Thursday Trends and Indexes 08/23

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Trends and Indexes
Thursday, August 23

Good Luck on day #235 of 2007!

NOTE:
As information becomes available, we will attempt to post the trends and indexes as soon as possible.
Information is posted from what we believe are reliable sources.

[pm530]

Six-pack for Thursday

-- I don't want to say the Rangers' 30-3 win over Orioles in first game of twinbill was weird, but #8 and #9 hitters for the Rangers both had seven RBI in the game. Kind of sad this happened the day after Trombley lost interim manager tag.

-- Brandon Webb gave up two runs, first runs he allowed in last four starts, but got a 3-2 win, ending Arizona's 3-game skid. Snakes won his last six starts.

-- Marlins have now lost eight in row, as wheels have fallen off for Fish. The bullpen lost their last four games.

-- Devil Rays got third win in row vs Matsuzaka, as DRays got fifth excellent start in row from Jackson. Red Sox scored three or less runs in nine of last fifteen Matsuzaka starts.

-- Baltimore lost by 27 runs, in game they led 3-0 after three innings of play. Texas scored the most runs in any contest since 1898, thats 1898, not 1998. Orioles then went out and lost nightcap 9-7, so they scored 10 runs in one day, and still managed to lose twice, not easily done.

-- Nolan Richardson's Mexico team upset Puerto Rico by 11 in the first pool game at FIBA America; these are 40-minute games, so winning 100-89 is pretty impressive.

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

13) Glad to see the Orioles give Dave Trombley a shot at managing the O’s in 2008; he has team taking infield before games, and pitchers practicing their fielding; in other words, he has turned back the clock in trying to restore Orioles to the success they had in prior decades, by actually having them practice.

12) Major League Baseball wants an improved background checks on major and minor league umps, which is good idea, given the Donaghy mess in the NBA, but the umps’ union is resisting, and minor league guys say they don’t have to, since they’re not yet major league employees. We'll see.

11) They announced plans for a $500M arena in Las Vegas, to be used to house an NBA/NHL team; it better be a hockey team- the NBA loses all credibility if they put a team in Vegas after the Donaghy fiasco this summer.

10) Before Brandon Webb did it earlier this month, the last big league pitcher to throw three consecutive complete game shutouts was Roger Clemens in 1998, while he was Blue Jay.

9) Latrell Sprewell wasn’t making $10,332 monthly payments on his 70-foot, $1.5M boat, so it got repossessed this week. Sprewell turned down $21M, three years from Minnesota a few years back, one of worst decisions in the history of man.

8) Curt Schilling said something Tuesday about pitching for the Devil Rays next season; why, I’m not sure. D-Rays also gave Vanderbilt draftee Price $8.5M in guaranteed money; will be interesting to see how long it takes him to get to the big leagues- they've been coddling their young pitchers.

7) Garret Anderson is just 12th major leaguer to knock in 10+ runs in a game.

6) Nolan Richardson is coaching the Mexican National Team this week at the FIBA Americas; if the Mexicans make the Olympics, Richardson gets a three-year contract. They’re playing fast, just like Arkansas did, so it’ll be fun to watch, and they upset Puerto Rico 100-89 in their first game.

5) Bengals’ coach Marvin Lewis is having surgery to repair torn tendons in his ankle; not sure how long he’ll be away from the team.

4) Oakland Raiders scored 12 TDs last year, and turned ball over 46 times. That isn’t good.

3) 113 Michigan fans ponied up $2,500 each for a two-day Wolverine fantasy camp. Not sure if losing a scrimmage to a bunch of Ohio State fantasy campers was included in price.

2) USC is narrow 45-point favorite over Idaho in their season opener next week; not only do Vandals have their third head coach in three years, one of their former head coaches, Nick Holt, is an assistant with USC. When a guy quits as head coach to become an assistant elsewhere, that’s a bad sign for the team he left. Real bad.

1) The guy who got Barry Bonds’ 756th home run ball is now selling the shirt he was wearing at the time on EBay. I wish I was making that up, but I’m not.

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[pm530]

Pro Basketball (Women’s) – Long Sheet

WNBA
Long Sheet


Thursday, August 23

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INDIANA (20 - 13) at CONNECTICUT (18 - 15) - 8/23/2007, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 56-80 ATS (-32.0 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
INDIANA is 18-35 ATS (-20.5 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.
INDIANA is 30-49 ATS (-23.9 Units) in road games after a division game since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 38-22 ATS (+13.8 Units) in August or September games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) as a favorite this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 10-3 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 10-3 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


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SAN ANTONIO (20 - 13) at SACRAMENTO (19 - 14) - 8/23/2007, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 43-28 ATS (+12.2 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in home games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 40-26 ATS (+11.4 Units) after a division game over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.
SACRAMENTO is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 6-4 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO is 8-3 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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[pm530]

WNBA
Capsule previews of the first-round WNBA playoff series


A look at the four first-round series in the WNBA playoffs, which start Thursday:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Detroit (24-10) vs. No. 4 New York (16-18)

Season series: 2-2, with each team winning once on the other's court. Both games at the Palace of Auburn Hills went to overtime.

