tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886893273125815022024-03-08T06:32:58.062-08:00ATSNetwork.com - The Sports Handicapping and Sports Information BlogATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-76796833094715503542007-09-12T10:53:00.000-07:002007-10-24T12:23:18.803-07:00ATS Expert Free Sports PicksTeam up with the daily free picks of the ATS Experts and start experiencing the true value of expert sports handicapping at no cost with the daily free pick. Team up with your favorite Expert today for all premium pick and get a 10% bonus on your ATS Bucks.<br /><br /><strong>Today's Expert Free Picks</strong><br /><br />MLB: Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox<br />Handicapper: Mike Harmon<br /><strong>Pick: Colorado Rockies +200</strong>ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-78770783892258692472007-08-21T11:43:00.000-07:002007-08-21T11:46:27.755-07:00ATSH2H - Head to Head Sports Stats, Matchups, News, Scores & OddsThe free H2H community stats serves the sports handicapper industry with critical matchup and game stats that will help you stay in front of the line this season. You will find a wealth of information covering every angle you need to break down your teams and odds.<br /><br />ATSH2H is unmatched in handicapping stats and team statistics and is your front line for statistical matchups and game analysis. Breakdown your matchups this season with the H2H team insider stats, game previews, live odds, live scores, and player stats.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-85381398422573306872007-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:002007-08-15T13:06:19.079-07:00NBA Technical FoulFor the past two decades, David Stern has run his league with an iron fist. He has protected the image of the league, its players and officials to a degree unheard of by any commissioner. But in the wake of the news of one of the more shocking, and ongoing, scandals in recent sports history, the Commish seems at a loss. But, true to his nature, he is sticking to his guns, refusing to acknowledge a widespread problem or apologize to the fans<br />Indeed, Stern was humble and almost perplexed, by the news, but instead of seeming contrite on behalf of the league, he seemed angry and more willing to cast the scandal in a light relative to other sports scandals than be apologetic.<br />"This is a subject that we discuss at the NBA, the statistical the institution of the statistical development database was at my direction and the institution of the two of the more recent annual review of all that's legal were at my direction," he said at his press conference on Tuesday. "And so I'm aware and have been aware of the threats in place to all sports. We followed with particular interest the recent referee scandal in the German soccer league, the Bundesliga League ..."<br />Here, amidst the biggest scandal to ever rock his sport's world, he turns to pointing at the relative calamity that befell a German soccer league? Oh, commissioner.<br />Stern should have approached the podium, said the league was doing its best to cooperate with government officials and then promise his millions of fans around the world that the league would do absolutely everything in its power to protect the integrity of the game and earn back the trust of fans. Instead, he blamed the whole scenario on one rogue agent. Methinks thou doth protest too much, Mr. Stern.<br />He should have said the league was at fault, after all, it is the body which hires, and protects to a serious fault, all referees from public scrutiny. People have been skeptical for years about the integrity of the league, dating back decades. Now, when the public finally has substantial evidence to which it can point as an example of referee misconduct, Stern refuses to budge in his defense of the officials.<br />Instead of being outraged that his league has been infiltrated by crooks and cheaters, if only one, Stern went into full PR spin mode and spent 20 minutes praising his officials and the job they all do on behalf of the sport. Here, in a time where Stern should be attempting to act as forthright as ever, he simply could not take off his lawyer's hat.<br />But Stern is not in a courtroom right now; he is in the much more difficult and capricious court of public opinion. After years of skirting criticism of his league, he had finally been called out by the federal government, but instead of doing his best to win the trust of his fans, who have found yet another and much more concrete reason to stop watching, he defended his baby.<br />TV ratings have plummeted for years. The regular season is too long and not compelling enough to remain relevant for seven months. The playoff format is a joke. Officiating is the worst in all of sports, and now it appears that at least one of those horrible officials is a joke. And, yet, Stern stands on stage defending a league that is quickly losing all credibility.<br />The NBA's emperor has no clothes, but he refuses to acknowledge it.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-90205545984046763802007-08-10T09:31:00.000-07:002007-08-10T09:32:40.600-07:00Barry Bonds is Here to StayAnd now, back to our scheduled programming. Right?<br />Now that Barry Bonds has finally surpassed Hank Aaron with his 756th career home run, we can all go back to enjoying pitcher vs. hitter match-ups and following the chase for pennants in both leagues, can't we? Probably not. <br />At least we won't have to endure sports columnists and radio personalities talking about an aging slugger on a last place team. Wrong again. <br />The reason Barry Bonds' chase, and now eclipse, of Hank Aaron got stuck in the craws of baseball fans everywhere over the past 5 years is the same reason people will continue to talk about Bonds for a long time. He broke the most sacred record in a sport that holds numbers and records more sacred than any sport. And he did it all under the heavy suspicion of steroid use.<br />Bonds has never been a likable character, but make no mistake about it, the reason so many fans will be loathe to ever regard Bonds as the Home Run King is because he cheated, not because he's a bad guy or a bad teammate. He broke the record fans hold nearest and dearest to their hearts, and he most likely did it on steroids. <br />Baseball has always been a sport that uses numbers to compare generations and players in different leagues. Sure, we can all put an asterisk in our heads when thinking about the numbers of other players in the steroid era, but none of them will ever reach 755. Relativism only gets you so far; it stops at the top of the record book. Sure, you can say Sammy Sosa probably cheated, but he hasn't forever marred the record books. Bonds has, and that can never be changed. <br />Records are meant to be broken; that's why people get so excited by the pursuit of them, whether it be a player on a 30-game hitting streak chasing Joe DiMaggio or a pitcher with 17 strikeouts entering the ninth inning. But people want to see those records broken by people who do not have dark cloud lingering over them, whether there is a legal conviction of wrong doing or not. With Bonds' passing of Aaron, people feel cheated; they feel betrayed; they feel the integrity of the game has been destroyed by someone who compromised his ethics for personal glory. And that betrayal spawns indignation that will be around as long as the record book is.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-75499560228798985162007-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:002007-06-28T09:35:19.450-07:00Behind the Plate NumbersThere are several factors that go into handicapping MLB matchups. Some obvious things that Sharps look at are pitching matchups (how teams perform against lefties), bullpen efficiency, runner's left on base, winning and losing streaks, home and road dichotomies. But some of my most critical information all depends on who is working the game that night. What study the umpires? You bet. Umpire tendencies and tight or large strike zones is one of the best kept secrets handicapping.<br />Taking a closer look at the numbers of the men that officiate pro baseball is definitely worth your time and effort and can have a positive influence on the overall health of your summertime bankroll. Take the time to study your umps this year and track their trends of scoring and balls and strikes ratio's to determine which guy's in blue are "overs" friendly and who is "unders" friendly. You will also find this information key to hitter information as well.<br />Below are some umpires that show home and road dichotomy's and an influence on Totals propositions.<br />Keep in mind that MLB crews are not known until about one hour before the first game of a series. But you will know in advance who will be behind the plate from game two forward as that will be the first base umpire from the game before.<br />If you like a home team to win, what better umpires to have this season than Dan Iassogna (6-0), Tim Timmons (5-0), CB Bucknor (5-0), Randy Marsh (7-1) and Sam Holbrook (7-1)? Look out for these and other umpires that have had home cookin’ tendencies over the past few seasons. You will be surprised at how many units these guys can add to your bankroll, under the right circumstances.