 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Fielder waiting on the RangersBaseball Betting Lines01/18/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's starting to become clear that Prince Fielder wants no part of playing for the Washington Nationals. If he had he would have been introduced at Nationals Park weeks ago. The Texas Rangers are his first choice. So much so that he is willing to wait for them, while they try to get Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish to put pen to paper. Either way it should all come to a head this week, as Darvish has a Wednesday deadline to come to an agreement with the Rangers. Texas, of course, posted a record $51.7 million for him and most expect a deal to be ironed out by the 5 p.m. (ET) deadline. So then the question becomes can the Rangers fit both players? In a word. Absolutely. Let's not forget Texas is now among the big boys in Major League Baseball. They might not be the superpowers that are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, but back-to-back American League pennants and more importantly, a 20-year, $1.6-billion television contract with Fox Sports that was agreed to in 2010 puts them awfully close. If anything they need to keep pace with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who in case you haven't heard added Albert Pujols and the Rangers' best pitcher from a year ago, C.J. Wilson, this winter. Surprisingly, the market hasn't really come together for a 27-year-old slugger, who hit 38 home runs and drove in 120 runs for the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers this past season. Washington has really been the only other team linked to Fielder. You'd figure he'd take his time here, but we are less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting. In fact, no nine-figure deal has ever been agreed to after December. I think he wants Texas and is just waiting to see how this Darvish thing pans out. Fielder must have some sort of assurance from the Rangers that he is still heavily in their plans for him to wait this out. Seattle may have been an option, but with its deal for Jesus Montero over the weekend that probably puts them out of the running. The same goes for the Chicago Cubs, who acquired San Diego first baseman Anthony Rizzo last week. A new team, though, may have entered the fray for Fielder's services on Tuesday when it was learned that Detroit Tigers' designated hitter Victor Martinez would be lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Tigers, though, appear more likely to go the Johnny Damon, Carlos Pena route rather than Fielder. The same can be said about the New York Yankees, who dealt their DH over the weekend to Seattle. I've thought all along that Fielder to Texas was basically a fait accompli. Do they need him? Of course not. This is a lineup that last year finished first in batting average (.283), second in homers (210) and third in runs scored (855). But you can always use a bat like Fielder's especially when your starting rotation is somewhat of a question mark without Wilson. Imagine the big man in the middle of a lineup that already includes Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young and Mike Napoli. Speaking of Hamilton. He could be the causality in all of this. He signed a two-year extension last year and is eligible to become a free agent at season's end. Maybe the Rangers are willing to bite the bullet on some added payroll this year, knowing they have no intention of paying the oft-injured Hamilton next year. We've been reminded all too often baseball is a business. You tell me who you'd rather deal out a $100 million deal to, Prince or Hamilton? When healthy Hamilton is probably the better hitter, but he is always nicked up. Plus who knows what the years of drug abuse did to his body. Say what you want about Fielder, but he is never hurt. Last year he was the only player in the majors to play in all 162 games and despite his bulky presence, he has averaged 160 games in his six full seasons in the league. There are ways to make this work. Fielder and his agent Scott Boras know this. Darvish is the one with the deadline. Once that's settled Fielder will go shortly thereafter and I fully expect him to land in Arlington. If not then watch his presser in D.C. next week and don't believe a word he says when he says the Nationals were his first choice all along.
<< Aztecs and Lobos mix it up in MWC action
Albuquerque, NM (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs continue a treacherous stretch of conference action, as they invade Albuquerque this evening for a Mountain West Conference showdown with the New Mexico Lobos. The Az
<< Bragging rights on line in SEC clash between Bulldogs and Rebels
<< Cincinnati comes calling on No. 13 UConn
<< Union declines options on four players
<< Keel signs new deal with Red Bulls
Elon to open at UNC, play six at home >>
Elon, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Elon University football team will kick its 2012 season with a first-ever meeting against North Carolina and play six home games as part of an 11-game schedule announced Wednesday. Elon's first three games wil
Few changes in latest edition of FIFA Rankings >>
Schwarzer signs Fulham extension >>
Milan signs Mesbah from Lecce >>
Sculli returns to Genoa >>
Football BettingNFL Football Betting OnlineThe San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago. Thursday, August 21 NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37 NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007 In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points. Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season): * SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp. Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled. Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too. That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm. Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds. CHICAGO -3 (-120) ** The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond! Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
Football BettingNFL Football Betting OnlineThe San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago. Thursday, August 21 NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37 NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007 In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points. Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season): * SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp. Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled. Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too. That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm. Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds. CHICAGO -3 (-120) ** The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond! Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds . |
|