Detroit: The defending champions had another dominant season before cruising down the stretch and losing the last four games after they clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Although All-Star game MVP Cheryl Ford's status is uncertain, the Shock are led by Deanna Nolan (career-bests of 16.3 points and 3.9 assists per game), Katie Smith (13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds), Swin Cash (11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds) and Sixth Woman of the Year contender Plenette Pierson (11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds). Ford averaged 13.0 points and 11.2 rebounds in 15 games, but has not played since aggravating her sprained left knee on July 20. Detroit, the top rebounding team (38.6 rpg) for the fifth straight season, were third in scoring (79.3). The Shock still rely more on their inside game - attempting and making the third-fewest 3-point shots in the league. Nolan averaged 19.5 points in four games against New York this season.

New York: The Liberty opened the season 5-0 and closed with six wins in nine games. In between, they went 5-15 with a season-high seven-game losing streak. Still, New York was the only team to beat Detroit twice - though the Shock had already clinched home-court in the postseason when the Liberty won 85-84 on a last-second basket by Erin Thorn on Aug. 12. New York is led in scoring by Shameka Christon (11.2), Cathrine Kraayeveld (10.8) and Janel McCarville (10.4). New York was the lowest-scoring team in the league at 71.0, and its 58-52 win against Chicago in the season finale was the only victory in 13 games when scoring fewer than 70 points. The Liberty were tops in 3-point shooting (37.7) - led by Kraayeveld (41 percent), Thorn (39 percent) and Loree Moore (41 percent). McCarville averaged 16.3 points and 7.7 in the last three matchups with the Shock.

Prediction: Shock in 3.

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No. 2 Indiana (21-13) vs. No. 3 Connecticut (18-16)

Season series: Sun won 4-0, with one blowout victory and the other three coming by a total of 12 points.

Indiana: The Fever matched their franchise-record win total from the previous two seasons, becoming the first team in the East to reach 20 victories in three straight years. The Fever were 16-4 after beating Chicago on July 18, but then lost perennial All-Star Tamika Catchings to a partial tear in her left foot two days later. She didn't play the rest of the season, with Indiana losing nine of its last 14, but practiced with the team on Tuesday. Her status for the opener is still uncertain. Catchings was leading the team in scoring (16.6), rebounding (9.0), assists (4.7) and steals (3.14) for the sixth straight year at the time of her injury. Veteran center Tammy Sutton-Brown averaged 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds while earning an All-Star selection in her first season in Indiana. Tamika Whitmore added 10.9 points and 5.0 rebounds, and Tan White averaged 10.8 points. The Fever were second in the league with 9.1 steals per game. For the second straight year, Indiana was 12th in the league in scoring (72.9) but tops in scoring defense (69.7).

Connecticut: The Sun began the season 5-10, and then won 13 of 17 before losing its last two. Connecticut had 10 losses by four points or fewer. Katie Douglas led the team with career bests of 17.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Lindsay Whalen had a strong second half and finished at 13.4 points per game and was second in the league in assists (5.0). Asjha Jones - starting for the first time - averaged career bests of 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds, but missed the Sun's last three games with a sprained right ankle and her status for the opener will be a game-day decision. Also, Nykesha Sales added 13.1 points in 26 games. Connecticut, which reached the finals in 2004 and 2005, was fourth in the league in scoring (78.7) and second in rebounding (35.9). The Sun have won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including six straight on the Fever's home court and a sweep in the first round in 2005. Douglas averaged 19.3 points in four games against the Fever, and Sales 17.0 in three.

Prediction: Sun in 2.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Phoenix (23-11) vs. No. 4 Seattle (17-17)

Season series: Storm won 2-1, with the home team winning each matchup.

Phoenix: The Mercury won 11 of their last 12 games to earn the West's top seed while returning to the postseason for the first time since 2000. As part of coach Paul Westhead's frenetic pace, Phoenix averaged a league-best 89.0 points - topping 100 in eight games - but also allowed a league-high 85.4. Diana Taurasi led the Mercury with an average of 19.2 points, and hit a league-leading 95 3-pointers a year after setting the record with 121. Penny Taylor added career highs with 17.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while appearing in every game for the third time in seven seasons in the WNBA. Cappie Pondexter (17.2) had a solid second season and Tangela Smith (12.6) also scored in double digits in her first year with Phoenix. The Mercury also led the league in field-goal shooting (43.9 percent), free-throw shooting (81.7 percent), assists (20.1 per game) and blocks (4.7). Pondexter, Taurasi and Taylor combined to average 61 points in the three games against the Storm.