<br />If your backing the road team, then you want Marvin Hudson (6-0), Brian Gorman (5-1), Bruce Dreckman (5-1), Martin Foster (5-1) and Jeff Nelson (5-1) with the brush in his hand. These guys are a combined 1-16 with the home team lined as chalk. Coincidence? Not at 1-16 it's not.<br />The one area that the umpire has the greatest control over is the strike zone. If the home plate umpire has a small strike zone this forces pitchers to be more precise and places more pitches over the heart of the plate. This style of umpiring can lead to more high scoring games and Overs. Conversely, umpires that call a high number of strikes means more low scoring affairs, favoring the under.<br />In short a good 'Under' umpire will have a K/BB ratio of 3:1 or higher. A good 'OVER' umpire will have a K/BB ratio of 2:1 or less.<br />Look out for Joe West (5-0), Jim Reynolds (5-1), James Hoye (5-1) and Bruce Dreckman (5-1). These guys have real small strike zones and hand out free passes to first base as though they were handing out free hot drinks from the soup wagon to the homeless. The first three umpires named have less than a 1.9:1 K/BB ratio. So are you taking the unders or overs with Joe West behind the plate?<br />Umpires with big strike zones who contribute to lower scoring games are Doug Eddings (5-2), Jeff Nelson (4-1) and John Hirschbeck (3-1). Clearly, these member's of the blue brigade must have early restaurant reservations to keep. Keep a real close eye on these three guys, as last season Eddings was 20-14, Nelson was 20-12, and Hirschbeck was 17-7 all to the 'Under'.<br />The undoubted ‘Under’ king of this trio is Doug Eddings as he has a tendency to call a very high percentage of "strikes". Eddings doesn't call a lot of balls and an average game features 18 strikeouts for every 6 walks (67%). With Doug's numbers he is undoubtedly the best "Under" Umpire over the last five years in MLB Handicapping.<br />There is a ton of stats information to sort thru when handicapping baseball, but you have got to start looking closer behind the plate this season if you are going to up your batting average this season.<br /><br />Jimmy Toliver<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-46816346911301661762007-06-25T09:10:00.000-07:002007-06-25T09:11:40.707-07:002007 NBA Draft PreviewThe 2007 draft may be the start of a wild and crazy offseason in the NBA. The top two picks are expected to be franchise players who have the ability to turn a pair of clubs into instant playoff contenders.<br />The 2007 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 28th at The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. There are two rounds and a total of 60 picks will be made.<br />When this year's version of the NBA Draft becomes a part of history, Portland will be the big winner. While many believe the Trail Blazers are going to make Ohio State's Greg Oden the No. 1 overall selection in the draft, specualtion has arisen that Texas' Kevin Durant may have entered the picture. Both Durant and Oden are expected to be a franchise players that could make an immediate impact during their rookie seasons..<br />Seattle, which is expected to lose forward Rashard Lewis in free agency during the offseason, will then have the opportunity to add Oden or the multi- talented Durant with the second pick.<br />After Oden and Durant, nothing is guaranteed. Atlanta, Memphis and Boston round out the top-five selections. The Hawks and Grizzlies will both be happy with either Al Horford of Florida or North Carolina's Brandan Wright. If Horford and Wright go at No. 3 and No. 4, the Celtics are in a tough spot and that's where the fun may begin.<br />All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion and Jermaine O'Neal will all be mentioned throughout draft night and into the summer as parts of major trades. The Lakers-Bryant soap opera is still in its infant stages, while Minnesota's Garnett, Marion of Phoenix and Indiana's O'Neal have heard their names come up before in trade talk.<br />The Celtics still want to win with Paul Pierce as one of the stars of the show. Trying to acquire Garnett, Marion or O'Neal would be a major step in that direction. If Oden, Durant, Horford and Wright are gone with the first four picks, Boston may try and use the fifth selection as a chip in a blockbuster deal to acquire an All-Star player.<br />Forwards Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah of Florida, Florida State's Al Thornton, Georgetown's Jeff Green, Julian Wright of Kansas, Yi Jianlian of China, and center Spencer Hawes of Washington and point guards Mike Conley of Ohio State, Texas A&M's Acie Law and Javaris Crittenton of Georgia Tech are some of the names that are expected to go in the opening round of the draft. Like drafts of year's past, there is a lot of potential, which may be the most dangerous word in sports.<br />Milwaukee, Minnesota, Charlotte, Chicago, Sacramento, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the Clippers represent the remainder of the lottery picks (1-14). The Hawks, who also own Indiana's pick from a past trade, have a chance to make a big splash with two high selections (3,11). They have needs and will be able to address them on June 28th.<br />Brewer and Green are ready to contribute in their rookie campaigns, while Thornton and Hawes' stock are on the rise and Conley is considered the best point guard in the draft. There are questions about Noah's ability to succeed at the next level, and Yi has impressed at his workouts but is still considered a gamble.<br />After careful thought, Green and Hawes decided to stay in the draft and are expected to be rewarded by being selected in the top 10. Atlanta needs a point guard and would love to get Conley with one of their picks. If the Hawks go big at No. 3, Conley will most likely be gone by the time they pick again. Crittenton or Law would be next on the board at the point.<br />If the Lakers, who have the 19th overall selection, decide to seriously pursue trading Bryant, Chicago is a possible fit. The Bulls have young, talented players in Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich. The ninth overall pick would almost certainly be part of any kind of package.<br />The Bucks are trying to find a player at No. 6 who will fit in with a nucleus of center Andrew Bogut and sharp-shooting Michael Redd, while the Timberwolves are a team in need of direction and have to decide if Garnett is still the cornerstone of the franchise. The Bobcats are trying to become a playoff contender, the Kings, who missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, hope the 10th overall pick will help get them back to the postseason and Philadelphia is rebuilding. The Clippers and Hornets are playoff contenders who would like to add someone who can contribute right away.<br />Atlanta (3, 11) Charlotte (8, 22), Detroit (15, 27) and Phoenix (24, 29) all own a pair of first-round picks, while Philadelphia has three (12, 21, 30). Cleveland, Denver, Indiana and Toronto are all shut out with no picks heading into the draft. Dallas and Orlando don't have a first-round selection this year.<br />Oden and Durant make this a solid draft. Trade talk could steal the spotlight after the first two picks, as teams like Boston, Minnesota and the Lakers may be looking to make a big splash with a mind-boggling deal.<br />It should be an entertaining night for NBA fans.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-60911015189787498442007-06-19T13:18:00.000-07:002007-06-19T13:20:33.709-07:00ATSH2H - Head to Head Sports StatsThe free H2H community stats serves the sports handicapper industry with critical matchup and game stats that will help you stay in the front of the line this season. You will find a wealth of information covering every angle you need to break down your teams and odds. <br /><br />ATSH2H is unmatched in handicapping stats and team statistics and is your front line for statistical matchups and game analysis. Breakdown your matchups this season with the H2H team insider stats, game previews, live odds, live scores, and player stats.<br /><br />Vitit <a href="http://www.atsh2h.com/">www.atsh2h.com</a> for you free membership.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-57840069259879413172007-06-05T12:30:00.000-07:002007-06-05T12:52:29.916-07:002007 NBA Finals BreakdownI am very excited about the upcoming 2007 NBA Finals between San Antonio and Cleveland. LeBron James has clearly played himself into the upper echelon of NBA players. Here is a position - by - position breakdown of the Finals.<br /><br /><strong>Center: Fabrcio Oberto vs. Zydrunas Ilgauskas</strong><br />The difference between these two center's impacts is that the Cavs will look for Ilgauskas early and throughout the game to establish the inside game where the Spurs rarely run plays for Oberto. Oberto is a high energy player and will always log quality minutes. Ilgauskas is an All-Star and Oberto fills space.<br />Advantage: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Cavaliers</span></strong><br /><br /><strong>Power Forward: Tim Duncan vs. Drew Gooden</strong><br />Is there really a need to break down these two? A three-time NBA Finals MVP, Duncan has been nothing short of extraordinary in the postseason. Drew Gooden has really not made a name for himself in the NBA, but fits in nicely with the Cavaliers offense. "Fitting in" will not cut it against the Spurs.