05/13/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - From the "what took you so long department", comes the news that Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost has removed Eric Gagne from his closer's duties and will go by a closer-by-committee for now.
"It's not ideal," Yost said. "I don't want to do this for a whole long time. I believe in set roles in a bullpen, but sometimes to get some guys over the hump, to get guys to where they need to be, you need to do this."
Gagne, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason, has recorded nine saves this season, but also has blown five while sporting a 6.62 earned run average in 18 games for Milwaukee.
The final straw for Yost apparently came on Saturday when the 32-year-old lefty absorbed the loss in a 5-3 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals. Gagne allowed two runs and three hits in that one.
After the game Gagne, himself, thought it was time to make a change. But now, after a few days, he seems to have changed his tune.
"I know I belong in the ninth inning," Gagne said on Monday. "I had my mental break (Sunday). I'm good to go now. I know I'm a great closer. I know I'm going to do all right. I've just got to work out of it. It's just a confidence thing. The only way you'll be all right is keep going out there in a closing situation."
Of course, though, Yost, and fans in Milwaukee may feel a bit differently.
Gagne didn't exactly instill a lot of confidence with a two-inning stint on Monday against St. Louis, as he gave up a run and two hits, while walking a pair of batters.
WHO'S HOT
Ryan Braun is finally starting to show signs of the player that was the NL's Rookie of the Year last season. Since his average dipped to .257 on May 8 with an 0-for-5 performance against the Florida Marlins, the 24-year-old slugger has turned it on. He is 9-for-16 since with four home runs - two each in his last two contests - and has seen his average soar to .288.
WHO'S NOT
In Gagne's last three appearances, he has given up five runs and seven hits with six walks in four innings.
Gagne isn't the only problem with the Brewers. How about their starting staff?.
Other than Ben Sheets, no Milwaukee starter had recorded a win until Jeff Suppan shut down the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Dave Bush added another win for the starting corps on Monday.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Brewers cap their seven-game homestand this week with a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers. From there, Yost's crew will start the interleague portion of their schedule with a three-game stop in Boston. Milwaukee will then visit Pittsburgh and Washington before returning home to close the month.
<< Colorado hopes to rebound against Real Salt Lake
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo
didn't want to "complain about the referees" after Saturday's 2-1 loss to the
Houston Dynamo, but added, "the outcome should be decided by the two teams and
I don't
<< Gayego is a go for Preakness
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer Paulo Lobo confirmed Tuesday morning
that Arkansas Derby winner Gayego will start in the 133rd Preakness Stakes
on Saturday. With Gayego now set for the second leg of racing's Triple Crown,
there w
<< Can anyone knock off Big Brown?
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last three Kentucky Derby winners had
similar results in the Preakness, but the manner in which they all lost was
very different.
Street Sense ended up getting nailed at the wire by Curlin after defea
<< Sorenstam to 'step away' at end of '08
Clifton, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam announced
Tuesday that she is 'stepping away' from the game of golf at the end of the
2008 season.
"After some serious consideration, I have made a decision to step a
Bammer loses in rainy Rome >>
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Austrian lefthander Sybille Bammer was an
upset victim on a rainy Tuesday at the $1.34 million Italian Open, a clay-
court French Open tune-up.
The 19th-seeded Bammer was ousted by rising Belarusia
Surprising Zenit eyes UEFA Cup title vs. Rangers >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zenit St. Petersburg boss Dick Advocaat
and his players insist the club will be fine without striker Pavel Pogrenbnyak
on Wednesday in the UEFA Cup final against Rangers.
"Maybe it is even good that we
Phillies lose ground on western swing >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the Philadelphia Phillies left the City of Brotherly
Love a little over a week ago, they led the National League East by a slim
margin. Upon returning back home, the club now finds itself second in the
standings.
Aft
Middlesbrough cuts midfielder Rochemback loose >>
Middlesbrough, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Middlesbrough have decided against
offering midfielder Fabio Rochemback a new contract when his current deal
expires next month.
The 27-year-old Brazilian, who scored a sensational free-kick
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
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