Seattle: Lauren Jackson had another MVP-caliber season, leading the league in scoring (23.8) and rebounding (9.7). Betty Lennox (13.4 points), Iziane Castro Marques (12.3) and Sue Bird (10.4) also scored in double digits. Bird also averaged 4.9 assists. The Storm were three games above .500 halfway through the season, then lost 10 of 14 before finishing the season with home wins against non-playoff teams Washington, Minnesota and Los Angeles. Seattle was 2-3 without Bird (knee surgery) and 0-3 without Jackson (illness, family illness). The Storm will be without center Janell Burse (8.8 points, 5.3 rebounds), who had season-ending surgery on her left wrist on Aug. 13. Seattle was second in the league in scoring (80.4), field-goal shooting (43.6 percent) and free throws (81.4 percent). The Storm were also tied for second-worst in the league with a 5-12 road record. Jackson averaged 29 points and 10 rebounds in three games against Phoenix and Lennox added 23.0 points. Bird had 15.5 in two meetings.

Prediction: Mercury in 2.

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No. 2 San Antonio (20-14) vs. No. 3 Sacramento (19-15)

Season series: 2-2, with each sweeping at home.

San Antonio: Bolstered by key offseason acquisitions, the Silver Stars had their most successful season since moving from Utah in 2003. Becky Hammon, brought over from New York in a draft-day trade, is a strong MVP contender after averaging career highs of 18.8 points and 5.0 assists in 28 games. Hammon was complemented by Sophia Young, who averaged 16.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in her second season. Eleven-year veteran Vickie Johnson, in her second season in San Antonio, had 8.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while reunited with former Liberty teammate Hammon. Ruth Riley, who won two championships in Detroit, provides a strong veteran presence. The Silver Stars have missed Erin Buescher (11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds), who won the league's most improved player award with Sacramento last season, after she tore her left ACL on July 11. Shanna Crossley was strong down the stretch, averaging 15.2 points in the last nine games. San Antonio was third in the league in scoring defense (73.1), but 12th in rebounding (32.0). Hammon averaged 17.7 points and 5.7 assists in the last three meetings against the Monarchs.

Sacramento: The two-time reigning Western Conference champions are in the playoffs for the ninth straight year. Fourth-year players Nicole Powell (12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Rebekkah Brunson (11.5 points, 8.9 rebounds) led the Monarchs while veteran forward Yolanda Griffith had career-low averages of 9.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing through injuries. Kara Lawson was a key reserve, adding 11.0 points. Sacramento overcame the loss of DeMya Walker - who averaged 11.6 points the last two seasons - five games into the season, and finished second in scoring defense (72.9) and tops in steals (9.6) and opponents' rebounding (30.2). The Monarchs lost four of its last six games, including consecutive defeats against first-place Phoenix in the final weekend. Brunson and Lawson averaged 11.5 points each against San Antonio, and Brunson added 12.0 rebounds.

Prediction: Silver Stars in 3.

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[pm530]

WNBA – Betting Trends

WNBA


Thursday, August 23

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Betting Trends
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ATS Trends
Indiana
Fever are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Fever are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Fever are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Fever are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.


Connecticut
Sun are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Sun are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
Sun are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Sun are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Sun are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 Conference Semifinals games.
Sun are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.


OU Trends
Indiana
Over is 7-2 in Fever last 9 games following a S.U. win.
Under is 17-5 in Fever last 22 Thursday games.
Under is 9-4 in Fever last 13 overall.
Under is 35-16-1 in Fever last 52 road games.


Connecticut
Under is 9-1 in Sun last 10 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 8-2-1 in Sun last 11 games following a S.U. loss.
Under is 4-1 in Sun last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 25-8 in Sun last 33 Thursday games.
Under is 6-2 in Sun last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 5-2 in Sun last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.


Head to Head
Fever are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Connecticut.
Fever are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.



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ATS Trends
San Antonio
Silver Stars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Silver Stars are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Silver Stars are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games.
Silver Stars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.


Sacramento
Monarchs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Conference Semifinals games.
Monarchs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Monarchs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.


OU Trends
San Antonio
Under is 4-1 in Silver Stars last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Under is 7-3 in Silver Stars last 10 Thursday games.
Under is 11-5 in Silver Stars last 16 games following a ATS loss.


Sacramento
Over is 5-0 in Monarchs last 5 home games.
Over is 5-0 in Monarchs last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
Over is 10-2-1 in Monarchs last 13 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 4-1 in Monarchs last 5 overall.
Over is 6-2 in Monarchs last 8 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 19-7-1 in Monarchs last 27 games following a S.U. loss.
Over is 8-3 in Monarchs last 11 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.


Head to Head
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Sacramento.

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[pm530]

National Football League - Long Sheet

NFL
Pre-Season
Long Sheet


Thursday, August 23

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JACKSONVILLE (1 - 1) at GREEN BAY (2 - 0) - 8/23/2007, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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NEW ORLEANS (1 - 2) at KANSAS CITY (0 - 2) - 8/23/2007, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW ORLEANS is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) in a road game where the total is between 35.5 and 38 points since 1993.

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 1-0 against the spread versus NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
KANSAS CITY is 1-0 straight up against NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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[pm530]

National Football League - Short Sheet

NFL
Pre-Season
Short Sheet


Thursday, August 23

Jacksonville at Green Bay, 8:00 ET FOX
Jacksonville: 10-2 ATS off a win by 10+ points
Green Bay: 6-1 Under as an underdog

New Orleans at Kansas City, 8:30 ET
New Orleans: 10-3 Over off a road win
Kansas City: 1-7 ATS off a loss

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[pm530]

National Football League – Write up

NFL
Pre-Season
Write-up


Thursday, August 23

Week 3 preseason games are usually the ones where you get the most effort out of these teams. They're still exhibitions, however.

