New York Yankees Baseball Bet Blog and Information

2006-10-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

Derek Jeter and the rest of the modern-day Murderers' Row overwhelmed the young Detroit Tigers, getting the New York Yankees off to a quick start in the first round of the AL playoffs.

Jeter tied the postseason record for hits, going 5-for-5 with a home run to lead New York over Detroit 8-4 on Tuesday night in its postseason opener.

Bobby Abreu had a two-run double and Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer in the third as New York's big boppers staked starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang to a 5-0 lead. The five-run burst started, however, with something small -- Johnny Damon's slow roller for a single.

After the Tigers crawled within two runs, Abreu added a two-run single in the sixth and Jeter hit his 17th postseason home run in the eighth.

Six of New York's seven RBIs came from Abreu and Giambi, surprising given that Tigers starter Nate Robertson held lefties to a .181 average during the regular season, the best among AL pitchers. Giambi was on base four times, also getting hit by pitches twice and walking.

lineup, now that everyone's healthy, poses a mighty challenge for opposing pitchers. All nine starters are current or former All-Stars. Robinson Cano became the first player ever to start a postseason game batting ninth after finishing among the top three in his league in batting, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Alex Rodriguez, the reigning AL MVP, was dropped to sixth in the order.

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

2006-06-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tuesday June 13, 7:05 EST
Yankee Stadium

Tuesday night, the New York Yankees stadium will host the Cleveland Indians, with Paul Byrd, as the starting pitcher, after playing the White Soxs.

The Indians cannot carry the 14-2 loss to the Angels on Sunday June 4th. The loss was particularly disappointing to the Indians who had their No.1 starter on the mound, C.C. Sabathia. It will be a challenging stretch of games for the Indians, who are trying to recover the ground they have lost to the Tigers and White Sox; who are ahead of them in the Central Division standings. Third in their Division, these up-coming games against the Yankees are important to short the gap. It won’t be easy after going to the White Soxs but it’s a must. There is a lot of inconsistency among players Paul Byrd, Cliff Lee, Jake Westbrook, and Jason Johnson. But if Cleveland wants to jump back into the Central Division first places, this has to end.

Line up: 1. Grady Sizemore, CF. 2. Jason Michaels, LF. 3. Johnny Peralta, SS. 4. Travis Hafner, DH. 5. Victor Martinez, C. 6. Ben Broussard, 1st B. 7. Casey Blake, RF. 8. Ronnie Belliard, 2nd B. 9. Aaron Boone, 3rd B.

Yankee stat in the AL’S East group keeps everybody surprised; the Yankees continue seeking the World Series. First in their group and with good news from players Rodriguez and Giambi who are well and ready to receive the Indians; in rehab but positive about coming games. Hideki Matsui said: "Personally, I believe I will be coming back (this season), "obviously that's my mind speaking, not my wrist."

This game is an attention getter among sportsbooks and sports betting fans alike. Reason being Cleveland needs these wins and the Yankees are trying to keep first place consistently. None of them want to leave a “ball for a win”. Nice game to watch and bet on.

Line up: 1. Johnny Damon, CF. 2. Melky Cabrera, LF. 3. Jason Giambi, DH. 4. Alex Rodriguez, 3rd B. 5. Jorge Posada, C. 6. Robinson Cano, 2nd B. 7. Andy Phillips, 1st B. 8. Bernie Williams, RF. 9. Miguel Cairo, SS.

NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

2006-06-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 8th 2006 7:00 PM ET
Yankee Stadium By Jacob Mitchell
http://www.wagerweb.comContributing Writer

It was almost a perfect night for Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina last week as they faced the Tigers in Detroit; he pitched the entire game allowing six hits and no errors; unfortunately one run that separated him from having his first shutout in almost a year.

"They shouldn't have scored at all and I just wanted to finish it," said Mussina, who notched his 57th career complete game.

Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs for the Yankees, who have won five straight. The Yankees want to keep their winnings streak this week against their archrivals the Boston Red Sox in a game that will be full of adrenaline and excitement.

The Yankees have a great team this year as usual and despite all the injury problems they’ve been able to overcome that and manage to win important games.

Lineup1. Melky Cabrera, LF. 2. Miguel Cairo, SS. 3. Jason Giambi, DH. 4. Alex Rodriguez, 3rd B. 5. Jorge Posada, C. 6. Robinson Cano, 2nd B. 7. Bernie Williams, CF. 8. Andy Phillips, 1st B. 9. Terrence Long, RF.

The Red Sox got a much needed victory after losing the first two games of the series against the Blue Jays at Toronto. Boston had a total of four home runs in the game half of those scored by Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

David Pauley the starter for the Red Sox pitched four innings, allowing eleven hits and six runs with the same amount of errors but had no decision in the game; meanwhile Jonathan Papelbon had his 19th save of the season.

"We needed this. That's what they've been doing to us," Boston manager Terry Francona said.

Boston is now preparing to travel to New York where it awaits a difficult series against the Yankees, both teams needs to win the series but Boston is now behind the Yankees in the standings for the first time in the season and they need to get back on track.

This is with no doubt one of the most exciting match ups in the league, that’s the reason why it brings so many sports betting fans to bet on the games between these two.

Lineup1. Coco Crisp, CF. 2. Mark Loretta, 2nd B. 3. David Ortiz, DH. 4. Manny Ramirez, LF. 5. Kevin Youkilis, 1st B. 6. Mike Lowell, 3rd B. 7. Doug Mirabelli, C. 8. Trot Nixon, RF. 9. Alex Gonzalez, SS.

I Hate Mondays: New York, New York

2006-05-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-05-24T14:34:00.001-07:00

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

2006-05-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-05-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

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.

2006-05-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-05-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

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.

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Torre wins No. 1,000 as Yankees manager

2006-05-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

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.

2006-05-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-05-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-05-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

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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Fantasy Baseball Breakdown

2006-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
The Six-Month Grind
We’re three weeks into the 2006 baseball season, and if your fantasy team looks anything like mine, you’re ready to unload half of your roster. I know it’s hard, but be patient. The worse thing you could do right now is panic and make a bad trade or drop a good player.
Baseball, more than any other sport, is driven by statistics. It’s a long season with a lot of ups and downs for most players. In the end, the numbers usually even out. If you stick with your guys long enough, they should come around and start producing like you expected them to.
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Off to a Hot Start
While it’s very difficult to watch your team stumble out of the gate (as I’m writing this, my offense is a collective 0-15 today and I’m about ready to have a fire sale), there was a reason why you drafted these guys. If you were lucky enough – or smart enough, depending on how you look at it – to draft Chris Shelton, Jonny Gomes or Nick Swisher, you’re probably at the top of your league, right now. But are these guys really going to lead the league in home runs?
Manny Ramirez hit his first two home runs of the season, last weekend. Mark Teixeira and Richie Sexson have three and two homers, respectively, through the first three weeks. These guys are all perennial 40-home-run-hitters, and barring injury, you can be sure that they will get their numbers by the season’s end.

Waiting for the Right Time
Everyone’s heard the cliché “buy low, sell high.” It’s sound advice. Knowing the right time to deal that guy who’s off to a hot start is the key to making this happen. There’s no way Shelton, Gomes and Swisher are going to keep up the pace they’ve set so far – Shelton’s already started to slow down – but how can you not ride their hot streaks a little longer? Just don’t wait too long if you’re planning on dealing them.
Knowing players’ trends is another key in making the right deal at the right time. Some players are traditionally slow starters, like Ramirez and Jim Edmonds, and trading for them at the end of their slow start could mean big stats for you the rest of the way. A lot of hitters heat up when the weather does too, so they could be busting out of these slumps any day now.
On the Rise
Targeting players who are showing signs of breaking out is another key to making the right roster adjustments. Here are a few players who might be available and could definitely help some teams:
Josh Barfield – The rookie second baseman has excelled since being moved to the No. 2 spot in the Padres lineup. He’s got his average over .300 and has 2 HRs and 6 steals. Grab him if he’s still available.
Ty Wigginton – Playing for his third team in four years, the journeyman third baseman seems to have found a home in Tampa Bay. He’s taken advantage of Aubrey Huff’s knee injury and already has 8 home runs and 20 RBI. Playing in hitter-friendly Tropicana Field should help, too. Ride him while he’s hot. Brad Hawpe – The Colorado Rockies outfielder has established himself as the everyday right fielder and is firmly entrenched in the heart of the Rockies lineup. He’s batting over .340 and already has slugged 5 HRs. The 2000 College World Series MVP is well on his way to a .300-30-100 season. You never can go wrong having a Rockie in your lineup.
The Pitching Hole
While there is plenty of time to make up ground on offense, falling behind in the pitching categories – especially ERA and WHIP – can be a killer. Avoiding those complete disasters in the early season is a key to remaining competitive on the mound.
With pitchers, it’s all about the matchups. Don’t be afraid to bench one of your better pitchers for a riskier play if the matchup is right. Throwing a marginal starter against Kansas City or Pittsburgh is always better than having just about any starter face the Yankees or pitch at Colorado.
Whether you find yourself at the top of your league or at the bottom of the pack after these first three weeks, don’t stop looking to make your team better. Stocking your bench with productive players who could be used as trade bait is always a good idea. The inevitable injuries will come, and having players to step in during those times will help you avoid having to make a desperate deal. Bet MLB Baseball Player and Game Propositions @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook

Michael Brody

Writer/EditorWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Mike has been writing and reporting on sports for 14 years.
He started his career as a sports writer and radio broadcaster at Cal State Northridge. Mike has written for the Los Angeles Daily News and has been a writer/editor for KNBC in Los Angeles, where he worked on the nightly sportscast with Fred Roggin. He also wrote and edited material for NBC network specials and has more than 10 years of online journalism experience. Although he lives in Southern California, Mike was born and raised in the Boston area and is a diehard fan of all the Boston professional teams.

Tampa Bay Devil rays at New York Yankees

2006-04-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 7:00 PM ET

New York Yankees:
OF Hideki Matsui played his 500th consecutive game with the Yankees the favorite team in all the Sportsbooks in almost every baseball game. Matsui started in left field on Tuesday, that is the team's longest streak since Lou Gehrig's legendary string of 2,130 games from 1925-39.
OF Bernie Williams, has gone 173 at-bat without hitting a home run, counting the playoffs last season. He has not homered since hitting two against Kansas City in Aug. 26. OF Johnny Damon, and SS Derek Jeter have hit safely in the11 of the 12 games this season.
2B Robinson Cano is 6 of his last 12 turns at bat. "I've been working in the cage before games a lot," said Cano, who was having trouble with pitches on the outside corner of the plate. "I'm going with the pitch now. I feel a lot better."
LHP Mike Myers has pitched five scoreless innings over his eight appearances this season. He has allowed two hits with one walk and five strikeouts. "He's been very valuable," manager Joe Torre said. "I can use him every day."
Tampa Bay Devil Rays:
RHP Chad Orvella was unexpectedly sent to Triple-A at the end of the spring to work on a few mechanical adjustments; including reducing the time of his delivery to home plate. Apparently he got it done, because the Devil Rays recalled him to join.
The Rays' 7-6 record is the second-best 13-game start in their history, surpassed only by an 8-5 mark in their inaugural 1998 season.
Hitting coach Steve Henderson's seems to be working well with the Rays, "We've talked about attempting to strike out less, and by striking out less sometimes you walk more," manager Joe Maddon said.
The Rays didn't have a starter for Saturday's game in Texas, which meant another roster move and also a dip into their bullpen. RHP Jason Hammel was optioned to Triple-A after Sunday's game, and LHP Mark Hendrickson is not expected to be recovered from the supposedly mild shoulder stiffness that landed him on the DL.
SS Julio Lugo, sidelined since Opening Day by an abdominal strain, is not expected to be ready to come off the disabled list for this week. He is likely to stay in St. Petersburg to play in extended spring.

Waiting for Take-Off

2006-04-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

By J.D. Jackson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

You would not know it by their 10-4 record through the first two-and-a-half weeks of play, but the Houston Astros need Roger Clemens pitching for them.

