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06/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox won't be operating at full strength for their impending showdown with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The defending world champions returned from a roller-coaster 10-game road trip on Tuesday with two of their most important players on the disabled list. After standout starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was recently shelved due to a slight strain in his throwing shoulder, the Red Sox learned on Monday that they won't have David Ortiz's powerful bat in the lineup for quite some time.
An MRI taken on Ortiz's sore left wrist on Monday revealed a partially torn tendon sheath, an injury that is expected to sideline the designated hitter from anywhere between two weeks to one month. Ortiz hurt himself when fouling off a pitch in his final plate appearance during Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, and left the contest before the at-bat could be completed.
The good news regarding Ortiz's injury is that the tendon itself is not damaged and the feared slugger is unlikely to have to undergo surgery. Still, having one of the game's premier run producers out until possibly the All-Star break is certainly concerning for Boston, which is currently locked in a heated battle with the upstart Rays for first place in the American League East.
Matsuzaka's trip to the DL is considered more of a precautionary measure, as an MRI performed on Friday did now show any structural damage to the Japanese sensation's rotator cuff. The club is optimistic he will only have to miss a couple of starts.
The second-year major leaguer left a May 27 outing at Seattle after just four innings when he complained about fatigue and discomfort in his shoulder.
Matsuzaka, who compiled a sparkling 8-0 record and a 2.53 earned run average through his first 11 starts, was initially slated to start Tuesday's series opener with Tampa Bay, which heads to Fenway Park with a 1 1/2-game edge on the second-place Red Sox in the East standings. His place will be taken by Justin Masterson, the well-regarded rookie who has impressed in two spot starts for Boston earlier this season.
Masterson made his major league debut on April 24 and held the AL West-leading Angels to just one run and two hits over six innings, although he wound up with a no decision. The 23-year-old was sent right back to the minors following that eye-opening audition, but was brought up to start a May 20 encounter with Kansas City and yielded one run over 6 1/3 outstanding innings to earn his first win in the bigs.
The Red Sox may turn to the farm system in their attempt to fill Ortiz's sizeable void from the lineup as well. Boston called up prospect Chris Carter from Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday, with the young left-handed hitter expected to receive some time at the DH spot.
Carter, the player the Red Sox acquired in the trade that sent outfielder Wily Mo Pena to Washington last August, is hitting .310 with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 57 games with the PawSox. The 25-year-old spent most of last season with Triple-A Tucson in the Arizona organization and finished fifth in the Pacific Coast League with 97 RBI.
MANNY BEING MANNY
After becoming a member of the still-exclusive 500 home run club in Saturday's win over the Orioles, left fielder Manny Ramirez didn't rest on the laurels of that notable accomplishment. The perennial All-Star belted another homer as part of a 3-for-5, three-RBI effort in Sunday's 9-4 downing of Baltimore, then delivered career homer No. 502 in Monday's series finale with the O's.
Ramirez has now hit safely in eight straight games and is batting .382 (13- for-34) with four homers, 11 RBI and seven runs scored during the tear.
The eccentric outfielder became the 24th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs when he launched the first pitch he saw from Orioles reliever Chad Bradford into the right-center field bleachers during the eighth inning of Saturday's tilt.
Ramirez had gone 11 games and over 40 at-bats without a long ball before connecting for his 499th career homer during a May 27 loss at Seattle.
"I've been trying so hard the past three weeks just to get it done," Ramirez said after Saturday's game. "It finally came and I'm happy. I'm proud of myself and all the things that I accomplished. I've worked hard for this."
MASTER THIEF
Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury set a modern-day Red Sox record for stolen bases in consecutive games during the Baltimore series, with the rookie swiping three bags in both Friday and Saturday's wins.
Ellsbury's fleet feet made a quite an impact in Saturday's contest. With the tied at 3-3, the talented youngster led off the top of the seventh inning with a triple and wound up scoring the eventual game-winning run on Ortiz's sacrifice fly. Ellsbury raced home and just beat Baltimore left fielder Jay Payton's throw to the plate on the sharp line drive.
The 24-year-old leadoff hitter now has a major league-best 27 steals in 30 attempts this season, while Ellsbury's team-high 41 runs scored rank fourth in the AL.
"He's been a difference maker," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I like to sit here and tell you that we're managing him, telling him what to do. He's just a good player and his instincts on the bases are tremendous. He's making good decisions and he's changing the game when he gets on base."
WHO'S HOT
Starting pitcher Bartolo Colon has provided a nice lift since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket a few weeks back. The veteran right-hander has won all three of his starts and posted a solid 3.50 ERA since the promotion, while yielding just one home run over 18 total innings.
WHO'S NOT
Outfielder Coco Crisp snapped out of an 0-for-23 skid with a fourth-inning single in Monday's 6-3 loss to Baltimore and batted just .209 (14-for-67) during the month of May.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia still leads the American League All-Star voting at his position, but the reigning AL Rookie of the Year batted just .158 (6- for-38) during Boston's just-completed 10-game road trip.
ON DECK
Boston puts its 10-game home win streak on the line in Tuesday's tussle with the Rays, which starts up a stretch of nine consecutive games at Fenway Park for the Red Sox. Boston will also entertain Seattle and Baltimore on the homestand.
Masterson (1-0, 1.46) and Matt Garza (4-1, 3.78) will go head-to-head in Tuesday's opener, with Josh Beckett (5-4, 4.30) getting the assignment for the Sox opposite Edwin Jackson (3-4, 3.70) on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Jon Lester (3-3, 3.67) makes his first start at Fenway since the Red Sox lefty no-hit Kansas City on May 19. James Shields (4-3, 3.24) is scheduled to pitch the finale for Tampa.
<< Tigers bring up Fossum
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers purchased the contract of
lefthander Casey Fossum from Triple-A Toledo and designated righty Francisco
Cruceta for assignment on Tuesday.
Fossum appeared in 11 games, including four starts,
<< Can Pedro save the Mets' season?
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manager Willie Randolph has one more ace up his sleeve if
he is to save his job as the New York Mets' skipper: Pedro Martinez.
Martinez is set to return from the disabled list on Tuesday and face the San
Francisco Giants.
<< NHL, TSN agree on six-year extension
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NHL and TSN have agreed to a six-year
broadcast and digital rights contract, the NHL announced on Tuesday.
The agreement commences with the 2008-09 season and runs through 2013-14.
Under the deal,
<< Tortorella out in Tampa
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have fired head coach
John Tortorella.
Tortorella, who had one year remaining on his contract, led the Lightning to a
Stanley Cup championship after the 2003-04 season, but the club wa
Owens agrees to three-year deal with Cowboys >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver Terrell
Owens have agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension on
Tuesday.
The extension will keep the 34-year-old Owens in Dallas through the
Yankees add Giese >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees have called up long reliever
Dan Giese from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Tuesday's game against
the Toronto Blue Jays. In a corresponding roster move, the Yankees optioned
relieve
EURO 2008 Preview: Italy faces lofty expectations >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are plenty of reasons for Italy to
be optimistic ahead of Euro 2008.
The Azzurri enters the competition as defending World Cup champions, they are
ranked third in the latest FIFA rankings, which i
Ortiz heads to DL with wrist injury >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox placed slugger David Ortiz
on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, retroactive to June 1 with a wrist
injury.
Ortiz was officially diagnosed with a partial tear of the ECU tendon sheath
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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