MLB 2018 Season Long Thread Thru the World Series / Picks,Trends,News Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record

10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............24-17-2.......58.53%......+24.25


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................5 - 6....................+4.55.................15 - 5.................+47.50...........+52.05


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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at HOU 05:09 PM

BOS +113

O 8.5


MIL at LAD 09:09 PM

MIL +132

O 7.5

[StarDust Bum]

Red Sox pull away from Astros, 8-2
October 16, 2018

HOUSTON (AP) Jackie Bradley Jr. didn't let his demeanor change this season, even as fans begged Boston to trade him during a miserable first-half slump.

Stayed steady after the biggest swing of his career, too.

Bradley belted a grand slam for his second big hit in the AL Championship Series, helping the Red Sox beat the Houston Astros 8-2 on Tuesday for a 2-1 series lead. His low-key personality was on display as he rounded the bases without the hint of a smile. He greeted his screaming, excited teammates at home plate with one small jump and a few high fives.

''One of my coaches back in the day ... said: `No one should ever know whether you're winning or losing. Kind of keep the same temperament. That way, it will allow you to put some perspective into things,''' Bradley said. ''And I kind of took that to heart.''

Bradley's slam backed a solid start by Nathan Eovaldi, who hushed Houston a day after some social media smack talk from Alex Bregman.

''We can play at any park,'' Eovaldi said. ''The first game is always the biggest one of any series when you go on the road.''

Game 4 is Wednesday night, with Boston's Rick Porcello opposing Charlie Morton.

Steve Pearce hit a tiebreaking homer for the Red Sox off Joe Smith in the sixth, a drive that sailed just inside the foul pole in left field for a 3-2 lead.

Bradley's slam capped a five-run burst in the eighth against Roberto Osuna. The Astros closer got two outs but allowed two singles and plunked consecutive batters to force in a run. Bradley then crushed a 1-1 fastball into the right field seats to send Houston fans streaming toward the exits.

''That's the pitch I always get him out with,'' Osuna said. ''He hit it today, but I would go there 100 more times.''

Osuna was acquired from Toronto this season while serving a 75-game ban under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. He had a 1.99 ERA over 23 games for Houston in the regular season after he returned.

With his childhood hero and fellow Alvin, Texas, native Nolan Ryan sitting behind the plate, Eovaldi turned in another solid start. He allowed six hits and two runs with four strikeouts in six innings for the win in the second playoff start of his career.

''For him, I know it's a special one,'' Boston manager Alex Cora said.

Bregman had shared a video Monday on Instagram of Houston hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs off Eovaldi in his previous outing against the Astros in June. Eovaldi downplayed the post when asked about it Monday.

Bregman did much of the damage against Eovaldi, getting two hits, an RBI and a walk in three plate appearances. Bregman has reached base safely in 20 of 28 plate appearances this postseason.

''Eovaldi did a great job,'' Bregman said. ''He had really five pitches working for him. He's tough. We knew that coming into the game.''

Bradley hit a three-run double during Boston's Game 2 victory, giving him three RBIs in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Moments after his slam, fans at TD Garden in Boston began chanting ''JBJ!'' during the Celtics season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bradley had caught the ire of many Red Sox fans while batting .210 during the first half of the season.

''It's a credit to him, because at this level, when you're hitting .180 after two months or I think it was three months, it is hard,'' Cora said. ''And he kept showing up. He kept working. He kept working his craft. Now you see the results.''

Boston jumped on Dallas Keuchel for two runs in the first, but the Astros cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning and tied it on an RBI double by Bregman in the fifth.

The Astros went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position in the first home game of the series, which was played in front of a sellout crowd of 43,102 and included Astros Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and Houston Rockets stars James Harden, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. Bregman's double was the only extra-base hit for a team which entered the game having hit at least one homer in a record 14 straight playoff games.

Jose Altuve, at designated hitter on Tuesday because of a bruised knee, walked with two outs in the fifth and scored from first on the double by Bregman, which bounced past third baseman Rafael Devers and into the corner of left field to tie it at 2-2. Altuve also bunted for a single in the seventh.

Eduardo Nunez started at third base for Boston after Cora benched him in favor of Devers in Game 2. Devers took over at third in the bottom of the fourth after pinch-hitting for Nunez in the top of the inning.

WHAT A CATCH

Pearce nearly delivered an extra-base hit with two on in the third, but 5-foot-6 left fielder Tony Kemp jumped at the wall and came up with Pearce's towering fly.

''That's a completely different inning if he hits that ball a foot further or if Tony can't get up on the wall and make that catch,'' Houston manager AJ Hinch said.

Replays showed the ball may have clanked off the wall just before falling into Kemp's mitt, but umpires upheld the decision when Boston challenged.

''It did hit the wall, but it was actually in my glove at the time,'' Kemp said.

UP NEXT

Morton will make his 2018 postseason debut. Morton, who spent time on the disabled list late in the season with shoulder discomfort, hasn't pitched since Houston's regular-season finale on Sept. 30. Porcello was scheduled to start Tuesday but was pushed back a game after he pitched in relief in Game 2.