Packers waxed Seattle 48-13 last week; last year, they drilled the Falcons 38-10 in second summer game, then lost third game 48-17 to the Bengals. Jacksonville has better backup QB (Garrard over Rodgers). Four of last five Green Bay summer games went over the total. Packers won five of last seven summer home games.

Saints lost 10-9 on this field last summer, in last preseason game; with Chiefs still struggling to find starting QB, and having issues on the OL, though, New Orleans is ahead of where Chiefs are, at this point in 2007. Not sure how much work Brees needs here, as backups would be drastic dropoff.

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[pm530]

National Football League – Starter Report

NFL
Pre-Season

Thursday, August 23

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Thursday's Starter Report
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Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers (+2 ½, 39)

Don’t count on seeing Green Bay’s first-stringers for the usual three quarters against the Jaguars in the club’s third game of the preseason on Thursday.

"We have some other issues that need to be addressed," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters. "No. 1, the health of our football team. No. 2, we have a lot of jobs that are still up in the air, so we'll probably play a bunch of different combinations of players both on special teams and offense and defense throughout the second and third quarter.

"I want to see those guys when (the Jaguars) have their ones in the game, too."

Jacksonville starters will play more this week after most were in for at least the majority of the opening half during Saturday’s 31-19 win over Tampa Bay. Green Bay will be Byron Leftwich’s last major test before Week 1.

“We’ll play (Leftwich) a little longer and see how the flow of the game goes,” Jacksonville coach Del Rio said.


New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs (-1½ , 37 ½)

Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards will start quarterback Brodie Croyle on Thursday and could name the 24-year-old his No. 1 guy sooner rather than later.

Croyle, who’s been battling snap-for-snap with veteran Damon Huard for the starting QB job all preseason, will play the first half and possibly a possession in the third. Huard was scheduled to come in after that, but a sore right calf that kept him out of Monday’s practice could throw a wrench in those plans while limiting his chances of holding off Croyle.

“It’s hard to go out there knowing you’ve got three or four series, because you feel like every play you’ve got to make something happen,” Croyle said to reporters. “I’d love playing into the third quarter. You can get yourself into a pretty good rhythm.”

The rest of Kansas City’s offensive and defensive starters will also see extensive action and may employ a game plan for the first time this year. Running back Larry Johnson, who ended his training camp holdout Tuesday, is said to be in good shape and participated in team drills Wednesday but won't play against the Saints.

New Orleans will likely play its first-stringers into the second half because head coach Sean Payton wants them to get used to coming out after halftime. New Orleans jumped out to a 17-12 lead by the half against the Bengals, paced by a 6-of-6 performance from quarterback Drew Brees and a rushing TD from both Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush.

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[pm530]

National Football League - Gameday

NFL
Pre-Season
Gameday


Thursday, August 23

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NFL Preseason Gameday
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NFL Gameday: Preseason Preview

The National Football League's exhibition schedule heads into Week 3 on Thursday, with the Chiefs hosting the Saints in the day's top matchup. Here is your NFL Gameday:

Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers, Thurs 8:00pm ET (Lambeau Field)

The Packers will be looking for their third straight preseason victory when they play host to Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars on Thursday night. Green Bay, of course, knows who their starting quarterback will be on opening day, but they're still figuring out their running back situation. Vernand Morency is sidelined with a knee injury, so expect to see Brandon Jackson get a prominent role in the offense versus the Jags on Thursday.

The Jags are 1-1 in exhibition action so far, and they're trying to get starting QB Leftwich ready and confident heading into the regular season. Leftwich went 6-of-12 for 81 yards passing in a win over the Bucs last week, while backup David Garrard completed 11-of-14 pass attempts for 129 yards. Four Jaguars players rushed for TDs against T-Bay, including Garrard and Fred Taylor (who had six carries for just 16 yards).

The oddsmakers opened the Jaguars as 3-point road favorites for this contest, and that line has been fairly stable for the week. The game's total is currently sitting at 38 points.

New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs, Thurs 8:30pm ET (Arrowhead Stadium)

The Saints have gone 1-2 so far during their extended preseason schedule, but they're coming off a 27-19 road win over the Bengals. Drew Brees was perfect in limited action in that game, going 6-for-6 for 55 yards. Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush had three and four carries, respectively, and both managed to rush for a touchdown. Saints wide receiver Marques Colston is likely to miss the game against the Chiefs with a sore knee.

The Chiefs are 0-2 so far during the preseason, and even though star running back Larry Johnson is now under contract he won't be on the field to help them get their first win on Thursday. KC fans, though, will still be interested in watching the latest round of their team's QB battle. Brodie Croyle seems to have the lead in that competition, and Damon Huard's sore leg might limit him on Thursday (or keep him totally off the field).

The oddsmakers opened the Chiefs as 1.5-point home favorites for this game, but that line has shrunk to 1 point or a pick'em at some books. The total is pegged at 37 points.

