Monday 4/6/09 service plays chatter /comps/ requests & gm strategy...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Nick Parsons

Oakland A's @ LA Angels
Play: Angels -150

The Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels invariably have found each other over the past five seasons, crammed as they are into the game's only four-team division, separated merely by a long, dreary stretch of Interstate 5 and the NoCal-SoCal carryings-on of their fan bases. The franchises have finished one-two in the American League West in each of the past three seasons and in four of the past five. Since 2002, one World Series title (the Angels in '02) is the difference in a series that in that time is tied at 49 wins apiece; that being said, I look for the Angels to come out firing on all cylinders today. The Angels are a great 104-61 over the last 3 seasons at home; play on LA!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

John Fisher

Michigan State vs. North Carolina
Play: North Carolina -7.5

I really thought Vegas would have Carolina at DD's. MSU got blasted by them early this season by 30+ pts. Carolina has 5 NBA players in starting lineup. MSU has one possible NBA players and a lot of decent College players. I will hedge my bet on the NBA players that are FOCUSED. This UNC team will absolutely BLOWOUT the SPARTANS. The only thing that will keep MSU in game is home cooking. Look for Green and Thompson to score 20+ pts on offensive rebounds. Michigan State has flaws on offense Carolina cant be stopped. Ty Lawson will pose a problem for the Spartan defensive player of the year Morgan. I see this being a game until like the 15 minute mark of the second half. Carolina will be leading by DD's the rest of the way and will coast to VICTORY. Simply too much talent. Hansborough will show the critics why hes special. If you dont look like a gangster with tatoos and jump 4 feet in the air you become the stereo-typical white man cant jump phenom. Sad but true. There will be room for him to chip in 10 pts and 10 rebounds a game at the NBA level. UNC 83 MSU 67 10 STAR TARHEELS

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Stephen Nover

Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals
PICK: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates probably are headed for a 17th straight losing season. Like the Cardinals, they are going with a lot of young players. Some of these players even have talent.

The difference between the Pirates and Cardinals is starting pitching. The Cardinals have more quality starting pitchers.

In this one game matchup, though, the difference between the two clubs and starting pitchers is much shorter than the line. The oddsmaker is finding his way the first couple of weeks. Proof of that is in lines like this one.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright is good. Good as in solid, rather than good as in great.

But Pirates starter southpaw Paul Maholm also is good. Maholm had a breakout season last year in becoming the team's ace. His strong performance carried over to the Grapefruit League where he looked exceptionally sharp.

Maholm was 2-1 versus St. Louis last season with a 3.05 ERA. Maholm pitched through the sixth inning in 20 consecutive starts. The Pirates were 50-2 last season when leading after seven innings.

Tony LaRussa already is tinkering with his lineup. He's going to sit down second baseman Skip Schumaker and third baseman David Freese against the lefty Maholm.

They will be replaced by Brendan Ryan and Brian Barden, a third-string third baseman with Troy Glaus out.

At this price, with Maholm going, the Pirates are worth a one-unit play.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jimmy The Moose

Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Over

The over is 14-7 in Ottawa's last 22 games overall. In their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning record the over is 10-4. The over is 13-6 in their last 19 vs. Eastern Conference opponents. In their last 8 games played vs. a divisional opponent the over is 6-2. The over is 6-2-1 in Montreal's last 9 games overall. In their last 30 vs. an Eastern Conference opponent the over is 19-7-4. The over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 divisional games. The over is 5-2 in Ottawa's last 7 trips to Montreal. The last 3 meetings have played over the total. Play the over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Marc Lawrence

Play On: Houston w/Oswalt

The Astros and Cubs meet in Houston in this season opener when Houston sends Roy Oswalt to the hill against Chicago. Despite getting shelled in the World Baseball Classic semifinal game, Oswalt actually had a strong spring camp where he issued only 1 walk against 13 strikeouts. With Oswalt 35-14 with a 2.75 ERA in his home team starts the last three seasons, and also sporting a 1.23 ERA at home against the Cubs over the same span, look for him to make amends for the WBC disaster with a strong effort here tonight.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

JIM FEIST

SEATTLE MARINERS at MINNESOTA TWINS
Take: SEATTLE MARINERS

We don't know what to expect from Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano. He had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2007 season. He's not yet all the way back to his pre-surgery dominance, which is no surprise. He was 6-4 with a 3.91 ERA last season. Seattle ace Felix Hernandez has overpowering stuff and threw well in the World Baseball classic, as well as spring training. There are no concerns with his health, and he's an ace who is an underdog opening day. Play the Mariners.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Charlie Scott

Michigan State vs. North Carolina
Play: Under 152.5

There is no way in Hell, that Michigan St and Tom Izzo will try and run with North Carolina. Izzo is too good a Coach and the Spartans are too good of a defensive team. Have to give Roy Williams and the Tar Heels credit, in that they are actually playing defense this Tournament. Also factoring in the Under play, is that this is both teams players biggest games of their lives, being played in a huge arena not built for Basketball, but Football. North Carolina shot the lights out vs Villanova Saturday and I don't expect that tonight, considering only having one day of rest between games. Playing with only one day off, so far in this Years tournament North Carolina is 2-0 Under (playing Sunday after Friday wins.)In Big Games, Aways think Defense First. PLAY UNDER

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

VEGAS EXPERTS

Michigan State at North Carolina

This is an interesting number because it's high for a typical Michigan State game while at the same time significantly lower than most totals we see posted for North Carolina. The Tar Heels have actually gone Under in four of five tournament games thus far, only cashing an Over ticket when they dropped 98 points on Gonzaga. They won't get 98 on MSU, that's for sure. UNC is 6-0 Under this season when playing its 2nd game in 3 days. MSU is 18-7 Under as an underdog.

Play on: Under

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Al McMordie

Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals

At 4:15 pm, our member selection is on the St Louis Cardinals over Pittsburgh. Paul Maholm will get the start for the Buccos today, but he only won two of his nine road decisions in 2008. And Maholm's mound opponent, Adam Wainwright, is 34-18 in his last 54 decisions. Last season, Pittsburgh won just 28 of its 81 road games, and Wainwright was 7-1 at home with a 2.63 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Take St. Louis. Good luck - Al McMordie

Play on: St. Louis

 

[joe361]

"GamblersWorld
Tip of the Day - April 6, 2009

Today's TIP OF THE DAY:
Sport: NCAA Basketball

Game: 9:15PM Title Game: Michigan State Spartans vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Prediction: North Carolina Tar Heels

Current Line: -6.5"


Where the hell are these jokers getting 6.5?:think2:

 

[up1]

any richenbach plays thanks

 

[cugolfer10]

anyone have Anthony Redds pick for the championship?

 

[mjm11309]

everybody seems to love the Muts today huh?

 

[fraser411]

Total Sports Solutions
Regular Play Cleveland Indians

Joe,

Did you pay Ted Orr for his picks or get them from somewhere else?

 

[JoeThePlumber]

It's 100% Confirmed.Thanks
Got it for a month so far.

 

[jordan17]

 

[SteveMcQueen]

Any Black Magic MLB out there?

 

[Peaches08]

Anybody going with Robert Ferringo for MLB this year? He went 2-0 yesterday to start.

 

[DayTraderNation]

70% top plays (1) Texas and (2) St Louis Under

Joe, is the 70% and bo's any good? You follow them before?

 

[brewerfan003]

any erin rynning baseball plays?