Announcement

**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:13 AM

MLB
Dunkel Index

NY Yankees at Philadelphia
The Yankees look to build on their 8-1 record in Andy Pettitte's last 9 starts as a favorite. New York is the pick (-115) according to Dunkel, which has the Yankees favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-115). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

Game 955-956: NY Yankees at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Pettitte) 17.790; Philadelphia (Hamels) 16.652
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-115); Over

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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:13 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

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Saturday, October 31
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NY YANKEES (111 - 62) at PHILADELPHIA (101 - 72) - 7:55 PM
ANDY PETTITTE (L) vs. COLE HAMELS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 101-72 (+6.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 98-69 (+5.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 32-16 (+12.5 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 19-6 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 51-38 (+6.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 64-39 (+16.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 111-62 (+16.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 56-27 (+16.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
NY YANKEES are 75-38 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY YANKEES are 62-35 (+13.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY YANKEES are 39-19 (+13.2 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 52-44 (-19.0 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 24-29 (-13.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Saturday over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 1-8 (-10.2 Units) against the money line in home games in an inter-league game this season.
HAMELS is 6-11 (-11.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 3-2 (+2.7 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
5 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+5.0 Units)

ANDY PETTITTE vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
PETTITTE is 2-2 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 3.67 and a WHIP of 1.368.
His team's record is 5-2 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-3. (-0.4 units)

COLE HAMELS vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
HAMELS is 0-1 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 2.77 and a WHIP of 1.308.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.3 units)

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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:14 AM

MLB
Short Sheet

Saturday, October 31st

World Series
Best of Seven
Game Three
Series Tied, 1-1
TV: FOX
NY Yankees at Philadelphia, 7:55 ET
Andy Pettitte (L) vs. Cole Hamels (L)

Pettitte:
18-3 Under as road favorite
NYY 44-18 after allowing 1 run or less

Hamels:
6-11 TSR off team loss
PHI 1-8 at home vs. American League

TSR = Team Start Record
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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:15 AM

MLB
Write-up

Saturday, October 31

Total of only 11 runs scored in first two World Series games. Pettitte is 2-0, 2.37 in three playoff starts; he gave up four runs in seven IP vs the Phillies back on May 23, a game Bronx won later on 5-4. He has career playoff mark of 16-8, 3.93 in 38 postseason starts. Hamels is 1-1, 6.75 in three starts this month; he has 5-2, 3.36 record in nine career playoff starts. He allowed two runs in six IP at Bronx back in May, in game the Phillies won in extra innings.

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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:16 AM

MLB

Saturday, October 31

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Trend Report
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7:57 PM
NY YANKEES vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 03:16 AM

MLB

Saturday, October 31

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Hot lines: Today’s best MLB bets
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Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees (+107, 9)

Pitching matchup

Andy Pettitte (New York Yankees) vs. Cole Hamels (Philadelphia Phillies)

Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16 ERA)

Pettitte is the all-time winningest postseason pitcher, moving past John Smoltz with his victory in the ALCS clincher. This postseason he is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA, striking out 15 against just three walks.

During the season, the left-hander had a much better ERA on the road (3.71) than at home (4.59) and at night (3.54) rather than during the day (5.73). But left-handers hit .282 off him, and Philadelphia's lineup boasts lefties Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.

With runners in scoring position, Pettitte held hitters to a .236 average in 161 at-bats, allowing three homers. He did not pitch a complete game all season, so Joe Girardi will have to build a bridge of some length to closer Mariano Rivera. He is a career .134 hitter with one homer and 60 strikeouts in 186 at-bats.

Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32 ERA)

Hamels was the World Series MVP a year ago. You could make the argument that he hasn't pitched well since.

During the season, Hamels never won three straight starts and twice went more than a month without a win. In the postseason, he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts, allowing 20 hits - including six homers - in just 14 2-3 innings.

The left-hander made one start vs. the Yankees this year, allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings of a no-decision. Current Yankees are hitting .283 (17-for-60) with three homers vs. Hamels, who has trouble with Mark Teixeira (5-for-17, two homers) and Derek Jeter (4-for-7).

