Audrey Nolan asked:


The Dominican baseball player of 36 years-old, Manny Ramirez, is back with the Los Angeles Dodgers, after signing an agreement on Wednesday for a two-year contract that it is worth $45 million; Manny will receive $25 million for the 2009 season and $20 million for the 2010 season. At the beginning, the Dodgers where offering him $42 million, but Ramirez’s agent Scott Boras managed to increase it to $43.5 million.

Ramirez declined several proposals from the Los Angeles team before accepting this one. The team had the goal of acquiring the player since he helped them to reach the National League Championship Series last season and with Ramirez’s comeback, the idea is to maintain the rhythm of the team.

The Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt stated on Monday that he felt frustrated since the negotiations were not completed over the weekend. He expected to have signed Manny as a Dodger since the team was having a celebration on Sunday for the inauguration of the new facility of training that they will share with the Chicago White Sox, which cost $100 million, and the Dodgers’ franchise wanted to celebrate the acquisition of Ramirez too but it was not possible.

“It’s fair to say that I’m a little frustrated,” McCourt said. “The reason we wanted to have this wrapped up by Friday was because we wanted to celebrate the opening of Camelback Ranch and be talking about Manny as a Dodger, instead of talking about Camelback Ranch and the Manny Ramirez negotiations. Today is a day to say welcome to Dodger and White Sox fans, and that’s why it bothers me. The distraction it causes is just unfair.”

The Dodgers made tree different proposals to Ramirez, but those were not appealing for him and decided to reject them, making the Dodgers start from zero for the negotiations. McCourt said that Manny’s agent, Scott Boras had been making the negotiation more difficult, to what he responded that they were working on getting to a deal under the terms that the player wanted and that will beneficiate both parts, which at the end, was what happened.

Ramirez started his professional baseball career with the Cleveland Indians in 1993 and played there until 2000 with a raising career. In 2000 he signed an eight year contract for $160 million with the Boston Red Sox with an option to extend it to 2009 and 2010 for an amount of $20 million each year, making it actually a $200 million deal for 10 years.

In 2008 he had some altercates with some people, including one with a traveling secretary for the team called Jack McCormick. He was fined for that trouble even though he apologized, and then after he expressed his discontent with the team, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-way deal. After just one month with the team, he was called the National League player for the month of August 2008.

Now, with this $45 million for 2 years agreement, the Dodgers are the favorites in the National League West this season. With the Dodgers, Ramirez batted .396 with a .489 on-base percentage, 17 homeruns and 53 RBIs in 53 games. Currently, Ramirez is a .314 lifetime hitter who has hit 527 career homeruns.

Pat Okeefe asked:


2009 MLB Future Bets “A Little Investment Could Turn Out To Be A Nice Payday”

Brought To You By Sportsmoneymanagers.com

Written By Staff Writer Pat O’Keefe

Spring Training games kicked off today so now it’s time for the predictions. ESPN have their supposed analysts like Buster “Never Swung a Bat” Olney stating their opinions as if they were facts.

Well, something know-it-all brainiacs don’t talk about is one of the best bets out there today…long shot division winners.

In every Major League season there is that horse that everyone thought would be glue come playoff time that actually beats out the thoroughbreds.

Last season the obvious over achiever was the Rays. Tampa and their miniscule payroll beat out the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and baseball’s highest payroll, New York Yankees.

If you put $100 on the Rays to win the American League prior to the season, you would have brought home $20,000 in the fall.

Even after thirty games in the 2008 season, the Rays up a game and a half on the Sox in the American League East, a bettor could have got +450 on the Rays to finish the regular season on top.

The Rays were not the only team to come out of nowhere and reward those throwing cash on the dark horse in March.

Entering the 2007 season the Detroit Tigers were the defending American League Champions, the Chicago White Sox were one year removed from a World Series Championship, and the Minnesota Twins had won the 2006 American League Central Pennant. No one was looking for the Indians and their relatively unstable roster to beat out the three other powerhouses. Certainly not after finishing the ‘06 season fourteen games under five hundred and beating out only the lowly Royals in the division.

