MLB betting: the favourites to win the National League
The National League is one of the two (along with the American
one) which make up the MLB, and with the new season very close to
starting, speculation about which teams are in with a realistic shot at
the pennant has been underway in earnest for weeks now. Those interested
in betting on the issue will have been placing future bets on the
winners for almost as long, but as there will be some who have not bet
yet, it is useful to know who the favourites are. There is no question
that the Washington Nationals are listed as pre-season favourites, with
odds of 7/2, but they certainly aren’t the only team in the running.
Many people consider the LA Dodgers to be just as realistic a shot for
the National League pennant this season, and you can get 7/2 on them at
some sports betting sites. They have spent massively to build a side
which can win, not just the West Division, or the National League, but
the World Series – and the strength of their LA rivals the Angels in the
AL will surely provide further motivation. Despite not having made any
real changes to their line-up the Cincinnati Reds are also expected to
be serious contenders for the National League this year – having won the
Central Division by nine points last year.
Of course there is usually at least one unexpected team that defies form
predictions during the season, which is why it is sometimes wiser to
wait and see how teams play before actually placing your bet. In the
meantime, a game like the Hot Shot baseball slots game at an online
casino like http://www.mobileslots.net could be a pretty good substitute,
as it offers a fine mix of baseball and betting. The graphics of pitchers,
hitters, catchers mitts and baseball field, and the audio of bat hitting ball
and cheering crowds, capture all the sights and sounds of an MLB match -
while the cheap play, $2000 top cash jackpot, nine pay lines, and presence
of a wild symbol (the burning baseball) to your chances of winning a
payout – make sure that Hot Shot delivers for both sports and gambling fans.
Down On The Farm: with Stockton Ports Pitcher Seth Frankoff
The 2013 season has started and, to be honest, it seems to be flying by already. It’s hard to believe it’s already been almost three weeks since my last blog entry on opening day.
The 2013 campaign for the Stockton Ports has started quite well. Through the first 18 games, we have a record of 12-6. Our season began with a seven-game home stand. We swept the first four games against Bakersfield, then took one of three from San Jose. We then began our first road trip of the year, playing the same two teams on the road. We went to Bakersfield and took three of four from them on their home turf, then took one of three again from the Giants in San Jose. And in our last four games at home, we played well, taking three of four from Modesto at Banner Island Ballpark.
For someone who has never been to California before, I was looking forward to getting on the road and seeing other places around the state. I had heard differing opinions on Bakersfield but, all in all, I thought it wasn’t a bad place to play. The stadium is an old historic ballpark, which didn’t have a big press box or full stadium seating like we are fortunate to have at home in Stockton. Dusty Robinson, who is from Bakersfield, had all his family and friends at our games to support him and the Ports. Being born and raised in the Southeast, the closest I have ever been to playing at home in professional baseball has been seven hours away. So I can only imagine the thrill it must have been for him to play in his hometown at a place he grew up going to games at. I think the team played some great baseball on the road at Bakersfield. We lost just one game but we were in a position to win that one, so we have to feel good about the way we played during the series.
After our four-game series at Bakersfield, we actually traveled back to Stockton for our series in San Jose. San Jose is about eighty miles from Stockton and, in minor league baseball, any road game which is under a hundred miles away from your hometown is considered a “commuter.” Commuter trips mean that you travel back and forth from your home city each day to the opposing stadium to play games. While it is nice to sleep in your own bed each night, it also is a grind physically and mentally since you have to travel to and from the opposing city back to your hometown each and every night.
Having never been to the Bay Area before, I didn’t know what to expect in regard to the weather. I became aware as soon as we arrived that we would need extra layers for each night game. The outside temperature really wasn’t that unbearable; however, the constant wind each and every night made it seem a lot chillier than it really was. San Jose has a good club, with some solid bats in their lineup and power arms on their pitching staff. There is a certain amount of rivalry that takes place for us, even in the minor leagues, being members of the two Bay Area teams. We definitely don’t want to lose any games to anyone, but especially not to the Giants, the other team in the Bay Area.
After our series against San Jose, we returned home for a four-game series against Modesto. We lost game one, but were able to take the next three from the Nuts. We played some pretty solid baseball in all facets of the game and feel good about building some momentum going into our first off day. We saw a dominating pitching performance by Drew Granier, who struck out 10 batters in his outing against Modesto. Max Muncy continued to swing a powerful bat, slugging a few more home runs and taking his season total to 8 through 18 games. Antonio Lamas almost always seems to hit the ball on the barrel and has really been a huge part of our success. It really is a lot of fun to come to the yard each and every day and see guys perform at such a high level.
