Blast Off 2011

Welcome to my blog, Your Sports Assassin. My goal is to keep you informed on all the current sports news and the fantasy insight that goes along with it. It's 2011 and it is time to dominate your friends, bookies and leagues. I will cover fantasy football, baseball and basketball to give you the upper hand.

We will discuss the latest sports gambling lines with a brief analysis providing you with the inside edge.

Knowledge is Power!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Rise and Shine for the Yankees

Get on the Yankees Today....asap. The game is at 10:00 AM.

Yankees (-220/-115 -1.5 Runs) at home w/ Sabathia (9-4, 3.39 ERA) VS Colorado Rockies and A.Cook (0-2, 4.67 ERA). Yanks are 20-4 in Day Games. Cook is putrid. Expect the Bronx Bombers to crush.

Take anything Yankees today. Should be a Beatdown NYY Style.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Run Line Friday

Gotta love Friday. I'm already in weekend mode and can't wait for our annual Pub Crawl here in Newport Beach tomorrow starting at noon. It starts out as a biking event then converts to stumbling around the Newport Pier area. Happy Birthday Ballard!

My favorite run line for the day is:

Washington at Chi Sox (4 Runs): I will take Zimmerman to hold down the Sox under 4 Runs all day. Zimmerman has been outright dominant this season, the last start that he allowed over three earned runs was in April. The Sox offense has been a big disappointment this season. They have scored over 4 runs just twice in their last eight games. Go with the UNDER 4 Runs for the Sox!

2) Cubs OVER 4 Runs at KC Chen--Chicken Dinner
3) Dodgers OVER 3 Runs vs LAA Haren--2 Runs in the First ends in a tie
4) Indians OVER 3 Runs at SF Sanchez--2 Runs in the First  ends in a tie
5) Mariners UNDER 4 Runs at/vs Florida Nolasco --- 2-Run HR in 9th after 3 Runs on 3 Hits thru 8 Innings. (Updated 9:42 WCT)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

MLB Quick Pick Thursday

MLB Action

Arizona D-Backs (-115) at KC Royals

The first place Snakes are in KC to battle the last place Royals. The Royals have lost four in a row and six of their last seven games. The Snakes have won four of their last six games, including the last two in KC. Interesting fact, is that the Royals have been the worst in interleague play at 2-6 while Arizona has been the best in the NL at 6-2. Arizona throws young ace Daniel Hudson (8-5, 3.56 ERA) against the Royals' Felipe Pauilino (0-4, 4.10 ERA). Hudson has won five straight decisions while Paulino continues to struggle since coming out of the bullpen to start for the Royals due to all their injuries. Go with Arizona!!!

**Nothing like watching the Mets last night winning on a hit by pitch 3-2. Thank you K-Rod for the blowing the save and making me sweat it out for an extra hour. I had the Mets Under 3.5 Runs against Gio Gonzalez. Could have been a much easier night, but then again all my games are heart attacks. The 8th innings are by Far My Worst this season. Hopefully tonight's game will be easier to digest.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

MLB Tuesday

We are back after a solid weekend.

The Good: Horseshoes and Wiffle ball at the beach all day on Saturday.
The Bad: Waiting in line at Landmark on Saturday night for 45 minutes
The Ugly: Sunday morning, or should I say Sunday afternoon when I woke up in a haze, just in time to see the Mariners defeat Cole Hamels and the Phillies 2-0.

MLB Tuesday is Colorado Rockies (-135) at Cleveland Indians

The Rockies have won five of their last six games, only losing to Verlander and the Tigers during that stretch. They will be sending their best pitcher so far this season to the mound in Jhoulys Chacin (8-4, 2.81 ERA) to face the first place Indians. The Indians have been struggling in June and have gone 6-12 in their last eighteen games, with half of those victories coming at home against the putrid Pirates. To make matters worse for Cleveland, tonight's starting pitcher Mitch Talbot has gotten pounded for 19 earned runs in 25 innings since returning from the DL less than a month ago. The Rockies are also one of the few NL teams with a legit DH in Jason Giambi, who hit the winning 3-run homerun last night in the Rockies' 7-6 victory versus the Tribe. Let's go with the Rockies!!

