Posts from — August 2012

By Forrest Lee
Jay Rood instantly recalls the huge odds the Cardinals faced this time last year to win the World Series.
“Nine-hundred and 99 to one,” he said.
We know how that stunning story ended. One bettor, who wagered money on them at one of Rood’s sports books in Vegas, scored a cool $750,000, betting the Cardinals to not only win the National League pennant, but the World Series, too.
“They were closer to being out of the playoffs than in,” said Rood, vice president of race and sports for MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, where he oversees its 10 sports books, of the unfathomable run. “But kudos to the guy. That’s a great call. That’s hitting the lottery. He wasn’t the only one, but he had the biggest ticket for sure.”
Like last season, the Cardinals again are clinging to slim hopes of punching a ticket to the playoffs. But Vegas isn’t giving them 999-1 odds. Rood said he knows better than to count them out again. Entering the week, St. Louis was a 25-1 bet to claim the World Series.
“I wouldn’t mind keeping them out of the postseason,” Rood said. “But they’ve got such a rich history and they seem to find a way to get (to the playoffs). Anything is possible. They could march in one more time. I wouldn’t put it past them.”
The odds aren’t as long for several other Major League Baseball clubs. A glimpse of the top five favorites entering the week to win it all in October with some commentary from Rood.
1. Yankees and Rangers (4-1): The Yankees are frequently favored because of their potent lineup and their ability to pay top dollar for high-profile talent. Quality pitching, though, remains a drawback. The Yankees opened the season as 4-1 favorites and remain such despite the Rays and O’s breathing down their necks. They are 2-1 favorites, along with the Rangers, to win the American League championship. Sound familiar?
“The Yankees always get through the regular season until (running into trouble in) the postseason when the Rangers of the world come along,” Rood said.
The Rangers, meanwhile, navigated a recent rough stretch and continued to keep the A’s (18-1 to win the WS) and the Angels at bay. Still, they must overcome their sometimes shaky starting pitching to keep them on top and possibly earn a World Series title that has eluded them the past two World Series.
2. Dodgers and Nationals (6-1): These odds were posted days before the Dodgers completed their blockbuster trade Saturday for Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford. But Rood said Friday, when the deal was a strong possibility of occurring, that it wouldn’t impact the odds much. Vegas’ proximity to L.A., among other issues, always plays a factor.
“The ownership change and the direction they’re headed, and the proximity, makes them wildly popular,” Rood said. “Six to one is kind of short for them, but we try to protect ourselves.”
The Nats, who opened the season at 60-1, are another appealing choice despite threatening to shut down ace Stephen Strasburg: “They’ve been a popular pick lately, especially with the excitement of (Bryce) Harper and Strasburg,” Rood said. “They jumped out the gate quick this year and have maintained the lead (in the NL East). We limited our liability with them because anything can happen. Plus, they’ve played great baseball.
“But this will be their first trip to the postseason since they were Montreal or whatever they were. It’s tough to win it all when you’re a first-time club.”
3. Reds, Giants and White Sox (8-1): All three clubs lead their respective divisions—the Reds hold the biggest advantage—but Rood likes a dark horse in the NL West instead of the Giants, who are coming off a three-game sweep of the second-place Dodgers.
“I still think Arizona has a pretty quality club,” he said. “If San Francisco cools off, Arizona could get in and win the division. I don’t know if they’re considered a real dark horse, but they haven’t been on top of the standings yet. They could be a good value play.”
4. Angels and Rays (10-1): Despite often being at least eight games back of the Rangers, the Angels are starting to show a pulse. “They haven’t been playing as well as everyone thought,” Rood said. “But that Mike Trout kid is making them fun to watch.”
So are the Rays, who took four in a row from the Angels last weekend and performing as one of baseball’s hottest teams lately.
“I think Tampa Bay is going to make some noise before the end of the season,” Rood said. “They’re playing like the Cardinals last year. They’re making a huge run.”
5. Braves (12-1): They had played as well as any club in the second half until suffering through a recent tailspin. But they remain within striking distance of the Nats for the division crown and a strong contender for a wild-card berth.
That is unless they tank again and allow the Cardinals another life.
Editors Note: All odds used were as of 8-21-12

