300♦ N.Y. YANKEES RUN LINE (WITH Sabathia over Snell) - Keep riding the pinstripes, and lay the run line with apparent-ace C.C. Sabathia toeing the slab. He is in search of his 13th win of the season after turning in 7-2/3 outstanding innings against the Red Sox in his last start, in which he struck out a season-high nine while allowing just two hits. It was a game in which he proved his worth.
And for as strong as he looked last night, I have to believe he is going to lead the team once again, despite the team traveling cross-country after finishing up with Toronto yesterday. And let’s not forget, the M’s went to extra innings against the White Sox last night, and could be just as tired as the Yanks.
Sabathia was too dominating for Boston, retiring the first 13 batters he faced before allowing a two-out single to Jacoby Ellsbury in the sixth and is now 17-2 in the month of August since 2005 - the most wins in the bigs for that month over that span.
He’ll get the run support against Ian Snell, as he couldn’t throw strikes in his last outing, against Tampa Bay, which chased him after just 1-1/3 innings after walking six batters. He showed no command of his fastball and admitted to being nervous and jittery in his first career appearance at Safeco Field. How nervous will he be in his first career start against the Yankees?
50♦ REDSKINS - Anlalysis on your preseason games due back by 4 p.m. eastern
50♦ RAIDERS -
Thursday early MLB ...
50♦ PADRES (LIST Carrillo) - Let’s start the day with a solid matinee pup in the San Diego Padres. Basing this all on the fact that right-hander Cesar Carrillo will make his major league debut this afternoon in Milwaukee. The Padres' first-round pick in 2005, who stands a prototypical 6 feet 3 and 175 pounds, will be the 13th starting pitcher employed by the Padres this season. He replaces Chad Gaudin, who was traded to the Yankees.
Now I know he has struggled since being promoted to Triple-A Portland, going 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts, but he also opened this season with Double-A San Antonio and was 8-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 20 starts. The levels have been different, I know this, but there is no scouting report at the big-league level for the Brewers to go off of. And many lineups tend to step up for someone new in the rotation, while the opposing lineup tries to hard and comes in a little too overzealous in trying to get to a rookie.
No need to worry though, I know where to go get my own scouting report. And the fact is as long as this kid is able to command his two- and four-seam fastball – which ranges low- to mid-90's – he’ll be able to call upon his above-average curveball, not to mention a changeup he’s worked on effectively. Love the price of this game, and will list Carrillo only.
50♦ ROCKIES RUN LINE (LIST Marquis and Maholm) - Your other matinee contest will feature a pitching matchup that I give the nod to Jason Marquis in. He’s been stuck on 12 wins for nearly a month now, and this is the right spot to get him his win. The lineup will make a mockery of Paul Maholm, providing Marquis a huge lead, and then the right-hander will activate that herky-jerky delivery that tends to induce ground-ball outs.
Marquis had been pitching with a blister problem as recently as July 19, when he picked up his 12th win, which is probably why in his three starts since then he's 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA. Word is out of Denver, he’s more than ready to notch No. 13.
Meanwhile, Maholm is 0-2 in his last five starts after a no-decision in his last outing, one in which Maholm allowed four runs in seven innings. He’s now allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts and continues to get hurt by the long ball, as he’s now given up two homers in a game twice in his last four starts. He strolls into this one with a 1-3 mark and a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies. Lay the run line, as Maholm gets pounded and Marquis stifles the Bucs.
Very easy to see that veteran Cliff Lee – a reigning Cy Young winner - has been everything the Phillies hoped he’d be when when they acquired him from the Indians two weeks ago.
In 16 innings as a Phillie, Lee has allowed a meager 10 hits and two runs while producing a stifling 1.13 ERA. He’s been dominating National League hitters, having stuck out 15 and walking three.
Already making his mark within the franchise, he’s the first Phildelphia pitcher since Paul Byrd (more than 10 years ago) to win his first two appearances as a Phillie, while allowing fewer than two runs in each.
The 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs, and after veteran Pedro Martinez’s debut win, I expect Lee to come in fired up for a dominating performance.
50♦ REDSKINS - From what I’ve read, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled with throwing interceptions in camp thus far, and I am very interested in seeing how he fares against an improved defense that most certainly has something to prove in this game. Trust me, an opposing defense in game-time speed is much different than wearing a red shirt and knowing you won’t get hit.
Baltimore is also very dinged up and even though it wouldn’t feature many of these starters for that long, the fact they’re stinging should be alarming. Linebacker Terrell Suggs, wideout Mark Clayton and offensive lineman Marshal Yanda are all out, while most notably sitting on questionable status are: receivers Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams, tight end Todd Heap, defensive end Trevor Pryce, safety Ed Reed and offensive linemen Ben Grubbs and Jared Gaither. Offensively speaking, that’s simply too many people Flacco would normally be counting on.
I don’t care this one is in Baltimore; coach Jim Zorn was balls to the wall last preseason, and will take the same approach with his revamped stop unit. I like the dog in this one.
50♦ RAIDERS - Every Thanksgiving the Cowboys are featured in one of the football games. This year they’ll face Oakland, and since the Pokes aren’t necessarily a team that is worried during the preseason, I don’t think there concerned about showing too much in this one; not as much as the Raiders need to show themselves what they’re made of against a squad like America’s Team.
I found it humorous to find this line: “Cowboys fans with a penchant for betting like a fan might want to avoid this one, for several reasons, not the least of which is that it is the preseason …” in a newspaper article, but there it was. Let’s face it, the oddsmakers are saying the exact same thing, right? If you and I were getting ready to sit down for turkey and stuffing, we’d be looking at a probably a touchdown favorite in Dallas. But it’s Week 1 of the preseason, and the Raiders are the installed chalk. And for good reason …
There aren’t as many questions that need answering with the Cowboys, there is no quarterback controversy, there is no new coach and quite frankly, there is no reason to play-to-win. Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett specifically noted he wasn’t planning anything for “this preseason game” and will “run fairly basic stuff.” Neither he nor coach Wade Phillips appeared to be worried about winning this football game, and I have to believe Oakland coach Tom Cable will feel the pressure to win this one with owner Al Davis looking on at home. Lay the points here.
Chris Jordan 8/13
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