**********************


DODGERS 2, BREWERS 1

[StarDust Bum]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores

5:05 PM EDT
911 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (L) Miley, W
912 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (L) Kershaw, C
TV: FS-1, DTV: 219


8:35 PM EDT
913 BOSTON RED SOX (R) Porcello, R 8.5u20 8.5u20 8.5
914 HOUSTON ASTROS (R) Morton, C -140 -140 / -144 / -145 -144
TV: TBS, DTV: 247


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wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record

10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............26-19-2.......57.77%......+24.90


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................6 - 7....................+5.20.................16 - 6.................+47.00...........+52.20

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s six-pack

Six top college football teams, in terms of Las Vegas bookmakers’ ranking:

— Alabama 137.3

— Clemson 128.3

— Ohio State 127.1

— Michigan 124.8

— Georgia 124.0

— Oklahoma 123.8

Quote of the Day
“I wish he would create the headlines by his play on the field as opposed to what he says and what he does off the field. I think he needs to do a little more playing and a little less talking.”
New Jersey Giants owner John Mara, talking about WR Odell Beckham

Wednesday’s quiz
Raiders drafted LB Khalil Mack with the 5th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft; which current starting QB was the 3rd pick in the draft that year?

Tuesday’s quiz
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers last time they made the playoffs, in 2013.

Monday’s quiz
Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16-7 when they won their only Super Bowl title.

**********************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

13) Buffalo Bills’ rookie QB Josh Allen has an injured elbow, may need Tommy John surgery, which would obviously finish him for this season; best-case scenario is that he’ll miss several weeks, which leaves newly-signed Derek Anderson or Nathan Peterman as the new starter.

Word out of Buffalo is that the Bills’ players don’t want Peterman playing, probably because they prefer winning- he’s thrown 10 INT’s in 82 career passes.

12) Ohio State’s star DE Nick Bosa has withdrawn from college and will prepare for next spring’s NFL Draft; Bosa was injured anyway and probably wouldn’t have returned until next month at the earliest, so the announcement wasn’t a big surprise.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers told defensive coordinator Mike Smith to take a hike Monday, after Bucs allowed 40-21-30-48-34 points in their first five games. Only once in five games did the Bucs hold an opponent under 8.2 yards/pass attempt- they had zero takeaways in their last two games, just five for the season (-7 TO ratio).

10) Not only are Titans-Chargers playing in England Sunday, they’re playing at 9:30am ET, which is 6:30am for Charger fans in California. Whats the point of that?

Last week’s Colorado-USC game ended around 2:20am ET; if that happens again this week, not a lot of time to sleep before the 9:30 kickoff. Guess I’ll just have to sleep faster.

9) David Price allowed four runs in less than five innings Sunday night, and got a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout; the bar isn’t real high for Price these days in Beantown.

8) This is the definition of a bad day:

Police in Bristol, TN say a 76-year old man was run over with a lawn mower while trying to kill his son with a chainsaw- the older man had to have his leg amputated.

Can’t we all just get along?

7) Teddy Valentine is out as a Big 14 basketball ref; he’ll still work AAC, ACC and SEC games, but a guy who has worked 28 NCAA tournaments and 10 Final Fours isn’t good enough anymore to work in the Big 14.

6) 20 years ago, when he was coaching the Lakers, Pat Riley trademarkedthe term “three-peat,” so if Golden State wins its third straight NBA title next spring, Riley will cash in on it, too.

There have been three “3-peats” since Riley trademarked the term; the Jordan-Bulls did it twice, and the Shaq-Kobe Lakers did it, too.

Random stats: Warriors led the NBA last year, making 39.1% of their 3’s and 81.5% of their foul shots.

5) Derek Carr threw 31 passes for Oakland Sunday in their 27-3 loss to Seattle in London; only five of those 31 passes travelled more than five yards downfield, and he completed only two of those five passes. No bueno.

4) Josh McCown and Julius Peppers are the only two players still active from the 2002 NFL Draft.

3) I don’t give a rat’s ass about the royal family, and I’m not sure why anyone does. The young lady who recently married the prince was on one of my favorite TV shows, Suits. Still don’t care about the royal family; what exactly do they even do?

2) Interesting how crew chiefs are behind the plate for Games 3, 7 for divisional series, then World Series; Joe West doing the plate for Game 7 of the ALCS could be good theater.

1) Patriots set an NFL record Sunday night; they’re the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt or commit a penalty in an entire game- they scored 43 points at home but still couldn’t cover the spread. Awesome.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE (101 - 69) at LA DODGERS (97 - 74) - 5:05 PM
WADE MILEY (L) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 5-6 (+1.4 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.2 Units)

WADE MILEY vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
MILEY is 4-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.18 and a WHIP of 1.253.
His team's record is 6-9 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-9. (-3.9 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
KERSHAW is 6-6 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 3.15 and a WHIP of 1.071.
His team's record is 8-7 (-4.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 7-7. (-0.7 units)

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BOSTON (113 - 56) at HOUSTON (107 - 61) - 8:35 PM
RICK PORCELLO (R) vs. CHARLIE MORTON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 155-77 (+35.0 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 113-56 (+35.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 54-30 (+21.4 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
BOSTON is 78-46 (+17.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 89-40 (+32.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BOSTON is 76-36 (+23.7 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 44-30 (+13.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 48-36 (-26.6 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
HOUSTON is 23-21 (-23.3 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
HOUSTON is 30-29 (-29.9 Units) against the money line in home games in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 43-37 (-13.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 9-13 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 5-5 (+1.6 Units) against HOUSTON this season
8 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.9 Units)

RICK PORCELLO vs. HOUSTON since 1997
PORCELLO is 2-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 5.19 and a WHIP of 1.384.
His team's record is 4-2 (+2.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-3. (+0.0 units)

CHARLIE MORTON vs. BOSTON since 1997
MORTON is 3-1 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 4.32 and a WHIP of 1.521.
His team's record is 4-1 (+2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-1. (+2.9 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, October 17

National League
Brewers @ Dodgers (Series tied, 2-2)
Miley is 0-0, 3.63 in his last four starts (17.1 IP); under is 4-2 in his last six starts. Team in his starts: 13-5, 8-2 road He’s allowed one run in three starts (18.2 IP) vs LA this season.
5-inning record: 11-5-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-13

Kershaw is 1-1, 5.63 in his last three starts; over is 3-1 in his last four starts. Team in his starts: 17-11, 7-6 home. He is 1-2, 6.60 vs Milwaukee this season.
5-inning record: 16-8-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-28

Dodgers won nine of their last 12 games overall, nine of last 11 at home. Under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers’ last WS title was in 1988.

