MLB Baseball Bets and the Minnesota Twins posted by Twins Fan

MLB baseball events are proving to be quite lucrative for placing bets, and online sports book websites provide the opportunity of placing bets anytime, conveniently from home. Opening an account is very easy, and these websites are quite secure to make online transactions for depositing money into your account. Additionally they also provide various payment options, which make it easy to place various bets without much fuss. Due to advancement in Web technologies, your personal information and credit card number remains safe, without falling prey to hacking attempts. Withdrawals are also safe and secure, and you do not have to wait a long time to enjoy your winnings. 
A good knowledge about the teams and clever betting strategies can improve your winnings quite dramatically. Information pertaining to MLB baseball players and teams is available on many websites including the latest news. Various betting websites also explain various strategies that have worked for many players in the past. However, having proper knowledge about your team is a distinct advantage in placing bets. Consider the Minnesota Twins, which has small revenues, but is considered one of the major teams in MLB. The team is known for its excellent farm system, which has developed many prospects into top players. However, this system may not have delivered for the current season and has taken a major beating. The only prospect worth considering was Miguel Sano, the third baseman; however, he still lacks the required experience and discipline. 
In the minor league the new talents lived up to what was expected, and many of the prospects that were sidelined came back to form. In a surprising move during the offseason, the Twins let go of Ben Revere and Denard Span who were MLB outfielders, and acquired starting pitchers like Trevor May and Alex Meyer from Philadelphia and Washington respectively. This seems to be a smart move, as enhanced pitching depth was necessary. The team also saw the resurgence of Kyle Gibson last year, after he had missed quite a bit of the previous season due to surgery. Minnesota Twins also netted during the start of the season, Byron Buxton an excellent outfielder, and Jose Berrios, who is a right-hander. 
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Twins blowing out ChiSox, 17-4 posted by Richard Kagan

This game was ugly when the Twins scored 7 runs on seven singles in the 2ns inning.  Twins 7-3...then Sox tacked on a run to make it 7-4, and then the Sox pitchers seemed to forget how to get three outs.  10 more runs.  The Twins have battered arround more than Hurricane Isaac.  You could see the wind formation on the field.  Ouch. Continue reading "Twins blowing out ChiSox, 17-4"

Rios' 19th Leads HR Attack vs. Blue Jays posted by Richard Kagan

Balls were flyin' out of Toronto's baseball field left and right Thursday night, as the ChiSox hit five HR's in the game, paced by Alex Rios' three-run blast.  The Sox are piling up the HR numbers and have hit 27 HR's in the last 13 games, give or take a number.  I haven't seen a Sox team with this much power in a long time.  And, tonight, Dunn, Pierzynski, or Konerko (DNP) didn't hit one.  It was Dayan Viciendo who has caught fire of late, Ramirez, Flowers, and DeWayne Wise who connected.  This isn't the go-go Sox.  This is smashmouth baseball. 

Even Francisco Liriano was the beneficiary of the Chicago onslaught.  Liriano pitched over 6 innings to come away with his first Sox win since being traded by the Twins a few weeks ago.  It was the first time the Sox had won a series in Toronto since the Bronze Age.  That means a long time.  Hey, I'll say it now, Alex Rios is my candidate for AL Comeback Player of the Year.  He is hitting the ball so well and driving in runs.  He is having a great season at the plate.  When he hits, the Sox usually win.  He has over .530 slugging %, not bad for a player whom many thought had seen his bettter days.  If the Sox do advance to the playoffs, Rios will be a big reason why.  Hopefully he can keep doing it.

Sox nip Twins 4-3 posted by Richard Kagan

White Sox new acquistion, Francisco Liriano pitched against his former team, the Minnesota Twins and didn't get the decision, going 6 strong innings fanning five.  The Sox tied up the game in the 8th and A.J. Perzynski blasted a 2 run HR in the top of the 9th inning to take a 4-2 lead.  Addison Reed came in and gave a up a run and was able to close the door on the Twins.   So the Sox get a road win.  At this time of the season, a road win is a big win.  And, if you want to be a contender, you have to play well on the road.  Hey, the White Sox are becoming road warriors.Continue reading "Sox nip Twins 4-3"

The Cubs Are Not Good posted by Richard Kagan

Yippee, The Chicago Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 behind the solid right arm of Ryan Dempster (2-3), who may be on the trading block.  Dempster bolstered his status with an excellent outing, his second win in a row.  I have been a long-time cubs fans.  I was there for Don Cardwell's no-hitter in the second game of a DH.  I fell asleep and missed most of the game, as a child.  I was more alert for Kenny Holtzman's gem vs. the Atlanta Braves in 1969, when the Cubs looked so good.  I was sure they were going to win the pennant.  But....stuff happens, if you're a Cubs fan.

