SprungOnSports Week 10 Picks ATS
Thursday
San Francisco (+3) over Chicago (Bob Pappa, Matt Millen)- The Niners will run the ball well and execute the play-action pass against a Bears defense without any momentum at all going on a short week. Jay Cutler seems to wilt in prime time games and this affair should be no different as the Niners keep their season alive.
Sunday
Tennessee over Buffalo (Bills cover 6.5 point spread) (Ian Eagle, Rich Gannon)- While the Bills can’t stop the run, they’re secondart has been superb at turning QB’s over and they should be able to do just that against Vince Young. Buffalo shouldn’t be able to do much on offense but they should stay in it and cover.
New Orleans (+13.5) over St. Louis (Chris Rose, Trent Green)- The crew is bad and so is this game. Steven Jackson is the only hope but the Saints should rip the Rams in every possible way. How else would New Orleans be a two TD favorite over a team?
Miami over Tampa Bay (Buccaneers cover 10 point spread) (Ron Pitts, John Lynch)- The Bucs are playing with confidence and the Dolphins haven’t been able to get much done on offense the last two weeks. Tampa Bay should have some success moving the ball but it won’t be enough to best a desperate Dolphins team.
Minnesota (+16.5) over Detroit (Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan)- Matt Stafford threw five picks last week and this week has to deal with an excellent Vikings pass rush and one of the game’s best RB’s in Adrian Peterson. If Brett Favre can keep on playing the way he has been it shouldn’t be close and Minnesota should cover.
Jacksonville over NY Jets (Dick Enberg, Dan Fouts)- The Jets have shown they can stop the run, but going against Maurice Jones-Drew and receivers like Torry Holt and Mike Sims-Walker may be too much. Mark Sanchez has to play well for this team to win, and I smell a road upset in the Meadowlands.
Pittsburgh (+7) over Cincinnati (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms)- The Steelers run defense should be able to bottle up Cedric Benson and Pittsburgh will devote their coverage to stopping Chad Johnson. Cincy played very well on defense against Joe Flacco last week but won’t be able to do that against Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh should win and take control of the AFC North.
Denver (+3.5) over Washington (Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf)- Denver may have lost their last two games, but the Redskins without Clinton Portis are the ultimate slump buster. Champ Bailey should be fired up in his return to Washington as should the defense. Kyle Orton should have an excellent day through the air and the Broncos should cruise.
Atlanta (+1.5) over Carolina (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa)- DeAngelo Williams is one of the hottest RB’s now along with Chris Johnson and Michael Turner and all the Falcons need to do to win is stop him. I think their pass rush should be able to Jake Delhomme and Atlanta should be able to protect Matt Ryan and get a big division road win.
Kansas City over Oakland (Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker)- While both teams are better, I think the Chiefs are better as an organization without Larry Johnson and I think Chris Chambers should really emerge as Matt Cassel’s go-to guy. Look for the Chiefs to step up on defense and take this one.
San Diego (+2) over Philadelphia (Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick)- Donovan McNabb seems due for a bad game and the Eagles offense seemed to suffer without Brian Westbrook, who probably won’t be at 100% even if he plays. Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie should limit the big play and Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense should do enough for the win.
Arizona over Seattle (Seahawks cover 8.5 point spread) (Dick Stockton, Charles Davis)- The Cardinals have been oddly struggling at home this season, and I expect the same against a disciplined Seahawks team. Arizona should do enough through the air to get the win, but I say Seattle keeps it close.
Dallas (+3) over Green Bay (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)- Green Bay’s offensive line is just like the cheese the fans wear on their heads. A potent Dallas pass rush should ensure that the Packers offense doesn’t do too much and the Cowboys passing game with Tony Romo should continue to carry their momentum into Lambeau and earn the team a win.
New England over Indianapolis (Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth)- New England should be able to stop the Indianapolis running game and may be able to force some pressure on Peyton Manning. But the Patriots should be able to run the ball well with Laurence Maroney which will make a huge difference. The Colts are playing against two rookie CB’s and Randy Moss and Wes Welker should take full advantage and hand the Colts their first loss of the season.
