I started the MLB season tipping the NY Yankees and now with A-Rod back I still haven't changed my mind. I suggested the addition of decent pitching like A. J. Burnett and as long as the Brewers didn't destroy CC Sabathia, then the Yankees line-up should be able to do the job. Well the season opened without A-Rod, CC Sabathia starting slowly and Chien-Ming Wang having an era of over 28.0. But now with A-Rod hitting a very healthy .258 and plenty of Homeruns in the new air-streamed homer friendly Yankee Stadium the Yankees lead the AL East. It's a amazing how one player can make a difference, with Teixeira batting in front of him, Teix see much better pitches and the Yankee pitching has also seemed to come good. The good thing is if they need players, they can always buy more.
As for the best team in the American League outside of my tip it has to be the Boston Red Sox by a mile. They have pitching as deep as can be, and are about to give Brad Penny the boot even though he has a 5-1 record, with an 5.96 Era though. Boston can afford to keep David Ortiz in the line up even though he's struggling and has hit one Homerun this season (which didn't deserve a curtain call). Boston have a awesome line up, great pitching a decent farm system and are really able to win when players have an off night.
Across to the National League it's also a race in two. Starting with the team which has lost MannyWood for 50 games the LA Dodgers. As soon as they lost him, I actually tried to back the Dodgers personally and for the joint. As I thought they would be fine, though he is gone for 50 games of a 162 game season, it isn't that much. He will come back in time for the playoffs and get his eye in again! The LA Dodgers from the NL West means that they should cruise into the Playoffs. They lead by 9 games already, and don't be surprised if this increases before Manny comes back. I would love Joe Torre managing against his old team in the World Series. No other bookies pushed the Dodgers out, so unfortunatley I didn't get on.
The other team with a great chance from the National League is the reigning World Series champions the Philadelphia Phillies. I mean they won the World Series and haven't exactly got worse! The $14.00 at Betchoice seems pretty fair to me and without a doubt I see them making the playoffs, passing the NY Mets and at worse having to settle for the Wildcard if the NY Mets continue on their way. I don't think we will see the Brewers (cuurent Wild Card team) in October. In terms of value, the Phillies represent the best value of the four picks.
Okay moving on to the very exciting Lord Stanley's Cup. Now this season I have personally backed Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals based upon Ovechkin and the NY Rangers. Obviously only the Red Wings are giving me a show. But putting this aside I plan to betback, ie I backed Detroit Red Wings at $6.20 and plan to lay them at $1.70 which is available. Or back the Penguins at $2.40 at Betchoice.com. Making sure I cannot loose. Now let me explain something about betting back which I like to advise my mates. Though you may have many opportunities to betback (back both sides) and take a profit, you are also cutting into possible future winnings. For mine, the big question is has anything changed to warrant you changing your mind. In other words, when I backed the Detroit Red Wings I thought they could win it all, has anything changed my mind to suggest they cannot? Have they got too short? Are they now under the odds? Well what swayed me this time was the fact that Detroit Red Wings have too many injuries and at $1.70 they are definitely worth the risk at this price. Injuries include Kris Draper, Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Lidstrom & Pavel Datsyuk! Sure they beat the Penguins last year in the final, but the Penguins have got a years experience under their belt and may be a bit more hungry. The Red Wings are already whingeing about the Finals reschedule, as they can't rest their older players.
Staying on the topic of betbacks. I backed Melbourne Storm all last year to win the NRL Premiership. But come the Grand Final they lost Cameron Smith and for mine, the hungrier Manly team was a very fair price at $1.90. Hence I made Melbourne who I backed at $6, $4 and $3 a flat result (win or loose nothing) and made Manly a big winner! Glad I did, as Manly won by 40 plus.
The Penguin superstars are absolutely on fire, hungry and healthy! Sidney Crosby's series against Washington was amazing, Evgeni Malkin was on fire against the Hurricanes, his stats show it but he was also throwing his body around like crazy! But my tip for the Finals MVP is a Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (pictured). If Detroit try and close Crosby and Malkin down, I think a defensemen like Gonchar can step up and work both ends of the ice. I mean look at his playoff stats now in 15 games, 2 goals and 10 assists. I know its going to be hard to beat Crosby for MVP if the Penguins win the Stanly Cup, but I think these games will all be close and if Gonchar scores those last key goals, they could "easily" give him the MVP.
Finally to the NBA, if you read my last blog entry. I state that the LA Lakers are the best team in the NBA and clearly they have proved that. I suggested that only the Spurs would beat them in the West, but since they lost Ginobili they had no chance. Getting beaten by the Dallas Mavericks showed how badly they were going!! So do I think they will still win it all? Probably. The even money you can get about the Lakers seems like the value bet of the four teams left. With game seven at the Staples Center, even if they loose the next game to Denver they should win at home. And I think who ever comes out of the East may be exhausted and be taken down by the Lakers who just seem to be able to do enough to win!
As for the team to come out of the East.. I know the Cavs need to win the last two, and are lucky even to be in this situation. But I don't believe the Magic can keep shooting 3's at the rate they are! Sure, the Magic play a great 'in to Superman out to the shooters' game but I can't believe that against one of the better defensive teams, they can'ts sustain the 3 point shot surely! The Cavs seem to lead comfortably in every game, but allow the Magic to play back into it ~ I just think that the Cavs will workout to keep driving into Dwight Howard, get him into foul trouble and then just protect the perimeter when he is gone! Very simple and worked in Game 5. Also if they manage to get a lead, wake up and keep playing hard. I think LeBron has enough in the tank to beat the Magic (playing 46, 49, 42, 43 and 41mins) but unless his team mates decide to talk less (like Low Williams) and do more playing. They will get swept by the Lakers. I feel so sorry for LeBron who is literally doing everything. And no wonder he his turnovers are creaping up, he has to handle the ball too often and for too long!
On a lighter note here's a horse who I just love the name of Hoof hearted listen to the race call and you will know why.
Happy punting,
As for the best team in the American League outside of my tip it has to be the Boston Red Sox by a mile. They have pitching as deep as can be, and are about to give Brad Penny the boot even though he has a 5-1 record, with an 5.96 Era though. Boston can afford to keep David Ortiz in the line up even though he's struggling and has hit one Homerun this season (which didn't deserve a curtain call). Boston have a awesome line up, great pitching a decent farm system and are really able to win when players have an off night.
Across to the National League it's also a race in two. Starting with the team which has lost MannyWood for 50 games the LA Dodgers. As soon as they lost him, I actually tried to back the Dodgers personally and for the joint. As I thought they would be fine, though he is gone for 50 games of a 162 game season, it isn't that much. He will come back in time for the playoffs and get his eye in again! The LA Dodgers from the NL West means that they should cruise into the Playoffs. They lead by 9 games already, and don't be surprised if this increases before Manny comes back. I would love Joe Torre managing against his old team in the World Series. No other bookies pushed the Dodgers out, so unfortunatley I didn't get on.
The other team with a great chance from the National League is the reigning World Series champions the Philadelphia Phillies. I mean they won the World Series and haven't exactly got worse! The $14.00 at Betchoice seems pretty fair to me and without a doubt I see them making the playoffs, passing the NY Mets and at worse having to settle for the Wildcard if the NY Mets continue on their way. I don't think we will see the Brewers (cuurent Wild Card team) in October. In terms of value, the Phillies represent the best value of the four picks.
Okay moving on to the very exciting Lord Stanley's Cup. Now this season I have personally backed Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals based upon Ovechkin and the NY Rangers. Obviously only the Red Wings are giving me a show. But putting this aside I plan to betback, ie I backed Detroit Red Wings at $6.20 and plan to lay them at $1.70 which is available. Or back the Penguins at $2.40 at Betchoice.com. Making sure I cannot loose. Now let me explain something about betting back which I like to advise my mates. Though you may have many opportunities to betback (back both sides) and take a profit, you are also cutting into possible future winnings. For mine, the big question is has anything changed to warrant you changing your mind. In other words, when I backed the Detroit Red Wings I thought they could win it all, has anything changed my mind to suggest they cannot? Have they got too short? Are they now under the odds? Well what swayed me this time was the fact that Detroit Red Wings have too many injuries and at $1.70 they are definitely worth the risk at this price. Injuries include Kris Draper, Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Lidstrom & Pavel Datsyuk! Sure they beat the Penguins last year in the final, but the Penguins have got a years experience under their belt and may be a bit more hungry. The Red Wings are already whingeing about the Finals reschedule, as they can't rest their older players.
Staying on the topic of betbacks. I backed Melbourne Storm all last year to win the NRL Premiership. But come the Grand Final they lost Cameron Smith and for mine, the hungrier Manly team was a very fair price at $1.90. Hence I made Melbourne who I backed at $6, $4 and $3 a flat result (win or loose nothing) and made Manly a big winner! Glad I did, as Manly won by 40 plus.
The Penguin superstars are absolutely on fire, hungry and healthy! Sidney Crosby's series against Washington was amazing, Evgeni Malkin was on fire against the Hurricanes, his stats show it but he was also throwing his body around like crazy! But my tip for the Finals MVP is a Defenseman Sergei Gonchar (pictured). If Detroit try and close Crosby and Malkin down, I think a defensemen like Gonchar can step up and work both ends of the ice. I mean look at his playoff stats now in 15 games, 2 goals and 10 assists. I know its going to be hard to beat Crosby for MVP if the Penguins win the Stanly Cup, but I think these games will all be close and if Gonchar scores those last key goals, they could "easily" give him the MVP.
Finally to the NBA, if you read my last blog entry. I state that the LA Lakers are the best team in the NBA and clearly they have proved that. I suggested that only the Spurs would beat them in the West, but since they lost Ginobili they had no chance. Getting beaten by the Dallas Mavericks showed how badly they were going!! So do I think they will still win it all? Probably. The even money you can get about the Lakers seems like the value bet of the four teams left. With game seven at the Staples Center, even if they loose the next game to Denver they should win at home. And I think who ever comes out of the East may be exhausted and be taken down by the Lakers who just seem to be able to do enough to win!
As for the team to come out of the East.. I know the Cavs need to win the last two, and are lucky even to be in this situation. But I don't believe the Magic can keep shooting 3's at the rate they are! Sure, the Magic play a great 'in to Superman out to the shooters' game but I can't believe that against one of the better defensive teams, they can'ts sustain the 3 point shot surely! The Cavs seem to lead comfortably in every game, but allow the Magic to play back into it ~ I just think that the Cavs will workout to keep driving into Dwight Howard, get him into foul trouble and then just protect the perimeter when he is gone! Very simple and worked in Game 5. Also if they manage to get a lead, wake up and keep playing hard. I think LeBron has enough in the tank to beat the Magic (playing 46, 49, 42, 43 and 41mins) but unless his team mates decide to talk less (like Low Williams) and do more playing. They will get swept by the Lakers. I feel so sorry for LeBron who is literally doing everything. And no wonder he his turnovers are creaping up, he has to handle the ball too often and for too long!
On a lighter note here's a horse who I just love the name of Hoof hearted listen to the race call and you will know why.
Happy punting,
Brendo
