre took over in '96). However, the Yanks were eliminated from the postseason in their first series for the fourth straight time last year and the Yanks and Torre couldn't agree on a new contract. The Yanks hired Joe Giradi and Torre headed to LA. The Yanks won 3-1 last night in Toronto, as Mussina tied his career high with 19 wins. Motivation may be harder to come by tonight for New York, now that the Yanks have officially been eliminated from the postseason. Jeter sat out last night's game with a sore hand (HBP in Saturday's game), although he was used as defensive replacement in the 9th. The Yanks have him listed as doubtful for this game and it's DOUBTFUL the Yanks will win tonight, as well. Injuries and poor performances have seen the Yankees fall from MLB's most dangerous lineup last year (team hit a ML-high .290 and averaged a ML-high 5.98 RPG), to one which has hit .270 and averaged 4.80 RPG in '08. The Yanks have gone a very mediocre 38-38 on the road, where they've averaged 4.49 RPG. Pitching has been a MAJOR problem all year and unlike last night, when they had a highly motivated Mussina on the mound, the Yankees will send only Phil Hughes to the hill tonight. Hughes went 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts last year (team was 8-5) and entered the '08 season with promise. His first start came on April 3 against these Blue Jays and he lasted six innings, allowing four hits and two ERs. He didn't get a decision but the Yanks won, 3-2. However, in five more April starts, Hughes made it into the fifth inning, only once. He lasted a total of just 16 innings in those five games, allowing 30 hits and 20 ERs for an 11.25 ERA (he was 0-4 and the team 0-5). Hughes was then placed on 15-day DL with a strained right oblique on May 1. He was sent to the minors for rehabilitation on July 29 and called up from the minors on September 13. He made his first start since April 29 last Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing just one ER on four hits over four innings (4 Ks and two walks). He's wearing glasses now instead of contacts and has gone back to his old number (65), instead of the No. 34 he wore to start this season. However, as far as I'm concerned, he's still the same pitcher who has allowed 38 hits and 24 ERs in 26 innings for a 7.96 ERA in '08. As for the Blue Jays, they'll go with AJ Burnett. Burnett's in his 10th season and this could be his last start for Toronto (could move on next year). Burnett began his career with Florida in '99 and this is just second time he's made as many as 30 starts in a season (this is his 34th). He made 32 starts in '05, going 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA. Those 12 wins were a single-season career high (he also won 12 games in '02 with Florida) but he'll take an 18-10 mark into tonight's game. Burnett's season "turned around" this year with a July 13 start vs the Yankees. He entered that game having won three of his previous four starts (after a slow start) but he was asked to pitch on three days rest that game (for the first time in his career) and he responded by pitching 8.1 innings (six hits / 1 ER / 8 Ks) in a 3-1 win. That began a stretch in which he's allowed three ERs or less in 10 of his last 14 starts. Including his three wins in four starts prior to that game, Burnett is 12-3 over his last 18 starts this year, with the Blue Jays going 14-4. All the motivation in this game is with Burnett and I don't see the Yanks matching his intensity after just being officially eliminated from the postseason. Plus, the Blue Jays get to 'feast' on Hughes. LEGEND play on the Tor Blue Jays.

Good Luck...Larry

Brandon Lang

WEDNESDAY
5 Dime White Sox



FREE - Blue Jays

Burns


SEATTLE

Game: Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners Game Time: 9/24/2008 10:10:00 PM Prediction: Seattle Mariners Reason: I'm laying the price with SEATTLE. As you know, the Angels have had a much better season than the Mariners. The Angels locked up a playoff berth long ago while the Mariners have been out of playoff contention for months. I like the situation here though. I say that because the Mariners just "got the monkey off their back" by snapping an extended losing streak while the Angels just saw their momentum come to a halt, as their winning streak was snapped. It's true that the Angels are still trying to win in order to lock up homefield advantage. However, the Mariners also have reason to play hard as they still have an outside shot at avoiding 100 losses and alos have the motivation of trying to finish the season on a high and get a couple of wins against the division champs. More importantly, the Mariners should have a significant advantage on the mound. That's because ace Felix Hernandez getting the call and he's got an excellent 3.37 ERA on the season, averaging a healthy 6 1/2 innings per start. He's pitched very well in each of his last two starts but hasn't gotten any run support. He should be some today though. Not only did the Mariners' bats come to life last night but they'll be facing Jon Garland and he's got an ugly 5.73 ERA and 1.606 WHIP on the road this season. He's been at his worst lately, too. Over his last three starts, Garland has a terrible 6.46 ERA and 1.741 WHIP. Those numbers are so bad largely because of his most recent start which saw him get pounded for nine runs (8 earned) in 2 1/3 innings. While Garland has won a couple of home starts vs. the Mariners, the last time he visited Seattle he allowed 12 hits and six runs (3 earned) in just five innings and suffered an 8-3 loss. Look for Hernandez to outpitch Garland and for the Mariners to win their second straight. *Personal Favorite

AL

At 7:05pm our selection is on the New York Mets over the Chicago Cubs. Now that the Cubs have clinched their division for the second straight season, they can afford to relax and take it easy, and don't be surprised if they do exactly that in these last few games. After all, unlike the other team that was the first to clinch its division (the Angels), the Cubs have also already locked up home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, so these few remaining regular season games mean essentially nothing. Not that they will try to lose on purpose, but after flopping the way they did in 2007 in the first round to Arizona, the Cubs will make sure that they are 100% fit and mentally prepared heading into the 2008 postseason. Tonight they will keep a real close eye on ace Carlos Zambrano, and it remains to be seen which Zambrano turns up for this game in New York? The one who pitched the complete game, no-hitter two starts back or the one who got ripped and only lasted 1 2/3 innings in his most recent start against the Cards. Keeping its ace healthy and focused for the postseason run is much more important to this team right now than whether it wins or loses this particular game. But for New York, there is only one goal tonight, and that is winning this game and keeping pace with the Phillies, and for the second straight night it will try to beat the Cubs by way of a talented lefthander. Last night it was Johan Santana and tonight it will be Oliver Perez' turn. Perez has thrown seven quality starts in his last nine trips to the mound, and the Mets have won five of Perez' previous seven starts. Although Zambrano is a top-flight pitcher, in three career starts at Shea Stadium, his ERA is a mediocre 4.00. Take the Mets to win this critical game. As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

Brandon Lang

WEDNESDAY
5 Dime White Sox



FREE - Blue Jays

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