I Hate Mondays: New York, New York

At one point in time, the New York Knicks and the New York Yankees had quite a bit in common.
Late in the 1990's, New York was the place to be if you were a sports fan with two of its major teams being the model of success in their respective sports. The Knicks traveled past the first round of the playoffs nine consecutive years and appeared in the NBA Finals twice. Although the Yanks were late bloomers in the 90's, they have made the playoffs every year since 1995 and tallied five World Series Championships in that span.
The modern day reflections of the two franchises might seem quite different on the outside, but a closer look details that they still have many similarities.
Solely examining at the bottom line, the win-production of both teams is utterly disparate. The Knickerbockers are in basketball's basement and among the worst teams in the league while the Yankees are still riding high and competing for first place in the American League.
While the records have no semblance whatsoever, the front office decisions certainly do.
It is clear that the Knicks of today are not the successful Knicks of the '90's. Not only are they a cellar-dweller, their hopes of a bright future have been pawned off on a string of implausible roster decisions such as the signings of Jerome James and Jamal Crawford and the acquisitions of Eddy Curry, Steve Francis and Quentin Richardson.
The Knicks, with the loftiest payroll in basketball, have a roster full of overpaid underachievers and have accumulated very few tradable assets (outside of their annual expiring contract).
Which brings me to the Yankees. They, too, can claim the title as their sport's most lavish spenders but they, too, like the Knicks, are not built around their 90's blueprint.
The Yankees of yesteryear - more specifically, the late 1990's - were pieced together through shrewd front office decisions. The roster was constructed of a harmonious mix of cultivated, home-grown prospects and canny imports.
Domestic products included the likes of Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter, significant signings included Wade Boggs, Jimmy Key and Tino Martinez while astute trades brought in Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius and Joe Girardi.
The decisions made nowadays by the Yankees brass are more Isiah Thomas-like than Yankee-like.
Bloated contracts to Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano have led to dead-ends while the Bronx Bombers farm system has been all but traded away.
The trade deadline used to be the time that the Yanks would find a diamond in the rough but exchanges from the last couple of seasons have only provided a cheap form of zirconium in the form of Matt Lawton, Tony Womack and John Olerud.
The Pinstripes also used to have this Atlanta Braves-like aura about them. (To briefly explain: every year the Braves take some average pitcher off the scrap heap and make him above average. For example: Jaret Wright, Damian Moss, Jorge Sosa). Average players used to go to New York and overachieve. Now players head to New York and fall apart (Jeff Weaver, Esteban Loaiza, Jose Contreras).
No, the Yanks are by no means in serious trouble. They are several games above .500 and there are about 20 other teams who envy their position.
But going forward, the Yankees, similar to the Knicks, do not have many tradable assets and do not have an overly bright future. For starters, most of their players are past their best years.
Nobody is inquiring about the services of a clean-shaven Randy Johnson or a savvy Bernie Williams.
Even their top-level talent, at an exorbitant price, would not appeal to most teams. The number of takers for Jason Giambi with a $20 M price tag or even a .290-hitting Alex Rodriguez at $25.6 M are few.
With a healthy hitting lineup, the Yanks will continue compete for a top spot in the American League but it has to be pointed out how much Knick-like financial waste this team has accumulated.
Maybe at the turn of the millennium Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Knicks general manager started sharing ideas.
The New York Knicks and the New York Yankees mix like Mondays and me.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL WEST)

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look on in the Divisional Races:

NL WEST

Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.

Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.

Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.

The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.

Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.

The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.

So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.

Quarterly Report on Divisional Races --- NL CENTRAL

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.

With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and
seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI). Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far. Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.

Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.

The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.

The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.

First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.

The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.

So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.

Fantasy Tip of the Week

By Chris Goudey

WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

We are about 1/3 of the way through the 2006 MLB season, and whether you are doing well or are struggling, this is a crucial time. You know what categories you need to improve on and one of the best ways to improve your standing is to pick up guys who have started off slowly but are due to break out. Here is a list of players to target who have had a bad spring but should soon get as hot as the weather: Batters:

Marcus Giles, 2B, Atlanta –He is historically a .300 hitter who is currently hitting .235. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate.

Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston – Usually good for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs, he is currently in single-digits in HRs and very low in RBIs. He is the ONE player who is due to go crazy in the month of June.

Juan Pierre, OF, and Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Both players have seen their value decrease with the injury to Derrek Lee. Pierre isn’t scoring or hitting as well as normal, and Ramirez’s numbers are all down. When Lee returns, watch these numbers start to rise.

Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Cincinnati – IF he can stay healthy, a power surge is coming. Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado – Now over his mysterious stomach ailment, he should be sending many homers into the Mile-High air shortly.

Reggie Sanders, OF, Kansas City – Should be good for at least 15 homers and 15 steals in the upcoming months.

Garret Anderson, OF, LA Angels – The Angels’ offense has been horrible so far, so look for Anderson to have more RBI opportunities as they begin to heat up.

Jeff Kent, 2B, LA Dodgers – Kent is always good for 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, so take advantage now and reap the rewards later.