**Oh yeah, I hate the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies this season. Two teams that I really cannot figure out. A special thank you to the Yankees for taking down the Cubs this weekend. The Cubs are a ridiculously bad team and play horrible baseball just about every night.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday Fool!

It's Friday and you ain't got sh*t to do. Go get a cold one asap and watch some tail or some baseball.

I'm gonna do something different today--pick one part to each game tonight. It will be quick so pay attention like you were in 8th grade at Mrs. Rains' class:

Houston Astros to Score OVER 3 Runs at LA Dodgers and Lilly.
Washington to WIN (-120) at home vs Baltimore
Pirates at Cleveland OVER 8, Correja vs Tomlin
NY Mets (-120) at home to WIN vs Angels and Piniero
Value Pick of the Day - Florida (+145) to WIN at TBay and Davis
Blue Jays to score OVER 4 Runs at Cincy Reds and Leake
Brewers to score OVER 4 at Boston and Lackey
Texas Rangers (-110) to WIN at Atlanta and Delgado
Twins (-130) to WIN at home vs SD Padres and Richard
KC Royals to Score OVER 3 at ST Louis and Carpenter
Detroit (-100) to WIN at Colorado and Hammel
Arizona (-140) to WIN at home vs ChiSox and EJackson
SF Giants -1.5 Runs to WIN (+110) at Oakland and Godfrey
Mariners to Score OVER 3 at home vs Philly and Oswalt

Alright, that was easy. Have a good weekend. Get some sun and hit up the beach or pool.

DK Out

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Hump Day Rant

Rant #1

Oh man, where do I start?

I played golf yesterday at the Newport Beach Golf course. It's a crappy little course but I like it. I don't lose too many balls and I can walk it. I must have used 9 different balls, including three I found while playing mostly in the Rough. But I have a point, I honestly almost got hit three different times. Probably three shots landed within ten yards of me. Not once did anyone ever say 'Four' or even 'Watch out'. All three times I pointed to the ball and told them that their ball was right next to me. I didn't even get one 'Thank you' or 'Sorry'. I was truly amazed!

I was almost as amazed as I watched the Brewers/Cubs game last night. The Brewers scored three runs and left 8 runners on base in the first four innings to go up 3-0. The Cubs committed three errors and issued five walks in the first six innings. Brewers ace pitcher, Yovani Gallardo, threw seven innings striking out a season high 10 batters while allowing just three hits including a solo-homerun in the seventh inning. For some reason, rookie manager Ron Roenicke pulled Gallardo and put in journeyman reliever Marco Estrada (1-3, 4.65 ERA). Estrada, who started the season as the Brewers emergency fifth starter and had been pounded in his last three relief appearances, promptly allowed three extra-base hits (two doubles off the wall and the tying HR). The last of those lasers was a Aramis Ramirez bomb to tie the game at 4-4. Exit Estrada and the lead. The Brewers would put runners in scoring position in the next two innings with only one out, but would fail to score again. After rookie defensive replacement Tony Campana hit a bloop double to lead off the tenth inning, the Cubs bunted him to third with one out. Genius manager Roenicke decides to pitch to the Cubs top hitter, Starlin Castro--who hits a shot deep into the right center gap to score Campana. Why not walk Castro? If you are scared of Ramirez hitting behind him--then walk him too. Pena follows Ramirez and is hitting .216 and strikes out a ton (including twice already). Better yet--why are you throwing scrub Tim Dillard and not closer John Axford, who has 40 strikeouts in 30 innings this year.

They could have played this game ten more times and the Brewers never would have lost one of them. Roenicke is an idiot--I was aware of that. The Brewers are a putrid 14-21 on the road this season. But allowing Estrada to blow the game was insane. I guess he was saving Latroy Hawkins (0.55 ERA) for later. Thank you Roenicke!