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[pm530]

Baseball – Write up

MLB
Write-up


Thursday, August 23

Hot Pitchers
-- Morales allowed one run in 5.1 IP in his first start at Dodger Stadium Sunday, a game Rockies later won in extra innings.
-- Cain is 2-1, 2.63 in his last four starts.
-- Mets won eight of last eleven Glavine starts.

-- Westbrook is 3-1, 2.06 in his last five starts.
-- Beckett is 2-0, 2.01 in his last three starts.
-- Weaver is 3-0, 2.78 in his last three starts. Rangers won seven of last ten Loe starts.

Cold Pitchers
-- Dodgers lost last five Billingsley starts (0-4, 4.33).
-- Maholm is 2-4, 6.08 in his last six road starts.
-- Zambrano is 0-2, 6.10 in his last four starts.
-- Padres lost nine of last eleven Germano starts.
-- Castro made only six minor league starts this season; he has pitched in 25 big league games, tossing a total of 35.1 innings. Carlyle is 2-3, 7.77 in his last five starts.
-- Gutierrez is 5-9, 3.96 in 23 AAA starts this season. Nationals lost Lannan's last three starts, scoring total of six runs.
-- Marlins lost last five VandenHurk starts (0-2, 8.87). St Louis is 3-14 in Reyes starts this season.

-- Robertson is 1-4, 6.81 in his last six starts.
-- Orioles lost seven of last ten Trachsel starts. Twins lost last five Bonser starts (0-4, 7.42).
-- Oakland lost six of Gaudin's last eight starts. Hammel is 0-2 in six starts this season, with 6.92 RA.
-- Danks is 0-5, 7.03 in his last six starts.
-- Santana is 0-5, 8.01 in his last seven starts. Litsch is 0-2, 6.62 in his last three starts.


Totals
-- Over is 5-2-1 in Dodgers' last eight games.
-- Over is 21-6 in Pirates' last twenty-seven games.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in Cubs' last eleven road games.
-- Over is 5-1 in Mets' last six home games.
-- Over is 11-1 in Cincinnati's last dozen games.
-- Six of last eight Washington games stayed under total.
-- Under is 6-2 in Cardinals' last eight home games.

-- Under is 9-3 in Cleveland's last twelve road games.
-- Over is 8-3 in last eleven games at Camden Yards.
-- Over is 5-2 in Gaudin's last seven starts.
-- Four of last five Beckett starts stayed under the total.
-- Under is 10-5-2 in last seventeen Loe starts.
-- Over is 9-3 in Angels' last thirteen home games.


Hot Teams
-- Dodgers won five of their last seven games.
-- Reds won four of their last five games.
-- Mets won seven of their last nine games.
-- Nationals won three of their last four road games.
-- Cardinals won eight of their last ten games.
-- Rockies won eight of their last twelve home games. Pirates are 5-2 in last six games, scoring 54 runs.
-- Giants won five of their last seven games. Cubs won five of last six games.

-- Red Sox are 9-4 in their last thirteen home games.
-- Indians won seven of their last ten road games.
-- A's are 7-2 in their last nine games.
-- Mariners won eight of last eleven games. Texas is 9-4 in its last thirteen home games.
-- Angels won eleven of their last thirteen home games.

Cold Teams
-- Phillies lost three of their last four games.
-- San Diego is 8-12 in its last twenty road games.
-- Braves are 5-9 in their last fourteen road games.
-- Astros lost four of their last six home games.
-- Marlins lost eight games in a row, with bullpen losing the last four.

-- Blue Jays lost four of their last five games.
-- Detroit is 6-10 in its last sixteen home games.
-- Devil Rays lost seven of their last ten games.
-- Orioles are 3-7 in their last ten home games; they gave up 39 runs in doubleheader loss Wednesday. Twins are 2-9 in last 11 road series openers.
-- White Sox lost ten of their last thirteen games.

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[pm530]

Baseball - Tips & Trends

MLB

Thursday, August 23

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Tips and Trends
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Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (1:05 PM ET)

Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley is a solid 5-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 19 road appearances this season. Opposing batters are hitting for just a .221 average against him away from Dodger Stadium. EDGE: DODGERS
The Dodgers have lost five straight games with Billingsley on the hill, as the offense has managed to score just 11 runs over that span. The right-hander has surrendered seven earned runs and 14 hits over his last 10 innings of work. EDGE: PHILLIES
Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer is 5-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 10 home starts this season. Philadelphia has picked up three straight home victories with Moyer on the hill, outscoring opponents 24-5 in the process. EDGE: PHILLIES
Moyer is 4-2 since the All-Star break, but has compiled an inflated 6.47 ERA in seven starts. The soft-throwing left-hander has allowed 29 earned runs and 54 hits over 40 1/3 innings of work. SLIGHT EDGE: DODGERS
The UNDER is 6-0-1 in the Dodgers last seven games versus a left-handed starter.



Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers (1:05 PM ET)

Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook is a dismal 4-8 with a 6.59 ERA in 18 career outings versus Detroit. He picked up a 6-4 defeat on July 4 against the Tigers, allowing five runs and 10 hits over six innings of work. EDGE: TIGERS
Westbrook has been pitching his best baseball of the season during August, posting a 3-1 record and 1.93 ERA. The right-hander has limited opponents to just a .186 batting average this month, after hitters knocked him around for a .305 average in July. EDGE: INDIANS
Detroit left-hander Nate Robertson is 2-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 career starts versus Cleveland. He’s 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts against the Tribe this season, allowing eight runs and 16 hits over 10 2/3 innings. EDGE: INDIANS
Robertson has compiled a 5-3 record and 4.79 ERA in 13 home starts in 2007. The Tigers have picked up two straight victories with him on the mound at Comerica Park, with the offense supplying 20 runs of support. SLIGHT EDGE: TIGERS
The UNDER is 20-8-2 in Westbrook’s last 30 starts overall.



Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants (3:35 PM ET)

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.84 ERA in seven career starts versus the Giants. The right-hander picked up a dominating 12-1 victory over San Francisco on July 18, going the minimum five innings and allowing just two hits. EDGE: CUBS
Zambrano has faltered over his last two starts, allowing 13 runs and 21 hits in just 12 2/3 innings against Cincinnati and Houston. The hard-throwing right-hander has fanned just six batters while walking five over that span. SLIGHT EDGE: GIANTS
San Francisco’s Matt Cain is an even 2-2 with a 4.85 ERA in four career starts versus Chicago. He ended up on the losing end of a 12-2 game against the Cubs on July 18, allowing six earned runs and four hits over four innings. SLIGHT EDGE: CUBS
Cain has thrown the ball exceptionally well in the month of August, going 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts. He’s managed to strike out 28 batters and walk just five over 27 1/3 innings. EDGE: GIANTS
The UNDER is 6-0 in Cain’s last six starts overall.



Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles (7:05 PM ET)

Minnesota right-hander Boof Bonser is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two career starts versus Baltimore. The Twins picked up a 3-2 victory in his first start of the season against the Orioles, as he limited them to just two runs and three hits over six innings. EDGE: TWINS
The Twins have lost five straight games with Bonser on the hill, as the offense has failed to score more than four runs in any of those starts. In fact, Minnesota has scored four runs or less in all of his outings this season. EDGE: ORIOLES
Baltimore’s Steve Trachsel is an even 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA in five career starts versus Minnesota. The veteran right-hander has issued just seven walks while striking out 26 in 34 1/3 innings against them. SLIGHT EDGE: ORIOLES
Trachsel has been solid during the month of August, going 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four starts. Baltimore has picked up two straight victories with the right-hander on the mound, including a 6-3 home victory over the Boston Red Sox. EDGE: ORIOLES
The Twins are 5-0 in the last five meetings.



San Diego Padres at New York Mets (7:10 PM ET)

San Diego starter Justin Germano is 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA in nine road starts this season. The Padres have picked up losses in four of his last five starts away from Petco Park, with the offense scoring just 12 runs over that span. SLIGHT EDGE: PADRES
Germano has gotten off to a rough start since the All-Star break, going 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA. He’s turned things around a bit in August, as hitters are batting just .194 against him in three outings. SLIGHT EDGE: METS
Mets veteran left-hander Tom Glavine is a dominant 22-12 with a 3.46 ERA in 44 career starts versus the Padres. He’s making his first start against San Diego in more than two years, going 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against them in 2005. EDGE: METS
Glavine has been lights out at Shea Stadium this season, going 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA over 11 starts. The Mets have picked up home victories in three of his last four starts, after allowing just six earned runs over his last 26 1/3 innings at Shea Stadium. EDGE: METS
The UNDER is 8-2 in Glavine’s last 10 Thursday starts.



Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox (8:11 PM ET)

Boston’s Josh Beckett is an ultra-impressive 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA in nine road starts this season. The right-hander has fanned an incredible 56 batters while walking just 10 in 65 1/3 innings outside of Fenway Park. EDGE: RED SOX
Beckett is a perfect 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA in three career starts versus the White Sox. He’s allowed four home runs and 16 hits against them in 15 2/3 innings of work. SLIGHT EDGE: RED SOX
White Sox starter John Danks is 3-5 with a 5.18 ERA in 10 home starts in 2007. He’s dropped his last two starts at U.S. Cellular Field, with the offense scoring just a single run against Cleveland and Seattle. EDGE: RED SOX
Danks has struggled mightily since the All-Star break, posting a 1-5 record and 6.93 ERA. The left-hander has surrendered nine home runs in just 37 2/3 innings of work. EDGE: RED SOX
The UNDER is 8-1 in the White Sox last nine home games versus a right-handed starter.



Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels (10:05 PM ET)

Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Litsch is 2-3 with a 2.55 ERA in six road starts this season. He’s allowed just three earned runs over his last 27 innings away from the Rogers Centre. EDGE: BLUE JAYS
Toronto has picked up losses in seven of Litsch’s last 10 starts overall, as the offense has managed to score just 37 runs over that span. EDGE: ANGELS
Los Angeles starter Ervin Santana is an even 1-1 with a 5.94 ERA in three career starts versus Toronto. He picked up an 8-3 home victory over the Blue Jays on May 16, 2006, allowing two earned runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: ANGELS
Santana has struggled during 13 nighttime starts, going 3-8 with a 5.03 ERA. He’s allowed an amazing 13 home runs and 94 hits in just 78 2/3 innings. EDGE: BLUE JAYS
The OVER is 6-0 in Santana’s last six starts overall.

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[pm530]

Baseball – Betting Notes

MLB


Thursday, August 23

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MLB Betting Notes
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Thursday’s MLB betting notes

Relief for Detroit

It’s hard to think of another reliever who'd get the kind of welcome Joel Zumaya got from Detroit fans when he returned to the mound Tuesday.

Zumaya's appearance – his first since May 1 – in the seventh inning against the Indians prompted the crowd to stand and clap for each one of the five pitches he threw to strike out Ryan Garko.

"I can't compare this to anything," Zumaya said in the post-game press conference. "These fans knew exactly what was coming. They were up, when I was warming up. So it was fun. I just can't wait to go back out there tomorrow and get these guys again."

Zumaya’s comeback signals the return to full strength of the Tigers bullpen that was so dominant last season. Fellow reliever Fernando Rodney has also returned from injury and closer Todd Jones is finding some form after his early-season struggles.

Both Rodney and Jones threw hitless innings in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Cleveland.

The Tigers send Nate Robertson to the hill to face Jake Westbrook in the series finale against the Indians on Thursday. Detroit is –000 favorites with the total set at 0 ½.

Pinch-hitting Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 8-5 in their last 13 games and are one of the hottest hitting teams in baseball this month. The Bucs have scored a National League-leading 135 runs in August on the back of a .296 team batting average.

The bench has been a big part of this success. Pittsburgh’s pinch hitters are batting .500 in August with four homers and 13 RBIs through Tuesday, according to statistics on MLB.com.

"When you look at what we're getting off our bench right now, versus what we were getting in the first three plus months of the season, look at the experience level of a couple of the guys that are on the bench," manager Jim Tracy told the website.

"Most notably, we're talking about (Josh) Phelps and (Matt) Kata, but now you've got (Cesar) Izturis also on the bench, where it increases and enhances your flexibility."

The Pirates play in Colorado on Thursday to close out a three-game series against the Rockies. Paul Maholm (9-14, 4.53) and Franklin Morales (0-0, 1.69) are the starters and Pittsburgh is a –000 favorite with the total set at 0 ½.

Beltran leads the way

Carlos Beltran has accounted for a large slice of the New York Mets offense since returning from the DL three weeks ago. Just take Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres, when he knocked in five of New York’s runs in a series-opening 7-6 win.

The outfielder has six homers and 18 RBIs since his comeback from an oblique injury. He is hitting .352 this month and last week earned the NL Player of the Week award after batting in 10 runs on nine hits.

"He's a guy that can put a team on his back and carry the team," said fellow big-hitter Marlon Anderson on MLB.com. "It makes baseball real fun."

The Mets, winners of seven of their last eight games, close out a three-game series against the Padres on Thursday. San Diego's Clay Hensley will test his stuff against veteran Tom Glavine with New York a –000 favorite. The total set at 0 ½.

Papelbon, bullpen keep Sox in the lead

When Jonathan Papelbon closed out Boston’s 8-6 win Tuesday over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays he became the first Red Sox closer to record 30 saves in two consecutive seasons. But Papelbon’s success is just one part of a BoSox bullpen that has been a model of consistency this season.

The Boston pen boasts a wealth of talent, including Hideki Okajima, Mike Timlin, Eric Gagne and Manny Delcarmen, and has the lowest combined ERA in the league: 2.99. Compare that to the Yankees' bullpen ERA of 3.98 and it could explain why a team that’s hitting better than Boston is six games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.

BoSox bullpen coach Gary Tuck believes togetherness has been a big part of the group’s success this season.

"I’ve never seen a group of guys this tight," Tuck told the Boston Herald. "They basically live together. They go to lunch together, they go to dinner after the games together, they travel together, they lift weights together, they throw together."

On Thursday, the Boston bullpen will be available to support Josh Beckett (15-5, 3.15) as the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Chicago counters with John Danks (6-11, 5.30) and is a +000 underdog with the total set at 0 ½.

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[pm530]

Baseball Today - August 23

SCOREBOARD
Thursday, Aug. 23
San Diego at N.Y. Mets (7:10 p.m. EDT). Justin Germano squares off against Tom Glavine.

STARS
Wednesday

-- Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez, Rangers, each homered twice and finished with seven RBIs in Texas' 30-3 pounding of Baltimore in the first game of a doubleheader.

-- Nate McLouth, Pirates, hit a pair of home runs in Pittsburgh's 11-2 rout of Colorado.

-- Andy Pettite, Yankees, allowed one run and five hits in seven sharp innings to win his fifth consecutive start in New York's 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

-- Billy Butler, Royals, homered and drove in three runs to help Kansas City edge the Chicago White Sox 7-6.