It’s not too often that you read about a team needing a 43-year-old pitcher to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, but Clemens is not a pitcher who comes along that often. At 42, he put together one of his more stunning seasons in his illustrious 22-year career by going 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 185 batters and walking just 62 in 211.3 innings. While Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young for the National League, last season (Clemens finished third behind Carpenter and Dontrelle Willis), his 2005 was one of his three or four best seasons over the course of his career (better than his 2004, in which he did win the Cy Young Award). His 1.008 WHIP was the second-best in his career (bested only in 1986), his 1.87 ERA was the best in his career, and his 44 earned runs allowed was also the best in his career with a minimum of 100 innings pitched. And he was 42.

Clemens tired down the stretch. He labored his way through the playoffs, going 4-3 while helping guide the Astros to the World Series. It was clear that Clemens had worn down, and an injured Clemens posted a 13.50 ERA in his lone outing as the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox. Had Clemens not been injured and tired, the history books might remember the 2005 season a little differently.

Without Clemens, this season, Houston is winning games by mashing the ball, which is not something that the ’Stros are accustomed to. They are second in the National League in team average, fourth in home runs, tied for second in runs scored, and second in OPS. This is largely the same team that finished near the bottom in all of those categories in 2005. Though Roy Oswalt continues to prove that he is an ace pitcher, and Brandon Backe has surprised early on, Andy Pettitte has struggled to a 1-2, 6.35 ERA start. Wandy Rodriguez has started off well, but he is a guy who would come out of the bullpen, ideally. Ezequiel Astacio, the Astros’ emergency starter in the 2005 playoffs, has been downright pathetic in his two appearances, this season. The presence of Clemens allows everyone to shift down a spot in the rotation: Oswalt becomes the #2, Pettitte becomes the #3, Backe becomes a #4, and then the Astros can choose between Rodriguez, Astacio, or Taylor Buchholz for the fifth spot. The rotation goes from being second-best in its own division (behind the Cardinals’ deep rotation) to becoming the best rotation in the game, simply by adding Clemens. Assuming that the Cardinals turn it on like they are able to do, assuming the Mets continue to play spectacular baseball while the Braves play their normal brand of solid ball…the Astros without Clemens will have a hard time winning even the Wild Card. The offense just is not good enough, and the pitching just is not deep enough.

The possibility still exists, of course, that Clemens will rejoin the Astros in May. That period exists because the Astros did not offer Clemens arbitration. There are other teams, though less realistic, in the mix. The Red Sox have spoken to Clemens, but here’s to doubting that you will ever see Clemens back in a Red Sox uniform. It is awfully hard to cross a river when you have burned just about every single bridge that leads back to the other side. The Texas Rangers are also interested and seem more than willing to pay any amount of money required to get Clemens to pitch in Arlington. It is just not evident that Clemens reciprocates those feelings, though pitching for the Rangers would satisfy his requirement of staying close to home. The Yankees have called, as well, but Clemens left the Yankees to return home; it is unlikely that Clemens would leave home to return to the Yankees.
Besides that, Clemens’ leaving the Astros for any of those teams would leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. Clemens went to Houston to pitch specifically for the Astros. He wanted to be close to his home, close to his family, and able to spend more time away from the game while still competing. In other words, while he was getting paid the highest salary of his career ($18 million in 2005), Clemens was not doing it for the money. The man has made $121 million over the course of his career in salary alone. If he became the latest Yankee hired gun, it would be a disgusting act to many, many people.
No, the only place where Clemens truly fits is in Houston. And though there was some tension about the Astros’ not waiting on Clemens’ decision about retirement and not offering him arbitration, it is apparent that Clemens would return to Houston in May after taking the first month of the season off. It would allow Clemens to continue resting, the entire month of April, essentially adding a month onto his stamina and effectiveness in 2006, assuming that he is healed completely (and after a 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.81 WHIP in two starts during March’s World Baseball Classic, it is safe to assume that he is the same old Rocket). For Houston, the equation is simple: Clemens equals another trip deep into the playoffs, while no Clemens might mean no playoffs at all for 2005’s National League Champions.
Even at 43, Clemens still makes all the difference in the world.

MLB early season observations

2006-04-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

Is there a more dominant threat to opposing pitchers in the National League than Albert Pujols?

