Cnotes Friday's Best Bets MLB - NBA !

[CNOTES]

Friday Tips

April 19, 2012

The final Friday card of the NBA regular season showcases six contests, including two potential playoff matchups. The Celtics and Hawks are on a collision course to hook up in the first round, while the Lakers and Spurs could potentially meet up in the Western Conference semifinals. We'll begin in Charlotte as the Bobcats look to end a hefty losing streak as large home underdogs against the playoff-bound Grizzlies.

Grizzlies at Bobcats - 7:05 PM EST

Charlotte has reached new lows this season by posting a 7-54 record, which is on pace to be historically the worst mark percentage-wise in NBA history (.114). Also, the Bobcats are riding an 18-game losing skid, the second time this season that Paul Silas' club has lost at least 16 in a row. The Grizzlies come to town off a sizzling 12-4 stretch, but Memphis is just 1-4 ATS the last five contests away from FedEx Forum.

Memphis will be a tough out in the playoffs after winning its eighth straight game at home on Wednesday over New Orleans, as that victory snapped a four-game ATS skid. The Bobcats have failed to cover in eight consecutive contests, while going 1-10 ATS the past 11 games at Time Warner Cable Arena. The 'under' may be a good look as Charlotte is 5-1 to the 'under' the last six games, while Memphis is 13-5 to the 'under' the previous 18 opportunities.

Celtics at Hawks - 7:05 PM EST

Atlanta and Boston have some history over the past five seasons, starting with their hard-fought first round series that went to the limit in 2008. The two Eastern Conference rivals could meet again in the opening round this season if the seeds hold up, as Boston tries to get healthy in time for the playoffs.

The Hawks are 11-5 SU and 10-5-1 ATS since falling to the Celtics at home on March 19 by a 79-76 count as two-point favorites. Atlanta's offense is rolling recently by compiling an 11-2 mark to the 'over' the last 13 games, while winning seven straight games when scoring at least 100 points. The Celtics will be without Rajon Rondo (back) and Ray Allen (ankle) on Friday, as Boston is 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS the last nine games.

Knicks at Cavaliers - 7:35 PM EST

In the 20 games since Mike Woodson took over for Mike D'Antoni as head coach, New York has won and covered 15 times to creep closer to a playoff spot. The Knicks are 8-1 SU/ATS in this stretch against below .500 teams, including a blowout of the Cavs at Madison Square Garden as 11-point favorites on March 31.

Cleveland has basically packed it in after cashing five straight times in early April as the Cavs are 1-4 SU/ATS the last five contests, while losing each game by double-digits. TO make things worse for Byron Scott's squad, the Cavs have covered just once in the last 10 opportunities as a home underdog with nine losses by nine points each. The Knicks may get Amar'e Stoudemire back in the lineup after missing the last 13 games with a bulging disc in his back.

Warriors at Mavericks - 8:35 PM EST

The defending champs are play their final regular season home game before embarking on a mini two-game road trip prior to the postseason. Dallas has split its previous 10 games, which included a pair of overtime losses to the Lakers and Jazz. Golden State is doing a fantastic job by mailing in its season with six consecutive losses, while playing without its top two scorers in Stephen Curry and David Lee.

The Warriors have failed to cover five times during this six-game skid, including four-straight defeats to playoff teams (Lakers, Spurs, Clippers, and Mavericks). The last time these teams hooked up at Oracle Arena, Dallas held off Golden State, 112-103 as 6 ½-point favorites. The Mavericks are an 'over' machine as of late with six in the last eight games, while busting the 108-point mark five times in this stretch.

Lakers at Spurs - 9:35 PM EST

Kobe Bryant is expected to return to the Los Angeles lineup on Friday night in a quick revenge spot against San Antonio. The former MVP sat out the previous seven games with a shin injury, as the Lakers compiled a 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS record. One of those losses came at home to the Spurs on Tuesday, a 112-91 thumping by San Antonio as three-point 'chalk.'

