It should be business as usual for bettors who enjoy the over when the New York Yankees play the Texas Rangers at 8:05 on Wednesday night. Sportsbooks currently have the line set at 12 ½ runs. With the way that these two teams have been playing recently…on both sides of the ball…that line should not be much of a problem.
I was saddened to learn that Jason Giambi’s recent slump prompted him to shave off his walrus-like moustache. One less smile on Bread’s face for this game. That smile should quickly return, however, once the Yankees and Rangers start to light up the scoreboard.
The over is 10-1 in the Yankee’s last 11 games. Three times during that stretch it was New York reaching double digits, scoring 10, 13 and 14 runs in wins against Boston, Baltimore and the L.A. Angels. Twice, they lost while giving up double digits, 13 to Baltimore and 12 to the Angels. Three other times within this same stretch, 9 runs were scored by the Yankees or their opponent.
With the Rangers, the over is 11-2-1 in their last 14 games. They scored 14 runs en route to beating up Oakland. They also gave up 10 runs to the White Sox two nights in a row! Then there was the over bettor’s dream game, an 11-10 victory over Seattle. Texas also was involved in three more 9 run efforts.
So as you can see, the runs are being produced just as much as they are being given up. Both games of this series so far were high scoring. There are many reasons why it will be again tonight.
Texas will be starting untested righty Tommy Hunter. Hunter struggled a bit in his Major League debut on Friday against Toronto. From that game he has emerged with a 10.80 ERA. Of course, that doesn’t mean much with only one game under his belt. Unfortunately for Tommy, an experienced team like the Yankees are not going to help his cause. Even with their maturing stars, New York is sixth in the league in runs scored.
The man on the mound for visiting New York will be Sidney Ponson (6-2 4.23 ERA). Ponson started the year pitching for Texas. Once again he apparently wore out his welcome in Arlington and was waived. After spending the first 6 years of his career with the Orioles, he has changed uniforms 7 times the past five years. There is probably a good chance he could be pitching for another team by game time.
Ponson is the 3rd Aruban native to play in the Majors. Unfortunately for him, he will probably have a better chance of finding Natalee Holloway than he will finding outs with this up-and-coming Rangers team.
The story of the year has to be Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton. Has there ever been a more deceptive losing effort than Hamilton at the Home Run Derby? I actually read an article from a major newspaper recently that briefly referred to him as the “most recent home run champ”. He was the toast of the town on that evening, with the entire stadium chanting his name as he blasted bomb after bomb into the upper decks. Many believe that was Josh’s arriving party. He is certainly in the midst of an amazing season. His 27 home runs are tied for third best in the AL and he leads the entire league in RBI’s with a whopping 108. That number will certainly grow after this game.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler is another one having a spectacular year. He leads the league in runs scored, crossing the plate 94 times. Michael Young and Milton Bradley round out Texas’ big four. In case these aren’t enough reasons to load up on the over, here are a couple more.
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has always been known as a hitter’s park. This year is no different. The stadium leads the league in OPS at 8.50, and game totals there AVERAGE 12.53. That is an amazing stat. With some of the slugfests that have taken place there this year, Texas fans probably lead the league in next day callouts. That should be an actual stat.
The Rangers’ closer has been C.J. Wilson. C.J. has 24 saves, but a 6.02 ERA. That is not a number that you want affiliated with your closer. Sounds like some possible late inning drama to me. Eddie Guardado may have even supplanted him as the team closer. Even Mariano Rivera, in the middle of another dominating season for New York, is questionable with back spasms.
Given all of these factors, if you still decide to wager on the under, you are a sadist. Say no to pain, and enjoy what promises to be an explosive game.
I was saddened to learn that Jason Giambi’s recent slump prompted him to shave off his walrus-like moustache. One less smile on Bread’s face for this game. That smile should quickly return, however, once the Yankees and Rangers start to light up the scoreboard.
The over is 10-1 in the Yankee’s last 11 games. Three times during that stretch it was New York reaching double digits, scoring 10, 13 and 14 runs in wins against Boston, Baltimore and the L.A. Angels. Twice, they lost while giving up double digits, 13 to Baltimore and 12 to the Angels. Three other times within this same stretch, 9 runs were scored by the Yankees or their opponent.
With the Rangers, the over is 11-2-1 in their last 14 games. They scored 14 runs en route to beating up Oakland. They also gave up 10 runs to the White Sox two nights in a row! Then there was the over bettor’s dream game, an 11-10 victory over Seattle. Texas also was involved in three more 9 run efforts.
So as you can see, the runs are being produced just as much as they are being given up. Both games of this series so far were high scoring. There are many reasons why it will be again tonight.
Texas will be starting untested righty Tommy Hunter. Hunter struggled a bit in his Major League debut on Friday against Toronto. From that game he has emerged with a 10.80 ERA. Of course, that doesn’t mean much with only one game under his belt. Unfortunately for Tommy, an experienced team like the Yankees are not going to help his cause. Even with their maturing stars, New York is sixth in the league in runs scored.
The man on the mound for visiting New York will be Sidney Ponson (6-2 4.23 ERA). Ponson started the year pitching for Texas. Once again he apparently wore out his welcome in Arlington and was waived. After spending the first 6 years of his career with the Orioles, he has changed uniforms 7 times the past five years. There is probably a good chance he could be pitching for another team by game time.
Ponson is the 3rd Aruban native to play in the Majors. Unfortunately for him, he will probably have a better chance of finding Natalee Holloway than he will finding outs with this up-and-coming Rangers team.
The story of the year has to be Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton. Has there ever been a more deceptive losing effort than Hamilton at the Home Run Derby? I actually read an article from a major newspaper recently that briefly referred to him as the “most recent home run champ”. He was the toast of the town on that evening, with the entire stadium chanting his name as he blasted bomb after bomb into the upper decks. Many believe that was Josh’s arriving party. He is certainly in the midst of an amazing season. His 27 home runs are tied for third best in the AL and he leads the entire league in RBI’s with a whopping 108. That number will certainly grow after this game.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler is another one having a spectacular year. He leads the league in runs scored, crossing the plate 94 times. Michael Young and Milton Bradley round out Texas’ big four. In case these aren’t enough reasons to load up on the over, here are a couple more.
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has always been known as a hitter’s park. This year is no different. The stadium leads the league in OPS at 8.50, and game totals there AVERAGE 12.53. That is an amazing stat. With some of the slugfests that have taken place there this year, Texas fans probably lead the league in next day callouts. That should be an actual stat.
The Rangers’ closer has been C.J. Wilson. C.J. has 24 saves, but a 6.02 ERA. That is not a number that you want affiliated with your closer. Sounds like some possible late inning drama to me. Eddie Guardado may have even supplanted him as the team closer. Even Mariano Rivera, in the middle of another dominating season for New York, is questionable with back spasms.
Given all of these factors, if you still decide to wager on the under, you are a sadist. Say no to pain, and enjoy what promises to be an explosive game.