Announcement

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 08:12 AM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

-- Jordan Spieth dropped out of Olympics; world's top four golfers are now out.

-- Wonder what %age of NBA players watch summmer league games on TV?

-- New Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson is coaching the Nets' summer games to get used to running an NBA game-- he's never been an NBA head coach before.

-- Still amazing to me that Butler played for national title in college hoop two years in a row, when they were in the Horizon League. Underrated feat.

-- SEC commish said Monday that last August was first time since 1984 that no SEC football teams were on probation.

-- Atlanta Braves were 9-29 when they changed managers; they're 13-12 in their last 25 games and playing a lot better. They hit 13 HRs in their first 38 games, have hit 42 HRs in their last 51.

**********

Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but........

13) Congrats to Tim Duncan, retiring with five championships in his 19 years, but more than being a great player, Duncan is a terrific guy who was universally lauded as a great teammate. It is good to know that being a great teammate is being honored.

12) In his career, counting playoff games, Duncan's total plus/minus was exactly +10,000; next best during that time is Dirk Nowitzki, at +6,725.

That means while Duncan was on the court, the Spurs outscored their opponents by 10,000 points, a staggering figure.

Enjoy your retirement, sir.

11) They used the Padres' old brown/gold color scheme for All-Star uniforms, but San Diego's uniforms now are blue and white. Like the brown/gold that Dave Winfield and Nate Colbert wore much, much better- they should switch back.

10) Daniel Murphy is hitting 22-52 (.423) against his old team the Mets this season, with seven HRs, 21 RBI.

9) UFC sold for $4B over the weekend, which is a lot of money. I've never watched it, but what do you do with $4B? The guys who used to own UFC, their kids went to Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas- the weight room in that school is better than most D-I football teams' weight room- the UFC guys paid for it.

8) I just don't like watching people fight; I'll turn a hockey game off if a fight starts, but apparently, if UFC sold for $4B, lot of people like watching fights.

7) They just said on TV that Wil Myers hit a baseball off a tee, over the CF fence in San Diego- his coaches had bet him he couldn't do it.

6) Tony Padilla threw to Adam Duvall in HR Derby last night; he is also a college hoop ref who worked the Oklahoma-Villanova national semifinal game last April- his regular job is as a bail bondsman.

5) College basketball knowledge: Since 1987, the defending champ is 10-14 vs spread in its first NCAA tournament game the next season.

4) Since 2001, when the defending champ makes the Sweet 16, they're 1-7 SU, 0-8 against the spread in their Sweet 16 game. Only winner was Florida in 2008.

3) I'm tired of TV guys pumping up how much potential Joel Embiid has; he played one year (2013-14) at Kansas, scoring 11.2 ppg in 23.1 mpg. He then left for the NBA Draft, the 76ers took him and he's played in as many NBA games as I have-- zero.

Good teams draft productive players- they don't speculate on potential. Maybe some day the light bulb will come on over Embiid's head and he'll be a good player, but if he hasn't played in one game in two years, how likely is that to happen?

2) How hard is it to make an NBA roster? As I type this, Jimmer Fredette is on TV, playing for Denver's summer league team, trying to get back in the league. He is an elite shooter, which you would think makes him marketable, but Jimmer couldn't guard the chair I'm sitting on, so he has become a journeyman.

But he has an elite NBA skill and still struggles to make a roster. Lot of these kids who leave college early for the NBA- what elite skill do they have, other than potential?

1) Imagine my delight when I saw the Rams would be featured in not one, but two reality shows this summer/fall. No bueno.

First HBO has them on Hard Knocks, I'm sure part of the price they had to pay for moving to LA. Then, for better or worse, six Rams players will be featured on an E! Channel reality show during the season-- what could possibly go wrong there? Oy.

