2013 College Football team Previews:
Miami Hurricanes
Virginia Tech
Clemson
North Carolina
Florida State

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by Jim Barnes
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Indiana Hopes High, Heat Set to Recover

 The Bulls felt the same way after upsetting the Heat in the first game of their seven game series that ended rather quickly.  Miami players admit they did not perform at a championship level in  every aspect of the game and are poised to regain a winning  stride.

Toronto is still in last place in the American League East with a 20-27 record, but this might be a good team to follow at least for next several weeks.  The Blue Jays began the season definitely playing like a bottom feeder, winning only 10 of 31 games and were quickly written off  as a challenger.

Since then, the Jays have won 10 of 16, seven of 10 and rolled over Baltimore yesterday 12-6.   Toronto fans have been waiting for top pitching prospect Sean Nolin to heal from a spring training groin injury that kept him on the shelf until lately when the left-hander began pitching in AA play.   His first three starts were so strong, 2-

0 with a 1.17 ERA, that the 6-5 youth will make his major league debut today at home  against the Orioles.

Terry Francona make a successful return to Boston where he is still popular as his Indians tromped on the Red Sox 12-3.  The Indians remain a half game in front of Detroit in the Central, the Yankees lead Boston by one, and the Rangers top 2nd place Oakland by five in the West.

Washington’s John Zimmerman will have to almost pitch a shutout to beat the Phillies, not that Philadelphia is on an offensive high; the Nationals have posted just nine runs in five games. Contrast that with the 42 put on the board by the Angels in their last five.   Los Angeles hit four home runs yesterday in a 5-4 victory over Kansas City.

White Sox veteran hurler John Danks has no idea how he will pitch for the first time in more than a year, thankful the opposing team is Miami.  Danks underwent shoulder surgery in May 2012 and has been in rehab ever since.  During spring training, the seven season starter was concerned about his career, an ERA three times as high as the price for a gallon of gas.  With AAA Charlotte he made four starts with a 3.18 ERA.

Atlanta still has a five game lead in the National League East and is beginning a road  trip where the Braves are 13-13, which is acceptable until you discover the team has won just six of its last 13 road contests after a 7-0 start.  Facing the Mets in New York at this moment could be a blessing, New York is 9-15 at home and just suffered a three game sweep by Cincinnati.

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: JimBarnes.com

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

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by Jim Barnes
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Francona Leads Indians into Boston, Remembers Two World Series Titles

For the first time since he was fired as manager of the Red Sox, Terry Francona returns to Boston with the Cleveland Indians.  The Tribe lead the AL Central and have been on an offensive tear, including last night’s 11-7 loss at Detroit.

While heading the Sox, Francona gave the city its first World Series championship in 2004, the first title in almost 90-years and claimed another trophy three years later, but was fired in 2011.   Cleveland has won each of Zach McAllister’s last four starts, getting timely hits while the hurler has a 1.93 ERA in the stretch.  Red Sox hurler Ryan Dempster has been a recent disappointment, one of those pitchers that I list as dangerous if an underdog at the bottom of today’s publication. How bad has Dempster been? How about allowing 15 runs in 16 innings?

Baltimore’s starting rotation is in need of a quick fix, a reason why top prospect Kevin Gausman has been summoned from the minors where was 2-4 with a 3.11 ERA in Double-A action.  The pitcher was the Orioles’ fourth pick in last year’s draft after pitching for LSU.

The Orioles current rotation includes Jason Hammel (5.37 ERA), Freddy Garcia (4.84), Miguel Gonzalez (4.25) and Chris Tillman (3.52).  Minnesota has suffered eight consecutive losses after being swept in an interleague series against Atlanta, and now must travel to Detroit where the Tigers are on the verge of regaining the American League Central lead from the Indians. Defending MVP Miguel Cabrera was the Triple Crown winner a year ago, a rarity in baseball since the days of Williams and Musial, and is on a pace to repeat.  Carbera leads the American League in batting average and RBI, second in home runs with 13.  During their eight game plunge, Twins starters have an ERA higher than 8.00 per game and only twice reached the fifth inning.

Only Houston has a worse rotation ERA, and adding to the Twins problems is a lack of scoring, only 22 runs in the losing streak.The Western Division is certainly not the National League’s strongest suit, a three-way tie for first with 26-21 records belonging to Arizona, Colorado and San Francisco.  San Diego is 4.5-games back, the Dodgers and embattled manager Don Mattingly trail by six.  The biggest division lead this morning is the 5.5-games that Texas is in front of Oakland in the American League West. Thursday is mostly a travel day in baseball, few games are scheduled.

