Experience is everything.

June 21 2009 @ 21:41

Ricky Barnes, the 3^rd round leader showed some nerve en route to an even par 70 to lead the US Open by a stroke over an unseasoned journeyman in Lucas Glover, but the young lad from Phoenix lumbered with a suspect swing and a yippy putting stroke. In fact, he escaped disaster on 10 and 11 where he could have lost his wits altogether. Glover also showed signs of intense pressure in his round only to rebound late to stay close to Barnes. Bethpage Black may have finally showed its teeth to a certain degree and veterans like Tiger and Phil were certainly aware of the “inexperience” factor among the leaders.

 

Indeed, the final round started late Sunday and Tiger still within striking distance finished off his abbreviated round with a magnificent birdie on #7, arguably the toughest hole on the golf course to move to even par on the tourney. He looked sharp and on the prowl.

 

Same for Phil, still in the hunt at -2 who was on the third hole when he and his playing partner Hunter Mahan decided to call it a day.

 

However, Barnes who made a mess of his initial hole with a bogey and most could sense that it was not going to get any better. His decision making and demeanor were hints of a complete meltdown which will occur believe me. He promptly ducked hook his final tee shot into the deep fescue on #2 and was more than happy to spot the ball and leave the premise. He’s in trouble.

 

Glover has the best chance to win this thing but he mustn’t allow his emotions to get the best of him.

 

Glover and Barnes are 5 shots clear of the rest of the field, they are playing together which helps, but there are two men out there waiting for the leaders to stumble. They know it, we know it, and it will happen.

 

We’ll wait and see.

 

My bet: Mickelson wins it.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 21:41 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 0 | Permalink

The Bettor's Box

June 16 2009 @ 07:47

The Bettor's Box

It's getting hot out there on the diamond. Mets reliever Francisco Rodriguez had a few choice words on Sunday for Yankees counterpart Brian Bruney, who had earlier mocked Rodriguez for his animated celebrations on the mound. The man they call K-Rod confronted Bruney during batting practice and shouted at him before teammates intervened.

The Yanks got the last laugh at the end of the day, winning 15-0 as -114 home faves and touching Johan Santana for nine runs over three-plus innings. If they can do that to the two-time Cy Young winner, what hope do the Washington Nationals have? We'll find out in this week's installment of The Bettor's Box.

Series: Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

Interleague play continues with the two Windy City teams getting it on at Wrigley Field. Both clubs are money losers at this point in the season, but the Cubs are almost even at home (17-12, minus-0.36 units), and the White Sox are magically in the black on the road (14-16, plus-1.81 units). Both teams have been pounding the under of late: 22-8 for the Cubs and 11-3-1 for the White Sox.

Series: Florida Marlins at Boston Red Sox

This is the first meeting between these two clubs since 2006, when Boston took two of three from the Marlins in Miami. The two winning pitchers for the Red Sox get another crack at it in 2009: Tim Wakefield (9-3 team record, plus-5.89 units) in Tuesday's opener and Jon Lester (8-5, plus-0.98) for Thursday's finale. The Sox have won nine of 12 games this month after a slow May; Florida is coming off a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels

The Dodgers remain the top money team in the majors with 17.38 units, sporting the best record in the majors at 42-22. The Angels are gamely plugging along at 32-29 (4.37 units) and feeling good about their chances at home after taking two of three last month at Chavez Ravine. This three-game set wraps up Sunday night on ESPN with Clayton Kershaw (5-7, minus-4.22 units) due up for the Dodgers and John Lackey (2-4, minus-2.73 units) projected for the Halos.

Washington Nationals at New York Yankees (Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. Eastern)

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Yanks? The Nationals aren't. They came out ahead 2-1 in their 2006 interleague series at RFK Stadium, and although the Yankees are sending CC Sabathia (3.68 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night, they’re just 6-7 in his 13 starts for a deficit of 6.71 units. Only three pitchers have done worse this year at the pay window. Washington's Shairon Martis (5.04 ERA), the pride of the Netherlands Antilles, is 0.36 units above water with a team record of 6-6. But in reality, the Nats are by far the worst team in the majors at 16-45 (minus-27.42 units) and expected to give seamhead-friendly manager Manny Acta the boot, according to Fox Sports.

Oakland Athletics at San Diego Padres (Friday, 10:05 p.m. ET)

This one could be over by midnight. These are two of the three weakest hitting teams in the league; San Diego has the worst batting average at .237, and Oakland the worst slugging percentage at .358. You can blame some of that on the humidity. Petco Park has the lowest park factor for runs (0.768) in the majors; however, the betting totals have been split down the middle in San Diego at 14-14-2. Josh Outman (3.43 ERA, under 6-4-1) and Chris Young (5.21 ERA, under 8-6) will try to keep a lid on things Friday night.

St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals (Saturday, 4:10 p.m. ET)

The Show-Me Series returns to Kaufmann Stadium this weekend with what should be a premier pitching duel. Chris Carpenter (4-4, 0.63 units) has a 1.59 ERA and a microscopic 0.73 WHIP; more importantly to St. Louis fans, he appears healthy after five consecutive quality starts. His opposite number, Brian Bannister (4.10 ERA, 1.40 WHIP), is still one of the top money pitchers in the league this year at 7-4 and 4.72 units to the good. Bannister has allowed just one earned run over the past 13 innings after giving up 15 runs over his previous two starts.

The baseball season is in full swing - check out the player props and team props at the Bodog Sportsbook today!

By: Frankie @ 07:47 | Category: Baseball  | Comments: 0 | Permalink