Escobar's blast in 10th lifts Braves over Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

06/02/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yunel Escobar drilled a game-winning two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Atlanta Braves a wild 7-5 win over the Florida Marlins, in the opener of a four-game set.

Escobar had three hits, three runs batted in and scored twice while Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teixeira each added a home run to the winning effort. Will Ohman (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the win, snapping Atlanta's three-game losing streak.

Dan Uggla doubled twice and scored twice for Florida which dropped its second straight and fifth of its last six overall.

Logan Kensing (3-1) took the hill for the 10th and issued a leadoff walk to Kelly Johnson before Escobar cranked the opposite-field game-winner off the top of the wall in right-center.

Kevin Gregg came on to close the game for Florida in the ninth and issued consecutive one-out walks to Francoeur and Brian McCann. Jair Jurrjens came on to run for McCann and pinch-hitter Josh Anderson moved the tying run to third on a force out. Gregg uncorked a wild pitch with Gregor Blanco in the batter's box, allowing Francoeur to score. Blanco chopped a grounder right back to Gregg, sending the game into extra innings.

Scott Olsen tossed six innings of three-run ball, on four hits and two walks, while striking out four for Florida. Jo-Jo Reyes matched Olsen's effort tossing six-plus innings of three-run ball, on five hits and one walk. The left-hander struck out four for Atlanta.

John Smoltz came on to pitch the ninth for Atlanta, his first action since April 27, and first bullpen appearance since 2004. Matt Treanor doubled to center with one out and Alfredo Amezaga came on to pinch-run. Pinch-hitter Wes Helms lined a single to left, moving the runner to third. Smoltz retired Hanley Ramirez on a fly out with Helms tagging and moving to second on the play. Jeremy Hermida singled to left, scoring both runners giving the Marlins a 5-4 advantage heading to the bottom half.

Francoeur jumped on the first pitch from Olsen to start the home second, sending a fastball to the seats in left.

Atlanta manufactured their second run of the game one inning later. Escobar worked a walk to start things off and moved to second when Chipper Jones drew a one-out walk. Teixeira followed with a line single to left, bringing Escobar around to score.

Florida got on the board in the fourth, tying the game at two. Hermida led off with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on a Jorge Cantu sacrifice fly. Uggla then ripped a two-out double down the left field line and Luis Gonzalez singled to left bringing in Uggla for the equalizer.

Teixeira gave Atlanta back the lead in the fifth with a two-out solo shot to left, his fourth home run in the last five games.

Florida came back to tie the game in the seventh. Uggla led off by ripping a double to left and Gonzalez moved him to third on a single through the right side, chasing Reyes from the game.

Manny Acosta came on in relief and got Cody Ross to ground into a force out but Uggla was able to score on the play. Acosta went on to retire Treanor on a pop fly and Ramirez on strikes to limit the damage.

Renyel Pinto took the hill for Florida in the home seventh, loading the bases with two out but got Francoeur swinging to keep the contest tied at three.

Matt Lindstrom came on in the eighth to retire the first two Atlanta batters but Blanco ripped a double to left and Lindstrom issued a free pass to pinch- hitter Johnson. Escobar followed with a single back up the middle, scoring Blanco. Omar Infante worked a walk to load the bases and Joe Nelson came on to relieve Lindstrom. Nelson got Jones to fly out to end the inning but Atlanta had the lead heading to the ninth.

Game Notes

The Braves activated Smoltz from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. Smoltz had been on the DL since April 28 with a severely inflamed biceps tendon and an inflamed rotator cuff. The team optioned reliever Phil Stockman to Triple-A Richmond to make room for Smoltz...Atlanta is in the midst of a 20-game losing streak in one-run decisions on the road dating back to August 10, 2007, tying for the second- longest such streak in Major League history. The club is one shy of Kansas City's 21-game streak from 2000-2001...The Marlins are 2-5 on their current 10-game trip against NL East foes...This was Smoltz's first blown save since September 22, 2004.

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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)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines. 

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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