Strikeout Hurlers  with High ERAs Worth Watching

A long time ago I wrote a thick handbook about baseball handicapping that was primarily based on backing pitchers that have the greatest ability to strike out opposing hitters.  Based on an ESPN starter profile, these pitchers have excellent strikeouts per nine innings totals but inflated ERAs.  Chances of ever catching one as an underdog is probably not going to happen but if that appears it would be almost impossible to ignore.  ESPN rates Yu Darvish and A. J. Burnett as the two best starters.

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: JimBarnes.com

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

The post Barnes’ Betting Bits: Red Sox/Indians + Strikeout Pitchers appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

2013 College Football team Previews:
Virginia Tech
Clemson
North Carolina
Florida State

The post 2013 Virginia Tech Football Preview appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

by Jim Barnes
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Baseball Stats are the Heart and Soul of Sports, Not Always “Telling the Truth”

Accepting statistics at face value is very often an error just as great as expecting gas prices to ever drop below $3.00 per gallon. In Ubaldo Jimenez’ last five outings, Cleveland is 5-0 which is rather difficult to digest because his seasonal record is 3-2 with a 5.31 ERA.

The reason the pitcher has a perfect mark is the offense has supported him with 34 runs or more than eight a game. With that kind of backing Jamie Moyer would probably still be throwing and collecting social security. Washington’s Gio Gonzalez has a 3-2 log and rather lofty 4.01 ERA in what has been a rough season, not just for him but other members of the National’s highly touted rotation. (Stephen Strasburg lost again last night 4-2 at San Francisco.)  Gonzalez has allowed only four runs in his last 13 innings and has fanned 16-hitters.

The Nationals are hard pressed to score lately.   One of the two best pitcher matchups was scratched last night when White Sox proposed starter Chris Sale had tenderness in his throwing arm. Chicago will go with Hector Santiago in his place.  Red Sox’ Clay Buchholz has been on a roll since 2013 got underway and his team is 4-1 in his last five starts and no foe has been able to touch Buchholz is sailing along with an ERA that is close to the number of Howard Stern fans.

Cincinnati realizes Mat Latos has risen to the Number 1 rotation slot, a 4-0 mark and 2.91 ERA which is very good, except he is going against Matt Harvey with a 5-0 record and 1.55 earned run average.  The Mets have not aided Harvey very much, six runs in three games which is far less than the 25 Latos has been given.  Arizona’s Trevor Cahill has been off the radar, but has allowed only six runs in five recent starts and only the Dodgers have scored two runs versus Cahill as he held Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco and Colorado to just one run each.

His 3-4 league W-L is as far away from “telling the truth” as it is ever heard in a courtroom.   Los Angeles Angels and Detroit appear to be set to challenge as fans anticipated in the pre-season.  The Angels blasted Seattle 12-0 as Mike Trout hit for the cycle and the Tigers slowed Cleveland 5-1. Detroit pitcher Max Scherzer retired 22 in a row and struck out the last four hitters.

Spurs Blow Late Lead, Need Overtime to Defeat Memphis

San Antonio expected Memphis to come back from a lopsided setback in the first of their best of seven Western Conference finals, although it did not look like that was
going to happen with the Spurs leading by 13 in the final period.  It did. The Grizzlies rallied to send the game into overtime, knotted at 85-85.  Veteran Tim Duncan ruled the overtime, hitting a trio of key baskets to build a 91-87 lead and each team scored just one more time in a 12-point extra session.  Miami and the surprising Pacers open the Eastern Conference finals tonight with little doubt as to who will win; maybe five games?

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: JimBarnes.com

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

The post Barnes’ Betting Bits: Baseball Stats are the Heart and Soul of Sports appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

Fedora is a proponent of no-huddle, wide-open attacking offense like he ran at Southern Miss. His first season for the Tar Heels: 40.6 points, 291.8 yards passing, 193.8 yards rushing per game. UNC was 8th in nation in points scored.
• No bowl last year with NCAA-mandated postseason ban, but bowl eligible now.
• This offense looks loaded with senior QB Bryn Renner (28 TDs, 7 INTs, 3,356 yds) and electric wide receiver 6-4 soph Quinshad Davis (776 yds). RB A.J. Blue chipped in 443 yards, 9 TDs and they have 6-4 junior WR Eric Ebron (625 yds), so this offense has height, experience and talent.
• QB Renner may not be the ideal fit for Larry Fedora’s no-huddle spread attack, but he has proven that he can be successful and productive running it.
• The defense returns six starters, but has plenty of room for improvement following last season’s up-and-down performance in the new 4-2-5 alignment.
• Even though seven starters return, the departures of first-team All-ACC honorees defensive tackle Sylvester Williams and linebacker Kevin Reddick, as well as starting LB Dion Guy is a blow as they were key players. UNC allowed 25.7 ppg, which explains a 7-3-1 run over the total.
• The defense gave up more than 500 yards of total offense three straight games at one point, including 588 in a 68-50 home loss to Georgia Tech.
• They open at South Carolina, and later have road games at G-Tech, at V-Tech, at NC State, and at Pitt.

