Ramirez, Marlins host Pirates in Miami
Baseball Betting Lines
07/03/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hanley Ramirez will try to stretch his franchise-record RBI streak to 11 games this evening when the Florida Marlins begin a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Land Shark Stadium.
Florida, meanwhile, has won eight of its last 11 games and has moved into a tie atop the NL East with the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.
Ramirez has been a huge reason behind the latest surge, as he has hit .475 (19-for-40) with five homers and 24 RBI over the last 10 games, knocking in at least one run in each of those contests.
"They are doing a good job getting on base," said Ramirez, who banged out eight hits and seven RBI in the Marlins' recent three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals. "It's a team, not just me."
His RBI streak, which is the longest ever by an NL shortstop, is also the longest in the majors since Garret Anderson had a 12-game run from August 26- September 7, 2007, while with the Los Angles Angels.
Hoping to keep the Marlins atop the division tonight will be 22-year-old right-hander Chris Volstad, who has just one win over his last six starts. Volstad did not factor in the decision of his team's 3-2 loss to Tampa on Saturday, as he allowed a pair of runs and five hits in six innings.
Volstad, who is 5-7 with a 4.63 earned run average on the season, has never faced the Pirates.
Pittsburgh will counter with righty Charlie Morton, who is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in three starts for the Bucs. Morton, acquired from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth deal, absorbed his first loss of the season on Sunday against Kansas City, which reached him for three runs and seven hits in five innings.
This will be Morton's fourth-ever start against the Marlins and is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in the three previous encounters.
The Pirates lost in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday, as they blew an early five-run lead, only to rally with three runs in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, before dropping a 9-8 decision to the New York Mets in the makeup contest of a postponed June 3 game from PNC Park.
Garrett Jones went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored for the Pirates, losers in four of their last five. Adam LaRoche launched a two-run home run, and Robinzon Diaz also posted three hits and knocked in a pair.
Matt Capps (1-4) surrendered the go-ahead run in the 10th for the loss. Paul Maholm didn't make it out of the fifth during his start, touched for 11 hits and six runs over 4 1/3 frames.
"I was very proud of the way our guys batted back," Pirates manager John Russell said. "It's easy just to fold up, especially when Rodriguez comes in the game...I was really proud of the effort today."
Pittsburgh swept a three-game set from the Marlins in April and has won four straight and five of the last six matchups in the series.
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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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