Indians send Lee to hill vs. White Sox
Baseball Betting Lines
06/30/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Cliff Lee goes for two straight wins over Chicago and three straight overall when his Cleveland Indians host the White Sox tonight in the middle game of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
The American League's 2008 Cy Young Award winner, Lee was 1-5 this season before downing the White Sox, 4-0, on May 13, tossing seven innings of scoreless ball with six hits and nine strikeouts.
He dropped a 3-1 decision to the New York Yankees on May 29, but has won two straight since and has allowed three earned runs or less in 13 of his 16 starts overall, trimming his earned run average to 2.92 over 111 innings.
The 30-year-old is 6-5 in 20 career appearances against the White Sox -- 18 starts -- and has posted a 5.21 ERA in 107 innings.
He is 2-4 in eight starts in Cleveland this season, and sports a 2.21 ERA over 57 innings.
For Chicago, second-year lefty Clayton Richard faces the Indians for the second time this season.
The 25-year-old, who reached the majors and pitched in 13 games with the White Sox last season, has split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation in 2009, making nine starts in 21 outings.
He went 3 1/3 innings as a starter against the Indians on May 12, getting a no-decision in a 7-4 Chicago win after allowing six hits and four runs.
Lifetime against the Tribe, he is 0-1 in three games -- two starts -- and has surrendered 16 hits and eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.
In his last start on June 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Richard was touched for six hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings, getting another no- decision in Chicago's 6-5 win.
The White Sox are 8-13 in games he's pitched.
On Monday, Gavin Floyd pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, leading the White Sox to a 6-3 victory.
Floyd (6-5) was spectacular in allowing only five hits with two walks and five strikeouts, lowering his earned run average to 4.12 after it had been 7.71 on May 17.
Since that date, Floyd is 4-1 with a 1.37 ERA and eight consecutive quality starts. He has now yielded one earned run or less in five straight outings.
Gordon Beckham recorded a career-high three hits with two runs batted in for Chicago, which has won seven of nine to move to .500 (38-38) for the first time since June 1. Chris Getz doubled twice, scored twice and drove in a run in the victory.
Shin-Soo Choo clubbed a solo homer, while Ryan Garko hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who have lost 11 of 13 overall.
Carl Pavano (6-7) was a tough-luck loser, allowing only two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.
Cleveland has won four of its seven matchups with the White Sox this season.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs will try to get back to the .500 mark this evening, when they resume a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Chicago ended a two-game losing streak with Monday's 3-1 win over the Pi
<< Boston's Smoltz tries again for win at Baltimore
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Smoltz will be attempting to atone for a shaky debut
in a Boston Red Sox uniform when the star pitcher takes the mound for
tonight's clash with the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards.
Smoltz's first major
<< Safina, Venus will clash in Wimbledon semis
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-ranked Dinara Safina and five-time
champion and former world No. 1 Venus Williams were a pair of quarterfinal
winners Tuesday at Wimbledon. The two stars will meet in a marquee semifinal
here on Thursda
<< Tigers hope to regroup in Oakland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The Detroit Tigers hope to jump-start their slumping
offense when the current American League Central leaders play the second test
of a three-game series with the host Oakland Athletics this evening.
Detroit had
<< LA's Billingsley takes on Colorado's Marquis at Chavez Ravine
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of pitchers vying to become the National League's
first 10-game winner of the season will go head-to-head when the Los Angeles
Dodgers and Colorado Rockies continue a three-game series this evening at
Dodger
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hard-throwing right-hander Joba Chamberlain tries again for win No. 1 on his new home field tonight, when the New York Yankees host the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Chamberlai
Rays put win streak on the line in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays bested one of the best pitchers in the
majors last night and will try to duplicate that success Tuesday, when they
resume a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
The Rays knoc
Reds return home to face slumping D-Backs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Dan Haren looks for a measure of midseason
revenge tonight, when his Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Cincinnati for the
opener of a three-game series with the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Haren, a 16-game
Rookies square off in Marlins-Nationals tilt >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of rookies face their respective opponents - and
each other - for the first time tonight, when the Washington Nationals visit
the Florida Marlins for the middle test of a three-game series at Land Shark
Stadium.
Th
Phils head to Atlanta for NL East clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies will close out the last portion
of their current road trip with the first of three straight games against the
NL East-rival Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Philadelphia is 2 1/2 games ahead of the
Football Betting Lines
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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