Flu bug hits Devils Rays

Baseball Betting Lines

04/19/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a flu bug going through Tampa Bay's dugout, many thought maybe this had more to do with the Devil Rays losing two of three against Baltimore, but manager Joe Maddon credited the Orioles' hitters with his team's ailments.

"You have to give them credit too", Madden said, "They are professional hitters."

History may have more to do with the Orioles success when playing the Devil Rays rather than the flu. Baltimore has won eight of the last 10 meetings while winning the last four in the series.

Starter Scott Kazmir experienced a bad outing, his worse of the young season, completing only four innings. He allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three. However, his 102 pitches in only four innings caused the greatest concern. He admitted that he was concerned himself while warming-up for the game

"All in all, I just couldn't find the zone," Kazmir said. "I just kind of felt gassed from the beginning...You're going to have days like that. You have to battle through it. I just wish I could've gone deeper in the game...That's the life of a starting pitcher. Days you don't feel great, you still have to go out there and battle."

Despite his problems, Kazmir left with the game tied 3-3 and didn't absorb the loss.

After beginning the season 2-5, the Rays have traded wins and losses the last eight games and are the only AL East team with a sub-500 record. If this pattern persists then the Rays are due to win Friday's series opener against the Cleveland Indians. Wouldn't it be nice to resort to such clever predictions?

INJURY/ILLNESS

The aforementioned flu kept third baseman Akinori Iwamura out of the series finale with others ailing, but no additional scratches were necessary.

However, Maddon revised his original lineup by shifting the Brendan Harris from shortstop to third base and inserting Ben Zobrist into the lineup at shortstop.

WHO'S HOT

Closer Al Reyes has tied a Devil Rays' record for April saves with five in as many opportunities. Chances are he'll own the record if given the opportunity. The amazing fact is that Reyes has retired 18-of-21 batters faced.

WHO'S NOT

The starting pitching needs to improve drastically if the young Devil Rays are going to compete on a regular basis. With the average ERA among the five starters a high 6.73, it is obvious improvement is needed.

Help may be down on the farm at Triple-A Durham as Josh Hammel was named the International League Pitcher of the Week for April 5-15. In three starts he compiled one win while posting a 0.54 ERA in 16 2/3 innings.

Hammel failed to land a spot in spring training but if the starting pitching continues its early season woes, Hammel deserves a shot if he continues to dominate in Triple-A.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Devil Rays host the visiting Cleveland Indians in a three-game series beginning Friday after an off day Thursday. The probable pitching match-ups:

In game one, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, LHP (3-0, 2.14) opposes Tampa Bay's Edwin Jackson, RHP (0-2, 8.31). In game two Cleveland's Paul Byrd, RHP (1-0, 0.0) opposes Tampa Bay's Jae Seo, RHP (0-1, 7.71). In game three Cleveland's Jake Westbrook, RHP (0.2, 12.08) opposes Tampa Bay's James Shields, RHP (1-0. 5.40).

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

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