Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

St. Petersburg, FL - Carl Crawford scored the tying run with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings and then homered in the 11th inning, lifting the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, at Tropicana Field.

Crawford, who came on as a pinch-runner for Jonny Gomes in the ninth, ended the game and capped the comeback by homering over the wall in left-center on a 3-2 pitch from Brain Wolfe (2-1). Crawford didn’t start the game because of an injured wrist and was in obvious pain earlier in the at-bat after swinging and missing.

Gomes and B.J. Upton also homered for the Devil Rays, who rallied from a two- run deficit to win consecutive games after losing eight straight

Alex Rios had two hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of four on their current six-game road trip. Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells drove in a run each for Toronto, which began to run into trouble in the late innings.

Trailing by two runs, Upton started the rally in the eighth by hitting a solo homer off reliever Casey Janssen. Then, in the ninth, Gomes walked against closer Jeremy Accardo and Crawford came on to steal second. Crawford then moved to third on Greg Norton’s fly out to right and scored when pinch- hitter Josh Wilson singled.

In the 10th, Tampa Bay closer Al Reyes left the go-ahead run at third, striking out Glaus and getting Wells to fly out to end in the inning. Then, in the bottom half, Brendan Harris was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on Delmon Young’s base hit up the middle. Shortstop John McDonald knocked down the grounder and then gunned down Harris.

Tampa Bay reliever Scott Dohmann (1-0) got the win. He pitched himself out of a bases-loaded jam on the top of the 11th, striking out Reed Johnson and getting Lyle Overbay to fly out to end the frame.

Toronto starter Dustin McGowan allowed just two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four, in six innings. The right-hander had won consecutive starts and was 7-3 over his last 10 decisions.

Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine avoided his seventh setback in as many decisions. The right-hander yielded four runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking three. He hasn’t won since June 10.

Toronto started the scoring in the first inning. Overbay walked with one out and scored when Rios followed with a triple. Rios then scored when Glaus singled, ending an 0-for-13 slide.

McGowan had his scoreless innings streak halted at 15 in the third inning when Ben Zobrist scored on a wild pitch to make it a 2-1 game. Zobrist singled with two outs and moved to third on Akinori Iwamura’s double that followed.

The Blue Jays regained the two-run lead in the fourth when Rios scored on a Wells sacrifice fly.

Gomes homered in the fifth to again make it a one-run game and the Devil Rays threatened in the sixth only to come up empty. After Young walked to load the bases with two outs, McGowan got out of trouble when he struck out Gomes looking.

Toronto added an insurance run in the seventh. With two outs, Gregg Zaun walked and McDonald singled, forcing Sonnanstine from the game in favor of the newly acquired Dan Wheeler. Johnson greeted Wheeler with an RBI single. However, after Overbay walked to load the bases, Wheeler got Rios to fly out to end the inning.

Game Notes

Prior to the game the Devil Rays activated pitcher Wheeler to the 25-man roster. The right-handed reliever was acquired from the Houston Astros on Saturday in exchange for IF/OF Ty Wigginton. He allowed one hit and one walk in 1 1/3 innings…To make room for Wheeler, the Devil Rays sent Jae Kuk Ryu to Triple-A Durham…Tampa Bay’s Akinori Iwamura has a six-game hit streak…Gomes has 11 HRs this season…Upton has 14 HRs this year…Toronto manager John Gibbons was ejected by third base umpire Tim Welke in the eighth inning for arguing a check swing by Iwamura. After being tossed, Gibbons jumped the dugout railing to have an animated argument with Welke.

Minneapolis, MN - Scott Baker threw eight strong innings and Joe Mauer drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins downed the Kansas City Royals, 3-1, in the opener of a four-game series at the Metrodome.

Baker (5-4) allowed just two hits and one run while striking out seven without a walk. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 25 chances for Minnesota, which has won three in a row since a five-game losing streak.

Jason Tyner had three hits including a triple and Mauer and Morneau had two hits apiece for the Twins, who traded second baseman Luis Castillo prior to the game.