The Spurs return home following a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS road swing that including all three victories by at least 21 points. Gregg Popovich's team is covering at a ridiculous 65% clip this season (38-20-3 ATS), including a 9-1-1 ATS run the last 11 games at the AT&T Center. The lone loss came to the Lakers without Bryant on April 11 as Los Angeles stunned San Antonio as 10-point road 'dogs, 98-84.

Thunder at Kings - 10:05 PM EST

For as bad as Charlotte has been, Sacramento has one-upped them in the ATS futility department recently. The Kings last covered on April 2 in a home win over the Wolves, while delivering nine consecutive ATS losses since then (1-8 SU). Sacramento hosts Oklahoma City, who surprisingly needs to win this game for the top overall seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder continues a five-game road trip after knocking off the Suns on Wednesday, 109-97 as four-point favorites. Oklahoma City lost in its last trip to Sacramento in early February, 106-101, the only victory for the Kings in the previous eight meetings with the Thunder. Sacramento is just 1-11 ATS the last 12 times as an underdog, while OKC owns a 4-6 ATS record the past 10 games overall.

 

[CNOTES]

Hoop Trends - Friday

April 20, 2012


SU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Kings are 12-0 ATS (11.2 ppg) since April 12, 2009 with at most one day of rest after a double digit loss in which they allowed at least 55% from the field.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Bobcats are 10-0 OU (16.2 ppg) since March 06, 2006 at home with at least one day of rest after a game in which they controlled 40% or less of the available rebounds.


PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:


The Grizzlies are 11-0 ATS (12.5 ppg) since April 03, 2009 with at least a day of rest after a win at home in which Rudy Gay shot better than 50% from the arc.


CHOICE TREND:


The Spurs are 0-10 ATS (-8.0 ppg) since April 06, 2008 as a favorite after winning the previous matchup in which Tony Parker shot better than 66% from the field.


TODAY’S TRENDS:


The Mavericks are 11-0 ATS (5.7 ppg) since December 09, 2010 after Shawn Marion scored fewer than 10 points the last two.

The Warriors are 0-8 ATS (-11.6 ppg) since November 08, 2000 on the road with at least one day of rest after a double digit home loss in which they scored less than 15% of their points from the free throw line.

The Celtics are 9-0 ATS (13.8 ppg) since January 05, 2008 as a road dog off a win of four points or fewer in which they held a double digit lead.

 

[varkeyboy]

Stay HOT my friend!!!

 

[CNOTES]

Bryant set to return Friday in San Antonio


LOS ANGELES LAKERS (40-23)

at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (45-16)


Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Line: San Antonio -6½, Total: 202½

Kobe Bryant expects to step on the court for the first time in eight games when his Lakers visit the Western Conference-leading Spurs on Friday night.

San Antonio has won five straight games, which included a 112-91 victory over the Lakers in L.A. on Tuesday. But the last time the Spurs lost was April 11, a 98-84 home defeat to these same Lakers, who didn’t have Bryant in that game either. Who will win this marquee matchup? For the answer, connect to the NBA Three-at-Three Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. The NBA Pass is a sizzling 32-15-1 ATS (68%) in April, including a tremendous 16-4-1 ATS (80%) since April 12.

Los Angeles held strong without the NBA’s leading scorer, winning five of the seven games (4-3 ATS) in which Bryant was on the sidelines with his injured shin. The Lakers scored 100.1 PPG on 47.3% FG and 36.6% three-pointers in those seven contests, but have also given up 100.6 PPG on 47% FG and 45% threes.

