Announcement

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:22 AM

Daily Sports Roundup: October 15

The Phillies will be looking to close out the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night when they play in Los Angeles. Here's your Daily Sports Roundup.

The Gridiron Spotlight

The vaunted NFC East took a hit last week, with the Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys all going down to defeat (and Dallas losing QB Tony Romo to boot). Philadelphia was the only NFC East club to win, as they picked up a road victory in San Francisco. The Eagles are off in Week 7, but their rivals all opened as favorites; it's currently Dallas (-7) at St. Louis, San Francisco at the Giants (-12), and finally Cleveland at Washington (-7).

Other Notable Events

Philadelphia took a 3-1 lead in the NLCS on Monday night with a 7-5 road win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the series. Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs both homered for Philly in their key eighth-inning rally, while Chase Utley stroked three hits in the game.

Wednesday's Game 5 will feature a pitching matchup of the Phillies' Cole Hamels and the Dodgers' Chad Billingsley. Hamels is 2-0 so far during the playoffs, beating the Brewers in the NLDS and holding the Dodgers to two earned runs over seven innings earlier in this series. Billingsley also picked up an NLDS win, but he was rocked for seven earned runs over just 2 1-3 innings of work against the Phillies in his last start.

The oddsmakers opened the Phillies as -125 road favorites for Game 5, with the total pegged at 7.5 runs. As well, Philadelphia is listed as the -130 favorite to win the NLCS.

The Rest of the Schedule

The New York Rangers ran their record to a perfect 5-0-0 last time out, and they'll be gunning for their sixth straight win on Wednesday night when they play host to the Buffalo Sabres. As well, the 2-0-1 Montreal Canadiens will get a visit from the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Rounding out the National Hockey League's schedule for the night: Phoenix at Chicago, Nashville at Dallas, and Edmonton at Anaheim in late action.

News from the Wire

Cowboys QB Tony Romo could miss as many as four games with his broken finger . . . Browns TE Kellen Winslow missed the team's big upset win over the Giants with his illness . . . Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck won't play in Week 7 because of a back injury . . . The Ravens are expected to stick with rookie QB Joe Flacco in spite of his recent struggles . . . the Arena League's New Orleans VooDoo have decided to fold.

A Peek at the Future

If the Dodgers manage to beat the Phillies on Wednesday night the two teams will head back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Friday; if Game 7 is necessary, it will be played on Saturday . . . the American League Championship Series resumes on Thursday night at Fenway Park, with the Rays holding a 2-1 series lead on the BoSox. Boston's James Shields will go up against Tampa Bay's Daisuke Matsuzaka in that pivotal matchup.

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:25 AM

Wednesday's six-pack
Some knowledge about Matt Stairs, after his big homer Tuesday.....

-- Stairs is from that baseball hotbed of St John, New Brunswick, Canada; he was signed as a free agent by the '89 Montreal Expos.

-- Stairs has played for ten teams in 16 seasons, much of it as DH.

-- This is his third time in playoffs, but his homer Tuesday was his second hit in 13 career playoff ABs.

-- He has played 1B-LF-RF and even one game at 2B for '01 Cubs. He looks like a catcher but has never caught in big leagues.

-- He is the consummate small market plug-in player, having played for A's-Pirates-Royals-Expos-Rangers-Brewers, but not for either New York or Los Angeles team.

-- Stairs knocked in 106-102 runs back in '98-'99 with the A's, and even finished 17th in MVP voting after the '99 season. If you used one phrase to describe him, it would be "professional hitter".

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:28 AM

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

13) Is Tampa Bay Rays' advisor Don Zimmer the happiest guy in the world right now, or what? He used to manage the Red Sox and was a coach during the Bronx Bomber glory days, but was also dumped by them. Now he is a key advisor on one of the greatest sports stories of this or any other generation-- its good to be him.

12) Boston starting pitchers gave up 18 runs in their last 12+ IP.

11) North Texas, Washington are the last two winless college football teams in America. At least one of those coaches is losing his job, and I don't mean the North Texas coach.

10) Why do high school football teams from Florida play teams in Texas? Where does the money for this come from?

9) Former Alabama coach/ESPN analyst Bill Curry is building a new football program from scratch at Georgia State in Atlanta; the 65-year old Curry will have a I-AA team playing in 2010.

8) Stub Hub reports the average price for Texas-Oklahoma tickets in Dallas last week was $361. As far as I know, the game sold out.