Didn’t know they still sold Mores.
For years, plenty of folks, many of them media types, made fun of Richard Williams. How could this guy, from Compton no less, teach his girls to become the best in the world in the lilly-white world of professional tennis? Well, we know the rest of the story.
Recommended reading: Howard Bryant’s piece on Richard and his daughters, Serena and Venus, as the U.S. Open kicks off. Richard is finally getting the last laugh.
ESPN The Magazine

We’re still hoping Tim Tebow has enough on the ball to take Mark Sanchez’ job. If not, maybe the Jets will please us and return to their former knocker (JustEndTheSeason).
Cheers!

Who’s the bigger God with ESPN, Tim Tebow or Urban Meyer?

Is it us or are plow boys (or would those be dough boys?) Brad Penny and Joe Blanton 1 and the same? We do know both have seen their best days on the mound. The Dodgers, though, swallowed the Phillies’ bait and traded for Blanton. He’s been getting lit up every outing since he donned Dodger blue.
And if you’re wondering, Penny is stealing money in the Giants’ pen.

No question the Jets could use Maurice Jones-Drew. But so could plenty of NFL clubs. Now that the Jaguars are considering trading him, though, some believe Gang Green could be in his future. At least it’s a rumor some are starting to float.
Would it mean the end of the Tim Tebow experiment in New York? We hope not. We love Tebow looking over the shoulder of numb nuts Mark Sanchez.
But we all know Tebow fills the seats if he plays in Jacksonville. With or without MJD, they won’t fill anything else except the loss column.
Rant Sports

The Raiders seemed to be the top NFL club in forcing their rookies to endure bad hair days. Two of the unfortunate souls, among others, to suffer through this manner of hazing are linemen Tony Bergstrom (top) and Lucas Nix (right). We don’t have to spoil the plot and tell you the pattern that runs in Bergstrom’s head, right? OK, well let’s just say for some of our humor-challenged readers it isn’t a fly pattern, but it is a cute little hint.
And Nix? We’re at a lost for words to explain his.

When you become one of the hottest clubs in the NBA, everyone wants a piece of the action.
So Thunder guard James Harden gave a few lucky folks what they wanted, hosting an all-white party on a yacht recently in the Southern Cali area. Yep, that’s fellow teammate and scoring champ Kevin Durant in attendance. We hear John Wall made the rounds, too. But we’re bummed we didn’t receive an invitation. Must have gotten lost in the mail, right James? Right, right.
A tip of the cap to The Hoop Doctors for the heads up.

If I only had a brain…
Most folks with 1 would have quit while they were ahead. But when it concerns noted nitwit Warren Sapp, words fail us.
Even after being suspended by the NFL Network, which boldly employs Sapp, the former NFL lineman continues his assault regarding Jeremy Shockey as being a “snitch.”
Larry Brown Sports

While the Angels flounder like fish out of water, the same can’t be said about the Dodgers. They have been cooking like the warm weather in L.A., taking 2 of 3 in a weekend series with the Braves, who had been the hottest team in baseball until the Blue Crew blew through Atlanta. The Dodgers are 10 games (67-55) over .500 compared to the high payroll Angels (62-60), who are just 2 games over the mark. Who would have imagined the Dodgers being among the best clubs in baseball while the Angels are on the verge of missing the playoffs?
The Dodgers host the rival Giants tonight in a showdown for the top spot in the National League West, and if the Dodgers play like they have recently, San Francisco might experience more turbulence than a Melky Cabrera suspension.
We’ve always believed Chad Billingsley had great stuff, but apparently it took growing a full beard to force him to get his groove going. He has won his past 6 starts, including yesterday’s gem in Atlanta, and has performed as 1 of the best pitchers in baseball during the past month. This, and the clutch hitting of Luis Cruz, who is batting .406 with 13 hits, including 2 homers and 7 RBIs in the past 10 games, is among the reasons the Dodgers are in 1st place entering the series.
Worst for the Giants, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw, who has owned them, is on the mound tonight against Madison Bumgarner. Good luck with that Giants fans.