The Twins sent the 31-year-old Castillo to the Mets in exchange for Double-A catcher Drew Butera and Single-A outfielder Dustin Martin.

Kansas City starter Gil Meche (7-8) went seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

David DeJesus and Mark Grudzielanek accounted for the two hits by the Royals, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Minnesota scored two runs in the first when with nobody out, Mauer doubled to left scoring Tyner, who led off with a single to center and Jason Bartlett who followed with a single to right. Morneau then walked but Meche recovered to induce Torii Hunter to ground into a double play and Jason Kubel to strike out swinging, ending the inning.

Kansas City got on the board in the fourth. DeJesus led off with a double to right and scored when Grudzielanek followed with a single to center. Baker, though, avoided further damage when he struck out Mark Teahen looking before getting Billy Butler to pop into a double play.

The Twins added an insurance run in the eighth on Mauer’s one-out single to right scoring Tyner, who led off with a double to right.

Game Notes

Tyner’s first inning leadoff single broke an 0-for-24 streak for Minnesota batters…Minnesota pulled within six games of American League wild-card leading Cleveland, which was idle…Attendance was 23,628.

Chicago, IL - Cole Hamels baffled the Cubs for eight innings, and Brett Myers finished them off in the ninth as the Philadelphia Phillies topped Chicago, 4-1, in the opener of a four-game set.

Hamels (12-5) allowed only three hits and one run in eight innings while fanning eight. Aaron Rowand belted a three-run homer, and Tadahito Iguchi also homered for the red-hot Phillies, who have won nine of ten.

More important than the game, though, may be the injuries Philadelphia suffered. The Phillies lost rightfielder Shane Victorino in the fourth inning when he suffered a right calf strain running out a ground ball. He was replaced by Michael Bourn, who fell awkwardly on the bullpen mound while chasing down a foul ball with two outs in the fifth inning. After taking a few minutes to recover, Bourn remained in the game, but then left in the seventh inning with a sprained left ankle.

Ted Lilly (11-5), who had been virtually unhittable of late, surrendered seven hits and four runs in five innings, with three walks and three strikeouts. Ryan Theriot’s solo shot provided the offense for the Cubs, who have dropped three of five.

Iguchi worked a one-out walk in the third and, after Jimmy Rollins fouled out, Ryan Howard ripped a double into right. Rowand came through in the clutch for the Phils, belting the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence in center to put Philadelphia on top.

Iguchi added to the lead with his first National League home run, leading off the fifth to give the Phils a 4-0 lead.

Lilly was lifted in the fifth for pinch-hitter Ronny Cedeno when, thanks to two Hamels walks, the pitcher’s spot in the lineup came up with two men on and one out. Cedeno popped out, though, and Alfonso Soriano struck out to end the threat.

“We were looking for a little offense,” said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. “He just popped up a pitch; it didn’t work.”

Theriot finally got the Cubs on the board in the sixth when he pulled a 2-0 pitch into the bleachers in left, cutting the Philadelphia lead to three. Hamels bore down after the homer, though, retiring the last nine batters he faced.

Myers came on in the ninth and, in his first save situation since returning from the disabled list, set the Cubs down in order to pick up his seventh save.

Game Notes

In their last 50 games against the NL Central, the Phillies are 35-15, dating to last season…Lilly saw his seven-decision win streak come to an end…Attendance was 41,686.

MLB 07/30/2007 7:05 PM EDT 901 philadelphia phillies (l) hamels, c 8u25 8u20 / 7.5o20 8u25 902 chicago cubs (l) lilly, t -113 -118 / -115 / -112 -111 ***TIME CHANGE***; WIND is IN from LEFT and CENTER at 7-10 MPH

The Phillies have reportedly acquired Kyle Lohse from the Reds for left-hander Matt Maloney. Cincinnati pitcher is undecided.

