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Tom Glavine

Dodgers Win 17 of 18 But They’re Not in the Clear!

The wild and wacky NL has suddenly quieted down as the surging L.A. Dodgers have assumed a 3 ½ game lead over the Diamondbacks and Padres. With just over 40 games remaining in the schedule the fickle fans at Chez Ravine are beginning to bleed Dodger Blue once again.

While a lot of the attention is being focused on veterans Maddux, Lowe, Sele and Penny, there is a strong case to be made for pitcher Chad Billingsley. The 22-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA since the All-Star break.

The last NL team to win 17 of 18 games was the 1986 New York Mets who went on to win the World Series. No team in franchise history had won 17 of 18 since the Brooklyn Superbas went 20-1 during one stretch in 1899. Taking this into consideration, I’d lay some hard cash on a ‘futures’ bet at my local sportsbook or anywhere they take baseball betting.

The Dodgers’ streak began July 28 after they lost 13 of their first 14 games following the All-Star break. Their lone loss since they turned it around was on Aug. 9 when they were beaten by Colorado 3-1. Los Angeles starters are 12-1 with a 2.55 ERA in the last 18 games.

While the Atlanta Braves’ run of 14 NL East titles is about to come to an end they are certainly helping the Dodgers’ cause with their delivery of Wilson Betemit in a trade last month. The Dodgers are 14-0 with him in the starting lineup!

While the Padres and Diamondbacks trail the Dodgers by 3 ½, they are only 1 game back of the Reds in the wild card. The Padres (60-59) lost for the sixth time in eight games, a skid that dropped them into second place in the West. San Diego is 12-19 since the All-Star break.

If you are looking for a solid bet tonight I suggest you hit the Phillies to complete a sweep of the Mets. Tom Glavine the two-time CY Young Award winner is 26-16 with a 3.82 ERA in 58 career starts against the Phillies.

Glavine led the majors with 12 wins on June 23, but has notched just one victory since. He is 1-3 with a 5.12 ERA in his last nine starts and his only win in that span came against the Phillies on Aug. 5 when he allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings of the Mets’ 4-3 victory.

The Phillies improved to 18-13 since the All-Star break with Tuesday’s win and trail Cincinnati by 2 1/2 games in the NL wild-card race. If you’re not into online gaming, now’s a great time to start.

Bob Acton

Sports Betting

About the Author

Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.

New York Mets Tom Glavine Mike Piazza Matsui POSTER MLB – 13×19 $4.80 New York Mets Tom Glavine Mike Piazza Matsui POSTER MLB – 13×19…

Tom Glavine City Skyline Poster New York Mets – 24×36 $1.65 Tom Glavine City Skyline Poster New York Mets – 24×36…

New York Mets Greats Multi Signed Autographed/Hand Signed 16×20 Photo (49 Signatures) Tom Glavine & $224.95 This is a 16×20 photo that has been hand signed by 49 New York Mets Greats. Signatures include Tom Glavine & David Cone. The autograph has been certified authentic by PSA/DNA and comes with their sticker and matching full page certificate. We have a few of these in stock. Autograph size & location may vary, but will be of equal quality….

New York Mets Freshman Fitted Cap $22.00 Be a part of the team with this Franchise fitted hat from Twins Enterprise! Small fits 6 3/4 – 7. Medium fits 7 – 7 1/4. Large fits 7 1/4 – 7 1/2. XL fits 7 1/2 – 7 5/8….

New York Mets Camoflauge Franchise Fitted Cap Fitted garment washed cap with relaxed fit, unstructured crown, raised embroidered primary logo on the front and secondary team logo on the back…

got Martinez? Youth T-Shirt Wear this got Martinez? T-Shirt with pride. 5.6 oz. 50% cotton/50% polyester. Double-needle collar, sleeves and waist. Seamless collar with taped neck and shoulders. Quarter-turned. 100% Cotton available upon request….

1988 Topps Tom Glavine Rookie Baseball Card #779 – Shipped In Protective Display Case! $0.01 Great looking Topps card of this Baseball Superstar…

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Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember $6.31 Pitchers are the heart of baseball, and John Feinstein tells the story of the game today through one season and two great pitchers working in the crucible of the New York media market. Tom Glavine and Mike Mussina have seen it all in the Major Leagues and both entered 2007 in search of individual milestones and one more shot at The World Series-Glavine with the Mets, Mussina five miles away with t…

Tom Seaver

Why New York City Is A Baseball Town

It’s true that football, basketball and hockey have their fans, but the sports year begins in February and ends in October – preferably the end of October. And even during the other three and a half months, the hot stove league consumes the city’s consciousness, even eclipsing the Jets and Giants playoff runs.

This love for the game of baseball dates all the ways back to the 19th century as baseball was played throughout New York in its earliest forms. The birth of the National League in 1876 eventually brought the city the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants and when the American League set up shop in 1901, the New York Yankees soon set up shop.