Milwaukee won 13 of its last 15 games; they’ve won seven of last eight road games. Under is 7-1 in their last eight games. Brewers are in playoffs for first time since 2011- they lost Game 7 of the 1982 World Series.

American League
Boston @ Houston (Red Sox lead series, 2-1)
Porcello is 2-0, 4.76 in his last five starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six road starts. Team in his starts: 23-11, 12-7 road.
Porcello is 1-0, 4.50 in three games (2 starts) vs Houston this year.
5-inning record: 22-10-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-34

Morton is pitching for first time since Sept 30; he is 4-o, 4.85 in his last seven starts- under is 3-1-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 18-12, 10-6 home.
Morton is 1-1, 6.97 vs Boston this season.
5-inning record: 17-6-7 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-30

Houston is 12-3 in its last 15 games; they won four of their four playoff games, with last three going over total. Red Sox won five of their last seven games; they scored 36 runs in their last five games. Over is 9-2 in their last 11 games.

Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row; they won World Series in 2013. Astros won their first WS title LY, in their second try (’05); they’re in playoffs for third time in four years.




MLB
Weather Report

Wednesday, October 17






MLB

Wednesday, October 17

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Milwaukee is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Milwaukee's last 8 games
Milwaukee is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Milwaukee is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games on the road
Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Milwaukee's last 15 games when playing LA Dodgers
Milwaukee is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Milwaukee's last 10 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Dodgers is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
LA Dodgers is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
LA Dodgers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
LA Dodgers is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Dodgers's last 15 games when playing Milwaukee
LA Dodgers is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of LA Dodgers's last 10 games when playing at home against Milwaukee


Boston Red Sox
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Boston's last 12 games
Boston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Boston is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Boston's last 8 games on the road
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Boston's last 9 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 8 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games at home
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Houston's last 9 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Houston's last 8 games when playing at home against Boston

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 17


Milwaukee @ LA Dodgers

Game 911-912
October 17, 2018 @ 5:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
(Miley) 16.735
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 20.296
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 3 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-170
7
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-170); Under

Boston @ Houston

Game 913-914
October 17, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Porcello) 18.258
Houston
(Morton) 16.867
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-145
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(+125); Over

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Astros on defense, Kershaw's last turn for LA?
October 17, 2018
By The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

SPYGATE, THE SEQUEL

The Houston Astros might find themselves defending more than their World Series title. The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with Houston attempting to film in the Indians' dugout during Game 3 of the AL Division Series last week, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because of the sensitivity of the matter. MLB also says it is aware of a report by Metro Boston that a man claiming to be an Astros employee was removed from a credentialed area near the Red Sox dugout during the AL Championship Series opener at Fenway Park.

In a statement, MLB said the matter ''will be handled internally'' and offered no other details.

Astros manager AJ Hinch was questioned about the Metro report following Tuesday's game and said he was aware of the alleged incident but said he hadn't been briefed. He's certain to be asked again, especially since the Indians' complaint was not reported until after Hinch had finished his postgame remarks.

LAST LOOK?

Clayton Kershaw starts Game 5 of the NL Championship Series at home against Milwaukee in what could conceivably be his final outing in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. The three-time Cy Young Award winner can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series. Dodgers ownership has made it clear the team would like its longtime ace to stay. ''I have not made a decision,'' Kershaw said Tuesday. The 30-year-old lefty acknowledged after his last regular-season start that he had considered the possibility of it being his last go-round with the Dodgers, the only team he's played for during his big league career. Wade Miley pitches for Milwaukee on three days' rest, with the best-of-seven series tied at two games apiece. ''For me it's just trying to focus as much as I possibly can on the Brewers and getting ready,'' Kershaw said, ''and putting everything else on the back burner as best I possibly can.''

EXTRA REST

Houston hopes Charlie Morton won't be too rusty when he makes his 2018 playoff debut in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against Boston. Morton, who spent time on the disabled list late in the year with shoulder discomfort, hasn't pitched since the regular-season finale Sept. 30. Rick Porcello starts for the Red Sox after appearing in relief in Game 2. Boston leads 2-1 after a grand slam by Jackie Bradley Jr., his second big hit in the series, broke open an 8-2 victory in Game 3.

GETTING DIRTY

Tensions could be on the rise in the NLCS after Dodgers slugger Manny Machado stepped into trouble again Tuesday night. Both benches emptied after Machado clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out a groundout in Game 4. Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg. Aguilar looked annoyed and the two exchanged words, but no punches were thrown. ''He's a player that has a history of those types of incidents,'' Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said about Machado. ''It's a dirty play by a dirty player.'' Aguilar, however, said the two talked it out after Machado singled in the 13th inning. ''We're family. Things happen,'' said Machado, who scored the winning run moments later. ''He's a great guy. We go way back since the minor leagues.''

HELP WANTED

Milwaukee is expected to add a new arm for the rest of the NLCS after starter Gio Gonzalez left Game 4 in the second inning when he twisted his ankle trying to field Yasiel Puig's infield single. Gonzalez has a high ankle sprain and it's likely he'll need to be replaced on the roster, manager Craig Counsell said. Following the injury to Gonzalez, the Brewers burned through much of their bullpen during a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers in 13 innings. ''We'll have to kind of put our heads together and look at what we've got,'' Counsell said. ''We're in a little bit of a tough spot, for sure.''