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 08:19 AM

MLB

Tuesday, July 12

Top Earning Team At Home:
Baltimore Orioles +$1632 (33-14)

Bottom of the Barrel Earners At Home:
Arizona Diamondbacks -$2388 (15-32)

Top Earning Team On The Road:
San Francisco Giants +$1170 (28-16)

Bottom of the Barrel Earners On The Road:
Kansas City Royals -$1227 (16-30)

Marlins' Giancarlo "Don't Call Me Mike" Stanton wins the 2016 MLB Home Run Derby (7/2). 61 HRs...new record. Berman said "back" 6832 times.

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 08:22 AM

86th MLB All-Star Game betting preview and odds

The National League will come into the 86th MLB All-Star Game as slight betting favorites over the American League despite losing the last three seasons.

National League at American League (+107, 7.5)

Game to be played at Petco Park in San Diego, California

The American League has secured home-field advantage in the World Series in each of the past three seasons - and would love to extend that streak as it tangles with the best players from the National League in the 86th annual Major League All-Star Game at San Diego’s Petco Park. The Kansas City Royals failed to use home field to their advantage in 2014, but put it to good use last year en route to their first championship since 1985.

Kansas City manager Ned Yost will be relying on a powerhouse Boston Red Sox lineup that has produced four members of the American League starting lineup. That group is anchored by ageless designated hitter David Ortiz, who will be making his 10th career All-Star Game appearance. He’s joined by teammates and All-Star newcomers Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., while the Royals’ Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer, the Orioles’ Manny Machado and the Astros’ Jose Altuve round out the starting nine.

New York Mets manager Terry Collins may not have the bats to counter the AL lineup, but he certainly has the arms to subdue them. Even without all-world ace Clayton Kershaw, Mets fireballer Noah Syndergaard and Nationals star Stephen Strasburg, the NL will send an armada of nasty pitchers to the hill. That list includes All-Star starter Johnny Cueto, Cubs No. 1 Jake Arrieta, Marlins fireballer Jose Fernandez and 42-year-old fan favorite Bartolo Colon. The lineup is no slouch, either, anchored by four Chicago Cubs - including home-run leader Kris Bryant.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: The line has moved slightly in favor of the National League after opening at AL +104, while the game total has remained unchanged. View full line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: Sunny skies are expected at Petco Park for first pitch, with temperatures sitting in the high 60s. Wind is expected to blow from left to right field at 6 mph.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Since the MLB All-Star game began in 1933, the National League has a slight 43-41-2 lead. However, it has been an incredibly streaky event. From 1960-1985, the National League went 25-3-1. Then from 1988-2009, the American League went 18-3-1. The past six years have seen a 3-0 NL run followed by the current 3-0 AL run."

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (14-3, 3.38 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (13-1, 2.47 ERA)

Sale sliced through the majority of his opponents in the first half, and comes into the break as the majors’ only 14-game winner. While his K/9 rate has dipped below nine - after sitting at a league-best 11.8 last season - he has made up for it by pitching deeper into games, evidenced by his AL-high three complete games. Opponents are hitting just .223 against him.

Cueto has endured some trouble spots of late but has otherwise been one of the most dominant pitchers in the NL; He has allowed two runs or fewer in 13 of 18 starts, and is coming off a complete-game five-hitter against Colorado. Cueto’s 13 victories lead the National League, and the 30-year-old is on a personal 10-game winning streak dating back to his lone loss April 21.

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 02:42 PM

MLB

Tuesday, July 12

Top OVER team:
Minnesota Twins (no surprise to our regular viewers) 54-29 (65%)

Top UNDER team:
Toronto Blue Jays 52-35 (60%)

Top OVER starter:
Tie - Twins' Ricky Nolasco and Nats' Stephen Strasburg.
13-3

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 03:52 PM

MLB

Tuesday, July 12

Top UNDER starter:
White Sox' Jose Quintana
15-3 (83.3%)

**Udog** · 07-12-2016, 05:20 PM

MLB

Tuesday, July 12

Top "Homer" Umpire:
Clint Fagan: Home W-L 10-2 (83.3%)
Hon. mention Bill Welke 14-3

Top "Visiting Team" Umpire:
Ryan Blakney - road team record 14-4 (77.8%)

Announcement

Tuesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 7/12

Tuesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 7/12

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment