Canada well-represented at 2010 MLB All-Star Game

Baseball Betting Lines

07/12/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays will send three of their starting nine to the 81st MLB All-Star Game, after hitting a major-league leading 136 home runs in the first half.

Toronto's All-Star representatives of Vernon Wells, Jose Bautista and John Buck have combined to hit 56 of those homers, as the Jays sit in fourth place in the American League East with a 44-45 record. The three All-Stars are the most the Jays have sent to the Mid-Summer Classic since five were selected to take part in the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. That event also featured Wells, who looks to be finally living up to the seven-year, $126 million contract former general manager J.P. Ricciardi inked him to in 2006.

Wells has not been running as much this season as in years past (four stolen bases, after swiping 17 in 2009), but the Gold Glove outfielder has provided stellar defense in addition to some pop in the middle of the lineup. The 31- year-old is on the verge of reaching 20 home runs, after doing so just once in the past three seasons, despite five-straight campaigns of 20 or more from 2002-2006. Wells will also be one of eight players taking part in the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby on Monday night. Wells started off the year on a tear but has since seen his average dip to .265, to go along with 19 homers, 49 RBI and 46 extra-base hits, good for fourth most in the majors this season. Oddly enough, the center fielder is hitting just .186 against lefties, continuing a downward spiral from last season, when he hit a measly .206 against southpaws after hitting above .300 against lefthanders in four straight seasons.

Bautista, meanwhile, has been a pleasant surprise for the Jays this year, possessing skills that extend far beyond just pop in his bat. Heading into the break, Bautista carries in a major-league leading 24 home runs and his 54 walks are tied for tops in the AL with Oakland A's first basemen Daric Barton. Despite showing flashes of power throughout his career, dating back to his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bautista has already eclipsed his previous best of 16 home runs in 2006. Bautista has been on a home run tear since the end of last season, when he hit 10 of his 13 homers during his final 23 games. While Bautista's average remains a dismal .237, he continues to show strong plate discipline by piling on the walks and providing great defense wherever he plays (third base or right field). His seven outfield assists place him in a three- way tie for second among right fielders, despite playing just 57 games at the position.

Buck, the Blue Jays' starting catcher, earned the right to play in Anaheim by leading all AL catchers in RBI with 41 and ranking second in home runs with 13. The backstop is also sporting a respectable .272 batting average, which includes a whopping .400 average against lefties. The 30-year-old catcher is playing for his second big league organization after spending six years in Kansas City and is well on his way to surpassing career bests in home runs (18) and runs batted in (50). Like fellow teammate Bautista, this will be Buck's first All-Star Game appearance.

CANADIAN MADE

Joey Votto: With Votto down to his last lifeline in order to make the All- Star Game, the fans got it right and selected him as the last player to represent the National League on July 13th. Votto's .314-22-60 line has him in serious contention to make a run at the Triple Crown in the second half of the season. The 26-year-old Canadian will be making his first All-Star appearance and will be joining teammates Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen and Arthur Rhodes at the Mid-Summer Classic. The Cincinnati Reds were rewarded with four representatives for their strong play in the first half, as they hold the division lead in the National League Central.

Justin Morneau: The 29-year-old slugger suffered a mild concussion during a game against the Blue Jays last week, which will prevent him from participating in the All-Star Game festivities. Morneau's injury does not seem to be too serious, and the Minnesota Twins are likely taking a cautious approach to avoid a further setback. This was the first year Morneau had been selected as the AL starting first basemen and the fourth all-star appearance of his career. He remains one of the game's most consistent hitters and is batting .345, with 18 home runs and 56 RBI, placing him among the AL leaders in all three categories.

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Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.

American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.