05/09/2008 -
Brandon Webb is talking with the Arizona Diamondbacks about a new contract and building his case for more cash at the same time.
He became the first pitcher in three years to win his first eight starts, tossing his 13th career complete game to help Arizona beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Thursday.
The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his first complete game of the year. He hit one batter.
``I felt early on I had good stuff, even in the pen,'' Webb said. ``My arm felt great, the best it's probably felt in three games.''
In other NL games, it was Atlanta 5, San Diego 4; Colorado 9, St. Louis 3; Washington 8, Houston 3; Florida 7, Milwaukee 2; and Pittsburgh 5, San Francisco 4.
The easygoing Webb (8-0) became the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland of the Chicago White Sox in 2005 and the first in the NL since Pedro Martinez for Montreal in 1997, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
``Everything has to go your way for these things to work,'' Webb said. ``Guys hitting in situations and making plays. The bullpen has been coming through. Everything has to fall in place and it has whenever I've been out there.''
Webb is one of baseball's biggest bargains, or one of the most underpaid depending on the perspective, but the Diamondbacks are trying to work out a new deal.
He is scheduled to make $5.5 million this season as part of a four-year contract that originally guaranteed him $19.5 million and potentially is worth $27.5 million over five seasons. He is due $6.5 million next year, and the Diamondbacks have an $8.5 million option for 2010 with a $1.5 million buyout.
``We've been talking a little bit and, hopefully, it's not something that drags out too long,'' said Webb, who turns 29 on Friday. ``We'll get something done.''
Chris Young hit a two-run drive, his second homer in as many games, and Chris Snyder had a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who split the four-game series to finish their longest homestand of the season 5-5. Justin Upton added a solo home run for Arizona.
Brett Myers (2-3) allowed seven runs - six earned - and nine hits in five innings for the Phillies. He struck out five and walked three, one intentionally.Braves 5, Padres 4
At Atlanta, the Braves finally won a one-run game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games, and the only team in the major leagues without a one-run win.
Atlanta, which trailed 4-1 after five innings, has won six straight games, all at home.
The Padres, who lost their fourth straight, committed three errors that led to four unearned runs. Joe Thatcher (0-4) was charged with the loss.
Manny Acosta (1-1) recorded one out to get the win.Rockies 9, Cardinals 3
At Denver, Matt Holliday had four singles, Jorge De La Rosa scattered five hits over 5 2-3 innings and Colorado beat St. Louis to salvage a split in their four-game series.
Omar Quintanilla added a career-high three hits and Garrett Atkins finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBIs for the Rockies.
De La Rosa (1-1) was making his second start for Colorado since being acquired April 30 from Kansas City. He gave up two runs and struck out five.
Kyle Lohse (3-2) struggled for a second straight outing, allowing seven runs and eight hits in four innings for St. Louis. Ryan Ludwick hit two home runs.Nationals 8, Astros 3
At Houston, Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak homered and Washington ended the Astros' five-game winning streak.
John Lannan (3-3) allowed seven hits in six innings and the Nationals snapped Houston's eight-game winning streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros averaged 7.3 runs and 11.5 hits in their previous eight home games.
Austin Kearns had a two-run single off Brandon Backe (2-4), who had a career-high nine strikeouts.Marlins 7, Brewers 2
At Miami, Matt Treanor achieved a career high in RBIs with one swing, hitting a three-run homer to help Florida complete a three-game sweep.
Jorge Cantu also homered for the first-place Marlins, who won their fourth game in a row and matched their best start after 34 games (20-14).
The Brewers lost their sixth game in a row, their longest losing streak this year. They finished 1-5 in the season series against Florida, scoring a total of 10 runs.
Logan Kensing (1-0) retired all eight batters he faced, striking out four, to earn the win.
Carlos Villanueva (1-4) allowed seven runs in five innings to remain winless since his first start of the season April 4. His ERA rose to 6.46.Pirates 5, Giants 4
Adam LaRoche hit a go-ahead single in a three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates rallied to complete a three-game sweep.
Pittsburgh has won 13 of its last 15 games against San Francisco and swept three-game series from the Giants in three straight seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. San Francisco has lost four in a row overall.
Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay had three hits apiece for the host Pirates. Franquelis Osoria (2-1) pitched a one-hit seventh, John Grabow and Tyler Yates combined on a one-hit eighth and Matt Capps finished for his eighth save in as many chances.
Matt Cain (1-3) allowed five runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings for the Giants.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Rangers blank M's
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ramon Vazquez finished 4-for-5 and Ian Kinsler
hit a two-run homer, as the Texas Rangers blanked the Seattle Mariners, 5-0,
in the finale of a four-game series from Safeco Field.
Kason Gabbard, activated f
<< Ginobili, Parker push Spurs past Hornets in Game 3
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker each poured
in 31 points as San Antonio used a strong second half to beat New Orleans,
110-99, in the pivotal Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
The Sp
<< Smith named head coach at Alcorn State
Vicksburg, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alcorn State named Larry Smith it's new
men's basketball coach Thursday.
Smith lettered for four years at Alcorn State and was part of the undefeated
1979-80 team at the school before moving on to an
<< Sexson ejected after charging mound and throwing helmet
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle first baseman Richie Sexson was
ejected in the fourth inning of Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers.
With two outs in the inning, Keith Gabbard came up and in with a fastball that
caused
Thursday's NBA Playoff Boxes >>
CLEVELAND (73)James 6-24 9-13 21, Wallace 0-0 0-0 0, Ilgauskas 9-12 1-2 19, West 1-5 1-2 3, Szczerbiak 4-11 4-4 13, Varejao 1-5 1-2 3, Smith 2-7 0-0 4, Gibson 0-2 2-2 2, Pavlovic 2-4 0-0 5, D.Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Dw.Jones 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 26-73 19-27 7
2008 All-NBA Teams List >>
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston (118), 612F - LeBron James, Cleveland (117), 610C - Dwight Howard, Orlando (86), 546G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (127), 635G - Chris Paul, New Orleans (124), 629Second TeamF - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (1), 189F - Tim Duncan, S
Tribe hopes to solve its struggles at Progressive Field >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Beginning tonight against Toronto, the Cleveland Indians
will play each of their next seven games at home.
While that usually is a blessing for any team, the Indians are just 8-11 at
Progressive Field. Last weekend, they w
AL West rivals square off in Arlington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of American League West members on good recent
rolls begin a three-game series tonight in the Lone Star State, where the
Texas Rangers take on an Oakland Athletics squad in search of a fifth
consecutive victory.
O
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined
Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.
"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."
Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)
According to research at the online sportsbook MySportsbook.com, more than 18 plays a game disappeared last weekend into thin air. That's a 10-percent reduction. In 2005, a typical game had 168.58 plays. For 2007 already, it's down to 150.26.
As a result, teams combined to gain an average of about 100 fewer yards a game last weekend versus the 2005 openers. Scoring was also down by about 4.5 points (attention Las Vegas sports lines).
Of course, oddsmakers were able to adjust to the changes before the season started. Proof of that came as the over went a balanced 8-9 at My Sportsbook on Saturday.
Other angles to consider:A shorter game should theoretically result in shorter lines. Whereas Team A might have been a 14-point favorite in a 168-play game (last year), if there are 10 percent less snaps in 2007, the line should also be reduced by 10 percent (to 13 or 12.5). Of course, this is an over-simplification of the matter, but something to keep in mind.
Less possessions means a better chance the game will be decided by three or seven points. For example, what might have been a 20-10 final score in 2005 may end at
17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.
*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007
New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers
By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.
"We are seeing a massive jump in college football betting," noted the MySportsbook.com management team. "With all the early Saturday games (12 a.m. ET) ending before the second wave begins (3:30 p.m. ET) - something that didn't always happen before the changes - bettors are now able to re-invest their winnings from the morning session in the afternoon games."
While not all bettors will choose to roll over their winnings, it doesn't take much for an impact to be seen on the bottom line. "Not all of the millions of dollars in morning payouts get re-bet. In fact, it's probably only 10 to 20 percent," noted the sportsbook management team. "Still, the increased football betting lines window will create a ton of growth for us over the course of the season."
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