Game Picks - Saturday: August 8, 2009

Yesterday in this space, this game picker was complaining about the mediocrity of his recent picks. Staying just above or just below the .500 mark was getting old. What's the old expression? "Be careful what you wish for." Well, yesterday wasn't mediocre at least. It was downright brutally ugly. Wow, was it bad.

But you know what? It's all good. There was some really exciting games. The Yankees and Red Sox played a classic with A-Rod hitting a walk-off in the 15th. There were two more walk-offs around the majors. The Nationals won their sixth straight. The A's won big. The Indians suddenly look like juggernauts and there was exciting baseball everywhere you looked. If the price to pay for that was a bad night picking games, so be it.

Let's see what today brings:

• The Blue Jays over the Orioles: Can a team get depressed? The Blue Jays seem depressed. Perhaps a good start from Cecil will help.
• The Reds over the Giants: Speaking of depressed, the Reds are on a serious slide. But Arroyo is a pro and Barry Zito is due for a clunker.
• The Rangers over the Angels: The Rangers are fighting for their lives and pulled out a win last night. Hamilton hit a homer, which is very good news for Ranger fans.
• The Yankees over the Red Sox: Sabathia over Buckholz. Sabathia has to start kicking it in here sooner or later, doesn't he?
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: Wainwright has been great (except for his last start).
• The Phillies over the Marlins: The Marlins got the exciting win last night, but this picker has no confidence in Sean West who gets the start tonight.
• The Diamondbacks over the Nationals: Danny Haran ends the Nationals winning streak.
• The Astros over the Brewers: Two really struggling pitchers in Hampton versus Parra.
• The Tigers over the Twins: The Twins big move was to pick up Carl Pavano!?
• The Indians over the White Sox: The Indians start to reap the benefits of the Victor Martinez trade with Masterson starting today.
• The Royals over the A's: Greinke has to win a game again some time, doesn't he?
• The Rockies over the Cubs: Marquis! That's Rule #2.
• The Padres over the Mets: Latos has looked good. Parnell is starting for the Mets after being in the bullpen all year.
• The Dodgers over the Braves: Kershaw for the Dodgers versus Kawakami. The Braves always seem to lose when Kawakami pitches.
• The Mariners over the Bay Rays: Fresh off their dramatic come from behind walk-off last night, Ian Snell continues his restoration project.

Yesterday: 5-10
Week: 37-42
Month: 46-48