2013 College Football team Previews:
Clemson
North Carolina
Florida State

The post 2013 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Preview appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

by Jim Barnes
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Blackhawks Fall at Detroit, Down 2-1

In the NHL Playoffs Detroit has a 2-1 lead over Chicago, winning last night at home 3-1. The Blackhawks are two more losses from having dreams of a Stanley Cup vanish, the offense will be to blame; suddenly silent.

New York Rangers actually are below .500 after falling twice to Boston and playing at home tonight is “a must win situation.”  San Jose was in danger of going down 3-0 against the visiting Kings, winning Game-3 in overtime 2-1. The same kind of low scoring affair is expected tonight.  Pittsburgh, trailing Ottawa 2-1, faces the Senators again on the road tomorrow night.

Pacers-Spurs Due for Closer Contest than Opening Rout

There were no games scheduled last night in the NBA and pro basketball is biding its time until the Spurs and Heat decide the NBA championship. Miami has been the team to beat since the start of the year and has lost just once in the post-season, a first round home opener against the Bulls.

San Antonio expects to handle Indiana again in what most expect will be closer than the first Western Conference contest that saw reserves play the final five minutes as San Antonio won 105-83.  In their last five meetings, the Spurs are 5-0 but only twice has the winning margin been double figures.  The Pacers lost the remaining three games by a combined total of just eight points.

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: JimBarnes.com

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

The post Barnes’ Betting Bits: NBA and NHL Notes, May 21, 2013 appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

by Jim Barnes
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Four Starters with the Major Leagues
Lowest ERAs are Hurling on Same Day

There are four starting pitchers today that have earned run averages under 2.00, a rarity these days in baseball and only one is well known, another somewhat known and two relative newcomers to the casual fan.

The only thing preventing Cleveland from sweeping a series from Seattle for the first time in three decades is Mariners’ hurler Hiashi Iwakuma. The Indians jumped to an early lead in Sunday’s 6-0 victory and have won 12 of 14 home games.  Iwakuma, in his last trip to the mound, gave up two runs in seven innings as Seattle pounded the Yankees 12-2.

Clayton Kershaw, called by some the second coming of Sandy Koufax, is tied for the lowest ERA in the major league baseball and is also the leader in least runs scored in his support. The Dodgers average 2.1 runs per game when their southpaw is pitching and this explains his 4-2 record which should be 6-0.

The good omen for Los Angeles is facing Milwaukee and a pitcher that is struggling, Yovani Gallardo has a 6.21 ERA versus the Dodgers and has been rocked in his last two outings.  Not only does Kershaw have a 1.40 ERA, so does St. Louis’ Shelby Miller. The rookie admits his last game was subpar, yet he escaped without a run to boost his scoreless streak to one out shy of 15-innings.

Miller’s best game to date has been a one hitter earlier t h i s  s e a s o n against Colorado with a season high 13 strikeouts.  San Diego is  countering with Jason Marquis, a journeyman who is attempting to win five games in a row, last accomplished in 2007 with the Cubs.   Arizona is unbeaten in all eight starts behind Patrick Corbin, including a career high walks in his last game that ended in a 2-0 victory over Arizona. Corbin is in his second year with the Diamondbacks who
have won 10 of his last 11 dating back to a year ago.   Facing Colorado on the road is not an easy assignment, the Rockies can score runs by the bushel basket and are on a three game winning streak.

Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels is far more reliable than his 1-6 record and elevated ERA, but when you get off to a rocky start and then find your groove only to lose because of problems that are not of your own making frustration blossoms.  The Phillies support him with three runs per game, not quite enough for a rather weak bullpen to preserve
victories. The team will also be without catcher Carlos Ruiz and 1B Ryan Howard, both injured.

