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05/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the Detroit Tigers, Thursday's off day could not have come at a better time.
For starters, the team had just wrapped up a stretch of 20 straight games -- through five cities -- with no rest. That journey came to a halt Wednesday at Minnesota's new Target Field, where the Twins put the final touches on a three-game sweep of the Tigers.
On Tuesday, catcher Gerald Laird drilled a foul ball off his shin. Laird was already scheduled to be rested for Wednesday's afternoon game, and with an extra day to heal up, he is expected to be back in the lineup on Friday when Detroit (16-13) begins a weekend series with Cleveland.
Also on the injury front, outfielder Johnny Damon left in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game with a right calf spasm. Thanks to Thursday's break in the action, he is also expected to be available for Friday's series opener.
While Thursday's idle date afforded some much needed rest for the players, it also allowed the city of Detroit to mourn the passing of Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who died Tuesday after an eight-month battle with bile duct cancer. Harwell, who spent 42 of his 92 years on this Earth as the Tigers' broadcaster, was posthumously awarded the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in sports broadcasting Wednesday night. On Thursday, Tigers fans packed Comerica Park to bid farewell to their beloved broadcaster.
It was Harwell's genuine enthusiasm for the game and deep-rooted connection with Tigers fans that endeared himself to the city of Detroit. Though he stopped broadcasting about eight years ago, his bubbly personality remained a fixture at Comerica Park and throughout the Motor City, and he would embrace his impending death with tremendous grace and strength, even planning the details of his own public viewing with team officials.
"I've got a great attitude. I just look forward to a new adventure," Harwell told the Detroit Free Press when he disclosed his illness. "God gives us so many adventures, and I've had some great ones. It's been a terrific life."
As for the Tigers, they can take a lesson from Ernie and put the Minnesota series behind them, and look forward to tomorrow.
TRIBE BANKING ON WESTBROOK, HAFNER TO RETURN TO FORM
While the Cleveland Indians (10-17) have gotten significantly younger over the last few seasons, two of their key veterans remain in Travis Hafner and Jake Westbrook. However, it has been quite a while since either of those players have been productive on a consistent basis. Compounding the frustration is the fact that Hafner and Westbrook are the Tribe's two highest paid players.
Hafner, who turns 33 in less than a month, signed the largest contract in team history during the 2007 All-Star break: four years and $57 million. He is making a team-high $11.5 million this season and his salary jumps to $13 million in 2011 and 2012. Since signing that contract Hafner has missed a combined 173 games in 2008 and 2009, totaling just 21 home runs while batting .245 during those two seasons. He is hitting just .213 so far this season, though Wednesday's mammoth shot into the right-center field seats provided a glimmer of hope.
"I had a good spring and was hoping to get off to a good start," said Hafner, whose past shoulder injuries have led to some bad habits at the plate. "That hasn't happened. But you can't really worry about it. You've got to continue to work hard every day. I hope to get going soon and be a big part of the offense."
As for the 32-year-old Westbrook, he is in the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract. Since posting back-to-back 15-win seasons in 2005 and 2006, Westbrook has tallied just seven wins for the Tribe. He is now trying to resurrect his career after Tommy John surgery cost him most of 2008 and all of the 2009 season. But so far, the results have been anything but promising, as Westbrook is off to an 0-2 start with a 5.74 ERA. In 34 2/3 innings, he has issued 17 walks and thrown four wild pitches, as he's struggled to regain his feel.
Pitching coach Tim Belcher spoke with Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed the ligament replacement surgery in June 2008.
"(Yocum) said most of his patients with that Tommy John don't really get their command back until the second year," Belcher said on the team's website. "Hopefully it comes a little bit quicker for him."
TWINS STAYING HOT WITHOUT MAUER
The Minnesota Twins (19-10) enjoy a three-game lead in the AL Central standings as they resume their homestand Friday against Baltimore. They were able to build that cushion thanks to a three-game sweep over the second-place Tigers earlier this week.
And they've managed to do so without reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer in the lineup for the last six games. Mauer suffered a deep soft tissue bruise in his left heel last Friday. He took some batting practice on Thursday but is still not able to run. A timetable has not been set for his return.
"He feels good swinging, but he's not ready to run yet," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's feeling better every day. We are going to let Joe tell me when he is ready to play. I just want to make sure we get through this thing without re-injuring it."
