12/02/2008 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros signed pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year, $2.5-million contract, plus incentives, on Tuesday.
The deal also includes a club option for 2010 worth $2.85 million, plus incentives, with a provision that allows Houston to buy out the option at $250,000.
"We're very pleased to have Doug back for 2009," said Astros general manager Ed Wade. "We had certain expectations when we signed Doug a year ago, and he met or exceeded every one of them. His presence on the mound, in the bullpen and in the clubhouse exudes professionalism and the competitive fire that championship teams need."
At the age of 41, Brocail went 7-5 with a 3.93 earned run average in a career- high 72 relief appearances with Houston this past season, tallying 64 strikeouts, while holding right-handed hitters to a .200 batting average.
Going into his 15th season in the big leagues, Brocail has posted a record of 51-48 with a 3.99 ERA and nine saves in 606 career games, including going 14-14 with a 4.21 ERA in 131 relief appearances during his three seasons with Houston (1995-96, 2008).
<< NFC North: Momentum shifting Vikings, Childress' way
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It seems like a while ago when the Minnesota Vikings began
the season with a 1-3 record. Expected to contend for an NFC North title, the
slow start had head coach Brad Childress on the hot seat.
It's funny what a few wins
<< Browns add Gradkowski as QB injuries mount
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns signed quarterback Bruce
Gradkowski on Tuesday, two days after signal caller Derek Anderson suffered a
season-ending knee injury.
Gradkowski, a sixth-round pick of Tampa Bay in the
<< Roma has no intention of letting Mexes leave
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roma boss Luciano Spalletti insists he has no
intention of letting Philippe Mexes leave the Italian capital.
The defender has been linked with transfers to AC Milan and Internazionale
recently, but Spa
<< Real Madrid signs Huntelaar from Ajax
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid signed Netherlands international
striker Klas-Jan Huntelaar from Dutch club Ajax on Tuesday, the Spanish club
announced.
Huntelaar, 25, will join Real Madrid in January. He will likely replac
NFC South: Falcons' Turner one-ups former mentor >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- Michael Turner was deemed expendable by the San Diego
Chargers this past offseason, but there's no denying that the talented running
back has been vital to the Atlanta Falcons' amazing turnaround in 2008.
Eight months aft
NFL suspends six for doping violations >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Football League announced a list
of six players on Tuesday that were each suspended four games for a violation
of the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.
New Orleans' C
Briere to return to lineup >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel
Briere will return to the lineup for Tuesday's home contest against the Tampa
Bay Lightning.
Briere has missed the last nine and 14 of the previous 16 ga
Portsmouth's Kranjcar wants to make impact in Cup >>
Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar has
declared himself fit and ready to play a full 90 minutes against Wolfsburg in
the UEFA Cup.
The Croatia midfielder is hoping to start Thursday's group sta
Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
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