Well, the Indians took home the American League Central Pennant that year and paid out big in Vegas.

So those who bet on the 2007 Cleveland Indians and the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays to win their respective division prior to Opening Day were big winners!

This year is no different than any other year. There will be an underdog beating out the favorites for their division. The World Series may be the Red Sox v. Phillies or the Yankees v. Cubs, which wouldn’t be real long shots (even though the Cubs seem to find a way to roll snake eyes come playoff time every season), but division winners is another story.

Division ugly ducklings are great futures bet.

The best big money pick this season is the Houston Astros. SportsBook.com has them at 2000-1 long shots, as in you put down $100 and you will bring home $20,000 if they win the American League Central.

The Cubs will be tough. A lineup toting Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derek Lee, Geovany Soto, and Milton Bradley in the national league looks dangerous on paper. Further, a pitching staff with Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly, and Ryan Dempster starting games and Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman, and Notre Dame’s own Jeff Samardzija makes this feat of the Astros even more difficult.

But the Cubs choke. It’s their MO. Sounds simple, but it has held true in the playoffs, so why not start the collapse a little earlier?

The Brewers made the playoffs last year…they won’t this year. They lost their top two starters, C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets and have a sketchy pen. The Brew Crew did add Trevor Hoffman, but he’s seen his better days. His career has been extended by pitching the majority of his games in pitchers parks in the National League West. All in all, this staff could lose more games than that powerful lineup will win.

The Cardinals continue to ignore free agent hitters every season. Albert Pujols is on an island in that lineup. Last year Ryan Ludwick came out of nowhere and whacked thirty-seven bombs…not likely this year. The thirty year old late bloomer has all of the signs of a one year wonder. There is no physical evidence or expert analysis, it’s just a hunch on my part. That doesn’t disguise the fact that there is no one else in that lineup. When Adam Wainwright, Joel Piniero, Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellemeyer, and Brad Thompson make up your starting staff, you need a potent lineup. They are having tryouts for the newly vacant closer’s role, which 90% of the time ends up ugly. Not a good outlook in Nelly’s hometown.

The Pirates and Reds are not even worth mentioning. They are consistent losers and do not have the potential the 2008 Rays squad had.

So there you are left with one last team. Now this is not even close to a sure thing. If you have $2000 in your bank account right now I wouldn’t recommend you put a grand on the 2009 ‘Stros to win the National League Central. But if you’re looking for a nice long shot, the ‘Stros are the team.

They made a terrific run in the second half of last season to win the Wild Card. The Cubs were running away from the division and very well could do the same this season, but these boys down in Houston have heart.

Lance Berkman was one of the best players in the National League last year and is consistently one of the better bats out there. Unlike Pujols in St. Louis, he’s not alone. Carlos Lee is another consistent performer. Those two alone will put up over sixty homers and two hundred RBIs year in- year out.

Miguel Tejada dodged jail this offseason and now has a lot to prove. At thirty-four years old he may have seen his better days. He’s also deflated since his juiced years in Oakland and Baltimore. Tejada could go either way, but he doesn’t have to be third option at the plate anymore.

That spot goes to twenty-five year old Hunter Pence, who continues to mature and is becoming a steady bat in the lineup and glove in right field. He adds some protection for their top two bats and takes some pressure off of Tejada to swing for the fences.

Michael Bourne adds speed on the base path and like Pence is a young up and comer. He is not a five tool player but he is essential just like all speed guys in the National League.

And the Brad Ausmus era is officially over. Houston is handing the reigns over behind the plate to blue chip J.R. Towles.

The staff has one of the most consistent aces in the National League, Roy Oswalt. After him it’s a roll of the dice. Wandy Rodriguez had twenty quality starts last season and finished the year with a 3.54 ERA. He isn’t the best number two, but can certainly hold his own especially throwing against anemic lineups like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.

After Wandy, it’s the oft injured Mike Hampton on the comeback trail and back end starters Brandon Backe and Brian Moehler. If Hampton can stay healthy and can come close to his old self (that’s hard to remember) then he would be a major boost to this staff. Former All-Star Russ Ortiz is battling to earn a spot in the rotation as well.