Meanwhile, the Twins twice left the bases loaded in Thursday's series-opening 2-0 loss to the Orioles, snapping Minnesota's three-game win streak. It also snapped a six-game streak in which the Twins scored at least two runs in the first inning. Still, they'll look to build on their division lead as Francisco Liriano (4-0, 1.50) takes the hill Friday to try and improve upon his impressive start.
SOX WAITING FOR THE REAL MARK BUEHRLE TO SHOW UP
For White Sox (12-17) ace Mark Buehrle, none of his last four starts have remotely resembled the same man who has four All-Star nods, a no-hitter and a perfect game on his resume. Buehrle has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four outings, posting an 0-4 record, a 7.25 ERA and a .345 opponents batting average over that period.
What's most puzzling to Buehrle is that he feels great after an offseason conditioning program aimed at strengthening his throwing shoulder.
"That's why I'm surprised at the numbers I have," he said. "The way I feel like I've thrown and the way I feel when I'm throwing, I feel way too good for having the numbers I have. Obviously everybody's kind of joking around saying, 'You should have sat on your butt and not done anything this offseason,' but I feel as strong right now as I have in a while."
Having made eight Opening Day starts for Chicago, logic suggests he'll get it going sooner or later. The team hopes the resurrection begins Friday when he takes the hill against the Toronto Blue Jays. Of course, Buehrle's struggles have magnified a starting rotation which ranks fourth-worst in the AL with a combined 5.02 ERA. Jake Peavy (1-2, 6.31), Gavin Floyd (1-3, 6.89) and Freddy Garcia (1-2, 5.28) seem to have followed Buehrle's lead.
ROYALS ISSUING TOO MANY FREE PASSES
Royals pitching coach Bob McClure had seen enough.
With his staff leading the majors with 126 walks, he called a pitcher's meeting prior to the team's series opener with the Texas Rangers on Thursday. The message was clear: "get ahead of the hitters, have confidence in your stuff, and be aggressive in the strike zone."
McClure believes throwing strikes can be contagious. Only now, it's up to the Royals (11-18) hurlers to execute. But that's easier said than done for a staff that led the AL with 600 free passes last year.
"I'd rather watch them bang balls off the bullpen fence than keep giving up walks," manager Trey Hillman told the Kansas City Star on Wednesday. "I can watch losing baseball, but not bad baseball."
The one player who has no problem attacking the strike zone, reigning AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, takes the mound Friday against Texas. Remarkably, Greinke has yet to notch a win after six starts. His 2.27 ERA is the lowest of any qualifying starter in baseball without a victory. If Greinke is to break that mold, he could certainly use more than the 2.6 runs of support he has gotten from his offense thus far.
<< Get on Board with Untested Pitchers
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When it comes to wagering on baseball,
gamblers usually shy away from the unknown. It's easy to back the likes of Tim
Lincecum and Roy Halladay, but putting your money on rookies is another story.
However,
<< Morneau healthy and carrying Twins
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American League pitchers and a nagging back
haven't been able to slow down Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer's heel injury
likely won't either.
The first baseman's production didn't suffer last season while Mau
<< Motherwell eyes Europa League spot
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Motherwell needs a win over Rangers on
Sunday to clinch fourth place in the Scottish Premier League and secure a spot
in the Europa League for next season.
But if they are successful, they can point
<< Lipscomb F Hodzic withdraws from NBA Draft
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lipscomb University forward Adnan Hodzic has
withdrawn from the 2010 NBA Draft and will return to the school for his senior
season.
Hodzic had entered the draft on April 8, but did not hire an agent.
"By
Barry's World Cup campaign in doubt >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry
is a major doubt for England's World Cup squad after being ruled out for four
weeks with ankle ligament damage.
City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed the in
Mancini: Tevez will stay at City >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini
has revealed that leading striker Carlos Tevez is more than happy to stay at
the club, despite failing to land Champions League football next term.
The Argenti
Ancelotti expects Cole stay >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes
Joe Cole will remain at the Stamford Bridge outfit next season despite being
out of contract in the summer.
Talks over new terms have been placed on hold unt
Burnley would welcome European place >>
Burnley, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Burnley manager Brian Laws has welcomed
the surprise possibility of European football at Turf Moor next season.
The Clarets will be playing in the Championship next term following their
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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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