What still surprises me is that 32,000 fans come of the park every home game if the weather is decent.  The Cubs draw well over 2.5 million.  In a good season, it could be 2.8 million.  In this tiny ballpark in Wrigleyville...The fans still come out and root for the Cubbies.  Who are as lovable as ever, even if they are on pace to lose 100 games this season.  And, that is not a laughing matter.  How do you get paid, and get up in the morning and come to the park?

The Cubs were picked by most baseball experts to finish 4th or 5th in the division.  Unfortunately, they make the Pittsburgh Pirates look good.  Manager Dale Sveum looks like he is on an out of control train in that Denzel Washington thriller.  That train threatened to cause disruption all over the landscape.  It's a stretch to say this team could win 4 or 5 games in a row.  They don't have the players to do that.  And, coming from a fan, that is a sad thing to say.

Twins Sign Jason Marquis to 1-Year Deal posted by Jeff Ponder

The Minnesota Twins are looking to improve their dismal starting rotation numbers in 2012.

Last season, the Twins starters combined to post the third-worst ERA (4.64), while also striking out just 617 batters in 961 innings-pitched.

The Twins have outsourced to fix this problem, signing veteran right-hander Jason Marquis to a one-year, $3 million contract. 

Marquis, 33, posted an 8-5 record with a 3.95 ERA as a member of the Washington Nationals last season.  He was then sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 30, where he was 0-1, posting a 9.53 ERA in just three starts.  Marquis missed the last month and a half of the 2011 season with a broken right fibula after being hit by a line drive. 

Marquis was a National League All-Star in 2009 as a member of the Colorado Rockies.  His best season came in 2004 when he posted a 15-7 record and recorded a 3.71 ERA as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Marquis has a career .455 ERA in 12 MLB seasons.  He has played for the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Rockies, Nationals and Diamondbacks.

The righty will likely be the fourth or fifth starter as lefthander Brian Duensing is expected to be in the bullpen to start the season.

Almost Perfect Game for Stewart posted by Richard Kagan

Chicago White Sox pitcher Zach Stewart threw a 1-hitter in blanking the Minnesota Twins, 4-0 in the second game of a day-night doubleheader.  Stewart retired the first 21 batters he faced, a perfect game for 7 innings, until Danny Valencia hit a double to lead off the 8th inning for the Twins.  Stewart kept his composure and retired the next six hitters he faced for a 1 hitter in a terrific outing tonight.  Stewart was almost unhittable.  Where was that pitching in the Detroit series?

The White Sox got lambasted vs. Detroit and looked out-classed by a better team.  Then their pitching comes together and this team looks pretty good.  Stewart (2-3) struck out 9 and walked none in his first career complete game.  His effort was almost historic.  And, it was a night he won't forget. 

Sox Still Alive After Seattle Sweep posted by Richard Kagan

There is good news an bad news if you are a long-time Chicago White Sox fan.  The good news, the White Sox moved into 2nd place ahead of the Cleveland Indians by a half game when the Sox won and the Indians lost on Sunday.  Now, the bad news, the Sox face Minnesota Twins, who have the Sox's number in recent years.  The last time they played, the Sox swept the Twins in Minnesota.  The Twins will be seeking to return the favor.

The ChicSox got strong piching from Gavid Floyd who pitched into the 8th inning and left the game with a 9-2 lead.  Chicago got that lead courtesy of Dayan Viciendo's three-run blast, his first home runs as a member of the Sox.  Ty Flowers, the backup catcher to A.J. Pryzienski, hit his first grand slam over the walll in left field.  Chicago scored 6 runs in the inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead.  When you get good pitching and a productive offense, you will win games.  The problem is can the White Sox get enough run production against good teams? 

If they can, this may be a memorable September run.  If not, start looking for golf dates.  The Sox trail Detroit by 6 games and will face them 6 timed before the season ends.

Bluegrass and Arkansas 2011 posted by Johnny Matheis

Major preps for the Derby, one with a huge favorite, the other with many who could vie for the role.

11TH RACE OAKLAWN PARK 04/16/2011 1 1/8 GRADE 1 ARKANSAS DERBY

PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH:

PROGRAM NUMBER-NAME OF RUNNER-PROBABLE ODDS-COMMENTS

11 JW BLUE 20-1 Overlooked, but has the best forward move, and worth a shot. If the favorite is truly class, the favorite will take it, but a fourth of the time this one will win this race, so worth a shot.