Again don’t bet the house on this staff, thus don’t be the house on this team.

The pen is very solid. Jose Valverde is one of the better closers in the National League and coming off a season he saved forty-four games in fifty-one chances. Bridging the gap between Valverde and the starters are some quality middle relievers. LaTroy Hawkins is back, seasoned, and coming off a great finish to last season. Geoff Geary, Doug Brocail, and Tim Byrdak all finished last year with sub four ERAs and will be back with the team this season. This bullpen has the ability to take over in the fifth inning and save the arms of Oswalt, Rodriguez, and Hampton for the race to the finish.

Again, I will state if I had to pick the winner of the National League Central, it would not be the Houston Astros. The safe bet is the Chicago Cubs, the money bet IS the Astros however .

With all of this analysis aside, there is another reason why the Astros are an attractive bet and why these types of bets are generally better bets.

Picking the winner of a single game has limits.

A starter can have one horrendous inning and the game is most likely over and you’ve lost your money.

A star hitter could have an off game, thus the lineup is not as effective and you’ve lost your money.

An ump could blow a call at the plate and you you’ve lost your money.

Picking a team to “win” at the start of the season adds more factors for better and worse.

It gives a much larger window for pitchers, hitters, and umpires to correct their mistakes.

General Managers can make trades and minor league call ups during a season that can change the outcome. They cannot make those moves during the course of a single game.

This is why $100 spent on a long shot for the season may be better then $100 on a favorite for a single game.

Think of it this way: If you make a safe bet of $100 on a single game you may win $150 tops. If you bet on a long shot of $100 on a single game and you may win $450. If you lose either of those bets that one game cost you $100.

Betting $100 at the start of the season on a long shot can pay out huge. In the Astros case it pays you $20,000 in the end. If you lose that $100 cost you $1.62 a game.

$20,000 if you win, $1.62/ game?

You make the call.

Get all the future bets now call 1800-940-8967



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Robert Griggs asked:


I think most ardent baseball fans knew that the media circus surrounding negotiations between Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Red Sox were going to be blown out of proportion. All the parties involved knew that too much was at stake for Matsuzaka to not be signed. Indeed, Matsuzaka has just agreed to a six year, $52 million deal with the Red Sox.

While some pundits may say that the Red Sox pulled one off against agent Scott Boras, that really isn’t the case. Boras was put in a no-win situation by representing Matsuzaka, as they basically had to take the Sox’s best offer, or Matsuzaka would’ve had to toil in Japan until the 2009 season (he wouldn’t have become a free agent until nearly midway through MLB’s 2008 season). But, Boras may have really hurt himself by taking too much time with Matsuzaka. Boras seemingly has spent little time working on the contracts of free agent pitchers Barry Zito and Jeff Weaver.

While Zito will have several suitors, a number of the teams interested in him, such as the Rangers and Cubs, have already spent significantly for other needs, and will now either be out of the running (Cubs) or not as interested as they were at first (Rangers). Meanwhile, Weaver, already a challenge to sell, has seen interest wane from his primary suitor, the Cardinals.

While those free agents will be monitored, several other moves were made in the past few days, including a notable trade. In response to losing pitcher Andy Pettitte, the Astros traded outfielder Willy Taveras and pitchers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh to the Rockies for pitcher Jason Jennings and a minor leaguer. Houston is going with a “win now” strategy, as Jennings will be a free agent after the 2007 season, but there should be money enough to sign Jennings if he likes his new surroundings. The trade overall favors the Rockies, as Buchholz is a lowball pitcher who had flashes of excellence last year and shouldn’t be as affected by the air in Colorado as most pitchers. Hirsh also was respectable in his starts for the Astros, so both have the tools to become mid-level starters—what Jennings is now. Taveras is maybe slightly better than league-average at center field, but he fills a need for the Rockies. The trade also makes shortstop to have been turned outfielder Clint Barmes expendable. Several teams are interested in acquiring Barmes in the hopes that his dismal 2006 is just a bad memory.