KEY MOVES BY BETTING PUBLIC TODAY est

Time of Play Game Date Game # Team Line 8:18:37am 2007-07-30 906 MIN -120 8:05:59am 2007-07-30 908 SEA +117

7:10 PM EDT 903 toronto blue jays (r) mcgowan, d -132 -126 / -127 / -126 -127 904 tampa bay devil rays(r) sonnanstine, a 9o25 9o25 TB (OF) Crawford NOT expected to start

TAMPA BAY- OF Carl Crawford (Wrist) downgraded to not expected to be in the starting lineup Monday vs Toronto. Crawford said he will get an MRI exam today and give his wrist at least another day of rest before he attempts to test it out.

8:10 PM EDT 905 kansas city royals (r) meche, g 9u20 9u20 906 minnesota twins (r) baker, s -121-132/ -134 / -135 -136

10:05 PM EDT 907 los angeles angels (r) escobar, k -126 -127 / -122 / -120 -121 908 seattle mariners (r) batista, m 8.5u20

10:05 PM EDT 909 detroit tigers (r) tata, jordan -115 9.5u25 9.5u15 910 oakland athletics (r) blanton, j 9.5u25 -112 / -115 / -114 -117 NOTE CHANGE OF PROBABLE FOR DETROIT; (R) Jordan Tata; OAK (3B) Chavez Doubtful

GRAFFIT WALL TRANSACTION ALERT:

The trade between the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers has been finalized.

Atlanta aquires 1B MARK TEIXEIRA and P RON MAHAY in exchange for C JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA and three minor league players.

Monday, July 30th

American League

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners, 10:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 70.

National League

Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.

Clear Clear. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 85.

Since few if any individuals have come forward to defend Michael Vick, leab it to the NAACP to do just that. NAACP leaders urged public restraint Monday in judging Michael Vick before he has his day in court.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports this news comes just hours after one of the co-defendants - Tony Taylor - plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Vick, the star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, and two other co-defendants pleaded not guilty last week to similar charges.

R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the Atlanta Falcons quarterback has been vilified by animal rights groups, talk radio and the news media and prematurely punished by his team and corporate sponsors.

“If Mr. Vick b guilty, he should pay’n for da crime, but to treat him as he being treat’n now is also a crime,” White said at a news conference. “B restrain’n in ya premature judge’n until da legal process dar is complet’n.”

Georgia NAACP President Edward Dubose thanked Vick for his community service and the money and excitement he has brought to Georgia as a Falcon. Dubose said Vick is being prosecuted in the court of public opinion before he has had a chance to defend himself.

“We not B condemn’ bad behavior, but Michael Vick is innocent until proven he B guilty,” Dubose said.

Atlanta chapter member Bernadette Allen attended the news conference and also a rally Sunday to support Vick.

“The man is entitled to due process under the law, as is any citizen,” Allen said.

Neteller, the decimated online gambling payment processor, has begun allowing US customers the ability to withdraw funds held since made frozen in mid-January. The company claimed a US Justice Department investigation was the reason.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports that Neteller’s Executive VP of Marketing and Sales, Dan Star tells APCW that withdrawals to US clients will be processed Monday. Mr. Star states that funds “are actually sitting in our accounts in the US and will be ready for distribution on Monday the 30th.” Dan Star also told APCW’s Jay Todd that he expects those who are requesting payment by electronic funds transfer (ACH) on Monday to have the funds in their bank account by the end of next week. Non-certified Neteller account holders are will be prompted to request funds via check.

Neteller warns that due to processing “$94 million to hundreds of thousands of US customers, it will take some time for all payments to be processed.”

It does seem highly illogical that all payments would be made by week’s end with that type of figure.

Neteller has signed on as a premium sponsor for the upcoming European i-Gaming Congress & Expo, a strong indication that the company remains committed to the online gambling sector.

The New York Post has revealed that Pennsylvania friends of disgraced former NBA ref Tim Donaghy and his pal, reputed bookie James Battista, have begun testifying before a federal grand jury in Brooklyn.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports that many believe that Donaghy will cut a deal with the Feds and blow the whistle on his mob cronies.

The ex-referee spent the weekend holed up in his Bradenton, Fla., home, enjoying pizza last night with friends.

One buddy, Vito Bavaro, said Donaghy was awaiting a call from the feds ordering him to New York.

His friends gave no hint as to whether Donaghy would own up to allegedly betting on games he worked and providing information to the mob.

“He’s not talking about it,” Bavaro said. “He’s in a tough spot.”

The investigation, which began more than a year ago, is zeroing in on blockbuster allegations that the referee was making calls that affected the point spread to guarantee that he — and the hoods who had their hooks in him — cashed in on large bets.

Though CBS broadcast outtakes from the World Series of Video Games during the late morning hours on Sunday when everyone is presumably at church (or in Miami Beach, just waking up), the idea of having video game competitions telecast as a sort of pseudo sport is exciting.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports that Rob Correa, senior vice president for programming at CBS Sports, told the New York Times that in 10 years time this will be seen as a “significant moment”.

He said that there are an enormous amount of people of all ages who play video games these days, so CBS wanted to see if video games’ popularity could translate into a viable television audience.

Popularity in video games has been boosted by the Internet and skill game providers such as SkillGround.com

There are also an enormous number of people who paint their own houses so soon paint drying might also become prime time viewing.

But, one thing that will not be seen are violent shooting games like Halo and Quake. Apparently CBS says that only relatively tame games would suffice. It might put punters off the boxing.

Like with online poker, potentially the competition could start seeking qualifiers via the Internet.

The World Series of Video Games, or WSVG for short, is an international professional electronic sports competition. It held its first season in 2006, with competitions in six different games and six events held around the world including the finals of the event.

The total prize purse of the season was 750,000 USD which includes the 240,000 dollar prize purse that was winnable at the finals. The WSVG is operated by Games Media Properties, an American gaming company founded in 2002.

The total prize purse of the 2007 series will be 574,000 USD, of which 175,000 will be winnable at the finals of the event which will take place at the world’s biggest LAN party, Dreamhack in Sweden (November 29 - December 2).

The series are partially regarded as the continuation of the one million dollar 2005 CPL World Tour, as one of the founders of the WSVG as well as the major sponsor (Intel) of the tour left the Cyberathlete Professional League to help find these series.

WSVG’s second season features Fight Night Round 3, Guitar Hero 2, Quake 4 and World of Warcraft as main circuit games. Counter-Strike, Warcraft III, Call of Duty 2 and Gears of War will also make appearances at a number of events.

The circuit’s total prize purse will be 574,000 USD, there will also be travel funds made available to a number of high finishing participants[15].

Famous professional gamers such as Johan ‘Toxic’ Quick, ‘Jang ‘Moon’ Jae Ho, Manuel ‘Grubby’ Schenkhuizen, Sander ‘vo0′ Kaasjager & Li ‘Sky’ Xiaofeng have already announced their intend to attend the first stop or are widely expected to compete in their respective games.

Saratoga Springs, NY - Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches has been declared fit and ready to return to the races. The three-year-old filly is back at the Belmont Park barn of trainer Todd Pletcher and can resume training.

Graffiti Wall reports that Veterinarian Paul Thorpe examined Rags to Riches and pronounced her fit. She galloped at Belmont Park Monday morning after the exam.

“After reviewing the results of the physical exam she had at New Bolton, Dr. Thorpe felt there was no reason for her not to resume training,” said Pletcher. “She galloped at Belmont this morning and will ship to Saratoga tomorrow, following a gallop at Belmont tomorrow morning. I will watch her train over the next week before I make a final decision on whether or not she will race in the Alabama on August 18.”

Rags to Riches was sent to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania for a complete examination after a preliminary one performed by Dr. Steve Allday. All the concern came about after she was pulled up during a workout last weekend.

The leading three-year-old filly has not raced since becoming just the third female to win the Belmont Stakes. She missed the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park after she came down with a fever.

Rags to Riches is owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and has earned almost $1.3 million this year. She is undefeated in five starts in 2007. The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is scheduled for Saturday, August 18.