MLB Hot Stove Talk
First of all, a happy 41st birthday to Sammy Sosa, or that white guy that looks like Sammy Sosa. Should Red Sox Nation be happy with Jason Varitek picking up his $3 million option for next season? That’s a lot to pay a backup catcher with eroding skills, but will they give him a pass since’s he’s still the captain? I’d like to hear the opinions of the BoSox fans on this one. Yahoo! Sports has a nice article debating the Varitek topic. Do you think Jim Riggleman is the right man for the Washington job over Bobby Valentine?
2:25pm Eastern
-Jon Heyman quoted a GM who feels sorry for the Tigers situation and that Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Brandon Inge and others could be on the block. The Dodgers do not appear to be big free agent players and won’t be in on John Lackey. As I’ve reported, the McCourt split could and seemingly is crippling this organization financially. The Yankees want Johnny Damon back for two years and Scott Boras wants four. The Giants have emerged as a possible destination. The “Mets, Red Sox, Giants, Braves, incumbent Cardinals and, perhaps, the Mariners, Angels and Yankees” are in on Matt Holliday. One GM finds it curious that the Angels aren’t trying harder to resign Lackey. I’ll clue him in, Lackey is a great NL ace-type power pitcher, but gets injured too often to trust long term. The Angels could be surprise Roy Halladay players. The “Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Nationals, Giants, Phillies, Rangers and Orioles” are interested in Mark DeRosa. The Yankees and Cubs are interested in Granderson and Texas could want Milton Bradley back. Baltimore could be interested in Joe Crede. The Dodgers are one team that has shown interest in Luis Castillo, which confirms Buster Olney’s observation below.
1:55pm Eastern
-Buster Olney says that the Dodgers are aggresively looking for a 2B and lists Brandon Phillips and Dan Uggla as trade candidates. I guess that means Orlando Hudson is as good as gone. He also says that the Indians will listen on Kerry Wood, but his contract is huge.
1:10pm Eastern
-A really interesting look at how Scott Boras may market Matt Holliday from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
-Buster Olney says the Reds would love to trade Francisco Cordero, but the 2/25 remaining on his contract is a huge problem.
12:40pm Eastern
-At 9:26am of the comments, David O’Brien mentions that the possibility of Dan Uggla playing LF for the Braves next season. I’d also like to thank the folks coming to get their information here from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I hope the AJC readers keep spreading the word. Considering Uggla isn’t really a good defensive player at any position and packs some pop, what do you guys think?
12:25pm Eastern
-Adam McCalvy has a must-read post for Brewers fans about how Doug Melvin met with John Lackey’s agent, Braden Looper’s option and other free agents like Randy Wolf.
-Kansas City signed IF Wilson Betemit to a minor league deal, in my mind putting Alberto Callaspo’s status on the team in even more doubt. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be traded.
-Ed Price says that the A’s, Dodgers and seven other teams are interested in Jamey Carroll.
-Bryan Hoch says Japanese teams are interested in Kei Igawa.
10:25am Eastern
-The Orioles have discussed bringing Erik Bedard back, trading for Dan Uggla (SF has as well) and using Koji Uehara as the closer, says the Baltimore Sun. Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Pedro Feliz have been discussed at 3B.
-Among the many things discussed in this MLive.com article, the Phillies’ interest in signing Placido Polanco to play 3B. Chone Figgins has also piqued Philly’s interest.
-Lenny DiNardo is now a free agent for all you hardcore Royals fans, says Bob Dutton.
10:15am Eastern
-Tim Hudson’s three year, $27 million extension has been finalized, says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Now the AJC asks about what the team will do with Javier Vazquez. I say if they can trade Derek Lowe instead they do it, but if they need a power hitter badly, maybe trading Vazquez and going with Lowe, Huddy and Kawakami atop their rotation is a necessary evil.
-Among the highlights of Buster Olney’s insider blog are Reds and Tigers that could be available. They include Edwin Jackson, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Guillen, Bronson Arroyo, Brandon Phillips and Aaron Harang. Olney suggests sending Granderson and Dontrelle Willis to the Yankees (in an expanded trade that could bring Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen to NY instead of the D-Trainwreck), which I don’t see happening. Joel Sherman vehemently disagrees with me and says they would have to start with Austin Jackson and also give Ian Kennedy and AA SP Zach McAllister. Oakland liked versatile IF Jamey Carroll, the Giants want Brad Penny back and the Royals may not be done selling off players.