Cliff Floyd, OF, NY Mets – Floyd has really struggled so far, barely batting over .200. That won’t continue.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY Yankees – Along with Manny Ramirez, he is the highest-profile player on this list. Look for A-Rod to really explode soon. He is too good a player not to.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, and Bobby Abreu, OF, Philadelphia – It’s amazing the Phillies have done as well as they have with two of their biggest players slumping. Abreu is about to bust out, so snag him quickly. Rollins is the best SS in the NL, but you wouldn’t know it judging from his numbers so far. He will hit over .300 and get you at least 20 steals the rest of the way, so grab him now!

Jason Bay, OF, Pittsburgh – He’s already started to break out, but if you can find an owner who isn’t paying attention, go get those 20-25 HRs and 75-80 RBIs that are coming.

Richie Sexson, 1B, and Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle – These two were supposed to be the Mariners’ power duo of the future, but it just hasn’t happened….yet. Look for both of these guys to get it together soon and help Ichiro out.

Jim Edmonds, OF, St. Louis – With only 5 HRs so far, Edmonds is a very good candidate to bust out. He’s normally good for 35, so look for him to get at least 25 more for the year…IF he can stay healthy, which is always his biggest issue.

Carl Crawford, OF, Julio Lugo, SS, and Aubrey Huff, 3B, Tampa Bay – All 3 of these guys have had slow starts due to injury (Lugo/Huff) or just a sub-par performance (Crawford). All 3 should start to pick it up together.

Mark Teixeira, 1B-DH, Texas – With only 4 HRs so far, Big Tex is my bet to hit the most homers in the AL from here on out. He is simply too good a player not to have a huge hot streak and in the 100-degree Texas heat, the ball simply flies out of the stadium.

Jose Guillen, OF, Washington – This is a talented player if he can keep his head on straight. He was projected to have 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, so pick him up now and hope he stays on the straight and narrow. The numbers will come if he can.

Obviously not all of these players will break out and start to hit immediately, but they have done much better historically than this year. Next week, I’ll take a look at some pitchers to acquire that fall under the same classification.

The Subway Series: A Wild Ride

Andew Corselli
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

This weekend’s Subway Series between the Yankees and the Mets was one for the ages. Not only did the winning team triumph by one run in each of the three games, but the series as a whole was about as exciting as it could possibly have been.

Game 1 on Friday night had blowout written all over it when Randy Johnson gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. However, the Bronx Bombers battled back against pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez to keep it close. Gonzalez gave up 6 earned runs and 9 hits in only 3 innings pitched. The Yankees kept it close all game, only to have Mariano Rivera lose the game at the bottom of the ninth inning in a dramatic fashion on David Wright’s walk-off single. The game was a nail-biter all the way through and kept fans glued to the game until the final play. At the end of the game, the Mets pulled out a 7-6 victory.

Game 2 on Saturday afternoon was more Yankee-friendly as Mets’ reliever Billy Wagner blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. Mike Mussina threw 7 strong innings, giving up 4 runs and 5 hits. Pedro Martinez dominated the Yanks by throwing 7 scoreless innings, striking out 8 batters and giving up only 4 hits. Maybe the Yankees are still Pedro’s daddy, seeing as how the Mets failed to secure the win.

It was Johnny Damon who beat out a potential game-ending double-play ball to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning, capping off a four-run inning and embarrassing Billy Wagner; Wagner had dominated the Yankees during the previous game. Andy Phillips hit an RBI single in the eleventh inning, scoring Miguel Cairo and giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Mariano Rivera struck out the side, including David Wright, Cliff Floyd, and Xavier Nady, in the eleventh to give the Yankees the 5-4 victory and improve his record to 2-3.

Game 2 for the Yankees was a historic win that will not be forgotten anytime soon, but game 3 was an embarrassment that hopefully will not be remembered for very long. Granted the Mets only won by a score of 4-3, but the Yankees went 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base. Tom Glavine gave up 2 runs, 7 hits, and struck out 4 in 6 innings to give the Mets a victory and record his 282nd win. Aaron Small had a sub-par outing for the Yankees, giving up 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, and walked 1 batter in 4 1/3 innings pitched. The Yankees, for the third straight game, failed to hit a home run.
The Mets won the series 2-1, improved their record to 26-17, and are now preparing to host division rivals Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series starting on Tuesday. The Mets have a three-game lead over the Phillies for the best record in the NL East. The Yankees’ record now slips to 24-18 as they head up to Boston for a three-game series against their bitter rivals the Red Sox; the Yankees trail the Sox by 1.5 games for the lead in AL East.

New York Yankees at New York Mets

Final Score: NY Yankees 5, NY Mets 4 (11 innings)

Andy Phillips singled in the winning run in the 11th inning, as the New York Yankees fought back with a four-run ninth inning to beat the Mets, 5-4, in the middle contest of the three game Subway Series.
Miguel Cairo walked to lead off the 11th inning, stole second and third without a throw and Phillips followed with line drive single to center off Jorge Julio to complete the incredible comeback.
Johnny Damon tied the game with a run batted in the ninth and Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Yankees, who have won three of their last five contests. Robinson Cano finished with a hit and drove in a run in the victory, just the fourth in the last 12 attempts against the Mets.
Bernie Williams, who was feeling tightness in his backside after a double during Friday's game, pinch hit and was credited with an RBI after getting hit by a pitch.
Mariano Rivera (2-3) pitched two scoreless frames, allowing one hit, for the win. Three Yankees relievers combined for four shutout frames, while walking two and striking out seven.
Mike Mussina threw seven strong innings, yielding four runs -- two earned -- on five hits with seven strikeouts. Mussina is 3-3 with a 2.15 earned run average in nine career starts against Pedro Martinez, with the Yankees winning six of those games.
"It was an ugly game," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "Moose pitched his tail off and we certainly didn't help him defensively. It may not always be pretty but we're never going to quit, and I think that was a testament to what we need to do here."

Next week on TV (5-22/5-28)

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

If you’re not captivated by the NBA playoffs, place a bet on who will coach the Knicks next year and how many games they will lose. Expect coaching and executive rumors to heat up with the league finals as the backdrop. Over in the NHL, the end of the season will mean a huge amount of player movement as the new collective bargaining agreement continues to create turmoil.

*All times Eastern

Monday, May 22
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., local/satellite)
The season isn’t even half over, and these two teams have traded the division lead half-a-dozen times. Expect this to continue at least until October because neither the Sox nor the Yanks have the pitching to break away from the other one.

Tuesday, May 23
WNBA, Connecticut at Minnesota (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Take a break from the long baseball season by watching this game and be a true maverick among sports fans. The most surprising bet on this game would be whether anyone outside of hardcore fans watches it. Still, if you want to see high school level basketball played by unattractive women, this is the sport for you.

Wednesday, May 24
Tigers at Royals (8:10 p.m., local/satellite)
The Tigers have to be considered a major success story this year as nobody expected that Jim Leyland would have them playing this well this fast. The Royals, on the other hand, continue to be one of the most predictable teams in sports. Still, even lousy teams win sometimes, and Detroit intends to be a real contender, they have to fatten up on teams like Milwaukee.

Thursday, May 25
Senior PGA Championship (2 p.m., USA)
The Masters tour now has so many recognizable faces that if the cameras don’t get too close, you’ll think its 1980, and the sport was back in its good old days. It may not be 1984, but these guys can still play, and Masters tournaments have a depth of potential winners that rivals even the main tour.

Friday, May 26
Soccer, U.S. versus Venezuela (7 p.m., ESPN2)
The U.S. squad prepares for the World Cup with this tune-up against Venezuela. The American squad actually has a shot at making it pretty far into the tournament this year, so these warm-up games should help the coaching staff make some important player decisions.

Saturday, May 27
NASCAR Busch Series (8 p.m., FX)
Kyle Busch has dominated the Carquest Auto Parts 300, winning it each of the last two years and finishing second in 2003. Expect the competition to be stiff as more and more Cup drivers moonlight in Busch cars.

Sunday, May 28
Indianapolis 500 (12 p.m., ABC)
Though the race has lost a lot of its luster in recent years, it gained some attention last year with Danica Patrick’s attempt at becoming the first woman to win the race. Patrick didn’t win and still hasn’t won a race, but she has been competitive and will be the story again.

Daniel Kline’s book, 50 Things Every Guy Should Know How to Do, is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A baseball trade is basically a wager by two general managers that the player each acquires will be better than the one he gives up. It may or may not work out well. That’s gambling.

Now that Scott Kazmir is off to a great start at 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA and Victor Zambrano has just undergone season-ending surgery, it might be a good time to review how Jim Duquette, the Mets GM at the time, broke every single rule of gambling.

NEVER BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD When the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, their farm system was almost completely bare. The only true blue-chip pitching prospects at the time were Phil Humber, who has since undergone Tommy John surgery, and Alay Soler, a Cuban defector who just made it to the U.S. this season and is currently pitching at AA. This year the Mets are throwing out such retreads as Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez as they wait for Mike Pelfrey and the next wave of prospects to be ready. Do you think they would rather have sent out Jose Lima – or Scott Kazmir, to try and sweep their arch-rival Braves last week?

NEVER BET WHILE INTOXICATED Right around the time of the trade in 2004, the Mets had just swept their cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees, in an exciting three-game series. The Mets, who had been dead in this town since 2000, finally had some juice. They were close to first place and back on the back page. Of course, they still had a .500 record and not much talent. But Duquette, drunk on the city’s enthusiasm, wanted to “win now” no matter what the future cost.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK You wouldn’t bet on a Falcons game without checking if Michael Vick was hurt, would you? Yet Mr. Duquette failed to adequately check into Victor Zambrano’s injury before the trade. Zambrano admitted he has been hurt the entire time he has been a member of the New York Mets. The week the trade was made, Zambrano skipped a start because of arm stiffness. Shouldn’t some alarms have gone off? Duquette blamed Tampa doctors for downplaying the injury, but you don’t need to be able to read medical charts to know something might be amiss.

LOOK FOR VALUE Barbaro, who was such a good bet on Derby Day, might not be such a great bet for the Preakness. You won’t get enough in return. A lefty who throws 97 MPH has more value than a barely over .500 pitcher with control problems. Had Mr. Duquette waited until the off-season, he might have received Tim Hudson or Mark Mulder in return.

KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY This is the one Mr. Duquette clearly missed. Tampa officials were said to be laughing to themselves when they realized what they were getting. Mr. Duquette should clearly have just walked away. Next time you’re in Baltimore and you’re looking for someone to round out your poker game, look up Mr. Jim Duquette because there ain’t no sucker like the one who doesn’t know the rules.

MLB: Bonds a DH in 2007? Whew, he could do that!

By Michael RothmanWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

All the hype recently has been about Barry Lamar Bonds trying to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list at 714. What everyone seems to have forgotten is that Babe Ruth is second on the all-time list to Hank Aaron, who has 755 homers. As good as Bonds is, this number seems almost impossible for him to attain this season with fewer than 130 games remaining. Now, this brings us to an interesting impasse.

Bonds, with the exception of steroid allegations and cracks in his character, has had one of the greatest and most complete careers in Major League history. Almost complete, that is, except for two key accomplishments. First, it is no secret that Bonds wants a ring. In fact let’s be honest and say Bonds is dying to win a championship. The Giants’ collapse in the 2002 World Series at the hands of the Angels was probably the last chance for Bonds to win a championship with San Francisco. Second, despite what everyone thinks and what he has said in the past, I think Bonds want to pass Hank Aaron on the home run list. I think he wants to stick it to baseball for celebrating only new records and trying to keep him away from this one. I also think he wants to stick it to the fans, who throw plastic syringes onto the field. Finally, I think he wants to stick it to us, the media, for consistently telling Barry he should walk away right now. This type of negative talk is what fuels Barry; it’s what he lives for. So, what to do, what to do?

Barry Bonds will most likely play the position of designated hitter in 2007, and furthermore for a contender. Bonds’ agent Jeff Borris told Newsday he didn’t expect Bonds to retire this season and that changing leagues to be a DH was very possible. Bonds took this rumor one step further and said he could probably play 155 games if he did not have to stand in the field all day.

“Whew, just a DH? What? I could do that,” Bonds said with excitement. “Oh, yes.”

Oh, I can see it now. You know George Steinbrenner is absolutely drooling right now, and why shouldn’t he? We all know Bonds is a freak of nature. Most great hitters have to get into a groove to hit home runs and hit consistently. Not Bonds; all he needs is one meaty pitch right down the center and kiss that baseball goodbye. Look at the way he has hit lately—and does Bonds look like he is even close to being in shape? No. In the last ten games, Bonds is batting .300, with 3 homers and 9 RBI. That’s not bad considering he started the season hitting .190. Give Bonds the opportunity to simply focus on hitting and I bet he hits at least 40 home runs. San Francisco head coach Felipe Alou went so far as to claim Bonds could reach the mark of 800 homers if he could just DH.

Let’s move on to the missing piece of jewelry that has eluded Bonds for all these years, a championship ring.

The man simply has everything else you can attain in the majors but a championship. He holds seven, yes seven, MVP awards, eight Gold Gloves, and two batting titles. The guy wants a championship; he needs a championship. His career just will not be complete without one. So, let’s say the New York Yankees, of all teams, don’t win the World Series this year. http://www.wagerweb.com/sportsbook/betting-odds/mlb-baseball.html. Steinbrenner’s wild mind will start to bubble and brew, especially after spending all that money on Johnny Damon to be his new lead-off hitter. What will he do? He will negotiate with Bonds, and pay him handsomely too. Can you picture Bonds in the Bronx, especially with that short right field fence? And don’t think the Yankee crown wouldn’t welcome him with open arms. All they want are players who will be productive and help their ball club. They took Johnny Damon, a hated ex-sock, and took back Jason Giambi after all the steroid allegations. Bonds would also love this move. A chance for him to stick it to everyone, right on the biggest stage imaginable and, more important, a chance to get the coveted ring that will complete his career.

Well, there is my view of the baseball world for next year. I could be way off base, but if I’m not we will have one of the biggest moves since Babe Ruth. Where did he go? Oh yeah, he went to the New York Yankees. One last question. Do you know who wants this move to happen the most of all? We do. This move will give the media another year to write crazy Bonds stories, and you know we all just love that thought.

MLB Baseball Betting and Propositions @ http://www.wagerweb.com/

Torre wins No. 1,000 as Yankees manager

Joe Torre wasn't figuring on a lengthy tenure when he signed to manage the New York Yankees before the 1996 season. Now he stands among the managerial giants in Yankees history.
Torre got his 1,000th win as Yankees manager, with Hideki Matsui hitting a three-run home run in an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday that stretched New York's winning streak to a season-high five games.
Torre has a 1,000-645 record with New York, trailing only Joe McCarthy (1,460 wins), Casey Stengel (1,149) and Miller Huggins (1,067). Torre has the longest uninterrupted term among Yankees managers since Stengel in 1949-60.
``I think 1,000 wins as a Yankee manager is pretty incredible considering the company you're in,'' Torre said. ``A thousand is a lot of wins, especially when you signed a two-year contract back in '96. The Yankee record book is a special place to be. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be here this long.''
Overall as a manager, Torre is 1,894-1,648, including stints with the New York Mets, Atlanta and St. Louis.

