New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays: Baseball Picks

Written April 13, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz

rays-yankees-picks-041309 The Bronx Bombers and their 400+ million dollars they have spent this off season on four players (luxury tax included), start the season 3-3 with spotty starting pitching from Sabathia and Wang. The Cody Ransom experience as Arod’s stop gap looks to be an utter disaster. The Bullpen came in yesterday and imploded as the Royals salvaged the last game with a late inning comeback to beat the Yanks. Teixeira has started out slow, like always and is now dealing with lingering wrist injury. The talent heavy Yankees will need a growth of heart and will if they plan on contending in the AL East. If not, they will just go another year spending the BIG bucks with no results. Tonight, Wang will look to rebound from his awful performance at Baltimore five days ago when he only lasted 3.2 innings allowing 7 earned runs on 9 hits while walking three batters. His location couldn’t be worse and his pitches hung like lame ducks. Last season, Chien-Ming Wang went 1-0 in two starts vs Tampa Bay with a 0.69 ERA. Ever since he has been on the Yankees he has had success against The Rays. New York’s bullpen was worked hard yesterday, so they could really use Wang going seven innings minimum tonight. Last season Wang struggled against left handed hitters with over a 5.00 ERA. The Rays’ Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Akinori Iwamura will look to exploit that tonight. The x-factor for the Yanks to win this game will be their Captain, Derek Jeter. The reason for that couldn’t be more simple. This team needs a pulse. They need to believe in each other and develop a winning mentality. Every prized free agent signing they have brought in this year has no experience in the category of winning. The Captain needs to install that in his teammates. Today’s MLB lines show the Rays at -125 against the Yankees.

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off an 11-3 pounding of the Orioles. They, just like the Yankees, have started the season 3-3.. Yesterdays starter James Shields was fantastic as Evan Longoria looks to continue his impressive start to the season as he has accrued 4 homers and 8 RBIs in the first full week of baseball. Tonight’s starter for the Rays is flame throwing left handed all-star, Scott Kazmir who won his first start of the year at Boston pitching 6 innings of one run ball. Kazmir loves to pitch against the Evil Empire. He tends to pitch his best against baseballs best teams. Last season Scott went 2-1 in three starts with a fantastic 1.06 ERA while striking out 19 batters in 17 innings of work. This Rays team is a better hitting team then last years ALCS championship team. Longoria is more experienced, Pena looks to have his power stroke early, Iwamura and Bartlett are coming off their best years, Carl Crawford is primed for a huge season and newly acquired free agent Pat “The Bat” Burrell looks to add nice pop to their lineup. The pitching match up heavily favors Tampa and the balanced lineup seems to give them the advantage their also. Fielding wise, the Rays triumph over the Yanks as well. Pick is below.

Haimo’s Hot Notes: Their are some interesting trends for both teams in this game. Trends that both managers should be optimistic about. The Yankees are 3-10 in their last 13 Monday games. However, In Wang’s last eight starts against the Rays, the Yankees are 6-2 in those games. The Rays have an overwhelming 58-20 record in their last 78 home games. That number is astounding. Tonight, with these two power house clubs, I give the decisive edge to the team with the better starting pitcher and the home field advantage which is clearly stated with the trend above. The Rays are currently -125, now betting against the Yankees is not something I look to make an every day occurrence, however, tonight we’ll be just fine.

Jordan’s Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -125

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2 Comments

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2 Responses to “New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays: Baseball Picks”

ben on April 13th, 2009 8:46 am

If you’re going to knock the yanks, and their 1 pitcher (phil coke) who gave up 3 runs, at least get the division right.

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Jordan Haimowitz on April 13th, 2009 9:44 am

Ben,

good catch, will have it updated shortly

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