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08/07/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets shook up their roster on Saturday, releasing infielder Alex Cora, optioning outfielder Jesus Feliciano to the minors and promoting two prospects to the major league club.
Outfielder Fernando Martinez and infielder Ruben Tejada were called up from Triple-A Buffalo.
Martinez, who has been one of the team's top prospects for several years, has yet to play for the Mets in 2010. He appeared in 29 major league games in 2009 and batted just .176 with a homer and eight RBI.
In the minors this season, Martinez, 21, has batted .256 with 12 homers and 33 RBI in 72 games.
Tejada, 20, is beginning his third stint with the Mets this season and is batting .212 with five RBI in 35 games. In 65 games with the Bisons this season, he is batting .280 with one homer and 16 RBI.
Cora made 62 appearances for the Mets in 2010 and batted .207, while Feliciano played in 27 games and posted a .292 batting average with two RBI.
The Mets are currently in south Philly for a three-game series.
<< Ambrose grabs Nationwide pole at Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcos Ambrose will start on the pole for
Saturday's Zippo 200 Nationwide Series race after posting the quickest lap in
qualifying at Watkins Glen International.
Ambrose, who has won the last two Natio
<< Tigers seek a win at home versus Angels
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading Detroit Tigers aim to snap out of their current
funk tonight, as they resume a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim at Comerica Park.
Last night, Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer to back se
<< Orioles hope to stay hot vs. White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles have come alive under new
manager Buck Showalter and take aim at their season-high fifth win in a row
tonight in the continuation of a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox
from Ca
<< Pavano leads Twins into second test with Tribe
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Pavano will try to pitch Minnesota past his former
team, as the Twins continue a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians
tonight at Progressive Field.
Pavano, who went 9-8 with a 5.37 ERA with the India
A-Rod struck with liner in batting practice >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was
reportedly struck by a Lance Berkman line drive in batting practice and limped
off the field.
According to the New York Post, he was tended to by a team trai
Woods on pace for historically bad finish >>
Akron, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods shot a five-over 75 on Saturday and
is now 11-over par through three rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Woods, a seven-time winner of this championship, is in 78th place out of 80
player
Edwards tops in qualifying at Watkins Glen >>
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Edwards claimed his first Sprint Cup
Series pole in two years by winning Saturday's qualifying for the Heluva
Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.
Edwards turned a
Red Sox ink Delgado to minor league deal >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox agreed to a minor league
contract with former New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado.
Delgado has yet to play this season while he recovers from offseason hip
surgery. He tried
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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