Miracle Covers

Monday

Two more losing plays for us on Sunday, pushing the May record to 3-4.  Neither was as bad as the score indicated, but they of course count the same.  Three potential plays today, all of which are going to be passes 1-2 hours before game time as I am in no mood for crappy bookmaker lines.  All are 7-10 off of Pinnacle.  For reference, they are all home teams, both Chicagos and the Marlins.  Slightly tempted to take the Royals, but it’s not quite good enough for a play.

I had some notes this morning on today’s totals as well, but seeing as though my numbers site for those is down, that will be a pass today as well.  Potential for soccer tomorrow as well as a full slate of MLB again.

Sunday

0-2 yesterday we’ll try and do better today.

Cardinals (Lynn) @ Reds (Arroyo) -103

Braves (Minor) @ Dodgers (MaGill) +150

Thursday

No plays in MLB yesterday, but a fun day nonetheless.  The White Sox and Mariners conspired to produce the best Miracle Cover of the season.  After 13 innings of scoreless baseball, both team scored 5 in the 14th with the Sox ultimately winning 7-5 in 15.  Both teams used their entire bullpen yesterday and it’s affecting today’s lines and not something my rudimentary system knows how to deal with.  Seattla & Chicago are both showing as plays at the moment, but it’s unclear right now if I’ll be playing them or not.

As far as our leans yesterday, Boston & Texas went under but Milwaukee got smushed.  The Brewers have just been awful with only 8 wins since May 1.  It’s their starting pitching that has been the problem and easily the worst in the NL.  Kyle Lohse has a 4.39 and everyone else is over 5.00.  If they still had Fielder and a healthy Corey Hart, they could probably get away with being .500 or so, but instead they have been taking a zero at 1-2 positions a night and it’s just not working.  I’m not sure if it’s feasible to bring back largely the same team next year so their GM will need to decide this summer whether to blow up part of the team and start over.

NL Superdork June Update

For the two people who care, here is where my team stands after two months in the NL Superdork:

And for the second month running, the first place team is the one I ripped for having a horrific draft.  I managed to touch first place for a day or so but then dropped back down into the pack.  The Blasters in 3rd have dumped wins and took advantage of Casey trading a $1 Tony Cigriani for Yonder Alonso about a week before Cigriani was demoted to AAA.  They also basically swapped Cole Hamels for Matt Kemp, a move that hasn’t worked yet but will pay off in the 2nd half once Kemp returns from the DL.  I have been toying with the idea of punting saves after missing out on Heath Bell by a dollar in FAAB bidding.  Kevin Gregg who I picked up hasn’t had a save opportunity in three weeks (Go Cubs Go!)

The lineup is improving though I need to make a trade to boost my average and steals at some point as Uggla and Upton (and Headley and Venable to a lesser extent) are really dragging the batting average down.  It’s Gonzalez, Votto, Pence and a bunch of schmos there.  I should get to add Rendon this week once he plays a game at 2b.  Colvin is only in the lineup this week because I needed to make a bench spot to pick up Carlos Martinez, who will hopefully join the Cardinals rotation in July.

Lastly, I just want to emphasize the importance of the end of a draft/auction.  These are the last 5 players I picked up in the auction, all for $1:

22,12 285 Team Lou $1 Ziegler, Brad (P ARI)
22,2 275 Team Lou $1 Villanueva, Carlos (P CHC)
23,6 292 Team Lou $1 Schumaker, Skip (2B LAD)
23,10 296 Team Lou $1 Hudson, Daniel (P ARI)
23,12 298 Team Lou $1 Gregorius, Didi (SS ARI)

Hudson obviously hasn’t pitched yet this season, but Ziegler and Villanueva have combined for 3 wins and a 3.45 ERA.  Gregorius and Schumaker are combined for 70 RP and a non-shitty batting average, even if the power and steals have been negligible.  I likely would not be scuffling around the money places without these guys.  In fantasy, plate appearances are the single most important currency for an offense, and for pitching, the middle relievers matter a lot more than people think.

Wednesday

We went 2-0 yesterday as Milwaukee came back to win in 10 and our total was never in doubt. Two potential plays for today on Under 9 In Boston vs. Texas and possibly on Milwaukee again still versus Oakland. The Boston line may be up 1/2 a run or so because of the 22 runs the teams combined for yesterday. Lackey is going tonight for the Sox and don’t call it a comeback just yet, but he’s 3-5 with a 2.98 and striking out a batter an inning. If he can keep the strikeout rate up, there’s no reason he can’t end the year in the mid-to-high threes with double digit wins and basically be the solid 3rd starter he was in Anaheim.

Updates around 1:30 and again whenever the 7pm lineups are released.

UPDATE: Brewers and Sox under are both going to be passes but close ones.  Trying to keep the perfect record for June intact :)

MLB Tuesday June 4th

Back in degen land today where Sean has been doing an exceptional job of keeping this place running while baseball has been empty and sad the last few days. No plays either Sunday or yesterday, hence the radio silence. Sean’s now 1-1 in NBA on the year with the big win last night. :)

Today in MLB has a full slate of games with 13 of the 15 being home favorites. We are taking the only non-Astros of the home underdog bunch and playing Milwaukee (Lohse) -105 at home to Oakland (Griffin). This price started at +104 so we’re counting it there. Yes I’m cheating. A little.

One total tonight as well and it’s Toronto @ San Francisco U7.5.

Our MLB note today comes from Baltimore where Nate McClouth has not only fixed whatever was broken with himself a couple of seasons ago, but has developed into a base stealer extraordinaire. He’s second in the AL in stolen bases with 19 behind only Jacoby Ellsbury and has been caught only once, a rate that even Carlos Beltran would be proud of. Baltimore as a team is running a lot more this season and is 3rd in MLB in both steals and percentage. It makes me wonder if steals need to be projected on a team level first and at an individual level second.

Monthly NL Superdork update coming tomorrow.

MLB End of May

Last post of the month and we are 12-12 for May so tonight will determine if we only win at life, or if we win at baseball too. 12-12 +0.88 for May for those keeping track. We won our under last night as most of the scoring happened late but stopped at 7 runs on our U7.5. Only one play today and that is in Minnesota where we are taking Pelfrey +113 at home to the Mariners and Iwakuma.

No soccer plays in a blah weekend. It’s only MLS and the odd International until August. Likely away tomorrow & hungover on Sunday so there may not be much action until next week.

Good luck out there.

MLB Plays 5/30

I am pretty sure I have stumbled upon my baseball Raiders.  For some reason, I have an unhealthy obsession with picking the Oakland Raiders.  It seems that the baseball equivalent for me, at least this year, are the Miami Marlins.  All plays @ 24.

Brewers @ Twins Under 8.5 -108

Rays @ Marlins (+1.5) -119

A’s @ Giants Over 7.5 +101