Bryant (28.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.6 APG) is so important to this particular matchup, because he has 24.3 PPG in his career versus the Spurs, which includes 25.8 PPG in 21 meetings since 2005-06. C Andrew Bynum (18.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG) wasn’t much of a factor in last season’s series (7.0 PPG), but he has 18.5 PPG and 18.5 RPG in two matchups with San Antonio this year. This includes a 30-rebound night the last time he played at AT&T Center. Bynum has been unstoppable in April with 21.7 PPG and 11.7 RPG. PF Pau Gasol (17.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG) recorded a triple-double in Wednesday’s 99-87 win at Golden State, notching 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He has 21.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG in his past seven contests. SF Metta World Peace (7.6 PPG) continued his scoring surge against the Warriors with 18 points (8-of-14 FG) and nine assists. He has 11+ points in seven of his past eight games, averaging 17.1 PPG on 52% FG and 13-of-35 threes (37%). This FoxSheets trend thinks the Lakers will keep this close:

Play Against - Home teams (SAN ANTONIO) - after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points, extremely tired team - playing 9 or more games in 14 days. (46-20 since 1996.) (69.7%, +24 units. Rating = 2*).

San Antonio has been outstanding in its home arena this year, going 25-5 SU and 21-8-1 ATS (72.4%). The Spurs are outscoring these visitors 104.3 to 93.7 and outshooting them 48.1% FG (39.0% threes) to 43.8% FG (33.8% threes). San Antonio is 16-2 SU (14-3-1 ATS) in its past 18 games, scoring 107.3 PPG on 49% FG and 37% threes, while sporting a 1.76 assist-to-turnover ratio over this span.

PF Tim Duncan (15.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG) did not play the last game, a 127-102 thumping in Sacramento, but he will be on the court Friday. After scoring just 4.0 PPG (5-for-26 FG) in three games versus L.A. last year, Duncan has 16.5 PPG on 16-of-28 FG (57%) in two meetings this season. PG Tony Parker (18.5 PPG, 7.7 APG) had an excellent night against the Kings with 15 points, eight assists and zero turnovers in just 25 minutes of action. He has always performed at a high level against the Lakers too (17.8 PPG on 49% FG, 5.6 APG), especially in the past six seasons where he’s averaged 20.3 PPG on 52.3% FG and 5.9 APG against Los Angeles. SG Manu Ginobili (12.7 PPG, 4.5 APG) has played sparingly over the past three games (19.3 MPG), but he has still been able to score 13.3 PPG on 56% FG (4-of-9 threes) with 13 assists and just two turnovers. His shot has not fallen in the past two seasons versus L.A. though, as he has just 10.6 PPG on 33% FG, including 5-of-24 threes (21%). This rare four-star FoxSheets trend backs the Spurs:

SAN ANTONIO is 24-7 ATS (77.4%, +16.3 Units) when playing 8 or more games in 14 days this season. The average score was SAN ANTONIO 101.6, OPPONENT 93.1 - (Rating = 4*).

 

[CNOTES]

Hawks try to take advantage of injury-riddled Celtics Friday


BOSTON CELTICS (37-26)

at ATLANTA HAWKS (37-25)


Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Atlanta -10, Total: 178½

Two teams playing great basketball in the season’s final month square off Friday night in Atlanta when the Hawks host the short-handed Celtics, who will be playing without their four best players in this game -- PG Rajon Rondo (back), SG Ray Allen (ankle), SF Paul Pierce (thigh) and PF Kevin Garnett (rest).

Rondo (12.1 PPG, 11.6 APG) and SG Ray Allen (14.2 PPG, 45.3% 3-pt FG) did not make the trip to Atlanta, and Pierce (19.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.6 APG) and Garnett (16.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG) are expected to rest on Friday. Atlanta has been having a huge month, going 6-2 (SU and ATS) in eight April games. Can the Hawks cover this double-digit spread? For the answer, connect to the NBA Three-at-Three Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. The NBA Pass is a sizzling 32-15-1 ATS (68%) in April, including a tremendous 16-4-1 ATS (80%) since April 12.

Boston’s defense has been extremely tough in the past nine games (7-2 SU, 5-4 ATS), limiting opponents to 89.8 PPG on 41.5% FG and 32.2% 3-pt FG. Six of these opponents have scored 86 points or less in this span. The Celtics offense has also been running smoothly with 98.1 PPG on 50% FG and 40% threes in the past eight contests. They have not been a great road team this season (15-17 SU and ATS), but the C’s are 8-4 (SU and ATS) in their past dozen games away from home.