The Texas Rangers signed reliever Eric Gagne to a one year deal that, with incentives, could reach $6 million. The question is why? Akinori Otsuka was a fine closer last season, saving 32 games in 36 chances with an ERA of just over 2.00 as a closer. It is unknown whether Gagne or Otsuka will get the first opportunity to be the Rangers closer in 2007. I’d say right now, Otsuka is still the guy, especially since Gagne made few appearances last season. But if Otsuka stumbles the least bit, and Gagne’s healthy, don’t be surprised if the former top flight closer makes a return.

We’ve received word that the Blue Jays have offered outfielder Vernon Wells a seven year, $126 million extension before his “walk year” even begins. I have two words for Mr. Wells: take it. Wells is an excellent outfielder, but he’s a far more comfortable hitter at the Rogers Centre than he is on the road. He’ll also have free agent outfielders Andruw Jones and Jermaine Dye to compete with in next offseason’s market. Wells would have to match Alfonzo Soriano’s 2006 to get more than what the Blue Jays are offering him, so it’s in his best interest to now remain a Blue Jay.

There have also been a pair of whimsical pitcher signings, the first being the Royals inexplicably giving Gil Meche a five year deal worth $55 million. One should look past Meche’s 55-44 career record to note his terrible career ERA and the fact that he’s had one truly good season in his career. He’s also a high injury risk, and his record reflects that he’s been lucky to have a good offense supporting him. He won’t have that luxury for at least the next couple seasons in Kansas City, where he’ll be lucky to win more than 15 games over that two season stretch. I understand that Kansas City wants to turn things around, but it’s not going to be built around a pitcher like Meche. They would’ve been better off saving their money or at least putting the money in an everyday player instead of a middling starting pitcher.

Speaking of middling starting pitchers, the Cubs opened the pocketbooks again, this time to cut a three year, $21 million deal with Jason Marquis. Marquis was another pitcher who was embraced by lady luck last season, managing 14 wins despite an ERA of 6.02. Marquis has been terribly streaky over his career, and endured two long losing streaks during his tenure with the Cardinals. Marquis is a better pitcher than his 2006, but he’s been a bit hard headed his entire career, and if Leo Mazzone and Dave Duncan couldn’t get to him, I don’t see the Cubs coaching staff doing any better with him. One positive with Marquis is that he’s been solid at the plate, and can give a team a valuable pinch hitter late in long games. But that attribute alone isn’t worth $7 million a year. Overall, Marquis will deliver league-average or slightly below that in stats, and a middling record. He won’t be worth even this seemingly modest contract.

And since I’ve touched on a former Cardinals pitcher, it’s notable that the World Series champs have done little this offseason to fill the gaping holes in their pitching rotation. The Cardinals offered Jeff Suppan less money than the Cubs have given Jason Marquis, and the team is having problems in working out an agreement with Jeff Weaver. Barry Zito is not out of the team’s reach in budget, but the Cardinals have balked at offering “control” pitchers deals beyond three seasons. Unfortunately, the Cardinals philosophy reeks of making 2008 a rebuilding year. The team doesn’t have anyone in its minor league system ready to walk in and put up the numbers Suppan has for them over the past three seasons. In a couple seasons, the younger pitchers in the farm system may be ready, so it’s understandable that the team wouldn’t want to go four or five years on a #2 or #3 type pitcher, but I think they should make an exception with Suppan.

Should Suppan fetch $10 million plus per year? No. He never tossed a single complete game in his tenure with the Cardinals, and never quite pitched 200 innings in any of his seasons with St. Louis. If you average his 2006 numbers instead of looking at it by halves, Suppan actually averaged about what he actually did in 2004 and 2005. He was just a bit unlucky in the win department, and very lucky in the loss department. He’s the quintessential #3 guy in a rotation, a guy who generally gives his team six innings of 2-4 run ball while his gems outnumber his blowups by enough of a margin to put him modestly above league average. So he’s not a $10 million guy.