[StarDust Bum]

Benches clear after Machado clips Aguilar's leg in NLCS
October 17, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) Manny Machado has stepped into trouble again, causing at least one opponent to call him ''a dirty player.''

Both benches cleared after the Los Angeles Dodgers' star shortstop clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out his groundout Tuesday night in the 10th inning of Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.

Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg.

The incident immediately took the top spot on the growing list of Machado's debatable decisions in baseball ethics.

''He's a player that has a history of those types of incidents,'' Milwaukee slugger Christian Yelich said. ''One time is an accident. Repeated over and over and over again, you're just a dirty player. It's a dirty play by a dirty player, and that's what it is. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, but you can't respect someone who plays the game like that.''

Aguilar wasn't hurt, but he was angry. Dodgers first base coach George Lombard joined the discussion before players spilled onto the field from both benches and bullpens.

''I was trying to get over him and hit his foot,'' Machado said. ''If that's dirty, that's dirty. I don't know. Call it what you want.''

Nothing happened beyond that spirited argument, and the two principals made up after Machado singled in the 13th inning. He briefly hugged Aguilar while they stood together at first base.

''We're family. Things happen,'' said Machado, who scored the winning run moments later. ''Everything that happens on the field stays on the field. He's a great guy. We go way back since the minor leagues. So it's just a friendly game, go out, try and compete here. We're trying to win. He's trying to do whatever he can to help his team over there, and we're doing the same over here.''

The rest of the Brewers didn't appear to be quite as forgiving. Infielder Travis Shaw also called it dirty, and Yelich followed up his postgame criticism of Machado by yelling a profane epithet as he walked away from his locker.

''The play at first today is a pretty dirty play,'' Shaw said. ''It's not a mistake. You don't kick somebody like that on accident. You can say it wasn't on purpose, this and that, but it's a dirty play.

Just a few weeks before the 26-year-old Machado likely hits the open market as one of the most desirable free agents in baseball, the big-hitting shortstop has become the latest star to tread the well-worn line between fierce competitors and dirty players.

The four-time All-Star also caused controversy Monday in Game 3 with two hard slides into second base while shortstop Orlando Arcia attempted to turn double plays. The second one resulted in a double play for the Brewers after video review .

''It's a beauty pageant,'' Alex Rodriguez said on Fox Sports' postgame show. ''You have 30 owners (who) all want you right now. The whole world is watching baseball. You don't want four, five owners to sit around and say, `Hey, did you see what Manny did? Did you see that? Oh, yeah, yeah, we're out. We like him, but now we're out.' You're losing tens of millions of dollars by the second if that becomes the narrative.''

Machado already had drawn the ire of ex-players and old-school baseball men from Jim Palmer to Eric Byrnes with his occasional lack of hustle. While Machado has been criticized for not running out grounders and making hustle plays over the years, he also showed he's got plenty of pep when properly motivated: He sprinted from second to home on Cody Bellinger's two-out single in the 13th, sticking out his left hand to touch home plate as he beat Yelich's throw to the plate and slid past Erik Kratz's tag.

Machado didn't run out a grounder in Game 2 of the NLCS , adding to the negative attention in this series. In an interview with Fox Sports 1 that aired before Game 4 , he acknowledged there was ''no excuse'' for not making more effort - but also displayed an attitude that won't endear him to the old school.

''I'm not the type of player that's going to be Johnny Hustle and run down the line and slide to first base,'' Machado said. ''That's just not my personality. That's not my cup of tea. That's not who I am.''

Machado attracted disdain early in the 2017 season with a hard slide into Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia . Machado got his spikes into Pedroia's left ankle and knee as he slid over the base, and his Orioles had a testy relationship with the Red Sox for the rest of the season .

The Dodgers acquired Machado from Baltimore this season for their playoff push, and to replace injured shortstop Corey Seager. Machado had 37 homers and 107 RBIs in the regular season, and he batted .242 in the first eight games of the postseason.

After he got two hits in Game 3, Machado's frustration at the plate also probably played a role in his mood in Game 4. His groundout dropped him to 0 for 5 as the Dodgers' cleanup hitter.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record

10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............26-19-2.......57.77%......+24.90


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................6 - 7....................+5.20.................16 - 6.................+47.00...........+52.20


*************************************


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIL at LAD 05:05 PM

MIL +160

U 7.0


BOS at HOU 08:39 PM

BOS +136

O 8.5

[StarDust Bum]

Fan interference wipes out possible homer for Altuve in ALCS
October 17, 2018
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer in the first inning for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series after fans reaching for the ball interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt to make a leaping catch.

Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champion are nearly out of reach.

The Astros recovered from that early gut punch to take the lead - including homers by George Springer and Tony Kemp well over that same right field wall. But Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the second night in a row for the Boston Red Sox in an 8-6 victory Wednesday, putting them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Houston has lost three in a row since winning the series opener 7-2 at Fenway Park on Saturday night.

Justin Verlander, 6-1 in eight postseason games for Houston, including a win in Game 1 of this ALCS, starts Thursday night with the season on the line.

After Boston scored twice in the first inning for the second night in a row, it appeared the Astros might have tied the game on Altuve's drive.

But crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after Betts was unable to make a jumping grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field. Fans made contact with Betts' glove, though it wasn't clear if they had reached over the fence in the process.

The call stood after a replay review that lasted 3 minutes, 13 seconds. Altuve was ruled out and teammate George Springer was sent back to first base.

