Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays (6-10) at Oakland Athletics (5-9)

BetUS MLB betting odds: Rays -135, Athletics +115, Total 8

Left-hander Scott Kazmir will take the mound for Tampa Bay, while righty-hander Trevor Cahill does the honors for Oakland.

Here are some of the MLB Baseball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
(Numbers go back to last season)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners o8.5 (100)
Tue Apr 21, ‘09 10:10p - MLB Odds
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With two weeks behind us in this young baseball season, there are a high number of what could be called "surprise teams" in baseball right now. There are also a number of teams that are underperforming expert expectations. Allow me to come to your aid and provide hope to the hopeless and rain on a few parades.

1. Florida Marlins

"Vintage Lester dominates Orioles" read the headline after Sunday's 2-1 Red Sox victory over Baltimore.  While headlines are known for hyperbole, by definition, Jon Lester's third and best start of 2009 was vintage.

Is B.J. Upton the next Willie Mays?

I know it sounds crazy, but if you happened to see a couple of his catches this week, you might want to give the idea some thought. 

B.J.'s speed enables him to play a VERY shallow centerfield, which gives him a lot of opportunities to go back on some balls hit directly over his head. Twice this week he has made sensational catches; Both reminded me of Willie Mays.

I had the pleasure of watching Willie play centerfield at Candlestick as a young boy. I'll never forget it.

Now, on to B.J. Upton.

In Honor of Bartolo Colon's game against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, I would like to present "The All Fat All-Stars:"

C: Dioner "Fast As a Brick Wall" Navarro (5'9"and 210 pounds) and Brayan "Why Can't I be called Pudge?" Pena (5'11"and 245 pounds)

1B: Dmitri "Bigger Than Your Nose Tackle" Young (6'2" and 300 pounds) and Prince "Maybe if I Go Vegan, No One Will Notice I'm So Fat" Fielder (5'11" and 270 pounds)

2B: Ronnie "Fatty McButterpants" Belliard (5'10" and 215 pounds)

SS: This is where I need your help, any suggestions?

The Tampa Bay Rays successfully threw-out the argument for a minimum payroll last year —winning a pennant with an opening-day payroll of $44 million (compared with the Yankees’ $209 million)— but the residual cost of winning the pennant is clear (since a title is only that much further).

After getting trounced last night by the Rays 15-5, the Yankees face the Rays tonight in the second of the three-game set at 7:08 p.m.

The Yankees look to prove themselves to the AL East and to the majors, and to show that last night's loss was a fluke.

By the way, that phenom reliever is Nick Swisher.

I hate the Yankees.  Therefore, every chance I get to mock them, I go for it.

It is a sad day when your first baseman pitches better in relief than the actual guys labeled as pitchers on your 25-man roster.

Chien-Ming Wang now has a 28.93 ERA.  It's a good thing the Yankees stocked up on starting pitching this offseason.

Carlos Pena, Jason Bartlett, and Pat Burrell all went deep off Yankee pitching last night, helping the Rays demoralize the Yankees 15-5.

My love for Mr. Swisher runs unconditional. At least until the next slump.

Red-hot hitting, and an inning of relief to boot. Plus, he's an entertaining chap.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

One.

Two.

Three.