Media Contact: Dan Grody
Tellem Worldwide
310.479.6111 stellem@tellem.com

San Jose, Costa Rica

– May 4, 2006 – WagerWeb.com, one of the Internet’s largest betting sites known for its offering of odds for the hottest issues surrounding the news media (especially sports), posted odds today offering bettors a chance to predict which Major League Baseball team Roger Clemens will return to this season. “Bettors flock to our site when they hear of these types of ‘proposition bets’ in which outcomes of certain sports issues can be predicted,” says Dave Johnson, CEO of WagerWeb.com. He adds, “The Clemens negotiations are heating up, and we want to be part of the excitement.” Clemens’ is speaking with the Astros, Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox and negotiations can go either way since there are positive and negative aspects for joining each of these teams. He could join the Yankees with a strong chance of making the playoffs this year and be far from his home and family, or join the Astros and be 20 minutes from his house, yet risk the possibility of not making the playoffs. The posted odds are as follows:

Yankees 1:2 -200 (Bet $200 to win $100)
Red Sox 1:1 +100 (Bet $100 to win $100)
Astros 2:1 +200 (Bet $100 to win $200)
Rangers 6:1 +600 (Bet $100 to win $600)
Field (any other team) 10:1 +1000 (Bet $100 to win $1000)

Note: If Clemens does not sign and remains retired for 2006 MLB season all bets are deemed 'no action' Within the last month, Wagerweb.com has posted odds for the Duke Lacrosse player DNA matches and trial outcomes; with which team member or coach Terrell Owens would have his first confrontation this season; whether Reggie Bush would be stripped of the Heisman; even whether or not Shaun Alexander would suffer from the “Madden Curse.”About WagerWebWagerWeb.com, founded in 1997, is a privately held, offshore online gaming company, fully licensed and located in San Jose, Costa Rica. With almost 10 years of experience, innovation and gaming technology, Wagerweb.com features a sportsbook, a racebook and casino and has accepted more than 50,000,000 wagers since the company’s launch.

Next Week on TV (5-8/5-14)

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Things are starting to get tight in both the NHL and the NBA as both leagues move into their semifinal rounds. Pretty much anything can happen in the battle for the Stanley Cup as seeding, home ice advantage and being the favorite hardly seems to matter. The NBA title might come down to whether anyone in the East can stay healthy enough to beat the Spurs.

* All times Eastern.

Monday, May 8
Twins at Rangers (7 p.m., ESPN)
This match-up pits two teams that might stay in the playoff race or might completely implode. Though the Twins lack any real drama (because even if they make the playoffs, they won’t go far), the Rangers have the capability of being a real contender. If they manage to hang in the pennant race, they also may be a player in the Roger Clemens sweepstakes.

Tuesday, May 9
College Lacrosse (Times vary, CSTV/FCS)
The college lacrosse season is winding down, and a variety of league championship games and end-of-season match-ups are airing, today. Though lacrosse may not be one of the big sports, it is violent and entertaining, and college playoff games are nearly always close.

Wednesday, May 10
Red Sox at Yankees (7 p.m., local/satellite)
After pulling out to a quick early lead, the Sox and Yankees are back in almost a dead heat for the division lead. The two games just finished a highly-charged series in Boston that featured Johnny Damon’s return to Fenway, where he was met with a chorus of boos. Expect Damon—as long as he’s hitting—to get a nicer greeting from the New York faithful.

Thursday, May 11
Byron Nelson Classic (4 p.m., USA)
A wide-open tournament, this PGA event was won last year by the relatively-unknown Ted Purdy. This is also the tournament that ended Tiger Woods’ record streak of making cuts, so truly anything can happen.

Friday, May 12
Boxing, Edner Cherry vs. Monty Meza-Clay (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Edner Cherry takes on Monty Meza-Clay in a super-featherweight battle. Meza-Clay has yet to be beaten and has knocked out more opponents than he hasn’t. Still, Cherry’s an experienced fighter, so this should be a real test as Meza-Clay works his way into title contention.

Saturday, May 13
Tennis Master Series in Rome (Noon, TENNIS)
Quarterfinal action featuring the stars from when tennis players actually mattered. Sometimes, the Masters tournaments have better action than the regular tour because the older players come from a time when the money for losing in the quarters wasn’t enough to make it not worth fighting to get into the finals.

Sunday, May 14
Formula One Racing: Spanish Grand Prix (Noon, CBS)
American race fans rarely get a chance to see races in the world’s premier racing circuit. Fernando Alonso holds the overall lead in points and has looked very strong in winning two races this season. Expect Jenson Button, who hasn’t won but has finished in the top 10 in every race, this season, to challenge for the victory.

Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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Baseball’s First-Month Awards

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The calendar has turned on the first month of the 2006 baseball season. While there is plenty of season left, it’s a good time to evaluate who has the early lead on baseball’s top awards.