The play came on the same day MLB cleared the Astros of any wrongdoing after a credentialed Houston employee was caught pointing his cellphone into the opposing dugouts during playoff games in Cleveland and Boston.

Astros manager AJ Hinch cracked a joke about the situation when asked if there were enough cameras at the ballpark to properly review plays like Altuve's hit.

''Yeah, earlier we started the day with do we have too many cameras in the park,'' Hinch said smiling. ''So, yeah, I wish we had an angle that was perfectly along the fence line that would show. That's the one camera we don't have.''

Altuve had both hands on his helmet in disbelief while standing on second base, where he stopped when the play ended. Hinch went out to discuss the situation with West, who had a brief consultation with the rest of the six-man umpire crew before the play was reviewed.

''He just said that there was fan interference on the field and my argument was more about the fact that the ball was leaving the yard, the trajectory was there,'' Hinch said during an in-game interview on TBS. ''Jose paid the ultimate price for something out of his control. I'm not sure if Mookie makes that catch, a great athlete, but how it's an assumed out is unbelievable.''

A fan wearing an orange Astros jersey, who identified himself as Troy Caldwell, insisted he wasn't reaching out over the yellow line atop the 7-foot-high fence when the ball hit his hand.

''That ball was gone no matter what,'' said Caldwell, a lifelong Astros fan from Houston who now lives in Atlanta.

The Astros tied the game at 3 in the third, when Springer went deep on the first pitch of the inning before Altuve doubled high off the left-field wall and Josh Reddick plated him with a single. Kemp snapped that tie when he homered the next inning.

Bradley, whose grand slam Tuesday came in a five-run eighth off closer Roberto Osuna, hit a two-run shot in the sixth off hard-throwing Josh James for a 6-5 Red Sox lead. They were up 8-5 before Altuve's RBI groundout in the eighth.

Houston had the bases loaded in the ninth against closer Craig Kimbrel before Alex Bregman's sinking liner to left was snagged by a diving Andrew Benintendi.

Altuve was the designated hitter for the second game in a row because of a bruised right knee that is clearly bothering the six-time All-Star second baseman when he runs.

And he didn't even get to trot around the bases in the first. When his hit ricocheted high off the wall in left field in the third, Altuve had to hustle to second base after it initially looked like the ball might go out of the park.

While Betts didn't say anything to the fans after the disputed play in the first, Caldwell said he immediately started getting texts that he had cost Altuve and the Astros a home run.

''As long as the Astros come back and win this we'll be all right,'' Caldwell said.

They didn't, and now are facing elimination.


*****************************


Kershaw lifts Dodgers past Brewers
October 17, 2018
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LOS ANGELES (AP) Clayton Kershaw put his previous flop behind him and pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers forward - one victory from a return trip to the World Series.

With so much at stake, the three-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from one of his worst postseason starts with one of his best, pitching the Dodgers past the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 Wednesday for a 3-2 lead in the NL Championship Series.

''I don't really think about the one before. And after this one I'm not going to think about this one, either,'' Kershaw said.

Max Muncy hit a go-ahead single in the sixth inning for the defending NL champs. Kershaw held the lead, scoring an insurance run in the seventh and then exiting.

Roughed up in the NLCS opener, Kershaw mixed his fastball and slider on a hot day to shut down the Brewers. The Dodgers ace didn't allow a baserunner past the third inning.

''He just has a knack,'' Brewers star Christian Yelich said. ''He has the ability to punch guys out.''

Game 6 is Friday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers will start left-hander Wade Miley, who walked Cody Bellinger to open Game 5 before getting pulled in an interesting piece of strategy by manager Craig Counsell. Hyun-Jin Ryu will go for the Dodgers.

''To go back to Milwaukee up 3-2 as opposed to being down 3-2 is huge for us,'' Kershaw said. ''It's been a battle every single game we've played them so far and we don't expect anything different when we go back.''

The Brewers do.

''We're in a good spot, man,'' Counsell said. ''We're going back home, to me, in a position of strength.''

The Dodgers haven't been in back-to-back World Series since losing to the Yankees in 1977 and `78. They were beaten by Houston in Game 7 last year.

''You've seen it this entire postseason, even when we're behind, we're battling back, putting ourselves in a position to possibly tie games or take the lead late,'' Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said. ''That's where our experience comes in. We never count ourselves out.''

If the Brewers rally to win the series and this ends up being Kershaw's last start for the Dodgers, he left behind a gem. The left-hander can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series and become a free agent. He said Tuesday he hasn't made a decision about his future.

The teams reconvened less than 15 hours after the Dodgers eked out a 2-1 victory Tuesday night on Cody Bellinger's RBI single with two outs in a 13-inning game that lasted over five hours.

Pitching in 82-degree sunshine, Kershaw was well-rested and masterful in allowing one run and three hits over seven. He struck out nine, all on breaking pitches, and walked two.

Kershaw recovered from the shortest postseason start of his career. He lasted just three innings in losing the NLCS opener while giving up five runs - four earned - at Miller Park.

''I don't know if it was that much, just a little bit better execution maybe,'' Kershaw said of his repertoire. ''Maybe I threw some more curveballs today than I did in Game 1.''

Kershaw pitched in and out of trouble in the third, when the Brewers loaded the bases and scored their lone run. Kershaw struck out Jesus Aguilar to end the third, the first of 13 consecutive batters that the left-hander retired.

''Anytime you can work yourself out of situations like that that's going to make or break the game,'' Kershaw said. ''Minimizing damage as best you can as a starting pitcher is huge.''

Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double in the ninth. Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers' third pitcher of the ninth, came in for the last two outs and the save.

Yelich, who nearly won the NL Triple Crown this season, was hitless in four at-bats. He is 3 for 20 without an RBI in the NLCS.

''Just not capitalizing,'' he said. ''It's frustrating.''

The Dodgers' offense broke loose with five runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings that had the sellout crowd of 54,502 on its feet whipping blue towels and cheering loudly.

The team that hit a franchise and NL-leading 235 home runs in the regular season did it playing small ball instead, driving in all but one of its runs on singles.

''The little things played a big part,'' Roberts said.

The Dodgers tied the game 1-all on Austin Barnes' RBI single up the middle in the fifth. Chris Taylor singled leading off, took second on shortstop Orlando Arcia's throwing error and stole third.

''It was huge to get there to third base, less than two outs, give us a shot to do some things,'' Barnes said of Taylor.

Muncy grounded a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Woodruff into left field, scoring Turner, who led off with a single. Yasiel Puig singled to center with two outs, bringing home Manny Machado after he was hit by a pitch from Corbin Burnes.

Los Angeles extended the lead to 5-1 in the seventh on Turner's RBI single that scored Kershaw, who walked, and pinch-hitter Brian Dozier's RBI groundout.

Kershaw has struggled in the postseason during his career, with his numbers never matching his excellence during the regular season.

But his outing Wednesday nearly matched what he did in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against Atlanta. Kershaw allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, struck out three and walked none in the best postseason outing of his career.

''It's just a classic case of he executed a lot of pitches,'' Counsell said.

The Brewers led 1-0 in the third on Lorenzo Cain's RBI double to deep center.

WORKING WITH A LEAD

The Dodgers are 5-1 in series when they own a 3-2 lead. Their only loss came in the 1952 World Series against the Yankees. Teams with a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven NLCS have a 15-6 series record.

GET TO THE `PEN

Milwaukee's starters have tossed just 14 innings in the NLCS, the lowest total ever through five games, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The 2008 Dodgers and 1984 Padres share the record for fewest innings by starting pitchers with 21 1/3.

TOOTH HUNTING

Granderson chipped his right front tooth in the ninth and wore a bandage on his lower lip where his helmet hit him. He never did find his tooth despite help from Turner, Machado and Dozier.

''We couldn't find it out there. Too small,'' Granderson said. ''Hopefully, I'll be able to eat tonight, which is the biggest concern.''

UP NEXT

Miley will become the first pitcher to start consecutive games for his team in the same postseason since George Earnshaw of the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1930 World Series against the Cardinals, STATS said. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings in Game 2 vs. the Dodgers, allowing two hits and walking none. Ryu gave up two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings in that game. Ryu pitched seven shutout innings in Game 1 of the NLDS against Atlanta, allowing four hits and striking out eight.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record

10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............28-20-2.......58.33%......+31.70


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................7 - 8....................+7.00...............17 - 7.................+46.50...........+53.50

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s six-pack
Top six teams in the Pac-12’s preseason basketball poll:
6) Arizona State
5) USC
4) Arizona (1)
3) Washington (2)
2) UCLA (6)
1) Oregon (16)

Quote of the Day
“The players decide that, and what we mean by that is how you practice. Are you playing the way we want you to play? Are you moving the ball? Are you doing the little things defensively we emphasize? If you’re doing that, then you’re going to play.”
Luke Walton, talking about playing time

Thursday’s quiz
How many current major league managers have won a World Series as a manager?

Wednesday’s quiz
Raiders drafted LB Khalil Mack with the 5th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft; Blake Bortles was the 3rd pick in the draft that year.

Tuesday’s quiz
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers last time they made the playoffs, in 2013.


*****************


Thursday’s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) If you’re John Calipari, here is your recruiting pitch for next year:
— 31 former Kentucky Wildcats were on NBA rosters Opening Night.
— 19 teams have at least one former Wildcat; seven have more than one.
— Players coached by John Calipari have earned more than $1.9B in the NBA.
(Thats billion, with a B)
— In 2018-19 alone, Kentucky alums are scheduled to earn $190M in the NBA.
— Here is your Letter of Intent; please sign here ______

12) Wade Miley started Game 5 of the NLCS for Milwaukee, walked the leadoff hitter in bottom of first inning, and was taken out. Seriously. This is getting ridiculous, the level of over-managing that is going on with managers/front offices— it is starting to border on nonsense.

Miley is also going to start Game 6; how long he lasts then is open for debate.

11) Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson has been hit by defenders 70 times in six games; no other NFL quarterback has been hit more than 49 times this year.

According to Fox’s Jay Glazer, Watson suffered a cracked rib, a bruised lung, and a partially collapsed lung in the Texans’ game with Dallas two weeks ago.

10) Tampa Bay just fired their defensive coordinator, Mike Smith; Atlanta’s DC is Marquand Manuel, and he better be watching his back, too.

In the Falcons’ last four games, on the opponents’ first drive of the game, they’ve run 27 plays for 295 yards and four TD’s. Atlanta has some injuries on defense, but also seems like they may not be as well prepared as some of the other teams.

9) Jason Myers kicked seven field goals for the Jets Sunday in their 42-34 win over the Colts; the NFL record for most FG’s in a game is eight. Myers went to college at Marist in Poughkeepsie, which is D-I in basketball (Rik Smits’ alma mater) but not in football.

8) If you’re a Celtics’ fan, you’re rooting against Sacramento all season; Boston owns the Kings’ 2019 first-round pick thru the Tatum-Fultz deal. Rooting against the Kings is generally fun; imagine getting Tatum and Sacramento’s #1 pick in the same trade?