Pierce will be missed the most on the court after his recent scoring binge of pumping in 36.0 PPG on 61% FG in his past two games. But more impressive was his career-high 14 assists in Wednesday’s win over Orlando. PF Brandon Bass (12.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG) will be counted on even more in Boston’s small lineup on Friday. Bass scored 21 points on 7-of-11 FG against the Dwight Howard-less Magic, but grabbed only two rebounds in 37 minutes. Bass has done a nice job crashing the glass with 14.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG in two wins over Atlanta this season. SG Avery Bradley (7.1 PPG) stayed piping hot on Wednesday with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting. He now has 19.0 PPG on 60% FG (11-of-16 threes) in his past five games. PG Keyon Dooling (3.5 PPG) will have to find his stroke in this game, as he is just 3-of-12 for seven total points in his past three games spanning 53 minutes. This FoxSheets trend supports the Celtics:

Play On - Road teams (BOSTON) - after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread, extremely tired team - playing 9 or more games in 14 days. (55-35 over the last 5 seasons.) (61.1%, +16.5 units. Rating = 1*).

Atlanta has scored 105.4 PPG on 49% FG in its eight April games, and has allowed its opponent to reach 100 points just once this month, limiting these eight teams to a mere 90.9 PPG on 44% FG (32% threes). For the season, the Hawks are 20-9 at home (15-14 ATS), winning seven of their past nine (5-4 ATS) at Philips Arena.

The Hawks did not have to exert much energy their last time out in a 116-84 thrashing of Detroit, as no starter played more than 22 minutes. Eleven of the 12 players in that game scored at least six points, led by F Ivan Johnson (6.4 PPG), who had 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. That gives Johnson 13.6 PPG and 6.3 RPG in seven games this month. PF Josh Smith (18.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG) has also had a strong April, going for 18.8 PPG and 8.6 RPG. Smith has been the standout against the Celtics as well with 15.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 6.5 APG in the two meetings. SG Joe Johnson (18.5 PPG, 3.9 APG) has shot poorly in his past five games (36.7% FG, 21.4% threes), but has done a nice job handling the basketball with 10 assists and just one turnover in his past three games. He has 19.5 PPG in two matchups with Boston this season, but has shot just 41.2% FG to get his points. This two-star FoxSheets trend expects the Hawks to win comfortably:

Play On - Home favorites (ATLANTA) - after beating the spread by 42 or more points total in their last seven games against opponent after going over the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games. (42-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (71.2%, +23.3 units. Rating = 2*).

 

[CNOTES]

Mavericks favored big over Warriors Friday


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (22-39)

at DALLAS MAVERICKS (35-28)


Tip-off: Friday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Line: Dallas -13, Total: 200½

Dallas looks to build some momentum heading into the playoffs when it hosts the hapless Warriors on Friday night.

Golden State is in the midst of a season-ending tailspin, losing six in a row SU (1-5 ATS) and playing without starting PG Stephen Curry and PF David Lee. But Dallas has a bad habit of taking it easy on the first night of a back-to-back (the Mavs will play in Chicago on Saturday). They’ve lost 10 of 11 SU, posting a 2-9 ATS mark on the first night of a back-to-back. Can the Mavericks cover this enormous spread? For the answer, connect to the NBA Three-at-Three Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. The NBA Pass is a sizzling 32-15-1 ATS (68%) in April, including a tremendous 16-4-1 ATS (80%) since April 12.

The Warriors have simply been torched defensively during their six-game losing streak. Opponents have scored 114.0 PPG against them during their slide. But Golden State did hold Nowitzki somewhat in check last Thursday, allowing him to score 27 points, but forcing him to take 23 shots to get them. The Warriors actually had a shot to knock off the Kobe-less Lakers at home on Wednesday, but went ice cold from three (21.1%) in a 99-87 loss.

