Scorching Yanks seek eight straight win in test with Jays
Baseball Betting Lines
09/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The New York Yankees have solved just about all their problems during a seven-game winning streak that matches the team's longest of the season. The defending world champions will now turn their attention towards getting Javier Vazquez to become an effective starting pitcher once again when they take the field against the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon.
Vazquez was temporarily removed from New York's rotation after a poor recent stretch in which the veteran hurler went 0-2 with an 8.10 earned run average over four starts. He lasted only three innings in the last of those outings and was rocked for four runs and eight hits -- three of which were homers -- in an August 21 no-decision against light-hitting Seattle.
The offseason acquisition has performed considerably better in a pair of long relief appearances that followed that game. Vazquez delivered 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in an August 25 matchup against the Blue Jays, then held Oakland to a run and just two hits over 4 2/3 frames to pick up a win this past Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Vazquez was also sharp in his only start against Toronto this season, which took place at the Rogers Centre on June 6. He gave up only a single hit -- a two-run homer to Vernon Wells -- and struck out a season-best nine batters in seven innings to help the Yanks to a 4-3 decision.
In 16 career games (15 starts) versus Toronto, Vazquez is 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA.
The 34-year-old probably won't have to worry about a lack of run support when he toes the rubber today. The Yankees have averaged 7.1 runs per contest over the course of their seven-game surge, which has vaulted the Bronx Bombers 1 1/2 games ahead of rival Tampa Bay for first place in the American League East as well as the best record in baseball.
New York kept up its winning ways with a 7-3 triumph in Friday's opener of this three-game series, with Curtis Granderson going 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead an 11-hit attack.
Ramiro Pena finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single and leadoff hitter Brett Gardner scored three times for the Yankees, who built a 5-1 lead after three innings and sent Toronto starter Brandon Morrow to an early exit in his final assignment of the year.
"The last week or so we've been hitting the ball pretty well and scoring some runs," Gardner stated afterward."
Morrow (10-7), slated to be shut down for the remainder of the season due to an innings limit, surrendered all five early runs on six hits and walked three batters in a shaky three-inning stint.
"It's obviously disappointing to not pitch the way I wanted to pitch in the last [start] of the season," Morrow said. "I've got a lot to build for next year and I'm going to take a lot of confidence into [spring training]."
Yankees rookie Ivan Nova also couldn't come through with a win after failing to last the required five innings, with Kerry Wood (3-4) getting credit for the decision after throwing 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Nova, making his third career start in the majors, permitted three runs on six hits over the first 4 2/3 innings.
Toronto's Travis Snider collected two hits, including a solo homer in the first inning, but that wasn't enough to prevent the Jays from a fourth loss in five games.
The Yankees, on the other hand, will be trying to win eight in a row for the first time since July 17-24, 2009. Standing in their way this afternoon will be Marc Rzepczynski, although the second-year big leaguer didn't pose much of a threat to the AL East leaders a few weeks back.
New York pounded Rzepczynski for six runs in three innings en route to an 11-5 verdict at the Rogers Centre on August 24, with Mark Teixeira, Marcus Thames and Jorge Posada all homering off the left-hander that night. He also served up three homers in a brief start at Yankee Stadium during August of last season, while allowing four runs overall on seven hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work.
Rzepczynski did strike out eight in just 5 2/3 innings in his most recent appearance, which took place Sunday against Detroit, but was also reached for four runs (three earned) in a loss that dropped him to 1-3 in six starts this season.
The 25-year-old is 0-2 with a brutal 10.22 ERA in three lifetime encounters with the Yankees and 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA over four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas last month.
Toronto has won seven of 13 meetings with New York so far this season, with the Yankees having taken four of seven bouts between the two divisional foes at home.
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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
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