A-Rod clubs 49th homer as Yanks edge Royals

Baseball Betting Lines

09/08/2007 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez finished 3-for-4 and hit his major-league leading 49th home run of the season as New York edged Kansas City, 3-2, in the first of three between the clubs at Kauffman Stadium.

The Rodriguez homer, a lead-off shot in the second, was the 513th of his career, passing both Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for sole possession of 17th place on the all-time list.

Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless inning. Ian Kennedy, in his second major-league start, allowed seven hits and two runs with three walks and a pair of strikeouts over five innings.

Jorge Posada also homered for the Yankees, who have won three straight games. Bobby Abreu added an RBI double.

Neal Musser (0-1) took the loss, charged with the Yanks' go-ahead run in two- thirds of an inning in relief. Royals starter Gil Meche gave up two runs and five hits over six innings in the no-decision.

Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Royals, who have lost three in a row. Mark Grudzielanek and Jason Smith drove in a run each in the loss.

In the seventh facing Musser, Derek Jeter singled with two down and scored on a double to center by Abreu to give New York a 3-2 advantage. Following walks to Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui, Joel Peralta was called upon to face Posada, who was robbed of extra-bases on a great catch by Royals center fielder David DeJesus.

New York loaded the bases in the eighth on singles by Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon and a Jeter hit-by-pitch, but David Riske kept the game within reach when he fanned Abreu swinging.

The Royals failed to score on Joba Chamberlain in the seventh and eighth, and the young Nebraska-born right-hander shut down the home team with many of his family, including his polio-stricken father in attendance.

"I don't think as a starter he was throwing that hard, but he looks good out there," said Gordon, who faced his former college teammate. "He looks confident and that's the big thing up here."

Mariano Rivera retired the side in order in the ninth for his 24th save.

"That's a big win for us," Abreu said. "We start a series over here and our guy pitched a pretty good game. We were just fighting and finally we got the win."

Kansas City failed to score in the first despite loading the bases, and the home team paid for that mistake when Rodriguez powered a low Meche slider off the top of the wall in left and over for a 1-0 Yankees lead to start the second. Two batters later, Posada cleared the right-field wall for a 2-0 lead.

The Royals responded in their at bat when Gordon doubled, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Smith's single. John Buck singled to move Smith to third and he came home on Grudzielanek's base hit to tie the game, 2-2.

In the sixth, Rodriguez singled and moved to third when Meche's throw to second on Matsui's ground ball sailed into center. Posada grounded into a force at second, but Jason Giambi drew a walk to load the bases. Meche, though, recovered to get Robinson Cano looking to end the threat.

Game Notes

The Yankees own the best record of any AL team against the Central (28-11)...New York has won seven of eight over the Royals this season...Attendance was 27,462.

24hrsportsbook Baseball Betting News

<< Rice and Scarlet Knights down Midshipmen
Piscataway, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ray Rice scored three touchdowns and ran for 175 yards to lead the 15th-ranked Scarlet Knights over the Navy Midshipmen, 41-24, at Rutgers Stadium. Rice, who scored one of his touchdowns receiving, be

<< Smoltz flirts with no-hitter; Braves down Nats
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Smoltz nearly etched his name into the history books, tossing seven no-hit innings, as the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals, 7-1, in the start of a three-game series. Making the 698th a

<< Milledge, Mets crush Astros
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lastings Milledge's three-run homer highlighted a six-run sixth inning as the New York Mets thumped the Houston Astros, 11-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Shea Stadium. Milledge ended 2-

<< Lester leads Red Sox to shutout over Orioles
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester scattered four hits over seven shutout innings as Boston blanked Baltimore, 4-0, in the second contest of a four-game set at Camden Yards. Lester (4-0) retired 11 batters in a row and

<< McGowan, Blue Jays top Devil Rays
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin McGowan hurled eight innings and struck out a career-high twelve as the Toronto Blue Jays took the first game of a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-2, at Tropicana Field.

Rockies down Padres, gain ground in NL wild card >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kaz Matsui hit a two-run home run as the Colorado Rockies beat up the San Diego Padres, 10-4, in the opener of a three- game set at Coors Field. Troy Tulowitzki went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two run

Catalanotto leads Rangers past A's >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Frank Catalanotto finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, and fell a double short of the cycle to lead the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-g

Webb helps D-backs extend NL West lead, down Cards >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Webb ended a personal two-start losing streak, allowing four hits over six solid innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks began a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase F

Burris, Stampeders edge Eskimos >>
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Henry Burris completed 18-of-31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns as Calgary edged Edmonton, 20-17, in the back half of the Labour Day Classic from Commonwealth Stadium. Joffrey Reynolds ran for 100 yard

White Sox rally late, then top Twins in 13th >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single in the 13th inning gave the Chicago White Sox an 11-10 win over the Minnesota Twins in a contest that saw both teams score six runs in the ninth inning to send it to extra frames.

Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com  is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your basketball sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

SPORTS BETTING: NFL Football Sportsbook Betting

NFL owners, already life's biggest winners, want to try their luck with the lottery.


That was the news out of their meetings last week, where team bosses voted unanimously to allow stamping state and local lottery tickets with franchise logos, if, ahem, any governments wanted to do a deal.

A shocker: Within days the Pats announced they'd be sponsoring the Massachusetts state lottery, the Skins said they'd slap their sticker on Virginia scratch-offs and the Ravens admitted they were talking to Maryland lottery bosses. In all likelihood, it won't be long before every team is a presenting sponsor of scratch-offs or just plain old pick fives. "The change in policy was approved 32-0," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "So you can expect to see more deals soon."

It's a branding opportunity too big for the owners to ignore, and one a couple of dozen baseball franchises have enjoyed for years. The fact the NFL has been slower to act than those slack-brained Seligites is indicative of its complicated relationship with all forms of gambling. Consider this: Last Thursday, as the Pats and the Redskins finalized their new lottery deals, a lawyer representing the NFL argued before Delaware's Supreme Court that the state's newly signed sports betting law should be repealed.

The NFL betting is the face of opposition to sports gambling . And as much as it would like to share that responsibility with other leagues, that's not going to happen as long as more than 40% of all money legally wagered on games is bet on football. That's why the Brewers can do a multi-million dollar deal with a local casino, or the Celtics can make their own pact with the Mass lottery, and the response is, "Sweet, let's play." But when the NFL does it the stakes are higher, and everyone from NPR's Frank Deford to the Associated Press to the guys blogging at Deadspin will line up to play gotcha.

So I asked Aiello, who surely knew there'd be piling on, how the league can rail against being bait for sports bettors, then allow its franchises to be just that for lotteries, the most insidious and addictive form of gambling around. He emailed me this response: "We are not moral crusaders. NFL personnel are permitted to engage in legal forms of gambling, except for betting on NFL games. We are making a distinction here between the spread of gambling on the outcome of our games and supporting state lottery scratch-off games, that have nothing to do with the outcome of our games."

Here's where I should rip him. But, the thing is, he's right. Not to get Obama on you, but this is a complicated, nuanced issue. As much as lotteries are considered a tax on the poor, the NFL isn't a socially obligated government program -- it's just a business. Scratch-off's help the bottom line, sports betting doesn't. Now, it's okay to call the league hypocritical when it releases injury reports, which players have told me only helps bettors … But when it supports other forms of gaming? Big Deal.

Now, it's okay to call the league hypocritical when it releases injury reports, which players have told me only helps bettors. And it's okay to mutter something obscene when the league pretends gambling doesn't help drive TV ratings and fan interest and put money in owners' pockets. But when it supports other forms of gaming? Big Deal. The Bears should put an orange "C" on every deck of cards dealt at Harrah's in Joliet; the Eagles should slap their logo on roulette wheels at the Borgata in Atlantic City; the Dolphins should hold training camp at the El San Juan in Puerto Rico.

Seriously.

The NFL's problem, when it comes to the gambling world, isn't hypocrisy, it's worse: The bosses lack vision. That's why the league is picking unwinnable fights in Delaware and taking pot shots from critics after making smart sponsorship deals. Roger Goodell and his gang are acting and thinking locally rather than globally, which is rare for them, especially compared to their professional (and amateur) counterparts.

The NBA held its All Star game in Las Vegas and David Stern's kingdom didn't crumble (although the town did bring plenty of players to their knees.) I'd say it's 6 to 5 and pick 'em that Lebron will make a road swing through Sin City before his career is over.

Even the NCAA College Football Betting is more progressive on this issue than the NFL. Several years ago Rachel Newman Baker, college sports' gambling czar, opened a dialogue with Vegas bookmakers to learn about how they do business. She's visited Nevada sports books, studied their operations and listened to how they regulate action. Now she knows she can expect a call from bookmakers, who lose money when sports are fixed, if they think something sketchy is going on in NCAA games. She's not in favor of sports betting, but, as she once told me, "I know it's not going away, either."

The NFL can't seem to accept that. And until it can find peace with the idea, it'll get flack, even when it's right.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts MasterCard needs.