7) A guy in Las Vegas known as the “Duffel Bag bettor” wagered just over $100,000 on Army last weekend, when the Cadets were laying 15 points at San Jose State.

Now Army won 52-3, so the guy didn’t have to sweat for his $100K, but it takes onions to risk six figures on a service academy team laying double digits on the road.

6) Sports betting is up and running in New Mexico now; the political geniuses here in New York haven’t gotten around to it yet, but West Virginia, Mississippi and New Mexico have.

Brilliant!!!!

5) AAF is a new spring football league with eight teams that will play a 10-game schedule that begins February 9; games will be televised mostly on NBC Sports Network.

League has some big names coaching their teams: Mike Martz, Steve Spurrier, Dennis Erickson, Mike Singletary. It figures to develop into what the USFL used to be.

4) Jordany Valdespin, who played four years in the majors as a utility guy for the Mets/Marlins, recently pitched four scoreless innings of relief in a 19-inning Dominican Winter League game in which Mets’ 1B prospect Dominic Smith went 0-8, with a bases loaded walk.

3) UConn’s football team is giving up an average of 9.21 yards/play, worst in country; from what I can tell, UL-Monroe is next worst in country, giving up 7.18 yards/play.

2) Here is some good but scary news from the New York Post: No one got shot last weekend in New York City, the first time that has happened in at least 25 years.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan has been with the NYPD since 1982, and he said he can’t remember a weekend without SOMEONE getting shot.

Unfortunately, the city’s quiet streak ended Monday, when a man was shot at around 1:15pm on Aqueduct Avenue in the Bronx. Hopefully, he recovered.

1) Duke recruit Zion Williamson’s name has come up in the adidas/college hoop corruption trial, which puts Duke in a curious position. Blue Devils shouldn’t worry though; the NCAA doesn’t go after the blue blood teams.

Long time ago, then-UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian got under the NCAA’s skin when he famously wrote, “The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky, they’re putting Western Kentucky on probation.”

45-50 years later I’ve amended Tark’s quote: “The NCAA is so mad at Duke, they’re going to put Duquesne on probation” No way the Blue Devils ever meet an NCAA investigator.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s six-pack
Top six teams in the Pac-12’s preseason basketball poll:
6) Arizona State
5) USC
4) Arizona (1)
3) Washington (2)
2) UCLA (6)
1) Oregon (16)

Quote of the Day
“The players decide that, and what we mean by that is how you practice. Are you playing the way we want you to play? Are you moving the ball? Are you doing the little things defensively we emphasize? If you’re doing that, then you’re going to play.”
Luke Walton, talking about playing time

Thursday’s quiz
How many current major league managers have won a World Series as a manager?

Wednesday’s quiz
Raiders drafted LB Khalil Mack with the 5th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft; Blake Bortles was the 3rd pick in the draft that year.

Tuesday’s quiz
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers last time they made the playoffs, in 2013.


*****************


Thursday’s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) If you’re John Calipari, here is your recruiting pitch for next year:
— 31 former Kentucky Wildcats were on NBA rosters Opening Night.
— 19 teams have at least one former Wildcat; seven have more than one.
— Players coached by John Calipari have earned more than $1.9B in the NBA.
(Thats billion, with a B)
— In 2018-19 alone, Kentucky alums are scheduled to earn $190M in the NBA.
— Here is your Letter of Intent; please sign here ______

12) Wade Miley started Game 5 of the NLCS for Milwaukee, walked the leadoff hitter in bottom of first inning, and was taken out. Seriously. This is getting ridiculous, the level of over-managing that is going on with managers/front offices— it is starting to border on nonsense.

Miley is also going to start Game 6; how long he lasts then is open for debate.

11) Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson has been hit by defenders 70 times in six games; no other NFL quarterback has been hit more than 49 times this year.

According to Fox’s Jay Glazer, Watson suffered a cracked rib, a bruised lung, and a partially collapsed lung in the Texans’ game with Dallas two weeks ago.

10) Tampa Bay just fired their defensive coordinator, Mike Smith; Atlanta’s DC is Marquand Manuel, and he better be watching his back, too.

In the Falcons’ last four games, on the opponents’ first drive of the game, they’ve run 27 plays for 295 yards and four TD’s. Atlanta has some injuries on defense, but also seems like they may not be as well prepared as some of the other teams.

9) Jason Myers kicked seven field goals for the Jets Sunday in their 42-34 win over the Colts; the NFL record for most FG’s in a game is eight. Myers went to college at Marist in Poughkeepsie, which is D-I in basketball (Rik Smits’ alma mater) but not in football.

8) If you’re a Celtics’ fan, you’re rooting against Sacramento all season; Boston owns the Kings’ 2019 first-round pick thru the Tatum-Fultz deal. Rooting against the Kings is generally fun; imagine getting Tatum and Sacramento’s #1 pick in the same trade?

7) A guy in Las Vegas known as the “Duffel Bag bettor” wagered just over $100,000 on Army last weekend, when the Cadets were laying 15 points at San Jose State.

Now Army won 52-3, so the guy didn’t have to sweat for his $100K, but it takes onions to risk six figures on a service academy team laying double digits on the road.

6) Sports betting is up and running in New Mexico now; the political geniuses here in New York haven’t gotten around to it yet, but West Virginia, Mississippi and New Mexico have.

Brilliant!!!!

5) AAF is a new spring football league with eight teams that will play a 10-game schedule that begins February 9; games will be televised mostly on NBC Sports Network.

League has some big names coaching their teams: Mike Martz, Steve Spurrier, Dennis Erickson, Mike Singletary. It figures to develop into what the USFL used to be.

