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08/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs will be aiming to string together consecutive wins for the first time in over three weeks when the struggling club concludes a three-game series with the rival St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Chicago put an end to a three-game losing streak and avenged Friday's 6-3 loss to St. Louis by posting a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals yesterday afternoon. Carlos Zambrano threw 5 2/3 effective innings to pick up his first win since June 20, with Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee each hitting solo homers to help support the embattled Cubs pitcher.
Koyie Hill added an RBI double as Chicago scored three times in the first three innings against Cardinals All-Star Chris Carpenter. Zambrano (4-6), making only his second start since returning from a month-long suspension for a well-publicized dugout outburst, made the lead stand by limiting St. Louis to a pair of runs on seven hits.
"Zambrano was much better [Saturday]," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella of his starter, who walked seven batters in five innings in Tuesday's outing at San Francisco. "He had more velocity. He was just a better pitcher [Saturday]."
Three Chicago relievers held the Cardinals scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings after Zambrano's departure, with Carlos Marmol notching his 20th save of the year by working the final 1 1/3 frames.
Carpenter (13-4) suffered only his fourth loss of 2010 after surrendering the three early runs. The standout righty lasted six innings and gave up six hits without a walk.
"He wasn't as sharp early and [the Cubs] got some runs," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of Carpenter. "I think he did a good job."
La Russa was watching Carpenter pitch from afar, as the longtime skipper was finishing serving a two-game suspension as a result of a benches-clearing incident between his team and the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. He'll be back in the dugout for today's finale.
Saturday's setback snapped a four-game win streak for St. Louis and placed the Cards in a virtual tie with the Reds for first place in the NL Central. Cincinnati won its game against Florida on Saturday.
Chicago, meanwhile, had lost 14 of 16 prior to yesterday's triumph and hasn't won back-to-back contests since defeating the Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 23 and 24.
Today the Cubs turn to the pitcher responsible for the only two victories during that above-mentioned swoon. Ryan Dempster beat Milwaukee on August 4 after yielding three unearned runs and just three hits over six innings, then followed up with a winning effort at San Francisco this past Tuesday. The veteran right-hander did give up four runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Giants, but only one was earned due to three errors Chicago committed on the night.
Dempster has been one of the more consistent members of a disappointing Cubs rotation, as he's tied for the team lead with 10 wins and has posted a respectable 3.66 ERA in 24 starts. The native Canadian has also struck out 147 batters in 157 1/3 innings of work.
The 33-year-old faced the Cardinals in Wrigley Field back on July 25 and received a no-decision in a 4-3 Chicago loss after allowing three runs in seven innings. For his career, Dempster is 6-7 with a 4.51 ERA over 43 appearances (17 starts) against St. Louis.
He'll be opposed this afternoon by Kyle Lohse, with the Cardinals hurler set to make his first start in the majors in nearly three months. Lohse last pitched for St. Louis on May 22, when he was rocked for six runs in 3 1/3 innings of a home loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The right-hander went on the disabled list immediately afterward for a forearm injury that required surgery.
Lohse has made four rehab starts for Triple-A Memphis in preparation for today's assignment, and showed he's ready to return after putting together an excellent seven-inning stint for the Redbirds on Tuesday. He allowed just one run and three hits while striking out nine batters against Reno that night.
The 31-year-old, who went 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA in nine starts before being shelved, will try to improve upon a 1-3 record and 5.59 ERA over nine career meetings with the Cubs.
These NL Central foes have split eight overall matchups this season, but the Cardinals are 8-3 against the Cubs at Busch Stadium since the start of the 2009 campaign.
<< Astros seeking to pin another loss on pitiful Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty J.A. Happ meets the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first
time in a Houston uniform today, when the Astros aim for a three-game sweep
against the visiting Bucs in the finale of a weekend set at Minute Maid Park.
The Astro
<< Red-hot Twins take aim at sweep of A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- Looking to put distance between themselves and the Chicago
White Sox in the American League Central, the Minnesota Twins will try to
continue their winning ways when they host the Oakland Athletics today in the
finale of a t
<< Tigers shoot for much-needed series win in Chicago
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- Looking for his first win since late June, Armando
Galarraga will toe the rubber this afternoon for Detroit as the Tigers battle
the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular
Field.
Galarraga h
<< Feyenoord falters at Excelsior
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Guyon Fernandez scored two goals,
including the game-winner in stoppage time, to propel Excelsior to a 3-2 win
over Feyenoord on Sunday.
Fernandez was responsible for putting his team in fro
Red Sox, Rangers to hold rubber match of exciting set >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In what has turned out to be an exciting battle, the Texas
Rangers and the Boston Red Sox will take the field this afternoon for the
finale of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
After falling to the Rang
Rox' Jimenez standing in way of Brewers' potential series win >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers are in position to take a series from
the Colorado Rockies on the road for the first time in five years. With Ubaldo
Jimenez set to take the mound for the home team in this afternoon's rubber
match of th
Padres to renew acquaintances with Giants ace Lincecum >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The San Francisco Giants were able to come up with a long-
awaited and much-needed victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Now the
current National League West runner-ups will send out ace Tim Lincecum in
hopes of win
Haren attempts to push Angels past Blue Jays >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- Fresh off his first win for his new team, Dan Haren will
head back to the mound for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim when they battle
the Toronto Blue Jays today in the finale of a three-game series at Angel
Stadium.
Af
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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