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06/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Conventional wisdom suggests it was only a matter of time before the Texas Rangers' offense really got going.
After all, this was an offense that ranked second in the American League in home runs last year, and that was before adding eight-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero in the offseason. Having won five of their last six games entering Tuesday's off day, the Rangers are no doubt starting to live up to the hype.
And make no mistake, it is the offense that has been the catalyst during the team's recent surge, having averaged 8.3 runs in their nine victories this month. On the season, the Rangers' .277 team batting average ranks third in the majors. They rank fifth overall in runs (321), hits (601) and RBI (303).
Third baseman Michael Young is one hit away from tying former catcher Ivan Rodriguez as the club's all-time leading hitter. Young now has 1,746 base knocks, thanks to his current eight-game hitting streak. Over the last four games, Young has gone 9-for-21.
However, Young isn't the only one swinging a red-hot bat at the moment. In fact, Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero and Julio Borbon all currently have hitting streaks of at least 10 games.
Hamilton is 15-for-37 (.405) during his 10-game hit streak, and that includes home runs in four of the last five games. On the season, he is now hitting .309 with 15 homers and 46 RBI.
Guerrero has hit safely in 11 straight games, posting a .348 average (16- for-46) in that time frame. Borbon also has an 11-game hit streak, during which he is hitting .474 (18-for-38) to raise his average from .233 to .285.
In addition, shortstop Elvis Andrus is having a breakout year, as evidenced by the fact that he ranks second among American League shortstops behind the Yankees' Derek Jeter. The second-year player is sporting a .295 batting average to go along with 19 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
A hot June has pushed Hamilton into the All-Star conversation, as the Rangers' left fielder is hitting .412 with six homers and 19 RBI in 13 games this month. According to the most recent polls, he trails teammate Nelson Cruz by 87,000 votes for the third outfield spot on the American League roster. Cruz has been out since late-May with a torn hamstring, which has certainly helped Hamilton in his bid for a third consecutive All-Star start.
He has also been helped by a different approach in pre-game batting practice. Like Mark McGwire of the mid-90s, Hamilton has become known for putting on a show of mammoth home runs in BP. But lately, he has changed his mind set in that regard.
"(Batting practice) is not for a show," Hamilton said. "It's for working on things. Things you do in the cage carry over into batting practice. And then it's trying to work on the same things in batting practice. And then, when the game comes along, just go up there and hit it. Trust yourself."
Of course, that's not the only adjustment that has helped Hamilton. Swing- wise, he has eliminated the toe-tap and is working on keeping his weight on his back leg to generate more power. Lineup-wise, he is hitting .385 since being switched from third to fifth in the lineup, behind cleanup hitter Guerrero.
Thanks in no small part to the middle of the order, Texas (35-28) entered Wednesday with a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for first place in the AL West.
A'S GET OFF TO ROCKY START IN INTERLEAGUE PLAY
Over the weekend, the Oakland Athletics (32-33) were swept in a three-game set by their friends across the bay, the San Francisco Giants. The sweep dropped the A's below .500 for the first time since May 21, and also put them four games behind division-leading Texas.
For the most part, they'll want to put that series behind them. In the three games against San Francisco, the A's committed four errors and stranded 27 baserunners (4-for-32 RISP). Struggling utility player Jake Fox, who was sporting a .214 batting average since being acquired from the Cubs in a five- player deal in December, was designated for assignment following Sunday's 6-2 loss.
Oakland continues its interleague stretch Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, who have endured their own struggles of late. It marks Oakland's first trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field since 2004, the only other time these two teams met in the regular season.
ANGELS' AYBAR DAY-TO-DAY AFTER COLLISION
During the second inning of Monday's 12-2 loss to Milwaukee, Angels shortstop Erick Aybar hyper-extended his left knee after bearing the brunt of a hard slide at second base. Aybar had to be helped off the field by team trainers, however the good news is his injury is listed as day-to-day.
Considering the Angels have already lost first baseman Kendry Morales for the season, an extended absence from their leadoff man and shortstop would have presented quite a hurdle. Thankfully for the Angels, it appears they've dodged a bullet.
"It looked bad when it happened," manager Mike Scioscia told The Orange County Register after the game. "But after the game it was examined. Everything sets up much better right now. He's walking around a little. We're relieved to see him walking around in this clubhouse. Hopefully, it'll be a little strain and he won't be out for too long."
Aybar had been heating up at the plate of late, batting .393 over his previous 14 games. He had a four-game multi-hit streak entering Sunday. Thanks in part to Aybar's hot bat, the Angels (36-31) are 10-4 in the month of June as they trail the Rangers by just one game.
MARINERS CONTINUE TO FREEFALL
Since winning the first three games of June, the Seattle Mariners (24-40) have gone an abysmal 2-9 to fall further out of contention in the AL West. And with each passing road trip, the Mariners dig themselves a deeper hole.
They are now just 9-23 away from home, and their current 10-game trek concludes when they wrap up a three-game set in St. Louis on Wednesday. Seattle entered Tuesday 11 1/2 games back in the division after opening the Cardinals series with a 9-3 setback on Monday night.
The team will get a much needed rest on Thursday, which wraps up a grueling stretch of 20 games in 20 days. Despite the Mariners' ongoing offensive struggles, manager Don Wakamatsu decided to cancel batting practice prior to Monday's series opener with his team arriving in town at midnight on Sunday night.
"We've worked extremely hard and taken a lot of extra batting practice to try to get this offense going," Wakamatsu said. "You start to see where some of these guys, physically, are getting pretty exhausted. We knew there was going to be quite a bit of humidity (in St. Louis), and add the time change and it's very difficult."
On Saturday night, veterans Cliff Lee, Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins called a players-only meeting following the team's 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. That loss was Seattle's fifth straight and eighth in its last nine outings. The meeting seemed to pay immediate dividends with a 4-2 win at San Diego on Sunday. But Monday in St. Louis, it was back to the loss column for the fading Mariners.
<< Chipper Jones to discuss retirement Tuesday
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chipper Jones is meeting with Braves brass
Tuesday and is reportedly considering retirement upon the conclusion of the
2010 season.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Jones is meeting with Braves
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in FCS will commence when the Monarchs open their CAA Football schedule at the
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Supported by 84,490 fans and the
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Since a defeat to Sweden in Euro 2008 qualifying
Indiana State elevates Lansing to head coach >>
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Canucks re-up D Rome with two-year pact >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed
defenseman Aaron Rome to a two-year contract.
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Vikings bring in Moats >>
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings have signed running
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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.
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