Morgan gets eight games, Volstad six after Nats/Marlins brawl
Baseball Betting Lines
09/03/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan was suspended for eight games and Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad was given a six-game penalty for their roles in Wednesday's benches-clearing incident.
Morgan's stiff penalty, as well as an undisclosed fine, is also the result of actions in previous games.
On August 28, Morgan unnecessarily ran into St. Louis Cardinals catcher Bryan Anderson in the bottom of the eighth inning while scoring a run. On August 31 in Miami, Morgan directed inappropriate comments toward the fans during the 10th inning, in the wake of a home-plate collision with Marlins catcher Brett Hayes, who suffered a separated left shoulder as the result of the play.
Things then got ugly on September 1. After Morgan was hit with a pitch and took his base in the fourth inning, he proceeded to steal a pair of bases despite a 14-3 Florida lead. On his next trip to the plate in the sixth, Volstad threw a pitch behind Morgan, who slammed down his bat and charged the mound.
Volstad threw his glove down and Morgan appeared to connect with a left hand to the pitcher's neck. Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez then raced in and delivered a hit to Morgan, who immediately tumbled to the ground. Players for both teams scuffled near the mound and then Pat Listach, the third base coach for the Nationals, joined the fray by piling on Volstad.
Morgan was ejected by home plate umpire Marvin Hudson. Upon leaving the field with the front of his jersey unbuttoned, Morgan motioned to the crowd and banged his chest with his fist.
Volstad was also ejected as were Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez and relief pitcher Jose Veras.
The discipline for Morgan is in addition to the seven-game suspension and undisclosed fine he was issued for inappropriate actions in an August 21 game at Philadelphia when he intentionally threw a ball into the seats. Morgan appealed the suspension, issued on August 25, and that discipline is being held in abeyance until the process is complete.
In addition to Morgan and Volstad, Marlins pitcher Alex Sanabia was hit with a five-game suspension for fighting and Sanchez was suspended three games for his role in the incident. Veras was fined.
Nationals pitcher Doug Slaten was suspended three games for throwing a pitch at Sanchez in the bottom of the seventh after warnings had been issued.
The suspensions of all players are scheduled to begin Friday, unless appealed, with the exception of Sanabia, whose suspension is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, pending appeal, in order to avoid overlapping with Volstad's scheduled suspension. If any players choose to appeal, their discipline will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.
Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was suspended two games and fined for his aggressive actions during the fight, while Rodriguez was also hit with a one- game penalty and a fine.
Listach was suspended three games and fined. In order to avoid overlapping with the suspension of Riggleman, Listach's suspension will be scheduled to begin on Sunday.
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is guarded optimism surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the 2010-11 NHL season, much of that due to the astute moves made this offseason by general manager Brian Burke. Through trade
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Gaming: College Pigskin Prognostications >>
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football season is ready to kick off its first barrage of Saturday games, and
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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.
The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.
MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.
A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.
A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.
Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.
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