MLB 5/4

[mtcook21]

3-2 yesterday, now 5-2 overall

a couple for today so far:

yanks -105
royals -105

debating on taking the angels tonite.... any thoughts?

[Kevin]

It'd take some nuts to ride the Angels tonight. Ellsbury, Crawford, Ortiz and Youk all have .300+ averages against Santana over their careers.

Santana has historically been poor on the road, with a career ERA of 5.00.

His road numbers this year: 5.40 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, .304 average against.

Conversely, Beckett has only given up 1 earned run in 15 innings at Fenway this season.

Kendrick, Hunter and Wells have hit Beckett well historically, but just too many loose cannon variables here.

Nice price but probably no real value there.

With that being said, no way do I lay the wood with Boston here either!

[Franchise]

But to play devil's advocate, in the last 3 years Santana has had a better ERA on the road (3.56) than at home (about a run difference over the last 3 years in total) while Beckett has posted a home ERA over 4 in all but 1 season in Boston. So is the real Josh Beckett the one with a 0.60 home era or what his track record says and that it should gravitate toward 5.00 as the season grows.

And I understand he was hurt at times but there were plenty of years he was healthy, and yet still not that effective. It seems reputation seems to have overtaken true value. If the name on the hill for Boston tonight was Bartolo Colon he might not have as much line respect.

That being said I don't think either guy pitches great and am a little surprised Boston isn't -200 with one of their "aces" going tonight.

[mtcook21]

adding:

Padres -135
Rays -125
Phillies -155
A's -150
Mariners -120