White Sox back on the road after ugly homestand

Baseball Betting Lines

08/14/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox wrapped up their recent six-game homestand leaving plenty to be desired, much like how their entire 2007 season can be described to this point.

The team began the month with a glimmer of hope, carrying a four-game win streak on the road over the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. But the momentum quickly dissipated upon returning home to U.S. Cellular Field, where the Sox are now just 26-32 on the season.

During the homestand, Chicago lost two of three to the Cleveland Indians and two of three to the Seattle Mariners. It all began last Tuesday with a 2-1 loss to Cleveland, as John Danks was charged with a loss despite turning in his best pitching performance since June. Danks (six innings, two runs) and the bullpen kept the Sox in the game, but the Chicago lineup could muster only one run off of the Jake Westbrook-Joe Borowski tandem.

Chicago's lone win in that series came in dramatic fashion last Wednesday, as Juan Uribe made up for two costly errors, one of which allowed the go-ahead run to score in the 12th inning, by belting a three-run blast in the 13th. But that win was overshadowed by Thursday's 7-5 loss to Cleveland, in which starter Mark Buehrle was tagged for seven runs in four innings, his shortest outing since April.

The Mariners came into town over the weekend, and the White Sox responded with a 5-3 win in Friday's series opener, which was fueled by a pair of home runs off the bat of Josh Fields. But once again, the celebration of that win was short-lived.

Despite another five RBI by Fields on Saturday, the Sox could not overcome an early hole dug by starter Gavin Floyd, who gave up seven runs in four innings. And on Sunday, Chicago was shutout by struggling pitcher Jeff Weaver, who held the White Sox hitters to just five hits while striking out eight batters.

Still, none of the White Sox players appear ready to throw in the towel on the season.

"We feel like we are still in it," right fielder Jermaine Dye told the team's official Web site over the weekend. "We have many more games against our division, and it's a chance to get something going. We are playing good baseball and have to build off what we are doing every night."

Getting something going against their division rivals may be easier said than done for a White Sox team that was just blanked by Weaver, who carried a 3-10 record and a 6.20 ERA into Sunday's game.

JENKS ETCHES HIS NAME IN THE RECORD BOOKS

On Sunday, closer Bobby Jenks tied Jim Barr's all-time record of 41 straight batters retired. It's a streak that began on July 17th and spans 14 appearances. In other words, Jenks has pitched the equivalent of a perfect game, in addition to another 4 2/3 innings.

"For him to go almost 14 innings and not walk a guy, not hit a guy, or not have a guy make an error, or a wild pitch or anything, that is pretty amazing," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the team's site.

Jenks has not commented, nor will he until the streak is over. He may have a chance to take sole possession of the record Tuesday in Oakland. Back in April, however, he was charged with a blown save in Oakland.

WHO'S HOT

Aside from Jenks, the bullpen as a whole has performed well of late. The relievers have combined to go 25 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run. In addition, the bullpen has not been charged with a loss since July 17th.

Offensively, Dye and Pierzynski have carried the lineup over the last month. Dye, who struggled massively in the first half of the season, has caught fire since the All-Star break and is hitting at a .313 clip in his last 99 at- bats. Pierzynski is hitting .329 in his last 82 at-bats.

WHO'S NOT

Floyd, with an 8.20 ERA over his last five games, has pitched his way out of the starting rotation. Danks, who has collected four losses and amassed a 6.89 ERA in his last six starts, is by no means safe from the same fate.

A LOOK AHEAD

Kicking off the series in Oakland tonight will be Jon Garland (8-7, 4.56) against Lenny DiNardo (6-6, 3.28). Tomorrow, Buehrle (9-7, 3.34) squares off against Joe Blanton (9-8, 4.10). And on Thursday, Javier Vazquez (10-6, 3.65) wraps up the series opposite Dan Haren (13-4, 2.53).

The White Sox are in Oakland on Friday, as Miguel Batista (12-8, 4.13) faces Jose Contreras (6-14, 6.24), who has pitched his way back into the starting rotation after a stint in the bullpen. Ironically, Contreras tossed five shutout innings out of the 'pen last Saturday in relief of Floyd, who he is replacing in the rotation.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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FOOTBALL TRASH TALK

NFL Football Trash Talk

Trash talk has a place in every competitive endeavor (except baseball; those stirrup-wearers are too busy chewing on their sunflower seeds and their supplements to worry about what their opponents are doing).

Fantasy sports is no exception. Any intelligent discussion of the subject would probably start with a thesis statement or a definition of terms. Thankfully, this wont be an intelligent discussion.

Let me just say that I am happy to take a place in this space alongside my talented colleagues, even our commissioner. (You should see how she bleats like a demented paper boy about league fees on our fantasy site).

Trash talking, I would argue, is primarily about amusing your friends, their sheeplike demeanors and sloping foreheads notwithstanding. The best place I have found for football trash talking is at www.SportsAlarm.com.

Beyond the entertainment factor, though, I would recognize that the sophomoric ritual has one advantage, when properly applied. It magnifies your fantasy triumphs and mitigates your fantasy failures by transforming the eventual point total into an afterthought. Winning makes it seem like your opponent really is a truss-owning, lapel-pin-wearing nitwit. And in defeat, trash talk can be the air bag to break the fall from your hyperbolic heights. The plug-necked yahoos on your team, you can say, will be sacking groceries by the end of the season.

The best trash talk, in my view, is layered and nuanced. And it doesnt focus only on your opponents team. It picks apart your opponent. The idea is to create a shock-and-awe-scale blizzard of nonsense, and the goal is to make your opponent drop his hands from his keyboard in exasperation.

What team does your opponent root for? Accuse a Giants fan of having a Joe Namath pillowcase. Wheres your opponent from? Give a look of concern no matter his reply, then say, I'll try to type slower for you next time. Is your opponent into politics? Label everyone a tax-and-spend corporate shill.

Cap all that with a liberal application of irrelevance. For instance, dont just conclude by saying your opponent is a twerp who drafts like my grandmother. Say that your opponent is a sweater-wearing, eyebrow-plucking twerp who drafts his team about as well as Zsa Zsa Gabor gave acceptance speeches at the Oscars. By the time your foe makes sense of that, his starting running back will have had puppies.

But what about you? Hmm? Recall a memorable slam? Have a tried-and-true technique? Know someone who seems impervious to insult? Take a moment and tells us about it. Put together some (fit-for-publication) thoughts. You wont be too busy returning phone messages from your friends, Im sure, to reply.

In addition to the trash talking, the Sports Alarm has a huge gallery of high resolution pictures of beautiful women and models in bikinis. The most popular models are: Lindsay Lohan, Carrie Underwood, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Paris Hilton.