7) I'm watching Larry King last week, and this guy is on, a radio talk show host who is a McCain backer; the guy's face is so familiar, and so is his voice, but I can't place him. Then it hits me-- this freaking guy is Joe Pagliarulo, who at one time, was the sports anchor on the CBS affiliate here in Albany. He somehow got from there to being a political talk show host, and now he's on with Larry King-- is this a great freakin' country or what?

6) I was at the Brown-Holy Cross game Saturday; noticed tonight a kid on the Holy Cross team was thrown off the squad for attacking one of his teammates at a party late Saturday night. Even kids at the smart schools act up now and then.

One last Holy Cross note: their alma mater is the same song as the old Christmas Carol, "O, Christmas Tree". Where were the students on Saturday? Seriously, it was oldest crowd I've seen at a sporting event in quite some time. Very odd, especially on a beautiful day.

5) Let me get this straight-- NBC's Andrea Mitchell is married to the old guy who sets the mortgage rates, Alan Greenspan? He looks like he went to high school with Teddy Roosevelt!!! What a country......

4) Dallas traded a first-round pick and three other draft choices to Detroit for WR Roy Williams? How desperate is Jerry Jones to win right now, with his new stadium almost done? Very desperate.

3) This is the NFL; when the schedule came out in April, me, as an avid Ram fan, penciled in the back-to-back Cowboy-Patriot games as two losses; who wouldn't? Now, even with the Rams at 1-4, they are looking at games against Brad Johnson/Matt Cassel; who says Rams can't steal one of those games? Or even both (a guy can dream)?

2) I'm probably late with this, but there is someone on CNBC named Maria Bartiromo who deserves a much bigger role on network TV. She is the host of the stock market stuff on CNBC-- we need to get her on ESPN or some other channel I watch a lot.

1) Call A-Rod overpaid if you want, but Simon Cowell, the wise guy on American Idol, makes $36M a year from that show, and has no appreciable talent, other than knowing if someone can sing.

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:30 AM

MLB

Wednesday, October 15

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This Day in Baseball
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On October 15 in Baseball History...

*1912 - On a cold day in Boston, the Giants catch up with Joe Wood's smoke, teeing off for six runs on seven hits before the 32,694 fans have settled down for Game Six. The 11-4 win evens the Series. Tris Speaker turns an unassisted double play in the eighth for Boston, the only one by an outfielder in World Series play.

*1917 - The Chicago White Sox won the World Series when the New York Giants left home plate uncovered and Eddie Collins dashed home with third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him in helpless pursuit.

*1923 - Babe Ruth hits a first-inning home run in Game Six, but the Giants take a 4-1 lead into the eighth. The Giants walk in two runs before Bob Meusel raps a single that scores the go-ahead runs. Sam Jones holds off the Giants, and the Yankees have their first World Championship.

*1925 - Kiki Cuyler's bases-loaded double in the eighth inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-7 victory over Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the World Series, capping a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

*1946 - Enos Slaughter scored from first on a single to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory and the World Series title in the seventh game against the Boston Red Sox.

*1964 - St. Louis takes an early lead in Game Seven as Lou Brock's fifth-inning home run triggers a second three-run frame and a 6-0 lead for Bob Gibson. Mickey Mantle, Clete Boyer and Phil Linz homer for New York, but it's not enough, as the Cards win 7-5.

*1968 - Roger Nelson is the initial choice of the Royals in the AL expansion draft. Don Mincher is the first choice of the Seattle Pilots.

*1970 - For the third time, the Orioles overcome a 3-0 deficit to bury the Reds, 9-3, and win the World Championship in five games. Brooks Robinson easily wins the World Series MVP award for his hitting and unbelievable fielding.

*1972 - The A's win 2-1 as Joe Rudi clouts a home run and makes a game-saving catch to back up Catfish Hunter's pitching before a record Cincinnati crowd of 53,224. The A's take a 2-0 World Series advantage as the scene shifts to Oakland.

*1974 - The surprise starter for the Dodgers in Game Three is Al Downing, but Catfish Hunter pitches Oakland to a 3-2 win.

*1975 - Luis Tiant throws 163 pitches in winning his second game of the World Series against Cincinnati, 5-4, to even the Series after four games.

*1977 - The Yankees win 4-2 to take a 3-1 World Series advantage over the Dodgers. Reggie Jackson doubles and homers, and Ron Guidry notches a four-hitter.

*1978 - The Yankees pummel the Dodgers with 18 hits in Game Five to win 12-2. Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers and Brian Doyle have three hits each.

*1981 - Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combined on a 4-0 shutout of the Oakland A's to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant.

*1982 - Willie McGee has two home runs to drive in four runs and makes a great catch to save another run in Game Three. Joaquin Andujar wins 6-2 despite having to leave the game after being hit by a line drive.

