Struggling Nationals search for consistency

Baseball Betting Lines

04/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a season which hasn't produced many positives, the Washington Nationals certainly haven't found consistency in the past week. After splitting a two-game set with Philadelphia, the Nats tried their luck in the Sunshine State, as they took on the Florida Marlins over the weekend.

But after outlasting the Fish, 6-5, in a 14-inning affair on Friday, Washington managed to dump the final two games of the series, which included an embarrassing, 12-6 thumping on Sunday.

With victories seeming very few and far between, Chris Snelling was happy to provide some rare fireworks for Nationals' fans on Friday night. Ryan Church led off the 14th with a single and then stole second base. But the 28-year-old right fielder was nearly stranded until Snelling stepped to the plate with two outs.

The Nationals were fortunate to have Snelling deliver a single, but were perhaps more fortunate that Marlins' catcher Miguel Olivo couldn't control the relay throw to home plate, which allowed Church to sneak by.

"I think he closed the mitt a little early. I just made sure I got my hand around him and touched the plate," Church said of the play.

And despite surrendering a double to Jason Wood, and then throwing a wild pitch which allowed him to advance to third, Saul Rivera was able to secure the first save of the season for Washington.

SUNDAY SHELLING

Despite getting the series off to a strong start on Friday night, Matt Chico (1-2) was unable to keep the momentum going for the Nationals on Saturday. In fact, Chico allowed five runs on six hits, while also walking seven batters in the 9-3 setback.

However, as much as Chico's outing puzzled the Washington coaching staff, Jerome Williams' effort on Sunday opened up a whole new can of worms. Williams (0-4) surrendered a gaudy 10 runs, nine of which were earned, on nine Marlins' hits. He also walked four batters, and gave up two home runs to Marlins' second baseman Dan Uggla in his six innings of work.

INJURY SETBACK

Nationals' pitching prospect Mike O'Connor was transferred onto the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, as he continues to recover from offseason surgery on his left elbow. O'Connor had previously been placed on the 15-day DL back in March, but had yet to prove he was healthy enough to suit up.

In his rookie campaign just last season, O'Connor went 3-8 in 20 starts with an earned run average of 4.80. The Nationals were hoping the second year player could help their struggling rotation, but it's now obvious that they will need to wait a couple more months.

WHO'S HOT

After taking a brutal, .209 batting average into their most recent series against the Marlins, Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman seemed to catch fire in the warm Florida weather.

Zimmerman punched two hits in each of the three games, and exploded for a home run and four RBI on Sunday afternoon. Zimmerman's emergence this weekend, which boosted his average to .241, couldn't have come soon enough for a Washington lineup which is desperately trying to compensate for some poor pitching.

WHO'S NOT

After struggling to make it to the Mendoza line all season, Nationals' catcher Brian Schneider dropped his average to a disappointing .169 over the weekend. Schneider flew into Florida batting an even .200, but went 0-of-9 from the plate in his appearances on Friday and Saturday.

Overall, Schneider is hitless in his last three games, and has just 10 hits in 59 at bats this season.

ON DECK

After a day off on Monday, the 6-13 Nationals, who sit dead last in the NL East, will travel to Philadelphia for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night.

Jason Bergmann (0-1, 3.94) will get the ball for the Nats on Tuesday, as he faces Jamie Moyer (2-1, 3.05) in the series opener. Shawn Hill (1-2, 2.92) will square off against Jon Lieber (0-0, 3.38) on Wednesday night, while Matt Chico (1-2, 6.38) will attempt to down the red-hot Cole Hamels (2-0, 2.57) in the series finale on Thursday.

Online-betting-sportsbook Baseball Betting News

<< Rockies head to New York for Maine event
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Maine aims to extend his hot start to the season this evening, when his New York Mets welcome the Colorado Rockies to Shea Stadium for the start of a three-game series. Maine is 2-0 through his first three start

<< Phillies, Astros replay earlier washout
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies go for their third straight win this evening, when they host the Houston Astros in a makeup game at Citizens Bank Park. This contest was originally scheduled for April 15 in what would have be

<< Baek set for season debut as Mariners battle Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cha Seung Baek makes his season debut this evening when the Seattle Mariners open a brief two-game set with Texas at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Baek, who will be starting in place of injured phenom Felix Hernandez, has

<< Rockies falling fast after promising start
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After starting the season with a suprising 3-1 mark, it has been all downhill for Colorado Rockies fans. In fact, the club has lost three of its last four games, and now sits in the cellar of the NL West at 8-11. After win

<< Yankees aim to rebound against Devil Rays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie left-hander Kei Igawa tries to get the New York Yankees back on track this evening when they open a brief two-game set with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field. New York comes into this series after getting

Charlotte Country Club awarded 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur >>
Far Hills, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States Golf Association announced on Monday that the Charlotte Country Club was awarded the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. The course, designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1910, has

Cubs try to end home woes as Brewers come to Wrigley >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano will try to get back on track when the Chicago Cubs begin a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers this evening at Wrigley Field. Zambrano has turned in consecutive forgettable outings and has

Red-hot Orioles open short set with Athletics >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles try to win their fifth straight game this evening when they begin a brief two-game set with Oakland Athletics at Camden Yards. Baltimore continued its surprising start to the season over the weekend,

Fresh off big sweep, Red Sox clash with Blue Jays at Fenway >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox target their sixth straight win this evening when they begin a brief two-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. The Red Sox enter this series after sweeping a three-game set from the New Yo

Watney, Jacquelin vault into top 100 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - To the victor go the spoils. For weekend winners Nick Watney and Raphael Jacquelin, that means a new berth inside the top 100 of the latest Official World Golf Ranking. Watney shot a 69 Sunday to cruise

Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year

Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.

Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.

With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.

Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.

Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.

Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.