But he’s certainly worth more than the $7 million (or less, as reports indicate) per season for three seasons that the Cardinals have offered. Suppan does his homework and is a great guy for younger players to model themselves after. Suppan made every single one of his scheduled starts as a Cardinal, gave 5-8 solid innings in most of those starts, and hasn’t been on the disabled list since 1996. So, while I don’t believe the Cardinals should go crazy to keep Suppan, I think he’d stay if they made a good faith four year offer. The Cardinals would be hard pressed to find a better veteran starter for, say, a four year deal worth $32-36 million, but they certainly could do worse. So, I believe the Cardinals should make that type of offer to Suppan…then if he doesn’t accept, move on.

That’s all I have for now! For the latest developments in the baseball offseason, keep checking with us at To the Point and Back!

Curtis Hoekstra asked:


If you’ve hit a wall and can’t figure out what to get that “hard to buy for” person in your life…I think I can help. Why not give them the gift of fitness?

I mean, who DOESN’T want to look and perform better? Now, I am not talking about some whiz bang gizmo that will do nothing but waste your money…I am talking some really cool ideas that will bring big smiles and great results this holiday season.

Here are the Top 9 Holiday Gifts that will help keep your family and friends healthy, fit and fat free for 2009:

1.) A Foam Roller

If you’re like most, you are super busy now days. When you aren’t running errands, you’re hunched over a desk, slumped in front of the TV, chasing down the kids…or you’re doing something else.

So who has time for proper and safe stretching every day?

That’s when you grab for the foam roller. It’s an amazing little self-massage tool that will immediately help you loosen tight muscles, improve movement and reduce the chance for injury. It’s perfect for a quick 5 minute post-workout routine to start the muscle healing process from that intense interval training you do (or should be doing to lose body fat). Plus, the roller kneads and lengthens your muscles to alleviate nagging aches in your upper body, back, legs, hips, arms and shoulders.

2.) Resistance Bands

By far, the most convenient and affordable training equipment option for most fitness enthusiasts, beginners or experienced athletes.

Portability for awesome workouts and versatility for fun workout variety…enough said, right? If you’re a busy parent, grab one and get a quick routine right in your own home. If you need more or less resistance, bands are available in different sizes. What could be easier?

3.) Gift Card to Sporting Goods Supply Store (Fitness Equipment/Apparel Items)

This is an easy one. Swing into Sports Authority, Sports Chalet, etc and pick up a gift card in most any denomination. This is awesome, because now the recipient gets to choose the right color, right size and the right item. Perfect!

4.) Gift Card to Health Food Store (Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Sprouts, etc.)

Everyone has to buy groceries, so why help them make healthier food choices? Of course, nutritionally supportive food is critical to any healthy lifestyle and this is a great place to start.

5.) Spa/Massage Therapist Gift Card

Most of us are super busy and so tense from the hustle of day to day life, we sometimes forget to stop take a break…and feel the healing power of a massage! Although we already talked about the amazing benefits a foam roller will provide, but nothing replaces a day in the hands of a trained masseuse.

6.) Supplements That Actually Work: Quality Protein, Fish Oil, Multi-Vitamins

There are so many “wonder” products for nutrition, it is downright confusing…so let’s narrow it down to few key ones that provide proven benefits.

Quality protein powder can provide a quick fix on the go, a nutritionally balance supplement to any healthy diet, especially after a high intensity interval workout.

Fish oil (or more accurately described as an EFA ‘essential fatty acid’ supplement) is paramount to giving your body the proper amount of omega 3’s to maximize your overall health, fitness ability and body healing and recovery. Another thing, you should also look for “krill oil”, which has been shown to provide the most effective dosing of EFAs.

A high quality multi-vitamin provides the right balance of nutrients a lot of us typically lack. Since nobody’s dietary intake is PERFECT, we can all benefit from a good vitamin. Here’s the catch…you need to make sure it is made from whole foods, not synthetic material and be certain it is made specifically for your gender.

7.) Sport Specific Gifts

Simple stuff here…you have a baseball player on your list. They might really love a new bat or set of batting gloves. Football fan who loves the New York Jets? A new Brett Favre jersey might be the ticket. Steeler’s fan (like me) on your list? A snazzy new t-shirt might just be the winning idea. Even something as inexpensive as a team keychain can be a very cool gift.

