Athletics make a stop in St. Louis

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06/18/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A road trip against National League teams hasn't gone well thus far for the Oakland Athletics, who'll make the next stop of their nine- game swing with tonight's first of three straight meetings with the St. Louis Cardinals from Busch Stadium.

Oakland has lost five of the first six tests of the trek, having been swept in three games by Bay Area-rival San Francisco last weekend before dropping two of three matchups to the Chicago Cubs. The A's have mustered a total of only 12 runs over those five defeats, and their offense struggled once again in a 3-2 setback to the Cubs on Thursday.

The Athletics were able to scratch out runs in the fifth and seventh innings of last night's game, with Mark Ellis' solo homer in the seventh giving Oakland a 2-1 lead. However, Chicago tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth before coming up with the winning run in the ninth, when the Cubs loaded the bases on three walks issued by reliever Jerry Blevins (2-1) and Kosuke Fukudome followed with a one-out single to plate Geovany Soto.

The loss spoiled a strong effort from A's starter Dallas Braden, who held the Cubs to one run and five hits over the first six innings. The left-hander still hasn't won since his May 9 perfect game against Tampa Bay, though, having gone 0-4 in seven outings following that performance.

"He hasn't thrown that bad," Oakland manager Bob Geren said of Braden. "He hasn't had a win, but he's had some games where he's pitched pretty decent."

The Athletics fell to 5-11 in June with Thursday's result, and have lost seven of nine road tilts over that stretch.

Oakland's chances for a turnaround don't appear that promising, considering Chris Carpenter will be taking the mound for the Cardinals. The All-Star hurler is in the midst of another terrific season, having won seven of his first eight decisions and posting a sound 2.66 earned run average through 14 starts. He's been especially good at home, where the standout righty has compiled a 5-1 mark with a 2.16 ERA in seven Busch Stadium assignments so far in 2010.

Carpenter was reached for three runs in six innings his most recent time out, a no-decision at Arizona last Sunday in which he registered eight strikeouts. Prior to that appearance, the 2005 National League Cy Young Award recipient had given up a mere two runs over a combined 21 2/3 innings of work in a three-start span from May 28-June 8, winning twice and not getting a decision during that time frame.

The 35-year-old is just 1-3 with a 5.60 ERA in nine career games (seven starts) against Oakland, but hasn't faced the Athletics since his days as a Toronto Blue Jay back in 2002.

Geren's squad will turn to Vin Mazzaro tonight in hopes of breaking out of its slump. The young right-hander will be making his fourth start and seventh overall appearance of the season and brings a 2-1 record with a 4.81 ERA into this evening's clash.

Mazzaro was placed in the Oakland rotation earlier this month following an injury to Brian Anderson and turned in a good showing to defeat the Los Angeles Angels on June 8, yielding only one run on five hits over five innings. He wasn't as sharp in a six-inning stint at San Francisco last Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) and serving up a pair of homers in a 6-2 loss to the Giants.

The 23-year-old made 17 starts as a rookie last season and produced a 4-9 ledger with a 5.32 ERA.

Mazzaro will be taking on a St. Louis team that's lost seven of its past 10 tilts but did prevail in its first two bouts with AL West member Seattle earlier in the week. The Mariners were able to avoid a sweep, though, with a 2-1 decision in Wednesday's series finale at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals could manage only six hits, three of which came from third baseman David Freese, off Jason Vargas and a pair of Seattle relievers in the finale. Ryan Ludwick knocked in the team's only run with a fourth-inning sacrifice fly that scored reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols.

St. Louis wasted another quality start from rookie Jaime Garcia (6-3), who permitted just two runs and struck out seven Mariners in seven innings.

"We didn't give him enough run support for him to win the game," said Pujols. "We just didn't put our hits together back-to-back."

Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's loss and will be opposing the Athletics for the first time since being traded from Oakland to St. Louis last July. The accomplished hitter batted .353 with 13 homers in 63 games following the swap to help the Cards win the 2009 NL Central title.

St. Louis skipper Tony La Russa also has ties to the Athletics organization, having managed Oakland for 10 seasons between 1986-1995. Under La Russa's watch, the A's captured four AL West crowns, reached the World Series three times and won the 1989 world championship.

La Russa's Cardinals have won five of six all-time encounters with Oakland and swept a three-game series from the Athletics at the original Busch Stadium back in 2004.

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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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