05/11/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees will try to inch their way up the AL East standings when they take on the Detroit Tigers today in the finale of a three-game set at Comerica Park.
Andy Pettitte will try to get back into the win column when he takes the hill against the Tigers. The southpaw is 0-2 in his last three starts, and is coming off an outing in which he held the Indians to just two runs on five hits. Pettitte struck out six batters and only walked one, but finished with a no decision, while the Yankees fell by a final score of 5-3.
Pettitte has been successful on the road this season, posting a strong 3-1 record with an equally impressive 2.81 ERA. Overall, the 35-year-old is an even 3-3 on the season and comes into this game with a mediocre 3.77 ERA.
Last month the southpaw suffered a loss to Detroit by a 6-2 margin and in the setback Pettitte surrendered five runs on seven hits in six innings. In 23 career starts the crafty veteran has collected a mediocre 10-9 record with a 3.66 ERA.
Nate Robertson will trout out to the hill for the Tigers, and will try to get the team back into the win column. The southpaw has made seven starts this year, but has collected just one victory. However, that lone win did come against the Yankees late in April, as the tough lefty held the Bronx Bombers to four runs in 5 2/3 innings of work.
The last time Robertson was on the rubber the 30-year-old was battered by the Red Sox, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. In his career against the Yankees, Robertson has struggled in eight starts, posting a meager 2-5 record with a lackluster 5.02 ERA.
Yesterday, Bobby Abreu went 2-for-4, knocked in a run and scored two runs as the Yankees topped the Tigers, 5-2.
The teams have split the first two games of the weekend set, with the Tigers taking a 6-5 win on Friday.
Derek Jeter went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and scored twice for the Yankees, who snapped a six-game losing streak at Detroit. Jason Giambi, Melky Cabrera and Wilson Betemit all drove in runs for New York.
Darrell Rasner (2-0) picked up the win after holding the Tigers to two runs on four hits in six-plus innings. Kyle Farnsworth, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera combined for three scoreless innings, with Rivera notching his 10th save.
Matt Joyce hit his first major league homer for the Tigers, who have lost seven of nine. Magglio Ordonez went 2-for-4, and Gary Sheffield added a run- scoring double. Jeremy Bonderman (2-4) lasted just four-plus frames, allowing five runs on six hits while issuing four walks.
<< Santana leads Halos into Tampa
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second consecutive matchup the Los Angeles of
Anaheim will send an undefeated pitcher to the hill, as Ervin Santana will try
to shut down the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game set at Tropicana
Field.
<< Rangers, A's wrap up set in Arlington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers will try to complete the three-game
sweep over the Oakland Athletics in the series finale at the Rangers Ballpark
in Arlington this afternoon.
The Rangers have been on fire of late, winning fiv
<< Pens host Flyers in Game 2 of East finals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to take a 2-0 lead in the
best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals tonight, when they host the rival
Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 at Mellon Arena.
The second-seeded Penguins, champions of t
<< O's aim for sweep of KC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles will try to pull off a very tough
task, as they go for a four-game road sweep over the Kansas City Royals this
afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
For the Orioles, they will rest their chances for a
Djokovic tops Wawrinka to Rome final >>
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic rallied to
beat Swiss star Stanislas Wawrinka to win the $3.5 million Italian Masters on
Sunday.
Djokovic, who disposed of world No. 1 Roger Federer in the quarterfin
A's activate Harden from DL to start against Texas >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics activated oft-injured
pitcher Rich Harden from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, in time to start the
team's series finale with the Texas Rangers.
Harden was placed on the DL for the si
Yankees place Betemit on DL >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees placed infielder Wilson
Betemit on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.
Betemit left Saturday's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning
with a strained right hamstring.
Bet
O's select contract of Cintron >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles selected the
contract of infielder Alex Cintron from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
Baltimore signed the 29-year-old Cintron to a minor league deal on March 31.
He batted .288
Recently I had an email debate with an angry reader who said I did not understand "the science of oddsmaking", as he called it.
He said I was wrong for suggesting oddsmakers care about who wins or loses games.
"Oddsmakers only care about splitting the betting public 50/50 on both sides of the line and keeping the commission (a.k.a. juice)," he wrote.
He might have been right about not understanding "the science of oddsmaking". After all, I'm not an oddsmaker. That said, I stick to my assertion that oddsmakers (a.k.a. sportbooks) often do care about who wins games.
Granted, as a general rule, sportsbooks try to balance their action so that they're not exposed to big losses. However, there are times when this is difficult to pull off, regardless of how much a line has moved. There are also times when that general rule is ignored and a book pursues risk.