-Baltimore and the White Sox could be possibilities for Hideki Matsui, and Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 in Chicago mentioned that a couple of days ago. I doubt Godzilla makes sense for the Orioles, but Chicago could use a veteran replacement for Jermaine Dye.
-Mark Prior is working towards throwing for teams soon, says Corey Brock.
9am Eastern
Not much going on this early in the morning.
-Brad Lidge had successful surgery and should be ready for opening day, says Todd Zolecki.
-Baltimore signed C Michel Hernandez to a minor league deal, as per the Baltimore Sun.
Breaking NBA News: Hornets Fire Byron Scott
After a terrible 3-6 start to the season, the New Orleans Hornets have fired head coach Byron Scott, says ESPN’s Marc Stein. GM Jeff Bower will coach the team and former Bulls and USC coach Tim Floyd will be the top assistant.
What the Mets SHOULD Do
So the Hot Stove in baseball is upon us, the annoying time of year where annoying people call up obsessive radio stations during football, hockey, and basketball season and come up with unrealistic and annoying trade propositions and free agent signings. So to contribute to this annoying time of year, I, a veteran of WhatIfSports.com Hardball Dynasty, would like to give my ideas on how to “fix” and improve the Mets for 2010.
1) Move home plate up 5 feet, and lower the centerfield fence to 8 feet- it seems to me that the Mets got way too cute when they designed the ballpark, kind of like when I was 12 years old designing my own ballparks in a little scrapbook (funny, I designed a park that was similar to the new Yankee Stadium- I called it Bill Gates Field. OH WHAT A PROPHET I AM!), and deciding to make ballparks that were as wacky as humanly possible. The Mets probably had an overly creative 12 year old design their outfield. Why would someone put a 16 foot wall 408 feet away? Anyone? Therefore, move up the plate 5 feet so the deep right-center field gap is diminished to a more managable 410, and lower the center field fence to 8 feet so people other than Phat Albert (and Ryan Church) can hit a HR to Centerfield (and the distance will be 403)
2. If Jerry Manuel makes another unnecessary righty/righty- lefty/lefty matchup, fire him on the spot- Jerry talks waaaaaaaay too much about pitchers being crossover pitchers. Well Jerry, if you have them pitch to only batters that are the same side as which you throw, then they will BECOME non-crossover pitchers. Personally, I despise the way Jerry manages the bullpen, and he thinks way to much in the dugout.
3. Do NOT sign any Type A free agents- that includes John Lackey, Bengie Molina, and Matt Holliday. There are plenty of Type B free agents out there that can do just as good of a job as the others. There are many of these free agents, but the Type Bs include Rich Harden, Joel Pineiro, and Eric Bedard. Look up these catagories, and you’ll feel like an idiot when you find that you would sign 35 year old Bengie Molina and lose a 2nd round draft pick, and then sign John Lackey, and lose a 3rd round draft pick. I think the Mets should sign Eric Bedard, for he is a low cost option who, though is coming off surgery, can be filthy good when hes healthy, as is Rich Harden.
4. Sign a LF and 1B for at most 2 years- I’m a big proponent of young players and the farm system. I say the Mets go after a player the likes of Xavier Nady (remember him?), who is a Type B free agent. However, there isn’t much of a 1st baseman’s market, so the Mets, I feel, will resign Carlos Delgado for 1 year, and have Dropkick Murphy as a backup. Why do I feel this way? The Mets still have that core, and they have Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis waiting in the wings for 2011. Prospects take patience, and Met fans have lost theirs, which is sad.
5. Sign Will Ohman- the Mets need another lefty in the pen.
6. Sign Endy Chavez- Why did the Mets get rid of him in the first place?
7. Look ahead to 2012- do the Mets want Kirk Neuwenhuis to be Beltran’s heir apparent in center? Do then Mets want Ruben Tejada as their 2nd baseman or SS of the future? Where does Wilmer Flores fit in? IS Brad Holt a starter? Is Jon Niese is the future plans? Is Jenry Mejia a thrower or a pitcher? is Jeurys Familia is future plans? is Josh Thole the catcher of the future or right now? Is Fernando Martinez worth it enough not to sign a Type A left fielder? Is Reese Havens a bust?
