Ultra Sports Bet » boston-red-sox

So darned exciting!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:46:50 +0000

This picture made me very excited when I saw it today. I can’t stand the Red Sox, and though I really like Josh Beckett it wasn’t him that made me giddy, either. It was that baseball season got under way. Sort of. The Red Sox beat the life out of Boston College in a ridiculous exhibition by a decidedly non-baseball like 24-0 score.

I could care less about this game, obviously. It just means that we are only a month away from the regular season of baseball. As a sports bettor, I love baseball. It goes on every day, there are a full range of options every day, and it forces you to have a patient, long term view. It’s not the most exciting sport to bet on, but it replaces adrenaline with intellectual challenge more than any other endeavor. I can’t wait.

Post from: Ultra Sports Bet

An opportunity in Cleveland?

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:46:04 +0000

Game four of the ALCS goes tonight in Cleveland, and there may be a chance to get some decent betting value. The pitching matchup is Paul Byrd (+104) for the Indians versus knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (-114) for Boston. I’m on Cleveland for the series and I would suggest that there is value on them here, too. Here are three reasons why:

1. Paul Byrd is an underappreciated pitcher. Sabathia and Carmona get all the credit in Cleveland, but Byrd was a solid 15-8 this year. In his appearance in the ALDS he handled the Yankees very nicely. He’s not flashy, but chances of a solid outing are very high.

2. Wakefield hasn’t pitched since September 29. In the last two years Wakefield has been hit hard and given up several runs each time he has come back from an extended absence like this one.

3. There is controversy around Wakefield. Many people think that Josh Beckett should start this game on one day less rest than normal, because that will have him ready at full rest for game seven. Boston manager Terry Francona has been vocally opposed to that suggestion, but you have to think that the team, and Wakefield, have been thinking about it. If things go badly early then the second guessing could be a distraction.

Cleveland played well last night, they are at home, and they have a pitching edge. That makes them an attractive underdog in my eyes. Pick: Cleveland (+104)

UPDATE: I was worried for the first few innings when Wakefield had a no-hitter going, but his recent form in situations like this came back to haunt him. 7-3 Cleveland.

Post from: Ultra Sports Bet

Making League Championship Series picks

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:17:58 +0000

I had a very successful LDS round from a betting perspective. If history repeats itself then that likely means that I am doomed in the LCS round, but that won’t stop me from trying. Here’s my very quick take on the two rounds. I did more in depth analysis here.

Arizona (+115) vs. Colorado (-135) – I’m torn on this one. I think that Colorado is the choice, but I don’t love the price. Both teams are overachieving compared to what they show on paper, but the Rockies are playing with a cohesiveness and unified vision that I’m not sure I have seen before, and that will be tough to beat. One key to the series will be Jeff Francis’ ability to match up with Arizona ace Brandon Webb. If he can do that, and his recent performances suggest he has a good chance (We’ll know for sure after game one), then Colorado should be fine. Pick: Colorado

Boston (-170) vs. Cleveland (+150) – You can read everything I read about the last Cleveland series and apply it here. Boston is a very good team with solid starters and a good bullpen So is Cleveland. Both teams had the identical regular season record, and both teams played well in the first round. They both have bats that can get hot, and they both play in front of crowds that give them an edge. Boston may have a slight edge in this series, but in my eyes the edge is only very slight, and that makes it pretty much a coin flip. That makes Cleveland at 1.5/1 full of value in my eyes. Pick: Cleveland.

Post from: Ultra Sports Bet