Giants, Padres wrap brief set

Baseball Betting Lines

04/22/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have had their problems on the road during the early part of this season, but they've been quite good at home so far.

The Giants shoot for a sweep of a brief two-game series with the San Diego Padres when the National League West rivals square off again this afternoon at AT&T Park.

San Francisco lost all six contests during its only road trip of the young season, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Padres from April 10-12, but has won three of four matchups since returning home from the unsuccessful trek. The Giants exacted some revenge on San Diego on Tuesday, delivering an 8-3 victory led by a big night at the plate from Edgar Renteria.

Renteria went 3-for-4 with five RBI, four of which came on a grand slam off Padres ace Jake Peavy in the fourth inning. Travis Ishikawa added a pair of hits, including a two-run single, to help back six solid innings out of Giants starter Matt Cain.

Cain (2-1) allowed just two runs and scattered nine hits without walking a batter to earn his first win over the Padres since September 8, 2006. The right-hander had gone 0-5 in 10 starts against San Diego following that victory.

Peavy (2-2) was reached for six runs on seven hits through six innings of work to receive the loss.

Brian Giles finished with two hits and a pair of RBI for the Padres, who have lost two in a row after opening a current eight-game road trip with four wins in its first five outings. Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring double in a losing cause.

San Diego will turn to Chris Young today in hopes of ending its mild skid. The 6-foot-10 right-hander already owns a victory over the Giants this season, holding San Francisco to one unearned run and just four hits over seven outstanding innings back on April 12. Young struck out seven Giants hitters and did not issue a walk in that game.

The Princeton product wasn't nearly as effective in his most recent start, however. At Philadelphia this past Friday, Young was rocked for seven runs and nine hits before being removed after just 3 2/3 innings. He did end up with a no-decision after his team rallied late for an 8-7 win.

Young's win over the Giants earlier this month was only his second in six career decisions against the club, although he's posted a respectable 3.55 earned run average in nine overall starts versus San Francisco.

The Giants hope to get Barry Zito untracked in today's finale. The former American League Cy Young Award winner has surrendered 10 runs and walked six over a combined nine innings in back-to-back losses to start the season, including a setback to the Padres in San Diego on April 10.

Zito lasted just four innings in that game and gave up four runs on seven hits. He wasn't any better in a start in Dodger Stadium this past Friday, as the Dodgers reached the veteran lefty for six runs in five innings en route to a 7-2 decision.

The 30-year-old is 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 career starts against San Diego.

San Francisco won six of nine 2008 meetings with the Padres held at AT&T Park and went 13-5 against San Diego last season.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.

(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977.  Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.

Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer.  In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season. 

MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season.  Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite.  After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.

Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions.  They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals.  The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown. 

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