Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
01/18/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's starting to become clear that Prince Fielder wants no part of playing for the Washington Nationals. If he had he would have been introduced at Nationals Park weeks ago.
The Texas Rangers are his first choice. So much so that he is willing to wait for them, while they try to get Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish to put pen to paper.
Either way it should all come to a head this week, as Darvish has a Wednesday deadline to come to an agreement with the Rangers. Texas, of course, posted a record $51.7 million for him and most expect a deal to be ironed out by the 5 p.m. (ET) deadline.
So then the question becomes can the Rangers fit both players?
In a word. Absolutely. Let's not forget Texas is now among the big boys in Major League Baseball. They might not be the superpowers that are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, but back-to-back American League pennants and more importantly, a 20-year, $1.6-billion television contract with Fox Sports that was agreed to in 2010 puts them awfully close.
If anything they need to keep pace with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who in case you haven't heard added Albert Pujols and the Rangers' best pitcher from a year ago, C.J. Wilson, this winter.
Surprisingly, the market hasn't really come together for a 27-year-old slugger, who hit 38 home runs and drove in 120 runs for the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers this past season. Washington has really been the only other team linked to Fielder.
You'd figure he'd take his time here, but we are less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting. In fact, no nine-figure deal has ever been agreed to after December.
I think he wants Texas and is just waiting to see how this Darvish thing pans out. Fielder must have some sort of assurance from the Rangers that he is still heavily in their plans for him to wait this out.
Seattle may have been an option, but with its deal for Jesus Montero over the weekend that probably puts them out of the running. The same goes for the Chicago Cubs, who acquired San Diego first baseman Anthony Rizzo last week.
A new team, though, may have entered the fray for Fielder's services on Tuesday when it was learned that Detroit Tigers' designated hitter Victor Martinez would be lost for the season with a torn ACL.
The Tigers, though, appear more likely to go the Johnny Damon, Carlos Pena route rather than Fielder. The same can be said about the New York Yankees, who dealt their DH over the weekend to Seattle.
I've thought all along that Fielder to Texas was basically a fait accompli.
Do they need him? Of course not. This is a lineup that last year finished first in batting average (.283), second in homers (210) and third in runs scored (855).
But you can always use a bat like Fielder's especially when your starting rotation is somewhat of a question mark without Wilson. Imagine the big man in the middle of a lineup that already includes Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young and Mike Napoli.
Speaking of Hamilton. He could be the causality in all of this. He signed a two-year extension last year and is eligible to become a free agent at season's end. Maybe the Rangers are willing to bite the bullet on some added payroll this year, knowing they have no intention of paying the oft-injured Hamilton next year.
We've been reminded all too often baseball is a business. You tell me who you'd rather deal out a $100 million deal to, Prince or Hamilton? When healthy Hamilton is probably the better hitter, but he is always nicked up. Plus who knows what the years of drug abuse did to his body.
Say what you want about Fielder, but he is never hurt. Last year he was the only player in the majors to play in all 162 games and despite his bulky presence, he has averaged 160 games in his six full seasons in the league.
There are ways to make this work. Fielder and his agent Scott Boras know this. Darvish is the one with the deadline. Once that's settled Fielder will go shortly thereafter and I fully expect him to land in Arlington.
If not then watch his presser in D.C. next week and don't believe a word he says when he says the Nationals were his first choice all along.
<< Bragging rights on line in SEC clash between Bulldogs and Rebels
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Instate rivals meet up in Oxford this evening,
as the 18th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the Ole Miss Rebels in
SEC action at the Tad Smith Coliseum.
Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs continue to move up the
<< Cincinnati comes calling on No. 13 UConn
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 13th-ranked Connecticut Huskies put their
unblemished home record on the line this evening, as they welcome the
Cincinnati Bearcats to Storrs, for a Big East affair at Gampel Pavilion.
Mick Cronin's Bearcats
<< Union declines options on four players
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union has declined the options
on Levi Houapeu, Morgan Langley, Ryan Richter and Joe Tait, which frees up two
international roster spots for the club.
Of the four players, Langley was the only
<< Keel signs new deal with Red Bulls
Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Red Bulls defender Stephen Keel has
signed a new contract with the club, it was announced on Wednesday.
Keel enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2011 as he appeared in a career-high 16
games and chip
Few changes in latest edition of FIFA Rankings >>
Zurich, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There wasn't a lot of movement in the
latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Rankings as just 11 matches
were taken into account from the past month.
Spain continues to sit atop the ta
Schwarzer signs Fulham extension >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fulham announced on Wednesday that the club
has signed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to a one-year contract extension.
Schwarzer's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season, but
Fulham has
Milan signs Mesbah from Lecce >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan has acquired midfielder Djamel Mesbah
from Lecce, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
A statement from Lecce read: "Lecce announces it has sold Algerian midfielder
Djamel Mesbah to AC Milan on a permanent
Sculli returns to Genoa >>
Genoa, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Genoa announced on Wednesday that striker
Giuseppe Sculli has returned to the club from Lazio for an undisclosed fee.
Sculli moved to Lazio last January from Genoa after joining the club in 2006.
But af
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting