Beckett returns for BoSox in Seattle

Baseball Betting Lines

07/23/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox could use a boost on their current road trip and will get just that tonight when the ballclub is expected to activate ace Josh Beckett from the disabled list.

Beckett hasn't pitched since May 18 at Yankee Stadium because of a nagging lower back injury and will make his ninth start of the season in the second portion of a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. With plenty of rest and a few rehab assignments for Triple-A Pawtucket, the Red Sox feel Beckett is ready to face major league hitters.

The right-hander and 2003 World Series MVP is 1-1 with a 7.29 earned run average this season and did not figure into the decision of a 7-6 win over New York back in mid-May. Beckett was bothered by his back and lasted just 4 2/3 frames, allowing five runs -- three earned -- and five hits. In four road starts this season, Beckett is 1-0 and the Red Sox are 3-1 in those games.

In five career starts against Seattle, Beckett is 4-1 with a 3.15 earned run average. Beckett, signed to a $68 million extension in April, previously faced the Mariners in a 5-3 win at Safeco Field on May 16, 2009, when he gave up three runs, two earned, and four hits in seven innings.

Boston just hopes Beckett can come out of this game healthy and pitch the club back into the playoff race. John Lackey came within four outs of a no-hitter in last night's 8-6 win in 13 innings at Safeco Field and allowed one unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts in eight frames. Manny Delcarmen blew the lead in the ninth by allowing four runs -- three earned -- and two hits.

The Mariners rallied to tie the score at 6-6 with five runs in the ninth, but Eric Patterson stroked a two-run double in the top of the 13th to put the Red Sox ahead for good. Bill Hall and J.D. Drew both hit two-run homers and Marco Scutaro belted a solo shot for the Red Sox, who won for the third time in eight contests and is 2-2 on a 10-game road trip.

"Sometimes the game will do it to you," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "You're up, you're down. You try not to get that way because if you do, as frustrating as the ninth was, you end up losing. We can't do that. We've got to find a way to win and we did."

Kevin Youkilis finished with three hits in the win and scored the go-ahead run in the 13th inning. Boston will also visit the LA Angels of Anaheim on the trek and is seven games behind the New York Yankees for the AL East lead. It is four games behind Tampa Bay in the Wild Card standings.

Seattle had a ninth inning to remember last night, plating five runs to knot the score at six apiece. Franklin Gutierrez started the rally with a two-run homer and later Casey Kotchman doubled home Jose Lopez. After Jack Wilson grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Milton Bradley, Ryan Langerhans, who was pinch running for Kotchman, scored the tying run on Hall's throwing error.

Boston reliever Ramon Ramirez posted his second save with a 1-2-3 ninth in the bottom of the 13th inning. Ryan Rowland-Smith started for Seattle and was reached for five runs and eight hits in six innings, while Garrett Olson suffered the loss for allowing two runs over two innings of work.

"I am awfully proud of the way we battled," Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said on the team's website. "We came off a walk-off [Wednesday night against the White Sox], and to be in a situation to do it back-to-back nights doesn't happen very often. To let it go is heartbreaking."

The Mariners, who are 4-15 this month, will turn to Jason Vargas tonight and he is 0-2 with a 4.13 earned run average in his last four starts. Vargas hasn't posted a decision in consecutive trips to the hill and last pitched in Sunday's 2-1 road win against the LA Angels of Anaheim.

Vargas had an excellent day on the mound, as he held the Halos to a run and four hits with nine K's over 7 2/3 innings. He has allowed just one run in each of his last two starts, throwing at seven innings in each appearance.

The left-hander, who is 5-1 in 10 home starts, will face Boston for the first time this season and second time in his career. In a 3-2 win over the Red Sox on May 17 last season, Vargas did not figure into the decision after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox and Mariners are meeting for the first time since Seattle won four of six matchups a year ago. Boston, however, is 8-4 in the past 12 contests in this series.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.