As for myself, I continue to work towards becoming more consistent every time I am fortunate enough to get the chance to pitch. One thing that is preached to us is executing each and every pitch, and that is something I strive to do every time I toe the rubber. The biggest thing is not getting ahead of yourself and just controlling what you can control. Preparation is crucial, and we are fortunate to have a pitching coach in Jimmy Escalante who always ensures that we have all the information we need in terms of scouting reports, etc. to put us in a good situation to be successful every time we go out there. Something that we are working towards as a pitching staff is not only pitching to our strengths but also being able to exploit the hitters’ weaknesses. A slogan that we have is that we want to become “big league pitchers, not minor league throwers.” To do so we have to develop big league habits and pitch off our fastball and get ahead in the count.
On a separate note, I would like to acknowledge and remember the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Too often we get caught up in everything going on in our lives and forget just how precious and fragile life is. We are fortunate to live in a great, strong country which has shown time and time again the ability to persevere through adversity and come back from tragedies like this even stronger. Watching the ceremony before the Red Sox game was quite moving for me. Seeing the emotion the players, fans, law enforcement and government officials displayed during the ceremony was a moment I won’t soon forget. It’s amazing how the game of baseball has a way of bringing people together from all walks of life.
As the season continues, I hope that we continue to improve each and every day we come to the park. After our off day, we go back on the road again for three games at Visalia and then three games at High Desert. I am excited to see more of California, but even more so to continue the season and take the ball every time I get the opportunity. This team is a great group of guys and we enjoy coming to the park each and every day. There is something to be said for team chemistry, and we certainly have a good time playing the game we love. As always, I am still thankful to have the opportunity to chase my dream!
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Seth Frankoff was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He was drafted by the A’s in the 27th round of the 2010 draft. We look forward to having Seth keep us posted throughout the season on how life is going down on the farm for him, his wife, his dog, and the Stockton Ports! You can follow him on Twitter @frankoff34
Minor League Game Thread: 4/4/13 (Opening Day)
We’re experimenting with having a live Minor League Game Thread here on opening day. So please feel free to post comments below as today’s minor league openers for all four of the A’s full-season affiliates unfold.
The Double-A Midland RockHounds are scheduled to kick off today’s action at 4:00pm Pacific/6:00pm Central, followed by the Class-A Beloit Snappers at 4:35pm Pacific/6:35pm Central, and then the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats and Class-A Stockton Ports at 7:05pm Pacific.
You can listen to broadcasts of all the games free of charge online via MiLB Gameday Audio at http://www.milb.com/milb/multimedia/audio.jsp. Broadcasts are also available on your iPad or iPhone via the MiLB.com app.
So be sure to check out all the minor league action and share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Thursday’s Opening Games – April 4th, 2013:
Las Vegas @ Sacramento – 7:05pm PT
(Wheeler vs. Werner)
Midland @ NW Arkansas – 4:00pm PT / 6:00pm CT
(Smith vs. Arguelles)
Bakersfield @ Stockton – 7:05pm PT
(TBD vs. Granier)
Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – 4:35pm PT / 6:35pm CT
(Alcantara vs. Rogers)
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm to keep up with all the news down on the farm!
Down On The Farm: with Stockton Ports Pitcher Seth Frankoff
Hey y’all, this is Seth Frankoff, right-handed pitcher for the Stockton Ports. When I was approached about writing this blog, I felt that it would be a good way for me to communicate to everyone what goes on day in and day out in the life of a minor leaguer in the Oakland Athletics organization. This is my first time writing a blog though, so bear with me!
Spring Training started early this year due to the fact that the World Baseball Classic was taking place. I reported a week before the mandatory reporting date of March 4th for minor league pitchers and catchers. Different guys like to report at different times; however, I felt that getting in before the majority of the other pitchers would help put me ahead of schedule and allow me ample time to prepare for the season. My wife, Bess, who is very supportive of my career, traveled with me last season and will do the same this year, along with our new addition to the family – Addie, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Everyone has their own opinion of spring training, but I really enjoy it. We get to spend a month in Phoenix during the most beautiful time of the year in Arizona. There are long days with lots of attention paid to each and every facet of the game. Between throwing, conditioning, PFPs (pitchers fielding practice), bunt defenses, BP shagging, and then games, there is quite a bit of time spent on your feet all day. But all the time and effort spent in spring training is meant to prepare us for the grind that is the minor league season.
