-5innings

Hey Element.  Sorry about Milwaukee.  And other recent picks.

I was very hurt by the correspondence we had, indirectly of course through these boards, on August 14 (here) and August 15 (here.)

I thought your post on August 15 was, well, dishonest.  It upbraided me for failing to mention something I did, in fact, mention.  It seemed you were hoping the casual reader would skim over the facts.  I resent this.

Given it was in a sharp tone which warned me to "slow down," whereas in fact it was you who either lied or were extremely slipshod, I don't feel out of place for mentioning it here. 

When you never did the courtesy of apologizing, or at least responding, I concluded you don't care about my friendship, the truth, or both.

We all make bad picks -- not the least me; I mainly feed off of you guys.  But the correspondence left a bad taste in my mouth. 

I have no apologies for calling this to your attention and the group's, and will continue to do so until I receive a substantive reply. 

Indeed, I stand ready to receive them.

With respect, but a confused respect, Chris

Okay guys -- on to Wednesday...

(don't forget to visit Key Element's thread too.  It usually posts between 8 and noon, east coast time.  One of the best handicappers north of Mexico City.)

-- we missed you Bob

Onward and upward: 

I quite agree actually.  In both cases, you have the better overall team and better overall bullpen.  Might as well get 9 coin tosses instead of 5, as 5/9 likes to put it.

San Francisco, which I would take on the F5 runline -0.5.

San Francisco first 5 minus 0.5 is one to consider --

Also Colorado, Texas.

Chris

Like Tampa, would probably even runline it (-0.5) for the F5.

Seattle -- I was thinking of the side, but the way they hit, yah, the under could hit too.  Note, Felix is very good on the road.

"Here we go again," for the late-nighters.

And don't forget to check Key Element's thread later in the cycle...

Looks like a good day so far for Sunday -- though I'm still hoping on the Phillies-Braves under tonight.

On to Monday guys....

This checks out pretty well in terms of the matchup -- Vasquez and Happ have pitched well against the opponent. 

Of course there have been some lineup changes in recent weeks, but not a complete overhaul.

Here's some cautionary background on Guthrie for Baltimore:

ERA home: 4.8
ERA away: 6.1
ERA night: 6.4
ERA day: 2.8

Harden-Cubs -- in addition to his bad home-away split, he's been poor in day games.  It's especially bad this year, and Piniella has tried to avoid scheduling him during the days, but is there for the career as well. 

Of course we can get too cute with all these splits.  Cubs are much bettter team, at home, Ohlendorf weak on the road.  But it's something to consider. 

either one worked...  cheers...

I've observed we do very well when there's an early thread, and lots of discussion --

And not so well when there's not or we don't.

So here we go -- onward to Sunday...

Actually, Element, I listed your 5 innings pick -- along with your multiple losers.  Please re-read my entire post, carefully.

I have thanked you many times for excellent winners.  I thank you again.

I also listed one of our colleague's picks, over for 9 innings, that lost.  As you may recall, there was more than a little pus over his insistence that Pettitte would get pounded.

I think it is you who need to slow down.

With respect,
-5innings

I would also give some thought to Colorado....

Thanks; I could be mistaken; this said, both Covers and SportsNetwork list Gio Gonzalez --

along with OaklandAs.com, MLB.com, and whitesox.com.... 

Are your sure about your information?  Do you happen to remember where you got it?

All three look like decent first 5 runlines (-0.5) to me:

1. Starter mismatch, of course.
2. So-so bullpens, so may as well hit the f5.
3. St.L. and LAAofA have been scoring and scoring in the f5 pretty well of late.  Detroit, soso.
4. Team mismatch in all three games.  (More than 20 games, I'd guess.)

Here from some of our picks yesterday --

Yankees-Mariners OVER 9 +100, over 10 +140
LOST

Sox-A's -- Gio Gonzalez has been very good his last few games, and is good during the day.  Up against the White Sox and Floyd, I'm not sure what to think. 

Twins-Indians -- With Huff and Swarzak and those two teams I would think this is an over.

Cubs-Pirates -- It might sound funny, but I think the way the two teams are struggling to hit left-handed pitching, it could be an under.  Or a game for Zach Duke, who has improved on the road of late.  You have to sort of keep an eye on Aramis Ramirez coming back but I have gotten tired of looking it up.

Braves-Phillies -- I guess this would be an over.  Neither pitcher is doing that great, and both teams can hit, although whether the Phillies do hit or not is always another question.

Tigers-Royals -- You probably have to lean to Jackson on this.  But I am nervous about him because of the way they have pitched him and Verlander so much this season.  If anyone has any thoughts on whether we should think about this or not I would appreciate it.

Mets-Giants -- I would think this is an under but I also like Cain a lot better than Santana, so would consider SF as a side too.

Angels-Orioles -- Lackey keeps getting better and I think you would have to like him here.  Much better in the daytime but you can't have everything.

Rockies-Marlins -- Cook the much better pitcher here and Rockies seem like the better hitting team. 

Toronto-Tampa -- Last time these pitchers Kazmir and Tallet hooked up, the teams scored 19 runs, so if they can get a little over half that rate, i.e. 5-6 runs in the first 5, it should be an over. 

Astros-Brewers -- Over again, I guess.

Rangers-Red Sox -- Could be an over or just Texas.  Brad Penny is pretty consistently giving up 3-4 runs in the first 5.  Holland was doing that but he's improved lately.  Considering the Red Sox have had a little trouble with left-handers lately (though some of that was when Bay was out), I think just going with Texas is the best.

Washington-Cincinnati -- The Nationals might be a good underdog here.  Hear me out.  Neither pitcher seems to be very good.  But Cueto has had one good start out of about his last 10.  Martin has been decent in 3-4 of his last 5 outings.  I'm not jumping all over the Nats bandwagon, especially when they seem to be reverting, but it looks to me like a halfway even matchup but where the Reds are a big favorite. 

Yankees-Seattle -- Neither pticher seems like much, but neither does Mariner offense, and Yankees you don't know who will be in the lineup.  I will just avoid this game unless someone has a great idea about it.

SanDiego-St.Louis -- Both pitchers pretty good, especially lately.  So you could go under.  But all of a sudden Cardinals have not only started to hit, but to hit earlier in games.  So I would just take Piniero in this.

Dodgers-Diamondbacks -- Dodgers seem like the better team, Davis seems like the better pitcher.  Again I'm just sort of stand-offish on this one.

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Has anybody heard from Goalline Bob?