The monster slugger has lit up scoreboards early in the season and sent several managers home wondering why they ever challenged the 26-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Pujols’ nine dingers lead the league and this guy must be now considered, along with Alex Rodriquez, one of the best players in baseball. Pujols clearly leads the list of standout individual performances as the 2006 baseball season gets underway.

Other players making an early impact in the senior circuit include David Wright, the steady third baseman on the resurgent New York Mets, and Ryan Langerhans of the Atlanta Braves. Both of those teams should stay in the hunt for the NL East title as the Mets will try to break the stranglehold on the division that Bobby Cox and Atlanta have maintained for more than eleven years.

But back to Pujols. We kind of had a hint that this would be his year from the way he ended the 2005 season with that massive blast that gave the Redbirds a victory over Houston in game five of last year’s NLCS.

Now Pujols has a new stadium to play in, fans who love and adore him, and the serious potential to reach 60 home runs this season. The only thing that Pujols needs is for his Cardinals to reach the heights that the White Sox did last year and win their first World Series title since 1982.

A few hundred miles to the north is the sleeping giant known as the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a team that has already surprised some with its ability to come back; if they can get their bats heated up with the weather, they could challenge for a wild card berth.

Overall, the early theme of the 2006 season might be parity. The Cardinals lost pitching and won’t be as dominant this year, while the NL West should continue to be mired in mediocrity. Unless the New York Mets can keep up their hot start and add an arm or two in mid-season, this league is definitely up for grabs.

It’s still too early to tell what will happen in the American League, but the usual contenders are starting to emerge. The Red Sox have their energetic new pitcher, Josh Beckett, and Curt Schilling appears to be at full strength, while the Yankees are going to rely on the older arms of Mussina and Johnson. Boston has more speed in 2006, while New York’s bullpen is practically brand new.

If you’re looking for early season surprises in the American League, that honor goes to Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers. This kid might revitalize the entire city of Detroit and bring baseball back to a somewhat competitive level. It is very uncommon for an unknown player like Shelton to be hitting with such power. Shelton had hit only 19 home runs in his previous 434 at-bats and now he is leading the league in long balls. Shelton is doing all this from the sixth position, but expect him to move up to the cleanup spot eventually.

The team to watch in the AL is Oakland, with its fearsome trio of Chavez, Thomas, and Bradley. If those guys stay hot and the young arms produce, Oakland will have a great chance to top Anaheim and win the West. The White Sox also have a good chance of repeating, but for the sake of our sanity, I would rather listen to Metallica than Ozzie Guillen any day.

What would the early season be without a mention of Barry Bonds? The Giants slugger has been getting more publicity off the field lately and maybe that is why his hitting and home runs (none yet) are starting to suffer. The other explanation is that Barry is just getting old and all of his various injuries have added up to Bonds becoming not quite the player he used to be. In the end, I’m going to say Barry hits about 25–30 home runs and retires after the season but before he has a chance to pass Hank Aaron for the all-time lead. Would that make Commissioner Selig happy?

Here are some of my observations on the opening weeks of the season around baseball.

New Busch Stadium – I can see the Arch more clearly, but did they even try to make it look different than old Busch stadium?

Giants’ outfield – Pass the Geritol. If these guys last the entire season then McCovey Cove will freeze over.

Pedro – The guy has nerves of steel and will continue to be successful unless a manager steps up and throws a ball near his head. He takes way too many liberties with players, with fewer consequences than any other pitcher I've ever seen.

Soriano – Shhhh …. They don’t want you to play 2B because they have an all-star there already and somebody in management must have watched a film of you bobbling balls in the Bronx for two seasons.

Marlins – and this hasn’t moved yet because….

Upcoming Devil Rays’ name change suggestion – Flounders

Beckett – Okay, we get it, you’re excited and happy that you struck somebody out. Bring that act to the Bronx and see what kind of reaction you will get.

Jeter – How come this guy doesn’t have a bubble gum endorsement contract yet? Hubba Bubba, are you listening?

Rivera, Yanks stunned by Twins

2006-04-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

MINNEAPOLIS -- Everything seemed to be going right for the Yankees on Saturday night.
They had overcome a four-run deficit against Johan Santana, their bullpen had thrown five scoreless innings after a rocky start by Jaret Wright and the offense came through with some clutch hits, giving New York a one-run lead heading into the ninth inning.
Then the Minnesota Twins scored twice against Mariano Rivera.
Justin Morneau's two-out, two-run walk-off single stunned the Yankees, who dropped a 6-5 decision to the Twins in front of 42,316 at the Metrodome.
"It's certainly a tough loss," said manager Joe Torre. "The day this type of game doesn't bother me is the day I should go home."
"It's big -- to come back on him, he's one of the best closers in the history of the game, not just right now," Morneau said. "He's been in that situation a lot of times, and he's usally the one that wins, so it's nice to see us shaking hands instead of them."
Rivera had entered the game in the eighth with one out and a runner on first, but he quickly got Shannon Stewart to ground into a double play, moving the one-run game to the ninth.
The Yankees had an opportunity to extend the lead after Johnny Damon walked, stole second and moved to third on Derek Jeter's sacrifice bunt.
Gary Sheffield had a tough 13-pitch at-bat against Juan Rincon, fouling off seven consecutive pitches before eventually striking out.
"You have to give Rincon credit," said Torre. "He kept coming at him, and eventually he won the battle."
Alex Rodriguez, whose RBI single in the seventh had put the Yankees ahead, 5-4, popped out to end the ninth, leaving Rivera and the Yankees three outs from a win.
"I need to do more -- I know what I'm capable of doing," Rodriguez said. "I'm a very important part of this lineup, and I feel when I'm swinging the bat really well, the team does a lot better. I need to pick it up."
Rivera opened the ninth with two quick strikes against Luis Castillo. On the 1-2 pitch, Castillo appeared to swing and miss, but third-base umpire Ed Montague (who missed a call at the plate on Friday night) ruled that Castillo checked his swing.
Castillo hit a soft bouncer toward the third-base line, where Rivera fielded it and fired to first, but Castillo beat the throw by a step.
"Definitely, I thought it was a strikeout, but you can't change that," Rivera said. "That play is over, so you have to get the next guy."
"Mo did exactly what he wanted to do," Jeter said. "He gave up a hit that went about three feet."
Torre was fuming over the Castillo call, saying that the umps gave him "an extra strike."
Joe Mauer also fell behind Rivera, 1-2, and once again, it appeared that Rivera struck him out on a pitch that home-plate umpire Jerry Layne called a ball. Mauer then singled to left, moving to second as Hideki Matsui tried unsuccessfully to throw Castillo out at third.
"We thought he had the first two guys struck out," Damon said. "Unfortunately, things didn't go our way."
With runners at second and third and no outs, Rivera struck out Rondell White and Torii Hunter, bringing him one out away from avoiding disaster.
"I'll take my chances with Mo in the ninth with two outs," Torre said. "Or nobody out, for that matter."
"We were right in the position we wanted to be in -- ninth inning with Mo," Jeter said. "Even when they got the first couple of guys on, you still like your chances."
Morneau swung at the first pitch, blooping a broken-bat single into right field, just out of the reach of Robinson Cano. Castillo and Mauer scored, giving the Twins their fifth win in a row.
"I'm human -- all I do is try to do my job," Rivera said. "When I don't do it, the way it happened today, it's out of my control. He put the ball in play and it happened to find a hole. I wish I could take it back, but I can't. You move on."
The ninth-inning meltdown negated what would have been a great win for New York, which found itself in an early 4-0 hole against Santana.
Minnesota plated three against Wright in the second inning, then tacked on another in the fourth to hand the former Cy Young Award winner a healthy lead.
But thanks to the efforts of Scott Proctor, who threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, the Yankees' offense chipped away at Santana with two runs in the fifth to cut the lead in half.
"[Proctor] gave us a chance to get back into the game," Torre said. "Jaret struggled, but we kept fighting back against a good ballclub."
New York broke through in the seventh, putting runners at second and third with one out after Damon doubled against Santana. Jeter followed with a two-run single, and Rodriguez gave the Yankees the lead with an RBI single, putting them in position for their first one-run win of the season.
"It's a tough loss," Damon said. "We're 5-6, but we'll get over it. We have 151 to go; we're going to be fine. This team is very good.
"We have to try to forget this as quickly as we can," he added. "Hopefully we can get Mo a chance tomorrow."