Team assignments vary quite a bit during spring training and really don’t make much of a difference until the last couple of days. This is when the final rosters are posted and you have a pretty good idea of where you are going to get placed. This time is exciting and tough on a player because you are sometimes unsure of where you will get placed. When I got the news that I was going to Stockton, I was very excited. After beginning the past two seasons in the Midwest League, I am glad to experience California and all it has to offer. For a kid who was born and raised in the state of North Carolina, California always seemed like it was on the other side of the globe to me. So when spring training finally came to a close, we packed the car up and hit the road in a caravan with a couple of my teammates. I would like to say the drive up to Stockton from Phoenix was great; however, I very quickly became aware of the craziness of California traffic. It even started thunder-storming and hailing on the last leg of our trip, which I was informed hardly ever happens out here.
Nonetheless, we arrived safe and sound in Stockton and checked into our hotel. I got up early the next morning to get my things situated in the locker room at Banner Island Ballpark before we left for our exhibition game against our Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. My first impressions of Banner Island Ballpark were very positive. It is a beautiful park located right on the delta of the Stockton Deep Water Channel downtown. Our exhibitions with Sacramento were a home and home series taking place the first night in Sacramento and the second in Stockton. These games were great for both teams because they allowed us to get our work in to make sure we are ready to go on opening day. Sacramento beat us both nights, but I would like to say that we held our own against the Sacramento team. They really are a good ballclub and I anticipate they will have a strong season of their own.
As for our team, let me first say this, we are going to score some runs. From top to bottom, we have guys who can hit the ball with authority and power to all parts of the field. Anytime you can have guys like B.A. Vollmuth, Bobby Crocker, Dusty Robinson, Josh Whitaker, Max Muncy, Tony Thompson and Wade Kirkland, you are going to feel like you have a pretty good chance to win. That is not even including our shortstop Addison Russell, who will be hitting in the leadoff spot for us and who always seems to find a way to get on base. Our pitching staff is anchored by a strong starting rotation of Drew Granier, Blake Hassebrock, Sean Murphy, Tanner Peters and Andres Avila. We know that all five of those guys are going to be able to pitch deep into games and give us quality starts. Our bullpen has some great experience with the likes of Jake Brown, Pedro Vidal, Jonathan Joseph and T.J. Walz. And with the group of quality players we have on our roster, I think we will have a great season here in Stockton.
The team so far seems to have pretty good chemistry. If I recall, I have played on the same team at one point in my career with all but three individuals on the roster, and it’s always an added bonus to play with guys you’re familiar with. As for my role on the pitching staff, I believe I will be starting off in middle/long relief. It really makes no difference to me though what my role is. I really just want the ball. As a pitcher, we aren’t fortunate enough to have the ability to play everyday, but I want to have the opportunity to pitch as many times as possible. The biggest thing that I want to work on is consistency. I feel like in my career thus far I have had some pretty good stretches followed by some times where I struggled. I know, from an organizational standpoint, for guys to move, they want to see consistent results day in and day out; therefore, my goal for this season is to be more consistent. I am excited to get the season started. I have put a lot of work in during the offseason and spring training to get to this point. Now is the time to put all that time and effort to use and play the game I love. And as always, I am thankful to still have the opportunity to chase my dream!
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Seth Frankoff was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Since being drafted by the A’s in the 27th round of the 2010 draft, he has seen time in the Arizona League, the Northwest League, the NY-Penn League and the Midwest League, and this season, he’ll be making his debut in the California League. We look forward to having Seth keep us posted throughout the season on how life is going down on the farm for him, his wife, his dog, and the Stockton Ports! You can follow him on Twitter @frankoff34
Moneyball Grabs 6 Oscar Nominations Including Best Picture and Best Actor
It was announced today that Moneyball has received 6 Academy Award nominations, including nods for best picture, best adapted screenplay, best actor for Brad Pitt‘s portrayal of Billy Beane and best supporting actor for Jonah Hill‘s portrayal of Paul DePodesta (aka Peter Brand).
