Saturday Trends and Indexes 10/06

[Udog]

MLB
Write-Up


Saturday, October 6


Jimenez didn't make his first start until July 19, but Rockies won his last three starts; in nine starts at Coors Field, he had an RA of 5.09 (Rockies 4-5 in those games). He allowed two runs in six IP at Philly Sept 10. Three of his last four starts went over total, but five of Moyer's last seven starts went under total. Moyer is 0-0, 2.07 in his last couple road starts- he allowed five runs in five IP at Coors Field July 7. Phillies are 14-3 with Moyer when they give him six or more runs. Must-win for the Phillies.

Cubs are 8-1 in Hill's last nine starts, winning his last four (3-0, 3.18); under is 6-3 in his last nine starts. Hernandez is 2-2, 6.67 in his last five starts; Arizona is 12-1 if they give him 5+ runs, 4-15 if they don't- they lost three of his last four road starts. Hill did well vs Snakes, allowing two runs in six IP July 21, in game the Cubs eventually lost 3-2. Hernandez didn't face the Cubs this year. Cubs have to win, or Arizona advances to next round.

[Udog]

Six-pack for Saturday
NFL trends to consider as Week 5 approaches.....


-- Ravens are 13-5 as favorite vs NFC teams.
-- Carolina is 11-2-1 vs spread in NFC South road games.
-- Cleveland is 9-3-1 vs spread in non-division road tilts.
-- Denver covered just one of last twelve games.
-- Jacksonville covered five of last 20 as a road favorite.
-- Steelers covered nine of last 12 as non-division favorite.

[Udog]

Saturday's List of 13:
Random facts for a Saturday.........


13) Earlier this summer, a coach in the Colorado system died after being struck by a line drive; this week, Rockies voted a full playoff share to his widow, who is 32 and pregnant. They didn't have to do that, but it shows class that they did.

12) In the best-of-5 playoff series, the guy who umps on right field line in Game 1 is generally getting his first experience in playoffs-- he won't get a game behind plate in that series. In best-of-7 series, the first base ump in Game 1 is the guy who will have the plate in Game 7, so ne is more likely to be a vet.

11) Only an NBA team would name a guy co-captain who is suspended for first seven games of the season. Warriors are having training camp on Oahu, for some reason- they named the emotional Stephen Jackson a captain, a bizarre decision. The captains are supposed to be leaders; Jackson seems like he is always involved in trouble-- do you want him to lead?

10) Rice Owls have kid named Casey on football team, wears #12, who plays both ways, including some at QB, where he is Tebow-like in running the ball. Odd to see kid play QB and at linebacker-- it also shows how thin Rice is, that they do that.

9) Louisiana Tech's basketball program has a new assistant strength coach; you may have heard of him.......Karl Malone.

8) Houston lost 37-35 at home to East Carolina last week, as they missed a 37,38-yard FG, both in last 1:55 of game. Now the Cougars head to Alabama this week, so prospects for a win appear bleak, but at least it won't be the kicker's fault.

7) A legal expert I heard on radio said even though Falcons are trying to get $16M back from Michael Vick, the best they can realistically hope for is $7.5M, still not chump change.

6) New England has the 49ers' first round pick in '08 draft; the Niners are not good, and with Alex Smith hurt, they could be in for long year. It isn't impossible the Patriots could wind up with first pick in draft, even after being stripped of their own.

5) Got an e-mail from someone in Massachusetts who runs a showcase camp for basketball players last week in October; for $195, the e-mail says, you get "national exposure", which upon further review, is really some website scouts, since all the college coaches are working in late October......................

4)................what is little bit disturbing about all this is that the camp is for kids "from 5th to 9th grade". Who in the name of Todd Marinovich would pay $195 to have their 5th-grade kid play in a showcase event? For what? How does it help?

3) The world keeps getting crazier and crazier, thats for sure.

2) A couple in Ohio has three kids, all born on October 3, all in different years; an Ohio State stats professor says odds of this happening are 133,333-1. Go play the lottery, brother.

1) I am torn on whether to get the NBA package this season; so much of what you read about the league is bad-- the ref, Isiah, Stephen Jackson beimg a leader, you feel like an idiot if you give these people money. Haven't decided yet.