NBA Finals Recap

The Mavs won because Dirk Nowitzki was the best player in the series...by far!

LeChoke James looked scared. Dwayne Wade had his moments but never shot consistently. Chris Bosh will always be their third option. Mike Miller and Joel Anthony completely disappeared. Mike Bibby is worthless. Eddie House should have gotten more PT...but didn't. Spoletra got outcoached. The Heat got outplayed.

Jason Terry was the KEY (as we predicted). He played sensational. He carried the Mavs when Dirk couldn't hit his shots.Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea were huge in this series. I was disappointed by Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion, but they still were alright.

Our Results:

2 Miami Heat Wins---both UNDER the Total in games 1 & 3 = Our Winners
3 Mavs Wins with the OVER = Our Philosophy came through
The Game 4 Mav Win/Under combo was the only game that our Parlay Philosophy (Mavs&Over or Heat&Under) was wrong on, but I still liked the Mavs in Game 4 at home being down 2-1 in the series.
We really thought that the Heat would win Game 6, but Charles Barkley was right again--Miami didn't deserve it. The Heat weren't ready to win it all. We all weren't ready for those cocky bastards to win it.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

MLB Quick Pick

 MLB Pick of the Day


Milwaukee Brewers (-140) at Chicago Cubs

The first place Brewers (38-29) are in Chicago to tangle with the struggling Cubs (26-39).The Brewers have been hot winning seven of their last ten games while the Cubs have been 3-7 and have had a hard time winning when Ryan Dempster hasn't been on the mound. The Brew Crew will send ace Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 3.96 ERA) to the mound against Cubs starter Randy Wells (1-1, 6.50 ERA). Gallardo has owned the Cubs in his last four starts going 2-0 with an ERA under 2. Wells has really had a hard time since returning from the DL, he has allowed 12 earned runs in his last three starts while only lasting a combined 12 innings in those three starts. Ouch! Go with the Brewers to Win!! G*d Damn Shit---another BS Loss up 4-1 in the 8th. G*d Damn it. (Update 8:28 PCT)

**I will analyze the NBA Finals later today or tomorrow

Friday, June 10, 2011

NBA Finals Review and MLB Pick

NBA Finals

The Mavs have gone up 3-2 in the Finals by taking two of three games at home. The Heat have suddenly lost their offensive identity and Lebron looks lost. The Mavs finally got it going in game 5, as Terry and Barea keyed the victory. Yes, Dirk scored 29 points but it's the Dallas role players that made the difference. Miami has gotten little out of their role players in the last four games. One thing that Miami has going for them is that they head back home to finish the series and that their bench has played much better at home over the course of the season. Miami is due for a great game and Game 6 should be that game. I see Wade getting more involved in the offense and the defense altering their approach to Nowitzki. The Heat are a better team when Wade not Lebron, handles the ball. This allows Lebron to rest a little more on offense and focus on scoring without having to worry about the rest of the team. We can only hope that coach Spolestra has the team's confidence and control to make these changes. I still think that the Heat can win in 7, but am now cheering for the Mavericks. The Mavs play with more intensity and desire to win. They are much easier to root for and I would love to see Dirk get a Title. He is the best player in the NBA right now and he deserves the title.

Maybe Charles Barkley was right---the Heat and the city of Miami don't deserve a NBA Championship yet.



