Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Sunday is on:

Mets (first 5 innings minus 145) at Philadelphia.

There were no real crazy beats on this Sunday. A consolation prize to Mariners backers who watched David Aardsma blow the 1-0 9th inning lead in the 3-1 extra inning loss.

The beat of the day goes to the Mets in the first 5 as they built up a 3-0 first inning lead thanks to a David Wright home run and owned the 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With the great Johan Santana on the hill that should have been enough. The score was 5-2 with the bases loaded and two men out. The 47 year old pitcher Jamie Moyer was batting which should have signaled an easy out and the inning over. But Santana just completely lost it and walked Moyer. Then allowed a grand slam by Shane Victorino and two batters later a two run bomb off the bat of Chase Utley.

This thing turned into a rout in about two minutes and anybody who had Johan and the Mets in that first five was shellshocked for sure.



Your winners for Monday are on:

3* Spurs (plus 4) at Phoenix.

2* Rangers (plus 120) at Oakland.

A 1-1 Sunday for pretty much a dead even day or a slightly winning one as the 2* on the Bucks lost but the 2* on the Braves minus 1 1/2 plus about 125 cashed with ease.



I really like the Spurs in this game and this series. I get the feeling that Gregg Popovich's team is ready to make another deep run like in years' past. The big three is still intact, granted older but still there and there are some younger players like DeJuan Blair and George Hill now in the mix. Also throw in Richard Jefferson and the Spurs really could win it all after playing possum for the majority of the season.

Phoenix had a great season and is extremely talented led by the usual suspects in Nash and Stoudemire. But the point guard has that banged up hip and I still question the Suns defense when the chips are down.

The Spurs are too complete and too experienced and too good overall and should take care of business.



Rich Harden goes back to Oakland and should be rearing to go in this spot to show his old team and old fans he still has it. Granted the Canadian righthander is not what he used to be but I still think Harden has great stuff when healthy and should dominate a weak and struggling A's lineup.

Dallas Braden has been very good so far this season but he is no Harden when push comes to shove and to get the better lineup with the better pitcher who should be more than motivated plus a little is enough to give it a go.