Quick Hits

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae if she is checking in.

The NHL may be in for a fight - Portuguese wonder-kid John Tavares' representatives may challenge the NHL's draft eligibility rules in order to have him included in the 2008 Amateur Draft. This one should be interesting - Tavares misses out on the draft by five days. A Portuguese kid being drafted number one overall - who'da thunk it?

NHL Free Agents list here - not sure how much interest many of these guys will generate. Kevin Lowe has his checkbook ready.

Want to know how bad things are for the Blue Jays? The media keeps referring to how many games the Jays are "out of second place" - yup, they aren't even talking Wild Card now...its all about another second place finish in the tough AL East - is that J.P. Ricciardi's definition of progress? Josh being Josh - another Towers-like performance, 5.2 IP, 9 H, 6R, 1BB, 2Ks. Wonder if the Chickenhawk still thinks Towers is a legit starter.

MONDAY'S THREE STARS
Boston Red Sox P Kason Gabbard, starting again in place of the injured Curt Schilling, throws a complete game three hit shutout against the Royals at Fenway; he also gave up a walk and struck out eight. Maybe he'll start his own blog now.

Cincinnati Reds RF Ken Griffey Jr had two hits and drove in four runs in, three of which came on his 587th career home run, to lead the Reds to a 10-3 pounding of the Braves. Griffey moved into sixth place on the all-time list and sits only 15 behind "Skinny" Sammy Sosa for fifth place on the all-time list. Honourable mention goes to Reds starter Bobby Livingstone who was called up from Triple A Louisville for the game - he went 4 for 4 at the plate.

Red Sox West P Brad Penny pitched seven solid innings in limiting the Phillies to one run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight in the Dodgers 10-3 win. Who said anything about a blister problem?


TUESDAY THREE PLAY
We started out the week off on a good note - the first time in a long time - going 2-0 and + $200 to start chipping away at the total for the year. For those of you keeping track (not that we are) we are 13-3 and + $870 over the last five days - hope you got back on the bandwagon. Tonight's suggestions - we're going to the Left Coast:

Oakland over Texas - Here we go again with the "they have to win eventually" suggestion - but with Chad Gaudin going up against Robinson Tejada, you have to think that Oakland puts an end to their eight game losing streak tonight. Gaudin has been very good at home this year, and couple that with Texas' road record and you have a recipe for an A's win. Lay $100 on Oakland - $150.

Seattle over Baltimore - Felix Hernandez is back to pitching the way he should be and that spells trouble for the road wimps from Baltimore who send Jeremy Guthrie to the mound - it will likely be close, but we like Hernandez to shut the O's down making Guthrie a tough luck loser. Lay $100 on the Mariners - $160.

Los Angeles over Philadelphia - don't be scared off thinking that the Phillies will rebound after getting pounded last night - won't happen. This game figures to have its share of runs with Mark Hendrickson facing J.D. Durbin - but we like the Dodgers tonight. Lay $100 on L.A. - $135 and lay $50 on the game going over 8.5 - $130.

New York over San Diego - always risky to go against Peavy - but we think El Duque has enough to shut the Padres down. Reyes and co. manufacture a couple of runs to get it done tonight. Lay $100 on the Mets + $140.

That's it for today gang - thanks for taking the time to check in. Have a great one peeps.

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

We're Out.