Hamels was much better at home (3.76) than on the road (4.99) and at night (3.95) than during daytime (5.44). Batters hit .290 with five homers in 169 at-bats with runners in scoring position vs. Hamels.

Hitting

Both Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and New York's Alex Rodriguez have similar cases of World Series stagefright. Howard is 2-for-9 with six strikeouts and Rodriguez is 0-for-8 with six strikeouts. Howard has less of an excuse as he was here last year, while this is Rodriguez's first Fall Classic. A-Rod has a better chance of breaking out facing a left-hander.

Neither team is tearing the cover off the ball - combined, they are hitting below .230 - but the Phillies have the advantage for the next three games as the Yankees will have to play without DH Hideki Matsui, who is 3-for-6 with a homer but a liability in the outfield. They already have benched slumping Nick Swisher for Jerry Hairston Jr., who went 1-for-3 in Game 2.

Weather

There is a 30 percent chance of rain, but temperatures will climb into the 70s during the day and it should still be relatively warm for the first pitch. A breeze of 15 mph will be blowing out to left field, which already is considerably short in Citizens Bank Park.

Pick: Philadelphia +107

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**pm530** · 10-31-2009, 04:35 AM

MLB

Saturday, October 31

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MLB Notes: World Series sluggers look to break out in Philly
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Sooner or later, some of these big bats are bound to break loose.

Alex Rodriguez is 0 for 8 with six strikeouts in his first World Series. Mark Teixeira's only hit in seven at-bats is a solo homer. Ryan Howard is hitting .222, also with six strikeouts.

Maybe a change in venue will get them all going.

"I feel pretty good. I mean, it's only been eight at-bats, but I felt like I've had a lot of good swings,'' Rodriguez said Friday. "I fouled a couple of pitches off that I should have put in play.''

Without any offense from A-Rod, the New York Yankees totaled four runs in the first two games and still eked out a split at home. Now, the Series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday night, with Cole Hamels set to start for the Phillies against fellow lefty Andy Pettitte.

"We're back in our own ballpark. It's going to be hostile. It's going to be loud,'' Shane Victorino said.

Nothing new, according to the Yankees.

"Because of the team we are, we get booed and yelled at everywhere we go,'' Johnny Damon explained. "Even coming off the train.''

Citizens Bank Park is approximately 108 miles from Yankee Stadium, with a string of New Jersey Turnpike tolls in between. Both teams zipped down on the train in a little more than an hour - the Phillies after their 3-1 loss Thursday night, the Yankees on Friday afternoon.

Three wins from a second consecutive championship, Howard and the Phillies could wrap it up at home. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and crew can't wait to play before their fervent fans in the second-ever World Series game on Halloween.

"It's going to be a great environment,'' Raul Ibanez said. "It's nice to have 47,000 screaming people cheering for you.''

During batting practice Friday, with line drives and long balls ricocheting around Philadelphia's cozy park, it was hard to fathom how Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett dominated on the mound the previous two nights.

"I can't say enough about our advanced scouting and our reports. They're right on,'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Especially when it comes to Rodriguez, apparently.

The three-time MVP was an October bust for years before a monster performance during the AL playoffs. He looked way off balance in the Bronx this week, but teammate Derek Jeter insisted he's not worried.

"No, the guy's been killing the ball for three weeks,'' Jeter said. "It's kind of hard to sit here and overanalyze things. If pitchers make their pitches, they're going to get you out.''

Damon said the rest of the Yankees need to pick up the slack for Rodriguez. But with offense at a premium, they'll be missing a dangerous bat during the next three games.

Because World Series rules do not allow a designated hitter in the National League park, New York must decide whether to put Hideki Matsui in the outfield or on the bench.

"As productive as he's been for us this year, you don't want to lose his bat,'' manager Joe Girardi said.

Matsui hit a go-ahead homer off Pedro Martinez in Game 2 and it might seem tempting to start him in right field over slumping Nick Swisher. Slowed by knee surgeries, however, Matsui hasn't played the outfield since June 15, 2008, at Houston. He appeared in right field only three times that year, all in April.