-- Michael Cuddyer, Twins, hit a grand slam to fuel a seven-run first inning, and Minnesota beat Seattle 8-4.

BALTIMORE BLITZED

The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace and became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 30 RBIs set a major league record. Texas also won the nightcap 9-7.

WEBB'S STREAK SNAPPED

Brandon Webb's scoreless streak ended at 42 innings Wednesday night when Milwaukee's Prince Fielder singled home a run in the first inning of Arizona's 3-2 win. Webb, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, fell 17 innings shy of Orel Hershiser's major league record of 59 straight shutout innings set in 1988. Webb, who had thrown three straight shutouts, gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings to win his 14th game.

PUJOLS POWER

Albert Pujols homered for a career-best fifth consecutive game and St. Louis beat Florida 6-4 on Wednesday. The St. Louis slugger became the first player in major league history to hit 30 homers in each of his first seven seasons.

MR. AUGUST

Andy Pettite allowed one run in seven innings to pick up the win in the New York Yankees' 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Pettite is 5-0 this month and 44-16 in August during his career, the second-highest winning percentage since 1900 for a pitcher with at least 60 decisions. Yankees great Lefty Gomez tops that list with a 39-14 record in August.

ROLLING THE DICE

Tampa Bay edged Boston 2-1 on Wednesday to improve to 3-9 against the Red Sox this season. All three of the Devil Rays' victories have come against Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was the hard-luck loser, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out eight. Matsuzaka has had two runs or less of support in 12 of his last 16 starts.

GO, JOSE, GO

Jose Reyes did his best to rattle the Padres, stealing three bases and setting a Mets record with 67 in a season. The NL East leaders swiped five in all, yet saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with a 7-5 loss to San Diego on Wednesday. Reyes had the sixth three-steal game of his career

STREAKS

Baltimore's Kevin Millar got a hit in both games of a doubleheader against Texas on Wednesday, extending his run of reaching via hit, walk or hit by pitch to 49 games -- tying Ken Singleton's club record set in 1977. ... Jake Peavy allowed two runs and two hits in six innings, striking out 11 to earn his fifth straight win in San Diego's 7-5 victory over the New York Mets. He improved to 8-0 on the road and increased his league-high strikeout total to 186.

SPEAKING

"It was AMAZING in capital letters." -- Texas' Travis Metcalf, who hit a grand slam in the Rangers' 30-3 rout of Baltimore on Wednesday after being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma earlier in the day. Metcalf also drove in four runs in the nightcap, helping Texas to a 9-7 win. The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two.

SEASONS
Aug. 23

1906 -- On their way to the American League pennant, the Chicago White Sox beat the Washington Senators 4-1 for their 19th straight victory.

1907 -- Pittsburgh's Howie Camnitz pitched a five-inning, no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader at New York. The Pirates beat the Giants 1-0.

1931 -- Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics was beaten 1-0 by Dick Coffman of the St. Louis Browns, snapping a personal 16-game winning streak. A misjudged fly ball by outfielder Jim Moore led to the winning run.

1936 -- In his first major league start, 17-year-old Bob Feller struck out 15 Browns as the Cleveland Indians beat St. Louis 4-1. Feller gave up six hits and allowed four walks.

1952 -- During a game against the Cardinals at the Polo Grounds, the Giants' Bob Elliott complained and kicked dirt arguing over a called strike. Umpire Augie Donatelli ejected him from the game. Bobby Hoffman finished the at-bat by being called out on strikes and was also ejected by Donatelli for arguing the call.

1982 -- Seattle pitcher Gaylord Perry was ejected in the seventh inning for allegedly throwing a spitball against the Red Sox. It was the first ejection for Perry, who was subsequently suspended for 10 days.

1989 -- Rick Dempsey's leadoff homer in the 22nd inning gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 victory against the Montreal Expos in the second-longest shutout in major league history.

1992 -- There were no hits in Clearwater's 1-0 victory over Winter Haven in the Class A Florida State League. In what appeared to be the first professional game in 40 years without a hit, Andy Carter and the Clearwater Phillies beat Scott Bakkum and the Winter Haven Red Sox. The only run scored in the seventh inning on a pair of walks and a pair of sacrifice bunts.

1998 -- Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs hit his 50th and 51st homers against the Houston Astros. Mark McGwire hit his 53rd at Pittsburgh marking just the second time two National League hitters have 50 homers in the same season. In 1947, Ralph Kiner of Pittsburgh and the New York Giants' Johnny Mize tied for the league lead with 51 each.

1998 -- Barry Bonds became the first player in major league history to hit 400 home runs and steal 400 bases when he homered off Florida's Kirt Ojala in the second inning of San Francisco's game at Florida. Bonds, who hit his 26th homer of the season, had 438 steals.

2001 -- Randy Johnson struck out 16 in seven innings to become the first pitcher to strike out 300 in four straight seasons, only to see his eight-game winning streak end as Kevin Young's two-run homer led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 victory over Arizona.

Today's birthdays: Mark Bellhorn 33; Casey Blake 34; Julio Franco 49.

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