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Diamondbacks hope Hernandez will give them a lift for pennant runBaseball Betting Lines08/10/2006 - PHOENIX (AP) -Livan Hernandez made a promise Wednesday to his new team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. ``Now that I get traded over here, I'm not going to throw no-hitters every game,'' he said. ``It's not going to happen, trust me. But trust me, I'm going to be on the mound and try to give you a chance to win every game.'' That's why the Diamondbacks grabbed Hernandez this week, sending minor leaguer pitchers Garrett Mock and Matt Chico to Washington. They optioned right-hander Jeff Bajenaru to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Hernandez, who is scheduled to start against Florida on Friday night. Arizona hopes the right-hander will be the piece that helps the Diamondbacks reach the postseason for the first time since 2002. Arizona was in third place in the NL West, 1 1/2 games behind San Diego, heading into Wednesday night's game against San Francisco. Inconsistent starting pitching and the resulting stress on the bullpen has contributed the Diamondbacks' mediocrity this season. Hernandez has pitched at least 199 2-3 innings every season since 1998. He's pitched 146 2-3 innings this year, compiling a 9-8 record and 5.34 ERA. ``For this season, our starters' innings have been pretty short,'' Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. ``Innings just by themselves aren't what we're looking for. Quality matched with quantity, which Livan has done for the most of his career, is a very important combination for us.'' The club also hopes the 31-year-old Cuban will prove to be a bargain next year, when he's owed $7 million. Hernandez, who had knee surgery last October, has struggled at times this year, posting a 6.91 ERA in June and a 6.18 ERA in July. But he has won four straight decisions, raising his trade value. The timing was right for the Diamondbacks, whose need for a front-line starter became even more pronounced when ace Brandon Webb recently skipped a start with a sore elbow. Webb will start Saturday. ``You put all that together and we were intent on getting this deal done,'' Byrnes said. Coincidentally, Byrnes dealt Hernandez's half-brother, Orlando ``El Duque'' Hernandez, to the New York Mets earlier this season. Hernandez said he spoke to El Duque shortly after the Diamondbacks acquired him. ``He's just happy,'' Hernandez said. ``He told me a lot of good things about the organization. He's got a lot of respect for the people here.'' Hernandez has a 119-112 record with a 4.20 ERA in 11 big league seasons. The highlight of his career came in 1997, when he helped pitch the Florida Marlins to their first world title. Hernandez went a combined 4-0 in the postseason and was named the Most Valuable Player of both the NLCS and the World Series. Hernandez has gone 110-109 since that season. But his durability is what sets him apart. Hernandez led the league in innings pitched each of the last three seasons. He's not among the leaders this year because he's had long bouts of ineffectiveness. But the Diamondbacks expect him to live up to the promise he issued as he joined the team. ``It's one thing to rack up innings,'' Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. ``It's another to rack up productive innings. In a day and age when guys go six, seven innings (per start), his mind-set is, 'Let's give the bullpen a rest today.''' Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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BOSTON (AP) -Paul Pierce had minor arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow Wednesday and is expected to be ready by the start of the Boston Celtics' training camp in early October.The five-time All-Star swingman had one of his best seasons in 2005-06
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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super BowlThe AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East. Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around. The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win. To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs. Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game. Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta. "Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed." To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. |
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