Matsui was stationed in right during batting practice and jogged after a few fungos, but it was hardly an intense workout.

"I don't see any major issues,'' he said through a translator. "At this point, the way I feel, I think it should be fine. I mean, again, you really have to try and then see how it feels.''

Speaking before his team took the field, Girardi didn't disclose his plans.

"I'm going to look at some things today, watch a little bit, see how he moves around and see if we think that it's physically possible for him to do it,'' he said. "If we can't do it, we'll use him in a role to pinch hit when we feel that he can be most valuable to us.''

Manuel, who acknowledged that several Phillies are fighting flu symptoms, did announce a decision. He picked Joe Blanton to start Game 4 rather than Lee on short rest or rookie J.A. Happ, who will stay in the bullpen.

First, the Phillies turn to Hamels, last year's World Series MVP against Tampa Bay.

A sure thing last October, the 25-year-old has struggled this season. He went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three NL playoff starts.

"It's been a growing process,'' Hamels said. "I still have an opportunity to help this team out and win some big games.''

Saturday will be a big one, indeed. Nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-all went on to take the title.

Hamels said that when he was growing up he emulated Pettitte, who set a major league record with his 16th postseason win by beating the Los Angeles Angels to clinch the AL championship series.

The 37-year-old Pettitte is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA this postseason and 3-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 World Series starts.

"He doesn't seem fazed by anything,'' Jeter said. "He's pitched in every kind of big game you can think of.''

Eight years ago, the Yankees had some World Series luck on Halloween when Jeter's 10th-inning homer capped a Game 4 comeback against Arizona.

That seesaw classic went back and forth for seven games. Does this Series feel destined to go the distance?

"It wouldn't surprise me,'' Jeter said.

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**Udog** · 10-31-2009, 10:59 AM

MLB

Game 3

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Tips and Trends
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New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies [FOX | 7:57 PM ET]

Yankees (-$1.18, O/U 9): Scoring just four runs, the Yankees are lucky to be tied 1-1 going into tonight’s Game 3. Alex Rodriguez is 0-for-8 in the World Series with six strikeouts. Despite this, New York is favored with Andy Pettitte taking the mound. The 37-year-old Pettitte is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three postseason outings with 15 strikeouts and just three walks. Pettitte has held Ryan Howard and Chase Utley to a combined two-for-16 lifetime against him. The left-hander is 2-2 career-wise versus Philadelphia with a 3.67 ERA in seven regular-season starts. Pettitte last pitched at Citizens Bank Park in 2006. In 11 career World Series starts, Pettitte is 3-4 with a 3.82 ERA. New York is 10-4 in Pettitte’s last 14 starts. Manager Joe Girardi must decide whether to sit or play Hideki Matsui in the outfield because there is no DH in a National League park for the World Series.

The Yankees are 37-15 in their last 52 games versus a left-handed starter.
New York has lost 8 of its last 10 playoff road contests.

Key injuries - None.

PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (Side of the Day)

Phillies: Philadelphia has won 11 of its last 12 playoff home games. Phillies starter Cole Hamels won last year’s World Series MVP honors against Tampa Bay, but is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three National League playoff starts this season. The southpaw has yielded 20 hits, 11 runs and been tagged for six homers in 14 1/3 innings. Playoff opponents are batting .328 against him. “I look at Hamels and I still feel he’s got the game in him,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. Hamels is 0-1 lifetime versus the Yankees with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts. Ryan Howard is batting just .222 with six strikeouts in the World Series. Nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-1 went on to capture the championship. The Phillies are 20-7 in their last 27 home contests when facing a left-handed starter.

The Over is 18-6-2 in the Phillies’ last 26 games.
The Phillies are 17-7 in their last 24 games as a home underdog.

Key Injuries - None.

PROJECTED SCORE: 4

Total of the Day is in college football today.

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Announcement

MLB Trends and Indexes - World Series Game #3

MLB Trends and Indexes - World Series Game #3

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