May 30 - June 5 / MLB/NBA/NHL

pdprodigy · 06-01-11, 12:56 PM

The Padres have won four straight (longest current winning streak in MLB), including the first two of this three-game series in Atlanta. San Diego, which is batting a MLB-low .230 on the season, has hit .287 and scored 15 runs during its four-game streak. Tonight, the Padres will be going for their first sweep in Atlanta since August of 1989. Getting it vs Tommy Hanson will not come easy. Hanson hasn't been real sharp in his last two outings this year but he's got a 2.80 ERA in 11 starts this season, allowing more than three ERs in just ONE start. He's allowed only 48 hits in 64.1 innings this season, posting a 65-21 KW ratio. Let's NOT forget that the Braves were a MLB-best 56-25 at home last year or that Hanson is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA in four career starts vs the Padres (Braves are 3-1). Let's also not forget that just prior to San Diego winning four in a row, the team had lost EIGHT of its previous 10, batting a woeful .183 while scoring grand total of just 13 runs! Clayton Richard owns a 2.42 home ERA this year in five starts but his ERA is 6.00 in his six road starts. What's more, he's 0-3 win his three career starts vs the Braves, posting 7.90 ERA

pdprodigy · 06-02-11, 06:17 PM

I'm surprised Miami remains just a 4 1/2-point favorite against Dallas, the same spread as Game 1.

It's clear the Heat have raised their level and have matchup advantages against the Mavericks. Homecourt is huge, too. Miami has won all eight of its home playoff games with the smallest victory margin being by six points.

The Linesmaker is putting too much emphasis on the zig-zap revenge theory and what happened during the entire season.

Miami's new season began in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Chicago. That's when Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, two unsung and overlooked cogs in Miami's rotation, finally became incorporated into the rotation.

This hadn't happened up to this point because both players had been out with injuries with Haslem missing nearly the entire season. Haslem has provided toughness and rebounding inside while Miller has allowed the Heat to get away from their weakest component - point guard.

The Heat haven't lost since then. They are a matchup nightmare for the Mavericks, which can't rebound with them, lack Miami's athleticism and now have superstar Dirk Nowitzki at less than 100 percent because of a torn tendon on his left middle finger, his non-shooting hand.

Dallas was outrebounded in every game of its Western Conference finals by Oklahoma City, losing the board battle by an average of 7.6 rebounds per game. The Heat outrebounded the Mavericks, 46-36, in Game 1. The Heat pulled down 16 offensive rebounds.

The Mavericks have heart, solid veterans and excellent long-range shooters. But they aren't in Miami's upper elite class. Their defense lacks the quickness to shut down Miami's superstar trio of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. A telling statistic from Game 1 was Dallas forcing only 10 Miami turnovers despite the Heat's point guard deficiencies.

The Mavericks don't have enough offense and perimeter marksmen unless they have Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic on the court to relieve double-team pressure on Nowitzki. However, the Mavericks suffer defensively with Terry and Stojakovic on the court.

The Heat defense is geared not to allow Dallas to shoot many spot-up jumpers, which is its strength. Nowitzki's injury hinders his ballhandling. The Heat were able to dispatch Dallas in Game 1 by eight points without James, a great defender, even having to switch on Nowitzki like he did on Derrick Rose.

pdprodigy · 06-03-11, 12:41 PM

When the Giants send Matt Cain to the mound against John Nicasio and the Rockies at AT&T Park in San Francisco Friday the defending champs will do so knowing they've come up winners in 15 of Cain's last 19 home starts. With Nicasio in off his first major league win in a 15-4 over St. Louis five days ago, look for Cain to improve to 10-5 in his home career team starts against the Rockies here tonight.