Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Monday is on:

Canucks (plus 1 1/2 goals minus $2) at Chicago.

Vancouver won game one of this series with ease 5-1 and things looked great early on in game two as the Canucks built the 2-0 lead right away in the first period.

Chicago did pull a goal back mid-way into that opening period and this game remained 2-1 into the third. Then 6:49 into the period Patrick Sharp scored a shorthanded goal to tie things up. Anybody who backed the visitors plus that extra goal still was looking great.

The Hawks would grab their first lead with a minute and a half remaining and things became a little dicier. Then wouldn't you know it Patrick Kane scored into the empty net in the final minute and this thing became an absolute nightmare of those 'Nucks 1 1/2 backers!?!?!



Your winners for Tuesday are on:

3* Astros (minus 135) vs. Diamondbacks.

2* Phillies (plus 115) vs. St. Louis.

A small losing 1-1 Monday as the 3* Spurs fell on their face but the 2* A's plus 120 on the diamond came through.



I'm laying some cash here and can't say that I believe Roy Oswalt is the great stud hurler he used to be a few seasons ago but at home against Ian Kennedy makes me feel this price is less than it should be.

The Astros are not a good team and have been struggling. They didn't get their first victory until a few weeks in and haven't won in almost a week after getting swept in Atlanta and just losing the first game of this series. But Oswalt against Kennedy is lopsided and to be honest the 'Stros may be the better lineup even if they don't show it.

Arizona has potential with Reynolds and a few others but they are still not a better than average hitting club and I'll take my chances here at home with Berkman, Lee, Pence and Bourn among others.

I don't love laying numbers but in this spot that is what I am going to do as the Astros are due for a victory and behind their ace should get it.



Adam Wainwright is a superstar hurler and the Cardinals may be the best team in the National League but Cole Hamels isn't exactly chopped liver and Howard, Utley, Werth and the Phils at home plus money is just too good to pass up.

Sure Tony LaRussa's squad could win today, as they did yesterday, but to be able to get the team that won the World Series two seasons' ago and went there once again last season plus money at home with Hamels is enough for me.