Nathan’s Famous annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest returns for the 94th year at the company’s flagship store in Coney Island on Saturday.
The event, which has become a corny part of America’s Independence Day celebrations, will pit two-time champion Joey Chestnut against six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi.
Bodog.com currently has Chestnut as -155 favorite. Kobayashi is listed at +105 followed by Tim ‘Eater X’ Janus at +1150. Odds for the field are set at +1300.
In 2008, the world watched as Chestnut and Kobayashi battled it out in an exhilarating five hot dog overtime. Chestnut won, but Kobayashi immediately vowed to return to reclaim the Coveted Mustard Yellow Belt, the most revered award in the world of competitive eating.
In anticipation of the 2009 rematch, Nathan’s Famous had official qualifying events in cities throughout the United States. The champions of each qualifier will compete at the original Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island on July Fourth. Read More…
Having control is essential for sports bettors. The smart bettor has control over his or her finances and is in control enough not to bet too much on one game.
For example, if an undisciplined bettor loses three bets in a row all on afternoon baseball games, he might come back and bet twice as much as he lost on one game in the evening, an all out offensive to try and break even.
This is foolish, and you will end up in the poorhouse before you ever get near the penthouse.
In baseball, control also refers to a pitcher’s ability to throw strikes. It is important for sports bettors to understand this kind of control, because it can be a useful handicapping tool for estimating sides and totals. Read More…
Take the LA Dodgers on the moneyline. The Dodgers have the superior pitcher on the mound tonight with Hiroki Kuroda (2-4, 3.77 ERA), who has pitched solid on the road this season with a 3.20 ERA over three starts.
Kuroda pitched solid in his only start against the Padres this season allowing just four hits and one earned run through just under six innings.
Padres starter Chad Gaudin (4-6, 4.97 ERA) has struggled overall this season with an ERA of 5.11 over 12 starts. Gaudin got lit up in his last outing against the Dodgers back on May 3 giving up six earned runs through less than six innings.
The Dodgers are 5-1 in their last six games against the Padres and they are 4-1 in Kuroda’s last five starts against San Diego. The Padres are just 1-9 in their last 10 games in Game 1 of a series and they are just 4-11 in their last 15 games as an underdog.
Take the LA Dodgers as my Free MLB Play for Friday Night.
Vernon Croy was 100 percent perfect again on the bases yesterday and his massive 100 percent MLB Run continues right here with his Friday Night MLB Smash. The play is backed by a 100 percent perfect angle so get on it now!
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Prior to the start of the 2009 baseball season, I was of the opinion the Chicago White Sox were going to have a rough time of it, and that they’d be lucky to win 75 games. Considering that I made a pick on every one of the 30 Major League teams, I was obviously going to get several of them wrong.
I think it’s pretty safe to say the White Sox are well on their way to a prominent spot on the list of teams I missed on, and it’s looking as though it’s going to be by a wide margin.
Mark Buehrle’s impressive win over the Royals on Thursday night made it six straight wins for the Chisox. They’re now within 2 1/2 games of the division-leading Tigers, and as the campaign hits the midway point, the White Sox are starting to look like the team to beat in the AL Central. Read More…
Take the Chicago Cubs on the moneyline.
We are actually getting great value here tonight with the Cubs. Chicago has the superior pitcher on the mound with Ryan Dempster (4-5, 4.09 ERA) up against Milwaukee’s Seth McClung (3-1, 3.55 ERA), who was hit hard in his only start this season (6.75 ERA over just four innings).
Dempster has owned the Brewers over his career with a 9-2 record and a 3.28 ERA over 15 starts against them. Furthermore, the Cubs are 5-1 in Dempster’s last six home starts against a team with a winning record.
The Cubs have won four straight at home and the Brewers are just 0-6 in their last six road games against a team with a winning record above .600 at home. The Brewers are just 3-10 in their last 14 games against a right hand starter and they are also just 2-5 in their last seven road games as a dog of +110 to +150.
Take the Chicago Cubs as my MLB free play for Thursday night.
Vernon Croy crushed the books yesterday with the Atlanta Braves in a 11-1 ROUT over the Phillies. Vernon has his MLB Smash for Thursday night cashing hands down backed by a 90 percent angle so get on it now. Read More…
The New York Mets are an absolute mess. Sure, they’re only two games out of the lead in the stunningly mediocre NL East. They’re just one game under .500 at 38-39 despite an unending rash of injuries and an embarrassing display of fundamental blunders that have cost them a handful of wins.
But don’t be misled. This is a team with all kinds of problems, and as it turns out, their presence in a monster market where demands for immediate success could prove to be a gigantic headache for management.
I’m of the opinion that the Mets are in need of a substantial overhaul, which is a viewpoint that’s at odds with most observers, particularly those who may be too close to the scene to really see what’s happening here.
The easy explanation for the mediocrity presently on display is to blame the injuries to key personnel and to also point to glaring mistakes that have taken place on the field. I’ll buy that to a certain extent. Yes, the Mets would likely be atop their division with a healthy roster. Read More…
Last week Cubs closer Kevin Gregg served up a two-run, walk-off home run to pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn in a 5-4 loss to Detroit. Lou Piniella’s answers were brief: “Look, one-run leads on the road,” he said. “Not the easiest thing in the world.”
The Cubs started 3-10 in one-run games on the road. Unreliable relief pitching can prevent hot streaks and sap a team’s confidence. In addition, if a bullpen has to be used more it could potentially tax others in the pen for the next game or two. That is a problem the Washington Nationals have had, with a league-high in blown saves.
Bullpens are an important part of baseball wagering these days. Expansion over the last 16 years has diluted the pool of quality starters. Many teams look for a fourth or fifth starter just to go five innings and hope for as little damage as possible. All of which makes the guys coming in from the pen for the final four innings of those games even more important.
Cub starting pitchers have had a sizzling 2.69 ERA in June, far and away the best in the National League, but have a .500 record. Their team ERA was one of the best in baseball, tops in quality starters, but one of the worst in saves in the NL. The Cleveland Indians have had a frustrating 2009 season, bogged down by what has been an awful relief staff. Read More…