American League MVP:
1) Jim Thome – While he has slowed somewhat since his sizzling start, Jim Thome has been the best acquisition any American League team has made. Many questioned what he had left, but he put any doubts to rest immediately by homering in his first 2 games and 6 times in his first 10 games. His 10 homeruns and 24 RBIs are tops on the American League’s most talented team.
2) Jason Giambi – His .542 OBP is fantastic as Giambi continues to expand on last year’s comeback- player-of-the-year performance. While he leads the AL in walks with 27, Giambi is not just being passive, as he also leads the AL in RBIs with 27. Only his statuesque defense and stubbornness about embracing the DH role make him second choice.
3) Vernon Wells – The Blue Jays went on baseball’s biggest shopping spree, this off-season, but one of their incumbent players has turned in his best effort so far. With 9 homers, 25 RBIs and a .374 batting average, Wells is carrying a heavy load as Toronto tries to prove that they can keep pace with the Red Sox and The Yankees.

National League MVP:
1) Albert Pujols – Provided he stays healthy, it appears as though this award will be his to lose for many years to come. His record-breaking 14 homeruns in April and 32 RBIs have led the Cardinals to another great start.
2) Lance Berkman – The reason for the Astros’ slow start, last April, was likely because they missed Berkman’s bat. Berkman has had a fast start, this year (10 homeruns, 31 RBIs and .240 BA), and so have the Astros.
3) Carlos Delgado – The best acquisition any National League team made, this off-season, Delgado has really carried the load (10 homeruns and 21 RBIs) while Beltran was injured and Cliff Floyd slumped.

American League Cy Young:
1) Jose Contreras – His 4-0 record and league-leading 1.45 ERA still leads a pitching staff that makes the White Sox the best bet to win the AL Pennant at the sports book.
2) Curt Schilling – Baseball’s biggest loudmouth is once again able to “walk the walk.” His 4-1 record, 2.88 ERA and durability (40.2 IP) have led the Red Sox to an early tenuous hold on first place in the AL East.
3) Kenny Rogers – The ace on a staff of promising young guns, veteran Rogers has done everything you can ask for the Tigers (4-2, 2.59 ERA and a great 0.98 WHIP).

National League Cy Young:
1) Greg Maddux – Talk about giving a club a lift. Once again frustrated by injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the cursed Cubbies are thrilled by Maddux’s early renaissance (5-0, 1.35 ERA).
2) Pedro Martinez – The daily updates by a panicked New York press corps on Pedro’s toe during spring training are long forgotten as Pedro has been fantastic (5-0, 0.89 WHIP). He already has beaten the hated Braves twice.
3) Bronson Arroyo – Wow, after the AL East, this is sure easy. Arroyo (5-0, 2.06 ERA) has led the way for baseball’s biggest early season surprise.

Rookies of the Year:

American League:
Jonathan Papelbon – Thrown into the Boston pressure-cooker, Papelbon leads the AL in saves (10) and has yet to allow a run in over 15 innings.

National League:
Prince Fielder – Unlike his father, Cecil, Prince didn’t need to serve some time in the Japanese League to find his stroke. Fielder’s .343 average leads all rookies.

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Yankees resume road trip against Devil Rays

The New York Yankees make the second stop of their week- long road trip when the club starts a two-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tonight at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees started the six-game swing Monday in Boston, dropping a 7-3 decision to the Red Sox in Johnny Damon's return to Fenway Park.
Damon spent four productive seasons in Beantown from 2002-05 and was an integral piece to the Red Sox' world championship in 2004, ended the game 0- for-4 and was not a factor. The popular free-agent centerfielder spurned the Red Sox in the offseason to sign a four-year, $52 million contract with the Yankees, a move that clearly outraged Boston's loyal fans.
Robinson Cano was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Yankees, who had won two straight coming in. Aaron Small, who went 10-0 for New York last season, took the loss in his first appearance of the season. The swingman was charged with two runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Yankees missed out on a chance for revenge, as Tuesday's finale was postponed due to rain.
Struggling righthander Jaret Wright will toe the rubber for New York tonight as he searches for his first victory of 2006. Wright fell to 0-2 on the season after surrendering four runs on six hits and walking four in five innings Friday against Toronto.
The 30-year-old went 3-0 in four starts against the Devil Rays last season and won both of his outings in Tropicana Field, surrendering just four earned runs over 13 1/3 innings in those games. For his career Wright is 5-1 with a 4.47 ERA in eight starts versus Tampa Bay.
Casey Fossum, who is coming off his best performance of the season, will get the call for the Devil Rays. The lefthander twirled six shutout innings to beat the Red Sox at Tropicana Field on Friday and record his first victory of 2006.
Fossum pitched quite well against the Yankees a year ago, as he posted a 2-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in four appearances, three of which were starts. The New Jersey native has faced New York 16 times previously and owns a 4-4 lifetime record with a 4.62 ERA.
Tampa Bay will try to rebound from a two-game home sweep at the hands of the surging Texas Rangers. On Tuesday, Mark DeRosa went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in, as Texas Rangers edged Devil Rays, 7-5.
Rays starter Mark Hendrickson (1-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, three of which were home runs.
Toby Hall and Ty Wigginton each knocked in a pair of runs for Tampa Bay, which has dropped three of its last four games overall.
The Yankees took two of three from the Devil Rays in the Bronx last week but struggled against Tampa Bay during 2005. The Rays won 11 of the 19 meetings between the clubs a year ago.