MLB Pick for Friday

Cincy Reds at SF Giants (-120)

The third place Reds are visiting the reigning MLB champs. The Giants are 17-11 at home and will be sending righty  Ryan Vogelsong (4-1, 1.68 ERA) to the mound to face the Reds and the left-handed starter Travis Wood. Wood has really struggled this season going 4-4 with a 5.72 ERA. Wood has given up five homeruns in his last four starts while not getting past the sixth inning in any of them. The Giants are 12-5 versus lefties and 17-9 in one run games. Vogelsong has not given up more than One run in any of his last five starts and has only given up one earned run all season all season at home. Go with the Giants!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

MLB Tuesday Plus NBA Action

MLB Play of the Day


Colorado Rockies (-145) at SD Padres - SD Run Line at 3

The Rockies are coming off a 3-0 victory last night in San Diego, and will be sending ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound tonight. Jimenez has struggled this season but not on the road where he is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Teams have hit .093 against him in those games and struck out 25 times in 28 innings. The Padres lead the majors in being shut out at home--10 times! The Padres are also only 12-22 at home this season, and have lost eight of the last ten games versus the Rockies. Go with the Rockies to Win!!! And the Padres Under 3!!


NBA Action


Miami Heat at Dallas Mavs (-2.5) - Over/Under 187

The Mavs need this game badly and should win it. If they are gonna Win, then look for the OVER because the Mavs need to score 97 to win tonight. Let's go Mavs, because we need more basketball games.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Saturday MLB

MLB


Toronto Blue Jays (-120) at Baltimore Orioles

The Jays send lefty Ricky Romero (5-4, 2.88 ERA) against the O's righty Jake Arrieta (6-3, 4.97 ERA). The Orioles have lost six of their last seven games and are buried in last place in the AL East. The Jays have won five of their last seven games and welcome back star DH Adam Lind to the lineup tonight. The real story is Romero who is 3-0 in his last four starts and was the ace pitcher last year for the Jays. He has owned the Orioles over the last few years as have the Jays. Making matters worse for the Orioles is their ineptitude against lefties this season, an MLB worst 6-12. Arrieta is coming off his worst start of the season and has given up 12 earned runs in his last three starts (12 innings). Let's go with the Jays to Win!!

Friday, June 3, 2011

TGIF Fool!

-***Sorry I missed yesterday's column on the basketball game, but it was my only Niece Kayla's 3rd Birthday. She is so sweet and cute that I just couldn't miss it. I however was NOT surprised that Dallas won and the game went OVER. When Dallas wins the game it will usually go Over, and Miami usually wins lower scoring games and they go Under. This Series is gonna be tough, we said Heat in 7 games with no real significant home court advantage (shown in Game 2). Dallas opens at -2.5 and 188 O/U for Game 3. More about that tomorrow. Let's look at today's action....


MLB Run Line Game of the Day

NY Yankees at LA Angels - Yankee Run Line at 3


The Yankees have won four straight games and seem to be heating up right as summer is arriving. The Yanks lead major league baseball in Runs scored and Home Runs. Their lineup has been on fire in the last eleven games, scoring at least 3 runs in every game an averaging almost 6 runs a game. The Yankee lineup is full of lefties with power, something that even Jered Weaver struggles against. Weaver started the season on fire but has cooled down substantially since the end of April. Let's roll with the Yankees OVER 3!!

**They score 3 runs and you get your money refunded on the tie.

Other MLB Action that I like but don't love, include all home favorites with better starters at -125 or -130:
Florida w/Nolasco vs Brewers w/Wolf
Baltimore w/Britton vs Toronto w/ Villanueva
SF Giants w/Cain vs Colorado w/Nicasio
SD Pads w/Moseley vs Houston w/Happ
**Updated 6:51 PST

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MLB Run Line Pick for Wednesday

Milwaukee Brewers at Cincy Reds - Run Line at 4 for Reds

The Brew Crew will send out Shaun Marcum (6-2, 2.80 ERA) to face the Reds tonight. Marcum has a major league best Road ERA of 0.53 and has only allowed two earned runs in five starts. Equally impressive are Marcum's control numbers, his five walks in those 34 innings limit his pitch count and allow him to throw deep into games.. The Reds have been struggling recently only winning three of their last ten games and have dropped to 28-28 on the season. Take the UNDER 4 Runs for the Reds.

*If they score 4 runs then you push the bet and get a refund.