*1986 - The Boston Red Sox capped one of the greatest comebacks in history by defeating the California Angels, 8-1, to win the American League pennant after trailing three games to one in the playoffs.

*1986 - Ray Knight keyed a three-run ninth to tie the score, and the New York Mets won their third National League pennant by beating the Houston Astros, 7-6, in 16 innings in the longest postseason game.

*1988 - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kirk Gibson hit a two-run, pinch-homer to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Oakland in Game 1 of the World Series. Gibson, who did not start because of a strained left knee, limped around the bases as the Dodgers won one of the most dramatic games in Series history.

*1997 - Mike Mussina pitches two-hit baseball for eight innings, but the Orioles can't score. Charles Nagy and three Indians relievers strand 14 Baltimore baserunners. Tony Fernandez homers in the 12th inning for the only run of the game as the Indians win the pennant for the second time in three years.

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:32 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Guys,

We'll re-post if the Top Trends section updates.

Wednesday, October 15

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PHILADELPHIA (98 - 72) at LA DODGERS (88 - 81) - 8:20 PM
COLE HAMELS (L) vs. CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-5 (+2.5 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.9 Units)

COLE HAMELS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
HAMELS is 2-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 0.952.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
BILLINGSLEY is 1-2 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 6.64 and a WHIP of 1.968.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.2 units)

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**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:33 AM

MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, October 15th

National League Championship Series
Best of Seven
Game Five
Phillies Lead, 3-1
TV: FOX
Philadelphia at LA Dodgers, 8:20 ET
Cole Hamels (L) vs. Chad Billingsley (R)

Hamels:
7-1 TSR vs. NL West
Philly 11-1 Over at LA Dodgers

Billingsley:
11-6 Over 2nd half of season
Dodgers 5-2 Over in playoff games

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:34 AM

MLB

Wednesday, October 15

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Trend Sheet
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8:22 PM PHILADELPHIA vs. LA DODGERS
Philadelphia is 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Philadelphia's last 13 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
LA Dodgers are 12-4 SU in their last 16 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:36 AM

MLB

Wednesday, October 15

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Tips and Trends
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Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers [FOX | 8:22 PM ET]

Phillies (-120, O/U 7.5):.Cole Hamels has been sensational so far this postseason, allowing just two runs over 15 innings, while striking out 17. Hamels has been a road warrior this year, going 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA away from home. Hamels has started two games against the Dodgers in his career, going 1-0 with a strong 2.57 ERA. Both of Hamels' playoff starts have easily gone UNDER the total.

Phillies are 8-1 in their last 9 vs. NL West.
Phillies are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 4 (Side Play of the Day)

Dodgers: Chad Billingsley is looking to bounce back after getting rocked by the Phillies in his last outing. In that game, Billingsley allowed eight hits and seven runs in just 2.1 innings of work. After starting his first two playoff games on the road, Billingsley returns home where he was 10-4 with a stellar 2.95 ERA during the regular season.

Dodgers are 6-1 in their last 7 games following an off day.
Dodgers are 9-2 in their last 11 games following a loss.

Key Injuries - OF Andruw Jones (knee) is OUT.

PROJECTED SCORE: 2

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 07:39 AM

MLB
Write-Up

NLCS - Wednesday, October 15

Phillies can clinch NL title with win here; Billingsley gave up eight runs in 2.1 IP in Game 2 of this series, the second time in his last four starts he allowed 7+ runs-- that was his first start against Philly this season. LA's loss Monday was first win by road team in series between these teams this year. Over is 6-0-1 in last seven Billingsley starts. Hamels is 4-1, 2.36 in his last five starts; he's made three starts against Dodgers in 2008, and allowed two runs in seven IP in all three outings.

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 09:13 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Philadelphia at LA Dodgers
The Phillies look to wrap up the series and build on their 11-8 record this season as a road favorite between -100 and -125. Philadelphia is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Phillies favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-120). Here are all of today's games

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15

Game 917-918: Philadelphia at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 17.046; LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 15.957
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-120); Over

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 09:16 AM

MLB

Wednesday, October 15

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Hot Lines: Wednesday's best MLB bets
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Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (+111, 7.5)

Though the Philadelphia Phillies still can't slow down Manny Ramirez, they did find a way to get to the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen.

That has put Philadelphia in position to wrap up a spot in the World Series on Wednesday with ace Cole Hamels on the mound, looking to bring an abrupt end to the Ramirez-led Dodgers playoff run in Game 5 of the NL championship series.

