Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Yankees Win, Down $10

CC Sabathia didn't pitch great and got lucky. He gave up 11 hits in 6 innings, but only allowed 2 runs. More times than not he should have given up more than 2 runs.

Portfolio: $812 (-11.8% return)
S&P 500: $1178 (27.9% return)

Today's Games

None

Elimination Game In The AL

Portfolio: $822 (-10.7% return)
S&P 500: $1182 (28.3% return)

Today's Games

Texas (+150) @ NY Yankees (-170)

In game 5 of the ALCS C.J. Wilson is matched up against C.C. Sabathia. Wilson has pitched pretty well this postseason and CC has had one good and one average start. I like the Rangers in this game because CC is not a big game pitcher. I was shocked he came through last year and will be shocked if he comes through again. Being a Cleveland Indians fan I saw him always fold under pressure. I don't care how CJ Wilson pitches because I don't have faith in Sabathia and I think the Yankees will be able to see that in him too during the game.

Bets

$10 TEX +150

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Lee Masterful as Rangers Go Up 2-1, Portfolio Up $10

Now that was fun to watch last night. I don't know how to explain it other than it was a work of art. Lee was hitting the corners on every pitch and had the Yankees fooled all night. It's not that often you see so many strike outs looking.

Portfolio: $822 (-10.7% return)
S&P 500: $1166 (26.6% return)

Today's Games

None

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Giants Win, Up $30

That was a pretty good game Saturday night and it went just as I thought.

Portfolio: $812 (-11.8% return)
S&P 500: $1176 (27..7% return)

Today's Game (Monday 10/18)

Texas (-120) @ NY Yankees (-110)

Game 3 of the ALCS features two lefties, Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte. Lee has quickly become one of the better postseason pitchers in recent history and dominated in his two starts against the Rays. He fared pretty well against the Yankees this season and won 2 games against them in last years World Series. It should be fun to watch him going up against the best hitting lineup in baseball because he challenges everybody. He never gives in as he's only walked 18 batters in 228 innings including the postseason. He strikes out his fair share of batters, but really doesn't have a great strikeout pitch. Most of his punch outs come from fastballs. Pettitte threw like his normal self in game 2 of the ALDS. Hitter's just had a hard time squaring him up. I don't see Lee slowing down and I feel the Rangers have a confidence with him on the mound, so I like the slightly favored Rangers to go up 2-1.

Bets

$12 TEX -120

Saturday, October 16, 2010

NLCS Game 1

Portfolio: $782 (-15.1% return)
S&P 500: $1176 (27.7% return)

Today's Game

San Francisco (+150) @ Philadelphia (-170)

In game 1 of the NCLS Tim Lincecum is matched up against Roy Halladay. I'm not sure if there has ever been two hotter pitchers to face each other in the postseason. Here's their combined numbers from their division series starts: 2 wins, 18 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, and 22 strikeouts. Each pitcher faced the other team once this year, and both were in April. Lincecum dominated while Halladay struggled. That was so long ago though. I do believe Lincecum has handled the Phillies pretty well in the past, even in Philly. His change up is his best pitch and that kills lefties. I think when Lincecum is on that he is the best pitcher in the game. If his blister is not an issue I look for him to out duel Halladay in what should be a fun game to watch. Look for the Giants to be aggressive on offense by swinging early in the count and for the Phillies to be aggressive on the base paths as Lincecum is poor at managing the running game. I think the Phillies will take Lincecum deep once and the Giants will score 2-3 runs from multiple hits in an inning. I see the final score being 4-2 in favor of the Giants.

Bets

$20 SF +150

Friday, October 8, 2010

Lincecum Unhittable, Up $0

Tim Lincecum tried his best to match Roy Halladay by throwing a complete game 2 hitter. He also added 14 strikeouts with only 1 walk. What we saw the last two days is pretty rare. I know pitching is always good in the postseason, but not this good. It should be fun to see how this plays out. A Lincecum vs. Halladay matchup would be very good.

Portfolio: $782 (-15.1% return)
S&P 500: $1165 (26.5% return)

Today's Games

None

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

0-2, Down $23

I couldn't have been more wrong about the Reds/Phillies game. Volquez had a deer in the headlights look while Halladay looked like he's pitched in the postseason for years. What a great performance by Halladay.

Portfolio: $772 (-16.2% return)
S&P 500: $1160 (26% return)

Today's Games (Thursday 10/7)

Atlanta (+140) @ San Francisco (-160)

In the only game I like Thursday Derek Lowe is matched up against Tim Lincecum. Lowe has had a typical season for him and has really come on as of late. He is one of the best ground ball pitchers in the game and has very good control. Everything seems to be clicking for him lately as his strikeout rate is around 9 per 9 innings when his season and career average is around 6. He was a big reason the Braves held on at the end of the season after leading the division for most of the year. Lincecum had an up and down year but still managed a 16-10 record with a 3.43 ERA. By his standards that is average, but he has really come on down the stretch. Whatever got into him in the middle of the season is now gone. He has been more dominant that Lowe down the stretch and is a big reason the Giants made the playoffs. If you have read this blog in the past you know that I think Lincecum is the best pitcher in the game. After winning 2 CY Youngs in 4 years there is only one thing left for him to prove, and that is if he's a big game pitcher. The Giants have the worst offense in the playoffs and one of their main bats is a rookie (Posey), but their pitching from start to finish is unmatchable. I'll take Lincecum in his first postseason start.

Bets

$16 SF -160

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Let the Postseason Begin

Portfolio: $795 (-13.7% return)
S&P 500: $1161 (26.1% return)

Today's Games (Wednesday 10/6)

Texas (+110) @ Tampa Bay (-130)
Cincinnati (+190) @ Philadelphia (-230)

The first game is the battle of the lefties as Cliff Lee faces David Price. Both pitchers have been on top of their games and both have had success in the postseason before. I'm not sure if Josh Hamilton will be the same, and he is what makes their offense tick. That's just plain bad luck that he had to hurt his ribs. I know he played the last two games and hit a home run, but there is no way he is feeling normal. I think it's a big home field advantage for the Rays even though they have some of the worst fans. They are used to playing in the worst facility in the majors. The Rays have also hit Lee pretty good this year, beating him 3 times. Price pitched average in his only match up against the Rangers and received a no decision. Price has also been dominant at home with a 9-2 record and 1.96 ERA. As you can tell, I like the Rays in game 1 of the ALDS.

In the second game Edinson Volquez is matched up against Roy Halladay and the heavily favored Phillies. Volquex has pitched well lately and has great stuff, but he still struggles with control. He hasn't faced the Phillies this year, and in fact no one has faced him more than a couple of games. Raul Ibanez has 9 at bats against Volquez and that leads the team. I would say this favors Volquez. Halladay has been his usual dominant self lately and is coming off a complete game 2 hitter (no walks). He faced the Reds twice this year and pitched really well. The Reds are familiar with Halladay as three players have faced him over 30 times. Overall everyone has decent numbers against him. Also keep in mind that Halladay has never pitched in the postseason before and the Phillies are the favorite to win the World Series, so we'll see how he reacts to pressure. One way to tell if he's tight is if he comes out walking people. He never walks batters and that is one of the main reasons he is so good. I think the Reds are a good bet as a +190 underdog given that they have had success against Halladay and this is his first postseason start.

Bets

$13 TB -130
$10 CIN +190