4 THE FACTOR 7-5 Anything higher is betable, anything lower is an underlay, but the obvious class here.

1A ALTERNATION 6-1 Solid, but reaching the boundaries of his endurance, as 49er is a sprint breeder

1 CALEB'S POSSE 6-1 Solid as other part of entry

9 ARCHARCHARCH 10-1 One of many who look solid for part

2 NEHRO 10-1 My pick in Rebel had his shot, and is still solid.

3 ELITE ALEX 20-1 another in the group of "solids" that are hard to seperate 

6 SWAY AWAY 15-1 actually ran better than I thought he would at underlay price last out. Finishes out the contenders

7 TRUMAN'S COMMANDER 30-1 Zito is one of the best, but this would be a surprise 

8 DANCE CITY 20-1 worth a look as it is fourth lifetime start for hard trainer

5 BRETHREN 30-1 would be a surprise 

12 SARATOGA RED 20-1 Never know when Lukas has one ready

10 J P'S GUSTO 30-1 Outgunned here.

BETS: WPS on 11: Exacta box on 1-4-11, Trifecta Box on 1-4-9-11, Superfecta Box on 1-2-4-9-11, Superfecta Wheel 4,11 with 4,11 with 1,2,3,6,9 with 1,2,3,6,7,9.

A new champion is crowned posted by David

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, who are World Champions for the first time since moving to the west coast more than 50 years ago.  Their last title in New York came in 1954, when Willie Mays made “the catch” that will be played on highlight reels forever.  The Giants came unbelievably close to not even making the playoffs this year, but the fans who claimed that watching their team was “torture” are now the happiest fans in baseball.

How ‘bout that?

How about Matt Cain?  The San Francisco hurler was nearly untouchable throughout the playoffs, outshining staff ace Tim Lincecum, who had a bad outing in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.  In three postseason starts, Cain allowed only an unearned run over 21.1 innings of work, going at least 6.2 innings in each outing and providing a huge boost to his team’s hunt for glory.  He might be the best #2 starter in the majors, but Matt Cain looked like the second coming of Cy Young when it mattered most for the Giants.

How about Brian Wilson?  The flamethrower’s postseason numbers included six saves (in seven chances) and a win in 11.2 innings pitched, allowing just an unearned run.  Additionally, Wilson allowed no more than one hit per appearance while anchoring the San Francisco bullpen.  Wilson gave Bruce Bochy the confidence this postseason usually reserved for Mariano Rivera’s manager when handing his closer the ball in October (or November).

How about the fantastic class of rookies in the postseason?  Stephen Strasburg wasn’t among them, but Jason Heyward (Braves), Buster Posey (Giants), Aroldis Chapman (Reds), Danny Valencia (Twins), Wade Davis (Rays), Neftali Feliz and Mitch Moreland (both Rangers) would make an incredible young team if they all played together.  In fact, even top prospect Domonic Brown, who compiled just 62 regular-season at-bats, was on the Phillies’ playoff roster.  Expectations will be high for this talented group, and here’s hoping none of them experiences too much of a sophomore slump.

Twins put Plouffe on 7-day DL

The Minnesota Twins placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on theseven-day disabled list with a concussion Wednesday after he wasstruck in the head by Dan Uggla's shin while breaking up anattempted double play. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Evan Gattis does it again for Braves

Evan Gattis hit a two-out, pinch-hit homer in the ninth to sendthe game to extra innings and Freddie Freeman won it in the 10th,sending the Atlanta Braves to their fifth straight win, 5-4 overthe slumping Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Teheran shuts down Twins

Julio Teheran pitched 8 1-3 strong innings, Dan Uggla hit athree-run homer and the Atlanta Braves won their fourth straightgame with a 5-1 victory over the struggling Minnesota Twins onMonday. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Red Sox complete sweep of Twins (The SportsXchange)

MINNEAPOLIS -- After waiting out a three-hour rain delay in the seventh inning, the Boston Red Sox expanded the lead they built before the storm and beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 at Target Field on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Twins drop fifth straight, 5-1 to Red Sox (The Associated Press)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins have lost five straight and are a season-worst four games under .500. Facing a nine-game road trip, starting with a three-game interleague series against first-place Atlanta on Monday, things could quickly get out of hand if they don't rediscover their offense. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports