Picks For Friday

[wayne1218]

MLB

4* Texas (Darvish) -184 (8:35 PM)

4* Texas (Darvish) (-1.5) +110 (8:35 PM)

Here is my reasoning behind it. Baltimore (no doubt) had a special season (93-69). Against the Rangers this year they are only (2-5) though. They were beaten early in the season and late in the season as well by the Rangers, by a combined score of 56-24 (8 to 3.4 per game).

Both teams have a much better winning percentage vs lefties this season too. The team facing a left handed starter in this game is Texas. Darvish has a better Era pitching at night by .25 and Saunders Era is .95 better pitching during the day. This is a night game.

Finally. Career record pitching @ Texas

Saunders (0-6) 9.38 Era
Darvish (10-2) 3.88 Era

Something tells me Texas will be a little pissed off and very focused for this game after the sweep by the A's. Have to ride the chalk and advantages here!



GOOD LUCK

[wayne1218]

In the early game, I'm gonna put a couple of units on over 6.5. Nothing big but a couple units at -125

[kbsooner21]

Good luck buddy! My gut tells me Rangers, but I hate betting against a hot team almost determined for destiny

[wayne1218]

I agree kb but the orioles did lose 2 of 3 coming in to this game and they clearly have the worst starters of all 10 playoff teams. I don't care what the numbers say cuz it is a new season now and there is not a staff out there that people would give up for baltimores starting 4. The other 9 all have a reliable guy or two and I don't feel that way about anybody with baltimore. Destiny is great but I don't see it with that pitching matched up against others. I think their run ends at some point soon!

[diesel]

Wayne I agree on your assessment I think the Rangers win only concern due to their finish and losing the division they definitely have the pressure squarely on them. It will be interesting to see if they are patient at the plate or start pressing if they fall behind a couple of runs

[ravenmaniac]

Good luck. Nothing would suprise me. On paper the Os don't belong on the same field as Texas and the Darvish/Saunders matchup is a mismatch in favor of Darvish. Texas should win in a cakewalk. However, it has been my experience that more times than not when a team loses a big lead like the Rangers had over Oakland the last 2 weeks of the season they continue to freefall. Hell they blew a 13 game lead since June 30, which is hard to do. Pretty hard to turn it on and off. Besides, Texas chance to win it all was last year. Even if they get by the Os, no way they get back to the World Series. Texas was probably a little pissed off when they went to Oakland and we saw how those games turned out.

[bigjimt]

GL as always boss.

[wayne1218]

Good luck. Nothing would suprise me. On paper the Os don't belong on the same field as Texas and the Darvish/Saunders matchup is a mismatch in favor of Darvish. Texas should win in a cakewalk. However, it has been my experience that more times than not when a team loses a big lead like the Rangers had over Oakland the last 2 weeks of the season they continue to freefall. Hell they blew a 13 game lead since June 30, which is hard to do. Pretty hard to turn it on and off. Besides, Texas chance to win it all was last year. Even if they get by the Os, no way they get back to the World Series. Texas was probably a little pissed off when they went to Oakland and we saw how those games turned out.

I have to disagree. It's baseball where they play every day and don't have 3 days or a week to think about losses. They learn to move on quickly and forget their last at bat. I'm not so sure about Texas having to win last year either. Why? Based on what? They won 93 games this year. They won 96 and went to the WS last year and they won 90 and went 2 years ago. What makes this year so different? I just don't see it. The only difference is the 1 game playoff scenario that IMO does favor Baltimore because they can't beat Texas in a series. One game, maybe. Texas also had a playoff spot clinched before their series in Oakland so i'm not convinced that they were "Pissed" about anything when they went there.

[wayne1218]

If Baltimore got by today, i would be shocked if they won a series. Who is their horse/ace? They will be a dog in just about every game and in the postseason, it's hard to out slug everyone and win with no big time starters.

[ravenmaniac]

If Baltimore got by today, i would be shocked if they won a series. Who is their horse/ace? They will be a dog in just about every game and in the postseason, it's hard to out slug everyone and win with no big time starters.

Don't sell ths Os short if they get past Texas. You know who their ace is, the freaking bullpen. You don't win 93 games using smoke and mirrors. Their bullpen has been lights out all year. Buck would be happy to get 5 good innings out of their starters and go to his bullpen. The Os split with the Yankees this year each winning 9. The Os don't have a big name starter but check out Tillman's and Gonzalez's performance the last 2 months of the season. Other than Sabathia who are the go to guys for the Yankees Nova, Kuroda, Hughes, Phelps.I will take my chances with the no name Oriole starters and one of the two or three best bullpens in the AL along with the best closer.

[wayne1218]

Don't sell ths Os short if they get past Texas. You know who their ace is, the freaking bullpen. You don't win 93 games using smoke and mirrors. Their bullpen has been lights out all year. Buck would be happy to get 5 good innings out of their starters and go to his bullpen. The Os split with the Yankees this year each winning 9. The Os don't have a big name starter but check out Tillman's and Gonzalez's performance the last 2 months of the season. Other than Sabathia who are the go to guys for the Yankees Nova, Kuroda, Hughes, Phelps.I will take my chances with the no name Oriole starters and one of the two or three best bullpens in the AL along with the best closer.

Yeah, I saw Tillman in a must win game for the division the other night and he lost.

As far as the Yanks go, I would take one guy you didn't mention (Pettitte) over any Baltimore starter. The O's went what, (16-2) in extra inning games and (29-9) in one run games? Yes, they have had the glass shoe on this year but this is the postseason now and i would be SHOCKED if it continued with that staff. They are starting a guy tonight in their most important game of the season that they just recently picked up off the scrap heap. That says it all about their starters IMO.

Hey, I was cheering HARD for the O's to beat the Yankees and take the Division. It didn't happen and now it will be a struggle to win a series. IMO

[wayne1218]

That may be the worst fuckin call i have ever seen in baseball in that Braves game. Absolutely HORRIBLE call that will cost Atlanta their season (Probably)!!!

[Sirporkie]

GL Wayne

[ravenmaniac]

That may be the worst fuckin call i have ever seen in baseball in that Braves game. Absolutely HORRIBLE call that will cost Atlanta their season (Probably)!!!

I agree. What kills me is there are 5 other umps. Why the fuck didn't one of those assholes over rule the one who made the call. Also when is baseball gonna wake up and use instant replay

[wayne1218]

As long as that took to restart the game raven, the Commish office should have called and said fix it now!

I feel for the Braves and their fans. After that good a year to have it end like that in one game? Horrible. I think it should be a wildcard 3 game series and start it on thursday if you have to, right after the season ends. Brutal!