These questions about the farm must be answered. Now.
NHL Week In Preview
The Rock may be where the New Jersey Devils call home, but they’re solid as a rock on the road with an 8-0 record away from Newark. But Prudential Center was where the Devils got 31 Martin Brodeur saves and Zach Parise’s 8th goal of the season to defeat Anaheim 3-1 for their 6th straight win and leap atop the Atlantic standings. But even without Alexander Ovechkin in the lineup, Washington is on a 7-1-2 surge over their last 10 including a Wednesday night 5-4 shootout win over the Islanders which featured a pair of Alexander Semin goals.
But in the west it is San Jose that has overtaken Colorado (shootout losers to Chicago on Wednesday) going 8-1-1 over their last 10 and are 6-0-1 this season at the Shark Tank. Detroit is under .500 on the road, but certainly did not show it in a 9-1 trouncing of the Blue Jackets as the Red Wings are trying to get back into powerhouse form. Despite all their struggles, they trail the Blackhawks by just three points for the lead in the Central Division. Dallas’ 20 points would be second in the weak Northeast Division currently led by Buffalo, but it’s good for fourth in a remarkably strong Pacific with the surprising Kings looking for their first playoff berth in a very long time.
As for the teams playing poorly, Carolina is winless in their last 10 games and have just 7 points at 2-12-3, and needed two Tuomo Ruutu goals to stay close to competitive in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles. Edmonton has fallen on hard times at 2-7-1 in their last 10 including a 3-1 loss to the Sabres.
Week In Preview
Thursday- Ottawa and Philadelphia are hanging around in their respective divisions and will face off at 7 eastern on TSN. The struggling Rangers host Atlanta, middling Vancouver heads to The Joe to face Detroit and Pacific contender Phoenix hosts Montreal. The Atlantic Division lead is on the line as New Jersey looks to stay unbeaten on the road as they visit Pittsburgh and San Jose gets a big test in Dallas.
Friday- Calgary and their 23 points visits Northeast leading Buffalo in the game of the night. Other games include Minnesota at Washington and Anaheim at Columbus.
Saturday- CBC sandwiches the schedule with the Rangers at Ottawa at 2 p.m. and a huge game in the Northwest as Paul Stastny and the Avalanche visits Vancouver. Among the other notable games on the 12 game slate are Washington at New Jersey, Anaheim at Detroit, Buffalo at Philadelphia and Dallas at Phoenix.
Sunday- Western division leaders collide as the NHL leading Sharks visit the Central leading Blackhawks. The two other games has Edmonton at Atlanta and Minnesota at Carolina.
Monday- The Turnpike Series goes national at 7 eastern on Versus with New Jersey going to Philadelphia to face the Flyers. Edmonton-Columbus, Anaheim-Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay-Phoenix are other notable games.
Tuesday- After the Turnpike, you could go down I95 to Washington, which is what the Rangers will be doing as they play the Capitals at 7 on Versus. San Jose plays at Nashville and Colorado is at Calgary in a game featuring the Northwest’s top two.
Wednesday- Colorado continues their northwest Canadian tour at Edmonton at 9 eastern on TSN. Other games includes Dallas at Detroit and the Flyers hitting the west coast in LA.
Players of the Week
Goals- David Perron, LW, STL (4). Four tied with three.
Assists- Eight players tied with four.
Points- Mike Knuble, RW, WSH & Anze Kopitar, C, LA tied with 6. Four players tied with five.
Plus/Minus- Brian Pothier, D, WSH (+6). Dan Boyle, D, SJ & Zdeno Chara, D, BOS tied with +5.
Penalty Minutes- Kevin Bieksa, D, VAN (24). Chris Neil, RW, OTT (21).
Power Play Goals- Four players tied with two.
Shots On Goal- Patrick Sharp, F, CHI (18). Four players tied with 17.
Wins- Miike Kiprusoff, CGY (3). Eight players tied with two.
GAA (players with at least two wins)- Kiprusoff (0.66). Ray Emery, PHI (1.44)
Save % (players with at least two wins)- Kiprusoff (.978). Emerey (.951).
Shutouts- Kiprusoff, Evgeni Nabokov (SJ), Jonas Hiller (ANA) & Tim Thomas (BOS) 1 each.