Bonds’ alleged cheating scandal hurting baseball history

By Bill Kugelberg
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Having just finished reading Game of Shadows – the alleged tell-all book in which the authors claim to have records detailing Barry Bonds’, as well as other athletes’, use of performance-enhancing drugs – it has become crystal clear that Bonds cheated, continues to cheat, and could not care less about it.

Bonds just about says this when he claims in his grand jury testimony that he hasn’t played in a baseball game since college when he attended Arizona State University. Basically, what he’s saying, and what he continues to say, is that he is an entertainer and not a competitor. He conveniently forgets how his alleged cheating has impacted the other players in the game, both past and present. And how, every night, in every stadium he plays in, he is the only person who is in on this little secret.

When I go to a game, I’m not there to be entertained. I’m there to see the team I support try to win. And when I make a wager on a team, I’m not doing it for the entertainment; I’m doing it to win. If I go to Vegas and play blackjack or craps, I consider that to be entertainment. While I would like to win, and I don’t believe the outcome has been predetermined, I still understand the odds are against me coming away a winner.

But Bonds apparently doesn’t see playing baseball as a competition. It sounds as though he views it as our opportunity to watch an “entertainer” stand up there and be walked two or three times a game and, maybe, just maybe, see him grace our presence with a home run. Get over yourself, Barry. Not only are you coming off like a pompous ass, you are also making an impact on the game that the record books will reflect forever.

For example, since 1999, when his steroid use is alleged to have begun, the San Francisco Giants have won or finished second in the NL West every year, except for last year when he spent just about all of the season on the disabled list, and they finished third. Take away Bonds’ production, or fill in the production that most players would contribute, and the Giants find themselves in a different position. Also, as he approached 40 years old, his numbers would naturally decline, not go up. With that factored in, the Giants truly would be hurting for production from Bonds.

Just ask Albert Pujols, who has finished second to Bonds in National League MVP voting twice, how Bonds’ steroid use has impacted his post-season award possibilities.

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Unfortunately, the players who have truly been impacted by Bonds’ steroid use are the players who finished playing the game years ago. Bonds, along with Mark McGwire, has succeeded at setting the bar so high that no one will be able to approach their records. In doing so, they have made the average fan believe that 40 home runs a season is nice, but not Hall of Fame-worthy. One player who has been affected by this is Andrew Dawson. Dawson hit 438 home runs and drove in 1,591 RBIs. He also played baseball for 21 years and has 2,774 hits with 8 Gold Gloves and 314 stolen bases. With close to 10 knee surgeries, Dawson should have been the one allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs, not Bonds.

One thing I love about Bonds is that he refuses to even admit that Game of Shadows exists. The book has been out for about three months now and I have yet to hear of a lawsuit filed on Bonds’ behalf that contests the contents of the book. And yet everyone just casually goes about their sports day, without a care that Bonds continues to cheat because, as an entertainer, he feels he can.

As the book explains, Bonds has never had to stand before anyone and explain his actions – not even when he was a kid. He was always the best player on the team, received the benefits that comes with that title, and he continues to expect that to be the case. Regardless of how it impacts his body, the other players in the game, the kids growing up who are learning the game, or the record books – Bonds is concerned with one thing – reaping the financial advantages that being an “entertainer” in baseball provides.

And regardless of who has to pay to make that happen, Bonds is only too happy to stand there and take the paychecks and accolades that come with it. I’ve often wondered how he sleeps at night, knowing that he has an advantage that many other players don’t have – that he has cheated to get to where he is. And the only answer I can come up with is that when you are on the stage and being an entertainer, it’s just acting. It’s not who you really are – so you can get away with more. The question I have for Bonds is, when the show is over and you walk off the stage – who are you then?

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The Next World Series Champion

By Brad Halfond
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Just like clockwork, every spring brings the same hopes to major league baseball teams all over the country. Some fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers are just hoping to stay in the pennant race after the first few weeks of the season, while other fans have higher aspirations.

Take the rabid fans of Boston Red Sox nation or the equally intense fanatics who root for the New York Yankees. Not only do these fans demand that their teams be in the playoffs or World Series every season, they also demand that the two clubs beat each other.

Boston and New York are separated by about four hours in a car, but their baseball fans and ideas are separated by much more space than almost anyone can imagine.

The best word, although not too politically correct, is “hate.” It is not a stretch of any imagination to say that the fans of these clubs hate each other. Every year, fights break out in the stands or in sports bars across America, and they are all involving Yankee or Red Sox fans. Ever seen or heard about a Cardinals and Braves fan fight?

Both Boston and New York have fans who are living in various cities away from their hometown, and this has spread the rivalry across many time zones. Trust me from first-hand experience, you can find New Englanders and New Yorkers almost anywhere in the USA.

The rivalry and bad blood runs fairly deep for me, and I would not be able to write with such certainty on the topic had I not been so directly involved through many years.