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: JimBarnes.com

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

The post Four Starters with the Major Leagues Lowest ERAs are Hurling on Same Day appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

QB Clint Trickett decided to leave because 6-4 freshman Jameis Winston impressed in the spring, plus 6-6 sophomore Jacob Coker has experience, too. QB Manuel won four bowl games as a starter. QB Winston was the nation’s top high school QB prospect in the class of 2012, who redshirted last fall. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who played in the shotgun spread where he excelled as a passer in the pocket.  He was was the 2011 Alabama Gatorade State Player of the Year and a top baseball prospect the next year but opted for Florida State football.

The good news is there is a boatload of returning talent with junior RB Devonta Freeman (660 yards, 5.9 ypc), RB James Wilder, Jr. (635), and junior WR Rashad Greene (741 yards) working behind one of the best offensive lines in college football.

On the other side of the ball, the defense lose several key players from last year’s No. 2 total defense including All-American DE Bjoern Werner and lost DC Mark Stoops to Kentucky.
The new defensive coordinator is 37-year old Jeremy Pruitt, who was Alabama’s defensive backs coach for the last two years for Nick Saban. His reputation is that he’s a great recruiter in the deep south, but has limited coaching experience.

The 2012 Seminole defense was sixth in the nation allowing 14.7 ppg. The D-line needs work, but the linebacker corps is terrific along with the secondary. The FSU schedule has two tough road games, at Clemson and Florida. Florida State is on an 23-13-1 run under the total.  Head coach Jimbo Fisher has recruited well and the ACC Atlantic title will probably be decided with a road trip to Clemson (October 19) as the Noles avoid Virginia Tech and UNC from Coast division.

Other College Football ACC Previews:
2013 ACC Clemson Tigers Football Preview

The post 2013 Florida State Seminoles Football Preview appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.

by Jim Barnes
Free Daily newsletter at: http://jimbarnes.com/

Two of the major leagues strikeout leaders are going against each other as Detroit and Texas meet for the first time this season.  The Rangers’ Yu Darvish is on a pace to register 300 strikeouts this year, a total reached recently only by Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens.  Detroit’s Justin Verlander has led the American League in strikeouts the last three seasons, losing out this season with a fastball that has lost some of its velocity. Verlander can no longer count on reach 100 mph on the radar gun, Darvish averages right around 95 mph.

Texas is finally starting to produce runs, and Detroit has lost five of eight after a winning 10 of 12 games.  The Twins are fresh from taking three of four from Minnesota as Adam Dunn hit two home runs in yesterday’s 9-4 victory.  The White Sox, near or at the bottom in most offensive statistics, have lost six of seven versus Los
Angeles Angels.  The California team is still sputtering, trailing West Divisional
leader Texas by 11 games and 4-6 in their last ten.

In the National League, San  Francisco’s Matt Cain is pitching as everyone knew he would while Washington’s Stephen Strasburg has not been as ineffective as his record belies. The Nationals have lost four of five behind an lineup that scores an average of two runs per game, and has struck out 46 times recently. Strasburg would like to get two runs per game from his team, not the 13 he has received in seven straight outings without a win.  Not only is the team’s inability to score going against them, so is San
Diego’s current 9-1 home field wining run. The Padres, another weak team batting average, have done one thing right lately, hitting when runners are in scoring position.

The Giants have won nine of their last 14 games, propelled by the hot hitting of Marco Scutaro and his .480 batting average in the victory streak. Ironically, San Francisco obtained Scutaro from the Rockies.  Cain has won four straight starts versus Colorado and has a 7-1 career record.  The right handed hurler has won twice so far this month and given up just three runs in 15 innings, a great improvement from a 6.49 ERA start to the season.  San Francisco is now leading the National League West with a 23-17 log, a half game in front of Arizona.  The Dodgers are in last place, trailing the leader by 5.5 games.  The Reds’ Mat Latos is 4-0; change that to 5-0 after Cincinnati posts a sixth straight victory. Miami, the opposition, has an offense that is even worse than the White Sox and is rekindling thoughts of the 1962 New York Mets when Casey Stengel asked “if anybody could play this game?”

Check out Jim Barnes’ Daily newsletter at: http://jimbarnes.com/

About Jim Barnes: A graduate of University of Northern Iowa (1970), Jim Barnes spent 11-years in radio and television broadcasting in Georgia, North Carolina and Iowa. His last position was in news and sports with KWWL, Waterloo, Ia. He also worked with KCRG, Cedar Rapids, and WSKY, Asheville, N. C.

The post Barnes’ Betting Bits: Strikeout Pitchers appeared first on Expert Sports Picks.