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07/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have handled the St. Louis Cardinals pretty conveniently the past few years. That may change when the struggling Phils pay a visit to Busch Stadium Monday for the first of four consecutive matchups with the NL Central leaders.
Philadelphia, which opened the second half of the season by losing three of four games against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, won three of four matchups with the Cardinals back in early May and has taken 11 of the past 14 games between the two ballclubs.
The two-time defending National League champion Phillies are coming off a tough loss Sunday night in which staff ace Roy Halladay was battered for six runs -- five earned -- and seven hits, including a pair of two-run homers, in six innings of work. Halladay struck out three and did not walk a batter.
"They hit the home run for two runs, then we kind of let the game leave us early," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the team's site. "They had that four-run figure there, then we could never get to the starter."
Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs and Ben Francisco all homered, while Placido Polanco ended with two hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who fell 5 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the top spot in the National League East. Howard owns four home runs and eight RBI in the last four games and will be returning to his hometown for a lengthy set. The slugging first baseman is batting .367 with 14 homers and 44 RBI in 34 career games against the Cards.
Hoping to get some production from Howard and company tonight will be Kyle Kendrick, who is a perfect 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis. The righty beat the Cardinals earlier this season on May 5, as he fired seven shutout innings in a 4-0 triumph. Kendrick is 3-1 with a 3.33 earned run average over his last 10 games overall, eight of which have been starts. He has posted consecutive no-decisions and it started with 6 2/3 frames of one-run ball in a 4-3 home win over Cincinnati.
He then hurled a scoreless inning of relief in a 12-6 road loss against the Chicago Cubs last Thursday. Kendrick is 5-3 in 19 games (17 starts) to go along with a 4.44 ERA and is 3-1 as the visitor this season.
St. Louis will be a tough customer after it just took back the top spot in the National League Central standings with a four-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. In Sunday's 5-4 win in the series finale, Allen Craig and Matt Holliday both had RBI singles with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the way.
"That was great," Holliday said. "Allen Craig came up with two huge hits."
Craig finished with two hits and three RBI and Randy Winn contributed a pair of hits and knocked in a run for the Cardinals, who have won five straight and sit a half-game ahead the surprising Cincinnati Reds in the division standings. Jeff Suppan started the game and tossed six innings of one-run ball in the no-decision. Closer Ryan Franklin picked up the win by throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
Blake Hawksworth gets the nod tonight for his sixth career start and is 3-5 with a 4.72 earned run average in 26 games (5 starts) this season. Hawksworth has won three of his last five decisions and defeated Houston the previous time out on July 11 in the Lone Star State.
The right-hander held the Astros to a pair of runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 frames. He hasn't fared too well at home this season as evidenced by his 1-3 mark and 4.50 ERA in 12 games (1 start) at Busch Stadium. Hawksworth is 0-1 in two relief appearances against Philadelphia this season and owns the same record with a 7.71 ERA in three career relief stints in this series.
Hawksworth will try to put an end to Philadelphia's four-game winning streak in the Gateway City.
<< Oosthuizen soars to 15th in world rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Louis Oosthuizen parlayed his first major
championship victory into a huge jump in the world rankings.
Oosthuizen cruised to a seven-stroke win at the British Open this past weekend
and jumped 39 places f
<< Nats try to get bats going against Reds' Cueto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Struggles on offense cost the Washington Nationals the
chance to open the second half with a three-game sweep. Chances at the plate
could be hard to come by again tonight against the Cincinnati Reds' Johnny
Cueto.
<< Indians hope to continue to play spoiler in Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians may have little hope of finishing
in first place in the American League Central, but they've done a fine job of
hurting the postseason chances of some of the division's top teams as of late.
Riding
<< Red Sox limp into Oakland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Boston Red Sox continue to lose ground in the
American League playoff chase, the Oakland Athletics are doing their best to
stay in the hunt.
The resurgent Athletics try to extend their season-best winning streak
Dodgers head home to face Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After getting swept in four games at St. Louis over the
weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at home and will try to regroup in
tonight's opener of a three-game set versus the NL West-rival San Francisco
Giants at Chavez
Mets' Pelfrey seeks turnaround against Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After winning 10 of his first 15 starts of the season, New
York Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey has fallen on hard times. Pelfrey will try
to bounce back when he takes the mound Monday in the opener of a three-game
series agai
Pirates, Brewers renew rivalry in Steel City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off perhaps their most
complete victory of the season. They'll need that momentum given their
struggles versus the Milwaukee Brewers this season.
The Pirates will try to snap a
Mitchell and Krystkowiak join Avery Johnson in Jersey >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former NBA head coaches Sam Mitchell
and Larry Krystkowiak have been named assistants for Avery Johnson with the
New Jersey Nets.
John Loyer, Popeye Jones and Tom Barrise were also named to Johnso
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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