The Phillies seem to have things set up pretty well to be the NL representative in the World Series. They have a 3-1 lead in the NLCS with their best starting pitcher heading to the hill, and even if Hamels can't get a win, they have two more chances at home to end this series in a ballpark where the Dodgers have yet to win this year.

Brilliant pitching by Dodgers relievers was a big reason the team won the NL West and swept the Cubs in the division series, but that group blew a chance to help even the NLCS on Monday.

Starter Derek Lowe turned a 3-2 lead over to the relief corps in the sixth inning, during which Clayton Kershaw surrendered the tying run, but the Dodgers went ahead 5-3 in the bottom half. That lead lasted until the eighth inning, when set-up man Cory Wade gave up a two-run homer to Shane Victorino and closer Jonathan Broxton surrendered a two-run shot to pinch-hitter Matt Stairs as the Phillies emerged with a 7-5 victory.

"I didn't really see that coming. Our bullpen of late has been tremendous," said Lowe, removed by manager Joe Torre after throwing just 74 pitches. "You're not going to keep an offense like this down."

The Phillies failed to retire Ramirez once Monday as he walked three times, singled and doubled, improving to 11-for-22 in the playoffs.

Ramirez's nine RBIs through Monday tied him for second-most in the postseason behind Victorino, who has set a team playoff record with 11 RBIs as he continues to be the Phillies' spark plug.

Pick: Dodgers

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 09:19 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Updated

Wednesday, October 15

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PHILADELPHIA (98 - 72) at LA DODGERS (88 - 81) - 8:20 PM
COLE HAMELS (L) vs. CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 94-80 (+10.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 29-18 (+8.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 98-72 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 98-72 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 71-48 (+10.0 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 88-81 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 88-81 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-5 (+2.5 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.9 Units)

COLE HAMELS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
HAMELS is 2-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 0.952.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
BILLINGSLEY is 1-2 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 6.64 and a WHIP of 1.968.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.2 units)

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**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 09:25 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Phoenix at Chicago
After being beaten up on the road against the Rangers and Capitals, Chicago returns home in search of its first win of the season. The Blackhawks are the pick (-135) according to Dunkel, which has Chicago favored straight up by 1. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-135). Here are all of today's games.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15

Game 1-2: Buffalo at NY Rangers
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 11.915; NY Rangers 13.021
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-145); Under

Game 3-4: Boston at Montreal
Dunkel Ratings: Boston 11.327; Montreal 13.420
Dunkel Line & Total: Montreal by 2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Montreal (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-175); Under

Game 5-6: Nashville at Dallas
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 12.367; Dallas 11.096
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas (-175); 5
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (+155); Over

Game 7-8: Phoenix at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: Phoenix 10.692; Chicago 11.809
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-135); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-135); Over

Game 9-10: Edmonton at Anaheim
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 12.273; Anaheim 10.504
Dunkel Line & Total: Edmonton by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-160); 5
Dunkel Pick: Edmonton (+140); Over

**Udog** · 10-15-2008, 09:27 AM

NHL
Write-Up

Wednesday, October 15

Hot teams
-- Sabres won their first two games, allowing one goal in both. Rangers are off to their first 5-0 start in 25 years.
-- Canadiens won last two games, scoring eleven goals.
-- Nashville won last two games, allowing total of three goals.
-- Coyotes won their first two games, 3-1/4-2.
-- Oilers won their opener 3-2 over Colorado at home.

Cold teams
-- Bruins split their first two games, both on road, 5-4/3-4.
-- Dallas lost its first two games, 4-5ot/1-3.
-- Chicago is off to 0-3 start; 2-4/2-4/2-3so.
-- Ducks lost their first three games, allowing 14 goals.

Series Records
-- Rangers were 4-0 vs Sabres last year, winning three one-goal games.
-- Bruins are 1-10 in last 11 visits to Montreal; they got eliminated in the first round of playoffs in seven games by Canadiens last spring.
-- Visiting team won four of last five Nashville-Dallas games.
-- Coyotes lost four of last five games against Chicago.
-- Oilers lost three of their last four visits to Anaheim.

Totals
-- Over is 6-3 in last nine Buffalo-Ranger games.
-- Under is 4-2-2 in last eight Boston-Montreal games.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in Nashville's last six visits to Dallas.
-- Under is 4-2 in Coyotes' last six visits to Chicago.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last six Anaheim-Edmonton games.

Announcement

Wednesday Trends and Indexes 10/15 (MLB, NHL, Misc.)

Wednesday Trends and Indexes 10/15 (MLB, NHL, Misc.)

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