Generally speaking, it's safe to say the books in Vegas are risk-adverse. Unlike in the past when the wise guys ruled the town, Vegas is now corporate and the goal of most casinos is to make as much money as possible with as little risk as possible.
Thus, Vegas sportsbooks try everything in their power to balance the action. They're satisfied simply collecting the juice. But these profits are small, especially compared to the take from other casino games, namely slot machines.
Because the profits at Vegas sportsbooks are so small, you could argue that many casinos operate sportsbooks simply as a novelty to keep the tourists happy.
With a growing aversion to risk, it should come as no surprise that Vegas bookmakers have been panicking this NFL season.
Despite huge pointspreads, a disproportionate percentage of bettors are still laying their money on favorites like the Eagles, Colts, Pats and Vikings rather than the dogs (a common trend for the largely recreational bettors that visit Vegas).
And much to the dismay of the books, those favorites are finding ways to cover the thick chalk. In fact, prior to Week 7, the four teams listed above are a combined 16-2-2 (88 percent) against the spread. (The tables turned dramatically in Week 7, but more on that later.)
The result has been an early-season beating for the books, and a bonanza for bettors.
While Vegas increasingly hates risk, it's no longer a major player in the sports betting world. Most of the betting action now takes place offshore where sportsbooks are not as obsessed about balance. In fact, some books encourage exposure to risk because the rewards can be so much bigger.
Consider MySportsbook.com. On its website, the book has odds pages which actually display the amount of action it's getting on games. In other words, you can see how much action the book is taking on both sides of a pointspread, moneyline or over/under.
One look at these numbers and it's obvious MySportsbook.com does not balance every game. In fact, far from it.
Take last weekend's matchup between St. Louis and Miami. By game time on Sunday, 83 percent of the betting action at MySportsbook.com was on the Rams; only 17 percent was on Miami.
What's interesting is that MySportsbook.com opened the pointspread with Miami at +6 1/2. By game time, the spread had lowered to +5.
That goes contrary to the balancing theory. If MySportsbook.com had wanted to balance the action, it would have given Miami more points; instead, it took away 1 1/2. World Series odds are now up as well.
MySportsbook.com exposed itself to even more to risk, and rolled the dice on the underdog Dolphins. Why? I contacted a representative with the book to find out. His answer was simple.
"The line moved early based on 'smart money' from sharp players," said Jeff Gilroy, a spokesperson for the book. "We also knew from early in the week that we would need Miami, therefore (we dropped) the spread to encourage Rams money.
"At the end of the day, we liked the home team."
So the conclusion is this: MySportsbook.com respected the sharp action, and gambled that the sharp bettors had a better take on the game than the recreational bettors, who were hammering the visiting Rams.
In the end, the gamble paid off. Miami, desperate for a win in front of its home fans, pounded the overrated Rams, who are terrible on the road and even worse on grass. Final score: 31-14 Fish.
MySportsbook.com was also heavily exposed on numerous favorites in Week 7, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Denver. All three failed to cover.
The fact that sportsbooks are exposed to risk on certain games is really nothing new. The fact, that Sportsbook.com is willing to show the public where it's exposed is intriguing.
Armed with this type of information, bettors can make more educated wagers. They can get an idea where the sharp money is going and conversely where the public money is headed.
MySportsbook.com is opening up its cashbox, letting bettors look inside and challenging them to take their best shot at grabbing the cash.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting odds needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
MySportsbook.com is one of the most efficient and professional online sportsbook today. While some sportsbooks only excel during the busiest seasons, MySportsbook is an excellent choice for the player who wants year-round quality. From their baseball true dime line to their interactive wagering, MySportsbook makes sure their clients would miss them if they went elsewhere.
Players won’t find any novelties at this sportsbook. The site is clean and simple and most importantly, fast. Customer Service handles matters in an expedient manner and accounting does everything possible to assure players that they have full control of their funds. The online banking center is open 24/7 in which time Neteller payouts are processed.
Management’s background and understanding of sports gambling has helped make them pioneers in the online betting market. MySportsbook was the first betting site to offer sports wagering in the best form. Interactive wagering was first offered in 1997. Players who don’t stop wagering when the game begins consider this sportsbook a true asset.
Players who are looking for outstanding value, extensive wagering options and inexpensive payouts will appreciate what MySportsbook.com offers. Those who are looking for perks and high bonuses would be best suited in a sportsbook geared towards the regular player.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your sports betting needs.
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