Game Picks - Thursday: August 6, 2009

The game picker can't seem to get past mediocrity this week. There are no disaster, but there are no parties either. Just mediocrity. Take for example, picking some kid named Lehr to lose his debut. So what happens? The guy throws a complete game gem. How many rookies throwing their debut get a complete game in this day and age? Against the Cubs no less. Also thought the patient Red Sox would wear down David Price. Oops. That didn't happen as Price was great. Also picked against the Yankees and got burned.

Today is another day and the goal is excellence. The Yankees have a big series with the Red Sox. It's a bit anticlimactic as they have a 3 1/2 game lead in the division. But it would be something if the Yankees can't beat the Red Sox this year. They are 0 for the season so far. It's a short schedule since it's a Thursday, but not as short as usual. Here goes:

• The Twins over the Indians: Come on! The Fan keeps picking the Twins and keeps getting burned. But each day, the Fan sees a matchup like Carmona versus Blackburn and thinks they can't lose this game, right? But they will because the Fan can't win with the Twins.
• The Marlins over the Nationals: Volstad has been great lately. The Marlins lost to the Nationals last night and did so in uninspired fashion. They have so many nice pieces, but need a killer instinct.
• The Phillies over the Rockies: Picked against the Phillies yesterday and it was stupid. Won't be stupid two days in a row, especially with Lee pitching.
• The Orioles over the Tigers: Just can't get over how ordinary the Tigers look these days.
• The White Sox over the Angels: Don't know how the White Sox do it. But they keep on doing it.
• The Rangers over the A's: Hunter versus Cahill in a battle of rookies. The Rangers have really blown this series so far.
• The Diamondbacks over the Pirates: Scherzer over Hart.
• The Yankees over the Red Sox: The law of averages say the Yankees have to win one of these games and against Smoltz seems to be their best bet. Chamberlain goes for the Yanks.
• The Mariners over the Royals: The Royals will take it on the Chen.
• The Mets over the Padres: Praying to the Livan gods that this is one of his good games and not one of his clunkers.
• The Dodgers over the Braves: Who made this schedule for the Braves? They have been all over the country lately and back and forth at that.

Yesterday: 7-7 (forgot to pick a game, which was fortunate as it would have been a loss)
Week: 27-26 (can you say mediocre?)
Month: 36-32 (yes we can)