Being born and raised in New York, you have a choice between teams. Once you select the Yankees (in my case, passed down by dear ol’ Dad), the next step is to immediately work up a hatred for Red Sox fans, Red Sox management, New England Clam Chowder and even anybody foolish enough to be wearing actual red socks.

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If you’re a Yankees fan, that is your first given in life – hate thy Red Sox fan. With their annoying accents, general lack of knowledge toward the game, their laughable track record of winning over the years and barrelful of excuses for losing, it is fairly easy to work up a good lather against them.

Another year is upon us, and 2006 will see these two teams meeting 19 times. The first pair of these games takes place on May 1-2 in Beantown. If you’re a baseball fan and you’re not watching these games, you either better be getting married or mourning a death in the family. If you’re a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no excuse not to be watching—just keep the volume low on your mini TV and nobody at the funeral should get too upset.

But emotions and people getting upset are actually the hallmark of this rivalry. It’s easy to go back and cite all the times on the field that these two teams have mixed it up, which in turn usually carries over to the stands or the bars.

More recently, we had Alex Rodriquez taking on Jason Veritek, and Don Zimmer battling it out with Pedro Martinez. Granted, the names and faces change, but the intensity between the two teams and their fans is legendary.

I can personally attest to one infamous episode during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series. It was the game where New York recovered from a 5-3 deficit to defeat Boston with a home-run from Aaron Boone that sent the Yankees to the World Series.

Drinking a beer amidst hoards of Red Sox fans at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, I was resigned to watching the Sox advance to the World Series. Soon, the Yankees mounted their comeback, and my bravado had started taking the best of me. Although very conservative in my early remarks, I saved the best for last: When Boone’s shot landed in upper reaches of Yankee Stadium, my outburst lasted for several minutes—which most likely felt like hours for Red Sox fans.

Now this incident took place before Boston finally won a World Series title, so Red Sox fans were more surly than usual.

With my yelling ringing in their ears and their sorrow turning to desperation, two New England tourists started hurling insults my way, and we exchanged profane remarks for several minutes before your classic dimwitted Red Sox fan charged at me, telling me to keep quiet.

Now, telling a Yankee fan to keep quiet is like telling Pam Anderson not to show any cleavage, so it quickly turned ugly. In the end, Red Sox fan lost the fight but had some red blood to show for it on his nose, and his wife was also the recipient of some collateral damage.

If you’re curious, all charges were dropped.

would expect nothing else from the loyal, overzealous fans of either team. In the end, being a Yankee or Red Sox fan is like defending your country. If attacked and provoked—or just not a fan of a particular nation—let them know you’re serious and that they best not challenge you again.

Winning a World Series title hasn’t made Red Sox fans any smarter or relevant, it just gave them a one-year sense that everything was fine—but pinstripes will always be the real color of choice.

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Next week on TV (5-1/5-7)

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Both the NBA and the NHL close out the first round of their playoffs. In baseball, you’ve got the Orioles and the Blue Jays, matching up in what has to be one of the biggest questions of the baseball season. One of these teams might hang on to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox, but probably not both, making this early season tilt a little more interesting.

*All times Eastern.

Monday, May 1
NFL Europe, Berlin at Rhein (3 p.m., NFL Network)
Stop arguing about who your team drafted and check in on the sport’s minor league with this mid-afternoon match-up. Though NFL Europe might not get the attention of its big brother, the league offers a good chance to figure out which back-up players might break through come the fall.

Tuesday, May 2
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., DirecTV, regional)
Every Yankees versus Red Sox match-up gets covered like a playoff game in Boston and New York, so expect tempers to flare in this tilt. The Sox have had the early season advantage, but that’s nothing new, as the Sox always have a division lead in the Summer – the question is whether they can hold it in the Fall.

Wednesday, May 3
Boxing (9 p.m. ESPN2)
Sharmba Mitchell takes on Jose Luis Cruz in a 10-round welterweight tilt. Cruz plays the role of the fighter on the way up, taking on former two-time champion Mitchell, who wants one more shot at the gold. Mitchell was knocked out in the sixth round in his last fight, but that was against Floyd Mayweather – one of the best in the division – so he’s aiming to prove that was a fluke and knock Cruz off the ladder of contention.

Thursday, May 4
Wachovia Open (4 p.m., USA)
A Tiger-less field should leave this one pretty wide open. Vijay Singh attempts to repeat as champion, a title he took last year in a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Friday, May 5
College Volleyball (Midnight, ESPN2)
Catch the men’s semifinal of the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament. This might be your last chance to see some of your favorite players before they turn pro and head out on the lucrative men’s volleyball tour.

Saturday, May 6
Kentucky Derby (6 p.m., NBC)
Horse racing only matters three times a year to the average fan, but the Kentucky captures the best of the sport. Because it’s the first Triple Crown race, every Derby winner stands the chance of being the first horse to bring home racing’s most elusive prize since Affirmed in 1978.

Sunday, May 7
Premier League Soccer (5 p.m., FOXESP)
Two of the big powers in the Premiership face off as Newcastle battles Chelsea in an attempt to cut into Chelsea’s overall lead in the standings. Chelsea did just fall in the FA Cup semifinal, but their big lead in the regular season standings makes clinching the title almost inevitable.


Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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