Blue Jays getting lucky with a pair of aces

Baseball Betting Lines

08/17/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the Toronto Blue Jays started the year without ace Roy Halladay for the first time in 12 seasons, the mood among fans and prognosticators alike was doom and gloom. However, the Jays' young pitching staff has surprised the league by showing maturity well beyond its years.

Although the team sports a 4.12 ERA, good enough for just 17th in the majors, the number has been bloated by a spotty bullpen that has had trouble finding an identity. If you look at the horses in the starting rotation who have 115 innings pitched or more through the team's first 117 games, the ERA drops to 3.93, a number that ranks among the better staffs in the league.

ERA doesn't tell the whole story though, especially in the American League East where it seems like the Blue Birds must contend with the big bats of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays on a nightly basis. As a team the Jays have racked up 863 strikeouts (7th in MLB), 10 shutouts (10th) and 64 quality starts (16th), while holding opponents to a .250 average (9th in MLB). Pretty impressive numbers when one considers the starting rotation has an average age in the mid-20s.

From a starting pitching standpoint the future looks very bright, but who is the real ace on this team of talented young arms? The answer to that question is definitely a matter of debate.

The year started with Shaun Marcum being placed in the No. 1 role because of some dominant pitching during the 2008 season coupled with a swift and successful return from Tommy John surgery in 2009. Marcum, the grandfather of the staff at only 28, can almost always be counted on to calm the team when he takes the mound. His surgical precision, which is a must when you consider that his fastball tops out at only 88 miles per hour, mixed with a devastating changeup has made him a consistent option at the top of the rotation. But his stuff isn't the best on the team, and he's gotten into some trouble recently when his location has suffered. Simply put, there are younger, fresher arms on the squad that have been making a case for staff No. 1.

Ricky Romero is the owner of one of those arms and his follow-up to a successful rookie season in '09 has been brilliant. The Jays are so confident in the 25-year-old sophomore that they recently signed him to a new contract that will pay him $30.1 million dollars over the next five years in order to retain his services. So far this year, the 6'0", 210-pound lefty has shaved almost a run off his '09 ERA, which now sits at an impressive 3.43. His bread- and-butter looping curve ball has been vexing batters all year, and with a fastball that touches 93 mph to go along with an improved changeup, the 6th overall pick from the 2005 draft is finally reaching his potential.

When crowning an ace, it's not just the numbers but also the workload that must be considered. With three complete games and one shutout to go along with a team-leading 153 innings pitched so far this season, Romero is fulfilling all aspects of the role.

So just as it sounds like the Blue Jays are ready to crown their new ace, a look at the roster reveals another arm with even more raw potential than Romero's. Brandon Morrow has the stuff to make big league managers salivate, and the fact that general manager Alex Anthopoulos acquired the big righty from the Seattle Mariners for fringe reliever Brandon League makes Morrow's breakout season even sweeter. The Mariners selected the 6'3", 195-pounder fifth overall back in 2006 and never gave him a chance to blossom in the starting rotation before shipping him to Toronto, an enormous mistake that has the Blue Jays reaping the rewards.

The 26-year-old can be inconsistent at times, and his 4.45 ERA reveals that he can give up runs when he has trouble finding the plate, but the talent level is staggering. With a heater in the mid-to-upper 90's, a split finger fastball, a hard breaking curveball and a developing changeup, Morrow has the tools to be special. He leads the majors among qualified starters with an insane 10.67 K/9 ratio and when he has command of all four of his pitches, he's nearly unhittable. When everything is working for Morrow, the results are scary, as evidenced by one-hitting the Rays in a masterful 17-strikeout performance that saw him come one out shy of a no-hitter on August 8.

Although his stuff is undeniable, Morrow needs to find more consistency on a start-to-start basis before being mentioned among the top pitchers in the league. His teammate, Romero, may still end up having the best pitching numbers on the team as the year closes out, but as their careers progress, one must give the edge to Morrow because of his incredibly high ceiling.

Who knows, maybe both guys end up becoming prolific starters and the Jays end up with a pair of aces anchoring the rotation for years to come. To be sure, the talent is there to make that happen.

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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