Rooting for a baseball team in New York wasn’t about what team was better, it was an absolute birthright. People were born into a fan base and there was no switching side. As the Yankees established themselves, their fans came from the Bronx and also attracted the corporate visitor and tourists.

The Dodgers and Giants were different. Working class, blue collar fans in the first half of the 20th century tended to back one of the two National League teams. Giant fans were generally from Manhattan, while the city’s largest borough had their beloved Dodgers. Much like the class system of the early 19th century, which broke down people by nationality and religion, New Yorkers were identified with the teams they followed.

The best example of that came in 1951, where the Dodgers and Giants finished tied after the 154 game season. A three game playoff was ordered by the National League, which culminated with “The Shot Heard Around the World” by Giants’ Bobby Thompson. Fans fought with each other and until this day old Brooklyn Dodger fans still feel the pain.

After the Giant win, they proceeded to be swept by the Yankees, who had a young and talented Mickey Mantle in the outfield.

The Dodgers had their day in 1955, giving Brooklyn their only championship, but the days of the Boys of Summer ended two years later when the Bums and Giants upped and left for the West Coast.

With only one team in town, the fans of the Dodgers and Giants left behind did not back the Yankees, rather they followed their teams from afar or stopped watching all together. Only when the New York Mets were formed in 1962, did these spurned New Yorkers find a team.

Much like the their predecessors, the Amazins’ quickly established themselves as a people’s team. Although they were inept, fans flocked to the old Polo Grounds – and eventually Shea Stadium – to watch the Mets and root against the Dodgers and Giants when they came into town.

The Yankees, meanwhile, just kept winning. Champions in 1961 and 1962, they lost the Fall Classic the next two years. Then the bottom fell out. They finished close to the bottom or last for the rest of the decade, as the team aged and the mighty farm system went barren.

That gave the Amazing Mets a chance to take the city. And in 1969 they won the World Series against insurmountable odds. Led by young pitchers like Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman, the Miracle Mets won their first the Series 4-1 over the Baltimore Orioles.

They stayed in contention for the next seven years, but never got back to the top.

The Yankees resurged after George Steinbrenner bought the team and through free agency built the 1977 and 1978 champs. But the Boss’s hands on approach eventually cost those Bombers due to too many bad moves.

As the Yankees went down, the Mets came back and in 1986 won the Series again, beating the Boston Red Sox in seven games. Much like the team of a generation before, these Mets were competitive until 1991, but never won the big game.

But like before, when the Mets faded, the Yankees came to the forefront. This time winning four crowns in five years (1996, 1998-2000). Unlike past teams, these Bombers were built from within, while cheery-picking the other talent through free agency and trades. Led by future Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, the Bombers remain a force in the American League.

The Mets enjoyed a resurgence in 1999 under controversial manager Bobby Valentine and catcher Mike Piazza. They even went to the Series in 2000, only to lose to the cross town Yankees. Then, after five years of mediocrity, the Mets came back in 2006 behind young stars David Wright and Jose Reyes and were one strike away from the World Series, losing to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

What makes baseball in New York unique these days is the rivalry between the Mets and Yankees. The teams didn’t play each other in non-exhibition games until 1997 and the Subway Series is the highlight of every season. Both Shea and Yankee Stadiums get a mixed but behaved crowd when the two teams play each other. As both the Met and Yankee fans root for their teams, you can hear chants for both clubs back and forth for all nine innings.

And that’s unlike any other sport in the city. Hockey games tend to have more violent outbursts in the stands, while games between the Knicks and Nets and Jets vs. Giants matches could be played anywhere, since the intensity just isn’t there in comparison.

And that’s why New York, first and foremost, is a baseball town.

About the Author

Jason OConnor owns and operates Oak Web Works, LLC and also runs www.BestShowTicketsLasVegas.com.
Web Design Company
Yankees Tickets
mailto: jason@oakwebworks.com

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The New York Mets Essential Games Of Shea Stadium (Steelbook) $9.61 GREATEST GAMES AT SHEA STADIUM – CE…

MLB Vintage World Series Films – New York Mets 1969 & 1986 $9.14 NEW YORK METS, THE: VINTAGE WORLD SERIES…

Mets All-Amazin’ Team 40th Anniversary Commemorative Video $8.99 On August 17, 2002, the Mets’ 40th Anniversary All-Amazin’ Team was introduced during a special pre-game ceremony. This ceremony is captured on this limited edition home video, along with career highlights and interviews from many of the baseball greats who were honored by the fans that day at Shea….

TOM SEAVER New York Mets 1969 Majestic Cooperstown Throwback Away Baseball Jersey Same Style Jersey “Tom Seaver” wore in 1969 while leading the “New York Mets” to their Miracle “World Series” championship JERSEY FEATURES: – Manufactured by “Majestic Athletic” – Cooperstown Collection Throwback Series – re-inforced stitching on shoulder and sleeve seams – Full button front style – Majestic “Cooperstown” neck label – Majestic “Cooperstown” jock tag on lower front Team…

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