~~ BIFF'S BASES - APR. 15th ~~

[Biff_Tannen]

Tax day fellas, hope you got'em in...

I'm laying off the A's today because honestly, who knows what Swisher and the boys got up to last night. I'm guessing strippers... If anything I say play the Under. Both teams struggled against lefties yesterday... two lefties going again today. Eveland is looking like his spring was no joke, but I just don't trust Danks, so I'm not touching it.

Giants seem like a solid bet as well. The Baby Backs didn't do well in morning games on the road last year... I can easily see why. However, the Giants are a no-no for me right now with that pen they got. Plus Arizona was killing it at home recently.

Now, I'm not sure why there is money coming in on the Angels in this game. Texas is trying to stop a 4 game losing streak in their first home stand of the season. Seems highly probable against a division opponent.

Millwood is the Rangers ace/stopper and is a good day time pitcher. He got over 5 runs on average in run support last year, but yet has only gotten 2 so far this year. Leadoff man Figgins is 0-for-21 against Millwood in his career, with six strikeouts and 0 walks. He's much tougher on righties and has shut this lineup down. Millwood is 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels, who are only hitting .241 off him.

Moseley on the other hand is a no. 5 emergency starter who may get bumped when Lackey returns with Santana and Saunders pitching well. He hasn't shown anything this spring to believe the deserves the spot. Tidbit: He has not yielded a run in 7 1/3 career innings in Texas... just like Scioscia said about Figgins getting a hit off Millwood... "he's due."

The Angels are slightly banged up right now. Kendrick is out with a hammy pull and should miss this whole week. Big loss offensively there with Macier Izturis replacing him. Anderson sat out Sunday due to knee irritation... the 35 year old all-star seems to be slowing down. Hunter is nursing a bum toe, but is back in the lineup. A lot of the Angel offense is coming from the catchers (Napoli and Mathis) and I don't expect that to keep up. I don't expect any changes in the Rangers lineup except Melhuse will be catching. I'm okay with that, what he lacks in offense he makes up for in "smarts" over Laird.

As for the pens, Shields and Rodriguez have both pitched the past two nights. Scioscia said he might go with Spier if there's a save situation. He's 0 for 1 so far this year. For the Rangers Benoit and Wilson are both rested and throwing well. Millwood should give 7-8 innings I think today and hand it right over to those two. Only if it were a perfect world. Tidbit: The entire Rangers roster will wear jerseys bearing No. 42 in honor of Tuesday's Jackie Robinson Day celebration. Go get 'em!


APRIL 15th

TEXAS RANGERS -110

*RISKING $330 to win $300


--

Starting Bankroll = $30,000

Current Bankroll = $29,670


1% Bet Amount = $300

Bet Change @ $33,000 / $27,000

--

April ML Record (12-9) +$555
April RL Record (1-1) +$60
April O/U Record (0-3) -$945

--

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Liking the Rangers this afternoon as well.....GL!

[Underdog88]

GL Biff!

[joepa66]

BOL today Biff....I'm on the Rangeroos with ya bro!....

[Biff_Tannen]

Johnny, Underdog, JoePa... Wow... talk about a collapse. Rangers got up 4-0 and then lost 7-4. Not sure who the hell this Rupe guy is, but he definitely wasn't a part of my plan. My last two plays both bullpen blow jobs. Really surprised to see Shields and Rodriguez in there again, left little chance for a late comeback. I seem to be doomed when it comes to getting back in the black.


Here's the next one on deck... may have one more in the late games, but I'd have to love it.

Reds are 5-0 in Harang's last 5 starts at Wrigley. The Reds are 8-0 in Harangs last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. The guy is good, but he's not superman. That's asking a lot of a 1:1 fly ball pitcher tonight with 15 mph winds blowing out to center. I know the winds could change at any time, but I like Dempster as a 2:1 ground ball pitcher tonight, with the home team and the better pen. I always think Harang is underrated, but I don't here. Dempster has stepped into this starting role very well, but isn't set in most peoples minds that way yet. He wants to keep it and he's showing it. Reds just got swept by the Pirates, they aren't playing good ball right now. Reds have dropped their last 6 series openers, a trend I think with a better chance of staying alive tonight. The Reds haven't been close to a .500 ball club on the road for a few years. Good Luck.


CHICAGO CUBS -110

*RISKING $330 to win $300

[NIU Murph]

Congrats on the Cubs pick, Biff.

As a Cubs fan here, I knew the line was skewed by Harang's recent dominance over the Cubs. The Cubs lineup is coming to life and I figured that they would pile on the runs with the wind blowing out. The 1st inning injury to Soriano put a scare into me, but DeRosa has been feasting on Reds pitching since joinging the Cubs. Last year he batted .510 vs Cincy (26-51), which includes two 5-5 games against them. And Derrek Lee is back belting HR's. Last year he did not have his power stroke since coming back coming from the broken wrist in 2006. Add in new offense from Fukudome & Soto and this lineup can put a scare into you. Once Ramirez gets going, look out.

Keep it up and get in the black soon!

Murph

[Biff_Tannen]

Thanks Murph. It'll happen. Hopefully sooner than later, I hate treading water. I'd rather catch a wave.


--

Starting Bankroll = $30,000

Current Bankroll = $29,640


1% Bet Amount = $300

Bet Change @ $33,000 / $27,000

--

April ML Record (13-10) +$525
April RL Record (1-1) +$60
April O/U Record (0-3) -$945

--