First of all, I am the biggest Cubs Homer of all time. Tonight is a horrible situation for the Cubs and will be a rare time that I fade my own ball team.
Here are the reasons I belive the Astros win tonights game.
1. Prior -- I have more money off of this guy over the past year than any other player but he just starting to get his arm together for the 2004 campaign. He pitched well in his first outing (I was there) against the Pirates but struggled against the Cards in his second outing. He just has not developmed the arm strength that he needs for the season that a regular pitacher would have during spring training. He is one of the best pitchers but he is just not up to his standards yet.
2. Prior will be on a pitch count today. Listening to the Cubs broadcast this team he is scheduled to pitch no more than 85-90 pitches. This should be no more than 6 innings.
3. Cubs bullpen -- the Cubs pen over the past two days has been used to the max and they are deperatly tired. Almost all key members of the pen have pitched in both of the last two games in including : Hawkins, Farnsworth, Remlinger, Merker. This is a tired staff that wont be able to take the night off for the cubs to win.
4. The cubs played a 15 inning affair last night and did not arrive into Houston until 2:00 AM. Add to that the time change and the Cubs will probably have some tired legs.
5. Injuries -- the cubs are still waiting for this team to come together: No Sosa, Gonzales or Grunz has hurt this team. They are fourtunate that they have been able to stay above the .500 mark.
6. Houston -- the Astros have owed the Cubs in Houston for as long as I can remeber.
7. Roger -- He has been simply awesome in his post retirement party in Houston. He already beat the Cubs once this season and I anticipate that the Cubs bats will struggle again against the former Horn.
All of this together, in my opinion will be too big to overcome for the Cubs tonight.
IMHO the Astros at -135 are a bargain and I am jumping all over it.
Good luck on whoever you choose.
Here are the reasons I belive the Astros win tonights game.
1. Prior -- I have more money off of this guy over the past year than any other player but he just starting to get his arm together for the 2004 campaign. He pitched well in his first outing (I was there) against the Pirates but struggled against the Cards in his second outing. He just has not developmed the arm strength that he needs for the season that a regular pitacher would have during spring training. He is one of the best pitchers but he is just not up to his standards yet.
2. Prior will be on a pitch count today. Listening to the Cubs broadcast this team he is scheduled to pitch no more than 85-90 pitches. This should be no more than 6 innings.
3. Cubs bullpen -- the Cubs pen over the past two days has been used to the max and they are deperatly tired. Almost all key members of the pen have pitched in both of the last two games in including : Hawkins, Farnsworth, Remlinger, Merker. This is a tired staff that wont be able to take the night off for the cubs to win.
4. The cubs played a 15 inning affair last night and did not arrive into Houston until 2:00 AM. Add to that the time change and the Cubs will probably have some tired legs.
5. Injuries -- the cubs are still waiting for this team to come together: No Sosa, Gonzales or Grunz has hurt this team. They are fourtunate that they have been able to stay above the .500 mark.
6. Houston -- the Astros have owed the Cubs in Houston for as long as I can remeber.
7. Roger -- He has been simply awesome in his post retirement party in Houston. He already beat the Cubs once this season and I anticipate that the Cubs bats will struggle again against the former Horn.
All of this together, in my opinion will be too big to overcome for the Cubs tonight.
IMHO the Astros at -135 are a bargain and I am jumping all over it.
Good luck on whoever you choose.