8.) Fitness Book or Sport Magazine Subscription

Men’s Health or Women’s Health magazines are great choices…and the fitness book list is virtually endless. Pick a topic, pick a sport, pick an activity, pick a player…there are a ton of books available. Hit your local bookstore or online site like Amazon. Again, you can’t lose.

9.) A Gift Card to a Fitness Boot Camp

This is by far the most exciting, fun and motivating workout environment for beginners to avid fitness enthusiasts. Because boot camp workouts allow participants to excel at their own pace under the guidance of a personal trainer in a group setting, this is an excellent investment for anyone looking to jump start their training or try something new.

Plus, look for camps to be confident enough in their programs to offer free trials or money back guarantee for all newcomers. If the program is a good fit, you’re likely to continue the program and see great results.

So join a camp with a friend or family member, or simply pick up the tab for a loved one. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper than hiring a trainer for 1-on-1 sessions, and the it’s a lot more fun too.

Trust me when I say that boot camp workouts, regardless of your current fitness ability, can change the way you look at effective exercise and will have you and your loved ones feeling slimmer and stronger in 2009.

Have an amazing holiday and happy New Year everyone!

Matthias Koster asked:


The 2009 edition of the Toronto Blue Jays is, how do you say, odd. With a mixture of established players, over the hill veterans, youngsters and a few legitimate stars the roster features a little bit of everything. Now will this mixture be enough to earn Toronto its first MLB playoff appearance since 1993?

Rotation

The rotation has had its fair share of injuries in the past year. Front line starters such as Shaun Marcum and McGowan will both most likely miss the entire season. Number two starter AJ Burnett was lured by over $100 million to join the New York Yankees. Even back of the rotation pitching options such as Casey Jannsen have suffered injuries. This leaves the blue jays with a mix of veterans and youth in the rotation. The number one starter will be former American League Cy Young award winner (as well as 2008 runner-up) Roy Halladay. Following him will be Jesse Litsch and David Purcey. Rounding out the rotation will be Scott Richmond and Ricky Romero. Even with the injuries this is a strong staff.

Bullpen

The bullpen is stocked. Some would say that there are too many good pitchers in the bullpen. The closers is BJ Ryan, although Brandon League and Jeremy Accardo

are both very capable of filling the closer role at the major league level. Left-handed pitcher Scott Downs is the go to pitcher out of the pen. Rounding things out are Jesse Carlson and others. The Jays can seemingly take any pitcher and turn them into a strong bullpen hand. Pitching is certainly the strength of the ballclub.

Offense

The offense is a mixture of former all-stars and youngsters. Scott Rolen, Vernon Wells and Alex Rios have all made all-star appearances in the past. Rios would probably be considered the Jays strongest batter, followed by Wells. Playing first base is lefty Lyle Overbay. At second is the returning Aaron Hill. Hill missed the majority of the 2008 season due to injury. Marco Scutaro will play short and can play virtually anywhere on the diamond. Scott Rolen is of course the third baseman. In the outfield are the youngsters that we’ve spoken about, Adam Lind and Travis Snider. Both are left-handed power hitters that can hit one out of the park or strike out at anytime. The Jays really have four outfielders, with Lind, Snider, Wells and Rios, so one of them will have to hit in the DH role from time to time (most likely Lind or Snider). Behind the plate is Rod Barajas, although a young prospect in the minor league system named J.P. Arencibia is quickly approaching the major leagues. The Jays run a “lay and pray” offense that is built around walks, doubles and home runs. Under manager Cito Gaston the Jays attempted the fewest stolen bases of any major league club in the second half of last season.

Will the 2009 Toronto Blue Jays be able to find success? The AL east is certainly tough but many baseball experts will tell you that pitching wins championships. With arguably the AL’s best overall pitching staff the Jays have a chance to surprise experts and fans alike in 2009.



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CampChaosStudios asked:

Dick Vitale loves March Madness. Maybe too much. Watch as Dickie V proves it.