SG Klay Thompson (11.9 PPG, 42.4% from three) in particular struggled against the Lakers, scoring 17 points but shooting just 7-for-22 from the field and 1-for-8 from three. Still, he’s hitting 44.2% of his threes on the road this season, and is averaging 18.3 PPG and hitting 39.1% of his threes in 23 starts after the Warriors traded Monta Ellis. In his past four road games—at Utah, Denver, Portland and L.A. (Clippers)—Thompson has averaged 19.0 PPG while hitting 50.9% FG and 63.6% of his threes. The FoxSheets have a rare five-star trend working in favor of the Warriors:

GOLDEN STATE is 12-0 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road games after 2 or more consecutive losses this season. The average score was GOLDEN STATE 101.3, OPPONENT 100.8 - (Rating = 5*).

Dallas lost back-to-back road games before getting back in the win column against the Rockets at home on Wednesday night. Some of the Mavs’ veterans seem to be wearing down, but PF Dirk Nowitzki (21.8 PPG) is finishing the year out strong. He had 35 on 10-for-18 FG against Houston, two nights after he dropped 40 in a loss at Utah. He is averaging 30.0 PPG over his past five games. Sixth man Jason Terry (15.2 PPG) had another strong game against the Rockets, scoring 19 and hitting 6-of-11 FG and 3-of-6 from three. He’s averaging 22.3 PPG on 49.0% FG and 57.1% from three over the past three games. PG Jason Kidd (6.4 PPG, 5.5 APG) played 35-plus minutes for the third straight game against Houston. He averaged 11.7 PPG on 54.5% FG and 52.6% from three, 7.0 APG and just 1.3 TOPG in those contests. PG Delonte West (9.5 PPG) has a hot hand as well, averaging 17.0 PPG on 59.2% FG over the past four games.

But some of Dallas’s other veterans are fading. Vince Carter (9.9 PPG) is averaging 20.5 PPG over the past two games, but he shot just 39.4% FG and 30.8% from three in those contests. After back-to-back double-doubles in Portland last Friday and L.A. on Sunday, SF Shawn Marion (10.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG) has scored just four points in each of his past two games. C Brendan Haywood (5.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG) lasted just 21 scoreless minutes in the Utah loss, and scored three points on 1-for-4 FG in 15 minutes against Houston. This three-star FoxSheets trend expects the Mavericks to win big:

DALLAS is 23-7 ATS (76.7%, +15.3 Units) versus teams who average 48 or less rebounds/game on the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DALLAS 99.8, OPPONENT 93.7 - (Rating = 3*).

 

[varkeyboy]

Look fwd to the NBA plays!

 

[CNOTES]

NBA Last 2 days:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/19/12 8-*2-*0 80.00% +*2900 Detail

04/18/12 17-*11-*0 60.71% +*2450 Detail

Friday, April 20

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Memphis - 7:00 PM ET Memphis -14 500
Charlotte - Over 182 500

Boston - 7:00 PM ET Boston +10.5 500
Atlanta - Over 179 500

New York - 7:30 PM ET New York -10 500
Cleveland - Over 195 500

Golden State - 8:30 PM ET Golden State +13 500
Dallas - Under 200.5 500

L.A. Lakers - 9:30 PM ET L.A. Lakers +6.5 500
San Antonio - Over 203.5 500

Oklahoma City - 10:00 PM ET Sacramento +10 500
Sacramento - Over 214 500

 

[CNOTES]

Friday's Betting tips: Dwight Howard done for the season

Weather to watch

When the Cubs host the Reds at Wrigley on Friday afternoon, 17-mph winds will be blowing in from left field. Temperatures will be in the high 40s, and there’s a 30 percent chance of showers.

Who’s hot

NBA: The Knicks are 6-0 ATS in their last six games against losing teams.

NBA: Golden State is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 road games.

NHL: The over is 5-0-1 in the last six Flyers-Pens games in Pittsburgh.

MLB: The over is 7-2 in the last nine Cards-Pirates games.