4) Jordany Valdespin, who played four years in the majors as a utility guy for the Mets/Marlins, recently pitched four scoreless innings of relief in a 19-inning Dominican Winter League game in which Mets’ 1B prospect Dominic Smith went 0-8, with a bases loaded walk.

3) UConn’s football team is giving up an average of 9.21 yards/play, worst in country; from what I can tell, UL-Monroe is next worst in country, giving up 7.18 yards/play.

2) Here is some good but scary news from the New York Post: No one got shot last weekend in New York City, the first time that has happened in at least 25 years.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan has been with the NYPD since 1982, and he said he can’t remember a weekend without SOMEONE getting shot.

Unfortunately, the city’s quiet streak ended Monday, when a man was shot at around 1:15pm on Aqueduct Avenue in the Bronx. Hopefully, he recovered.

1) Duke recruit Zion Williamson’s name has come up in the adidas/college hoop corruption trial, which puts Duke in a curious position. Blue Devils shouldn’t worry though; the NCAA doesn’t go after the blue blood teams.

Long time ago, then-UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian got under the NCAA’s skin when he famously wrote, “The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky, they’re putting Western Kentucky on probation.”

45-50 years later I’ve amended Tark’s quote: “The NCAA is so mad at Duke, they’re going to put Duquesne on probation” No way the Blue Devils ever meet an NCAA investigator.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, October 18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOSTON (114 - 56) at HOUSTON (107 - 62) - 8:05 PM
DAVID PRICE (L) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 6-5 (+2.9 Units) against HOUSTON this season
9 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+6.9 Units)

DAVID PRICE vs. HOUSTON since 1997
PRICE is 6-2 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.36 and a WHIP of 1.064.
His team's record is 8-3 (+3.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-3. (+3.9 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. BOSTON since 1997
VERLANDER is 7-6 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 2.80 and a WHIP of 1.099.
His team's record is 10-11 (-3.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-10. (-2.6 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, October 18

American League
Boston @ Houston (Red Sox lead series, 3-1)
Team in his starts: road.
5-inning record: Allowed run in 1st inning:

Verlander is 5-0, 1.62 in his last seven starts; four of his last five starts went over. Team in his starts: 23-13, 9-11 home
5-inning record: 23-6-7 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-36

Houston lost last three games in this series; their last five games went over total. Red Sox won seven of their last nine games; they scored 23 runs in their last three games. Over is 14-3-1 in their last 18 games.

Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row; they won World Series in 2013. Astros won their first WS title LY, in their second try (’05); they’re in playoffs for third time in four years.




MLB
Weather Report

Thursday, October 18






MLB

Thursday, October 18

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Boston's last 13 games
Boston is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 9 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Houston
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Houston is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games at home
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Boston
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston


------------------------------------------------------------------------


MLB
Dunkel

Thursday, October 18

Boston @ Houston

Game 955-956
October 18, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Price) 16.326
Houston
(Verlnder) 18.799
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 2 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-185
8
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-185); Under

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (108-54) at Astros (103-59)
Game: 5
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: October 18, 2018 8:09 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- The dire moments are casually familiar for Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, who many seasons ago assumed the responsibility bestowed upon a staff ace.

Verlander (2-0, 3.18 ERA this postseason) will make his second start of the American League Championship Series on Thursday at Minute Maid Park in Game 5 against the Boston Red Sox.

He is charged with logging another effective outing -- that is the baseline requirement. Of greater importance is his role relative to the Astros' hopes for repeating as World Series champions. With Houston trailing the best-of-seven series 3-1 and facing elimination, that responsibility is significant, but the series standing doesn't weigh on Verlander or alter his preparation for his start.

"I don't know," Verlander said. "I mean, these are all must-win games at this point. Every time you take the mound I don't think there's any difference whether it's 2-2 or 3-1."

In the Astros' 7-2 victory in Game 1, Verlander limited the Red Sox to two runs on two hits. But he issued four walks and uncorked a critical wild pitch that enabled Boston to tie the score at 2-all. Verlander labored a bit over his six innings, and while he recorded six strikeouts, he only managed seven swing-and-miss strikes over his 90 pitches. He was solid but unspectacular, and the second matchup against the Red Sox is a sure bet for another tough task.

"Especially these guys, a team that's really good at making adjustments, making adjustments quickly," said Verlander, who is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA over four career postseason appearances against Boston. "There are definitely unique challenges. They know my strengths. They know my weaknesses. I know theirs.

"And the second time going against a lineup, you need to adjust. Or you don't. I don't know. That's kind of one of those times when I like to rely on my instincts when I'm out there and just feel my way through a game."

The Red Sox will counter with left-hander David Price (0-1, 9.95 ERA over two starts this postseason) in pursuit of their first AL pennant since 2013. Price remains winless over 11 career postseason starts (0-9, 6.16 ERA) having not factored into the decision in Game 2 after allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings. However, with their 7-5 win, the Red Sox became the first team to claim victory in a postseason start made by Price.

Price warmed up in the bullpen during the eighth inning on Wednesday, poised to bail out closer Craig Kimbrel if need be. Kimbrel scuffled, allowing a run on two hits and three walks over two innings but held fast and sealed the 8-6 victory that gave Boston a commanding series lead.

"We know we're up 3-1," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "But they're a good team. They came back last year against the Yankees. They lost Game 6 of the World Series in Dodger Stadium and they won Game 7.

"It's not over. We know that. But to have a chance to finish (Thursday); that's always good. We're just going to show up (Thursday), get the information, play hard, and see what happens."