Gen Wright asked:


With major league baseball 2008 coming to an end, baseball fans are looking forward to another new and exciting season. Major league baseball has always been full of drama, punctuated with unexpected wins and losses. Perhaps that is why so many loyal baseball fans keep coming back year after year for more action.

The buzz has already started. Fans are talking about who is going to be the next best team in a brand new season. If you are into sports betting, perhaps you may be interested to know which teams may just snatch the unexpected win next season. Here are some possibilities.

1)The Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks finished second in their division. For sure, there are some really talented players on the team. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are coming up as top talents. Fans are hoping that they would make it postseason. They are likely to do well mainly because they have so many young talents on the team. And when you have a very young team, the energy levels can be electrifying. Also, younger players tend to have a stronger desire to win. Besides, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a great young talent system to fall back on for more great players. 2009 looks set to be a promising year for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2) The Florida Marlins

The Marlins may surprise everyone simply because they are in a weaker division. This means that they have a better chance of performing in their division. They are up against the Braves and Mets, and both teams seem to be heading southwards in their performances. In their division, the Marlins have a comparatively strong line up. The infielders average 30 home runs, with Jorge Cantu and Mike Jacobs leading the pack. Their Achilles heel appears to be in pitching. Overall, the entire team is still youthful, with only one player above 30.

3) The Cleveland Indians

The Indians did amazingly well in the 2008 season, to the surprise of many baseball fans. They quietly finished 7.5 games back in the AL Central. It’s surprising because they managed to achieve that result without the services of their number 3 and number 4 hitter from 2007! The team has proven that even in the absence of a few star players, it still has the ability to win games in the league. They managed to achieve their stunning result because they had talented players as their backups. They almost seem like secret weapons because so much attention had been placed on star players like catcher Victor Martinez and slugger Travis Hafner.

As you can observe, sometimes, it’s the underdogs that come out and surprise everyone with unexpected wins. Perhaps, without being in the limelight for once, pressure is eased off and players start to perform better. And if you are looking for surprise teams in the 2009 season, look out for the quiet teams!



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Mienfoks asked:

Spring Equinox brings, the spring break & St Patrick’s Day drinking & fertility rituals.March ends with sports ultimate grid ritual- college basketball’s March Madness, all to determine who is number 1 !

Bob Acton asked:


The New York Yankees look like they flew to Detroit on a broom rather then a jet and they may leave the wooden sweeper when they depart the motor city just before midnight tonight.

The pinstripers have sent an emphatic message to the upstart bengals, that they are the bullies of the American East. I have been propping the Tigers pitching but both the starters and relievers have been awful this week, being outscored 21-7.

While we are blasting the pitchers, the offense must have the finger pointed at them as seven runs in three games against the anemic Yankee pitching is embarrassing.

The Tigers hit five consecutive grounders to Miguel Cairo in the first and second innings to give him five assists and a putout on Detroit’s first six batters.

Detroit’s Nate Robertson (5-3) allowed six runs and 10 hits, walking two and striking out seven in 8 2-3 innings.

Certainly have to question Angel’s general manager Bill Stoneman’s decision to award pitcher Kelvim Escobar a whopping $28 million for three years. The guy is only three games over .500 (77-74) and is 19-19 in his career with the Angels.

Escobar gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, $8.5 million in 2007, $9 million in 2008 and $9.5 million in 2009.

The pitcher signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Angels on Nov. 24, 2003, after pitching five full seasons and parts of two others with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was 11-12 with a 3.93 ERA in 33 starts in 2004 and 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in seven starts and nine relief appearances last season.

I mean the entire 25 man roster of Florida is getting $14 million and that includes all star Dontrelle Willis, while Escobar is grabbing $9 million. Go figure?

Three major components of their team’s ultimate success were reported suffering from injuries on Wednesday. Jake Peavey the stud of the Padres starting staff, Vernon Wells the star center fielder of the Jays and Jim Edmonds the leader of the Cardinals outfielder.

Bob Acton

Online Sports Betting



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January 20th, 2009 asked:


How many different, unique brackets are possible?