MLB: The Dodgers are 6-0 in Ted Lilly’s last six starts vs. losing teams.

Who’s not

NBA: Memphis is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games against losing teams.

NBA: The Spurs are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games vs. the Lakers.

NHL: The Red Wings are 3-11 in their last 14 playoff games as an underdog.

MLB: Baltimore is 7-16 in its last 23 games at the Angels.

MLB: The under is 0-5 in Kyle Drabek’s last five starts.

Key stat

6.20 – That’s Boston MLB-worst ERA heading into its weekend series at Fenway Park against the Yankees. The 4-8 Red Sox are letting opposing hitters bat .288, tied with the Braves for worst in baseball. Entering Thursday’s action, Boston had allowed an MLB-high 17 homers. Oh, and the Red Sox have blown two of six save chances.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

After missing seven straight games with a shin injury, Lakers star Kobe Bryant is expected to play Friday in San Antonio. When asked if he'd play against the Spurs, the NBA’s leading scorer said, "Why not? I'm good." Bryant is averaging 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

Games of the day

Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (-180, 7)

Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (-6, 202.5)

Notable quotable

"We're going to find out what kind of team we are, how we are built. If we are the team like we think we are, we're going to have to respond the next game." -- Flyers forward Jaromir Jagr on Friday’s Game 5 in Pittsburgh. The Flyers still lead the playoff series 3-1 despite the Penguins’ 10-3 win Wednesday in Philly.

Notes and tips

Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery on Friday in Los Angeles to fix a herniated disk, ending his season, ESPN.com reported. "It hurts (emotionally)," Howard told ESPN the Magazine's Chris Broussard. "That's the first thing -- it hurts. And then with people saying and thinking I'm quitting on my team. This is a real issue. I tried to play through it and it just made my back worse."

Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman will be placed on the 15-day DL Friday after he aggravated a left calf injury in Wednesday’s win over the Reds. Berkman, who has already missed five games, is batting .348 (7 for 23). He'll be replaced by super-sub Matt Carpenter, who is batting .375 with 11 RBIs.

Predators defenseman Hal Gill (lower body injury) has missed the first four games of the playoff series with Detroit, but could play Friday. "He is feeling better every day," coach Barry Trotz said. "He's in a day-to-day mode right now. Do I expect him on Friday? I really can't answer that.”

The Yankees placed left fielder Brett Gardner on the 15-day DL with a bruised left elbow and strained arm muscle. He was hitting .321 with a .424 on-base percentage in nine games. With Gardner out, New York will use Andruw Jones and possibly Eduardo Nunez in left. DH Raul Ibanez is another option.

Nuggets swingman Wilson Chandler is done for the season with a hip injury that will require surgery. He was averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

-- Felix Hernandez blanked Cleveland for eight innings, but was taken out because he had thrown 126 pitches; closer League blew the lead, as Tribe rallied for two runs in 9th to beat the Mariners, 2-1.

-- Very quietly, Texas Rangers are 11-2, 6-0 on the road. Impressive.

-- Tremendous week for the A's, who won three of four in Anaheim, with wins against Haren-Santana-Wilson. They're 7-7 now, coming off a 4-3 road trip- they scored two runs on a grounder to the pitcher last night.

-- Before Cliff Lee's performance Wednesday, the last Phillie pitcher who tossed 10 scoreless innings in a game? Steve Carlton, in 1981.

-- Phoenix Coyotes won in OT at Chicago, the fourth straight series game that went overtime, with visitor winning three of those four games.

-- Miami Heat beat the Bulls, moving to within 1.5 games of the top seed in the East; very important, since Miami has struggled mightily against good teams on the road.


**************


Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Doing some tinking out loud.........

13) In 1990, the Mets changed managers, replacing a guy who went 595-417 as their skipper; they’ve made the playoffs three times in 21 years since, with no world titles.

In ’95, the Reds replaced a manager who was 204-172 for them; their record in playoff games since then, 0-3.

