Sunday, July 29, 2012

Game Picks - Sunday: July 29, 2012

One week ends, the month is nearly over and once again, the Yankees can't get Pedro Ciriaco out. Just another day in baseball land. Over at It's About the Money, Stupid the other day, this picker wrote a piece wondering why Curtis Granderson's defensive metrics were so awful. Yesterday's game between the Yankees and the Red Sox, won by Ciriaco on a terrible misread by Granderson in center drew a picture that even this picker couldn't miss. Well, geez. Not only was the play added on top of Granderson's three strikeouts on the day, but it was also the Game of the Day. So, yeah, Granderson is sort of in the doghouse over here.

The rest of the day went okay. It wasn't a great day, but it wasn't a stinker either. The first two picks of the day were wrong with the Cubs and Blue Jays winning and the day looked like it was going to be a disaster. But the rest of the games went pretty much according to plan. For Sunday, the goal is to get a Game of the Day pick correct and get ten correct picks. Let's do this:

  • The Tigers over the Blue Jays: The Tigers were supposed to be taking over the AL Central. Instead, they've looked stupid against the Blue Jays. Today should be a win with Doug Fister facing a struggling Brett Cecil. But then again, you would expect Verlander to have won too, right?
  • The Marlins over the Padres: Josh Johnson has been so stinking frustrating this season that he is simply maddening. So he finally has his stuff together in his last outing and what happens? He cuts his middle finger and has to leave the game. Doh! What is it with this guy? Let's try picking him again because this picker is a glutton for punishment. Oh yeah, Clayton Richard goes for the Padres. Oh. By the way. Was watching highlights the other day and Richard came up and the highlight package announcer called him Richard, pronounced just like the first name. Being close to the Canadian border, this picker always called him Rishaard, like the French pronunciation. This picker may be wrong, but Rishaard is way cooler.
  • The Oakland Athletics over the Orioles: You have to stick with the A's until this remarkable streak is over. It has to end soon. But for now, you go with the hot hand of Travis Blackley over Wei-Lyn Chen.
  • The Braves over the Phillies: The Braves did what they had to do and put the Phillies away for two straight days. The Phillies are now officially dead. And it matters little that Roy Halladay starts today. He goes against Tim Hudson, who has been terrific.
  • The Pirates over the Astros: If life was fair, Lucas Harrell would be receiving a much better fate. He pitches well outing after outing and never wins. That will continue today as he is out-dueled by James McDonald.
  • The Indians over the Twins: Terrible game to pick. The Twins have been clubbing the Indians all weekend. But they start Brian Duensing who is 1-6 and has been uninspiring to say the least. The Indians start the always baffling Ubaldo Jimenez. Who knows.
  • The Cardinals over the Cubs: So how many times is this picker going to pick against Paul Maholm before finally coming to sense? Apparently never. You can't pick against Adam Wainwright. You just can't.
  • The Reds over the Rockies: Jonathan Sanchez, eh? No thanks. Let's go with Mat Latos instead though Coors will be an adventure for him.
  • The Bay Rays over the Angels: Okay, so the Angels got Zack Greinke and he will start today. But the Angels negated the positive energy of the move by putting Vernon Wells back in the starting lineup after his DL stint was up. Why would you do that? Because of money? Duh! No! That is a sunk cost. Keep him on the bench where he belongs or find another obscure injury to put him on the DL again. Jeremy Hellickson with the win.
  • The Giants over the Dodgers: Great match-up on paper between Ryan Vogelsong and Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw hasn't been impressing lately as he has had command issues. And Vogelsong is just downright impossible to beat at home.
  • The Mariners over the Royals: Would a sweep by the Mariners be enough to get rid of Ned Yost? Probably not. But it should. Felix Hernandez over Will Smith.
  • The Mets over the Diamondbacks: This pick caused this picker constipation. R.A. Dickey is going and will his knuckler knuckle in the air of Arizona? Can Joe Saunders continue to be effective? This pick doesn't feel right, but it feels wrong the other way too. Hate that.
  • The Rangers over the White Sox: Scott Feldman has won four in a row and was impressive his last time out. Gavin Floyd can be a bit of a mess at times and is only a game removed from the disabled list.
  • The Red Sox over the Yankees: Do not like the match-up of Hiroki Kuroda against the Red Sox. They will hit him. And Kuroda is better in the daytime and of course, this game has to be the one night game because ESPN would pee on themselves without either the Yankees or the Red Sox on their telecast. Felix Doubront goes for the Red Sox.

And the Game of the Day!

  • The Nationals over the Brewers: Since the Brewers have thrown in the towel and jettisoned Zack Greinke, his place has been taken by a guy named Mark Rogers whose minor league numbers are far from impressive. Gio Gonzalez should win this one.

Yesterday: 9-6
Last week: 51-45
Month: 190-149
Season: 822-665
Games of the Day: 62-47

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