In ‘97, the Orioles went 98-64, then changed managers after the season. They haven’t had a season over .500 since.

Why do I bring this up? In all three cases, the manager who left was current Washington manager Davey Johnson, who was also 163-161 as manager of the Dodgers in ’99-’00, and 50-44 currently with the young, improving Nationals, so in five different places, his record is over .500 in all five. Pretty impressive.

12) Elias Sports Bureau was scrambling late Wednesday night, trying to find the record for most consecutive strikes thrown by a pitcher; best they could come up with (since 1988) was knuckleballer Tim Wakefield’s 30 strikes in a row, back in ‘98. Bartolo Colon threw 38 in a row Wednesday, from 5th-8th innings, as he blanked the Angels for eight innings in a 6-0 Oakland win. Not sure why batters don’t try and bunt more against him, but they don’t.

11) Umpire Bob Davidson is famous for calling balks no one else would, gaining him the nickname Balkin’ Bob; when he called one against Arizona’s Ian Kennedy Tuesday night, manager Kirk Gibson was seen cursing Davidson out (wasn’t hard to read his lips) from the 3rd base dugout.

Once again, while the umpires are a vital part of the game, but no one pays to see them work.

10) Mariners’ crowd of 11,343 Wednesday night was lowest in history of still fairly-new Safeco Field. New ballparks are nice, but if you don't win, people are still going to stay home.

9) Every spring, I read these articles about how the Royals are going to be so much better; based on what? Bruce Chen as their Opening Day starter? After opening the season by taking two of three in Anaheim, the Royals are 1-8, losing their first six home games. You need pitching to win. Lot of it.

8) Giants beat the Phillies 1-0 in 11 innings during the week, a game in which only 59 pitches were called balls, the lowest I can remember in time ESPN.com has been running their new/improved boxscores. 59 balls, 45 called strikes; that’s the closest I’ve seen to a game with more called strikes than balls. Lee-Cain were the starters, which figures.

7) How does SMU offer basketball coaches $2M a year when their average home attendance LY was 2,013? And if they can’t find someone better to run their program than Larry Brown, a guy who changes jobs every year and a half or so, then they should pay me to be a head hunter, because I could find the right guy. This is a Big East job now. You don't hire a coach just because the guy is bored and he has a lot of connected friends.

6) How does SMU offer a basketball coach $2M a year when their average home attendance LY was 2,013?

5) NC State got some great news when CJ Leslie decided to come back and play next season; its decisions like that a school needs to stay in the top 20 year after year. Helps the team and also helps the kid get better.

4) Kid named Jarrod Uthoff was Iowa’s Mr Basketball in 2011; in his first year at Wisconsin, he red-shirted this past year, but now wants to transfer out of Madison. Badgers coach Bo Ryan released him from his scholarship, but also blocked Uthoff from going to any Big Dozen school or in-state rival Marquette (which is common) and also Iowa State and the entire ACC (which is quite uncommon).

Ryan took so much grief that he changed his tune and now Uthoff can go anywhere he wants, except to another Big Dozen school. Thats fair.

3) Baltimore Ravens brought former starter Kyle Boller back in to tryout as a backup to Joe Flacco; without Boller a couple years ago, the Rams never would’ve gotten Sam Bradford. Rams were trailing San Francisco 7-6 late in the second half of the season finale, a game they had to lose or else blow the chance to draft Bradford, their QB of the future.

Coaches took one look at the possible win and yanked QB Keith Null (who wasn’t half bad) and put Boller back in, thereby guaranteeing defeat. That was one time I was rooting very hard for the Rams to lose, and Boller came through bigtime.

2) How would you like to have been a fly on the wall at the meeting where the Secret Service guys had to explain to the White House guys what their people were doing down in Colombia? Whoops.

1) NBA scoring is down three points per 100 possessions this year, due in large part to the ridiculous condensed schedule teams were given after the lockout. Watch some of these games; not many of them are being played at full speed. You’ll see a big difference in energy when the playoffs start, and teams actually get to prepare/rest.