<br />Advantage: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Spurs</span></strong><br /><br /><strong>Small Forward: Bruce Bowen vs. LeBron James</strong><br />Bowen is one of the NBA's top perimeter defenders and has agitated stars this postseason and will be sure to pester James. James is one of the best at attacking the hoop and when he is on his game no one can stop him. James has worked well by incorporating every teammate on the floor and will be sure to do so in the Finals.<br />Advantage:<span style="color:#ff0000;"> <strong>Cavaliers</strong></span><br /><br />Shooting Guard: <strong>Michael Finley vs. Sasha Pavlovic</strong><br />The veteran Finley is starting to find his shot and is a threat from the perimeter. Pavlovic has had a couple double digit scoring games in the East semifinals. <br />Advantage: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Spurs</span></strong><br /><br />Point Guard: <strong>Tony Parker vs. Larry Hughes</strong><br />Tony Parker has developed into one of the games best point guards and his ability to attack the basket and dish out will give the Cavs problems. Larry Hughes is still battling an injury and is a very inconsistent player. <br />Advantage: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Spurs</span></strong><br /><br />Coaches: <strong>Gregg Popovich vs. Mike Brown</strong><br />Three victorious trips for Pop will be the difference maker in this series. Bluntly put, the Spurs roster is filled with veteran players and the Cavs are making their first trip to the Finals. <br />Advantage: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Spurs</span></strong>ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-89560770496806030982007-05-30T10:58:00.000-07:002007-05-30T10:59:34.605-07:00MLB Perceptions: How They Affect Betting LinesSometimes what we see is not reality. Many Las Vegas casinos and offshore books live in a fantasy world and its up to the smart handicappers to see teams for what they really are.<br />Case in point, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers were the darlings of baseball at 24-10 back on May 10 and had dominated in all facets of the game. They outscored their opponents 59-19 during a 9-1 stretch and were leading the National League with a winning percentage of 71%.<br />The media can have a huge affect on the betting lines of certain games by continually pumping up teams that are the talk of the town. With all the hype over the Brewers, many folks forgot that they had just come off a 10-game homestand, which saw the likes of the Cardinals, Pirates and Nationals visit Milwaukee. Hmm, could that have been the reason the team was allowing less than two runs per game?<br />As soon as reality hit the Brewers, they stumbled, and the smart gamblers were right on top of the action to cash in. Milwaukee has won only four of its next 16 games and if one had bet $100 against the Brew Crew in every contest since they defeated Washington on May 9, they'd be up $1,032. Not bad for 18-day stretch!<br />Another misconception that still rears its ugly head is the thought that the Yankees are a good baseball team. It is incomprehensible that on May 29, this club is still getting the respect it has so richly undeserved for quite some time. The Bronx Bombers have dropped 12 of their last 17 games, and yet, were favored in all but two of those contests. Not only is betting on the Yankees one of best ways to throw money away, wagering against them is a surefire way to increase the bankroll. If someone had bet the other way in those 17 match- ups, theyd be up $1,165.<br />Once again, the key word perception comes into play. It is widely believed that the Yankees will come out of this slump, but when thatll happen is anyones guess. In the meantime, my advice is to bet against them in every single game and thank the stars above that the bookmakers and the public have yet to see the Bombers for what they really are - a team of old veterans with a bullpen that renders on the absurd.<br />A perfect example of this misperception came last Sunday afternoon against the Angels. Los Angeles has always had success against the Yankees and, in fact, won 17 of the last 25 regular-season meetings, including the first two of the series.<br />The starters were John Lackey and Mike Mussina. Lackey, 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA, was favored on the road in his last start against a Tigers team, which had won nine of its last 10 at home. Mike Maroth, who was Detroits starter that night, had not lost a game all season and the Tigers were 7-0 in his first seven outings. With that being said, the Angels were still the choice of the bettors.<br />How in the world then was New York favored over Lackey and the Angels? The Yanks were only .500 at home, while Mussina has been putrid, to say the least. His ERA at Yankee Stadium was over 8.00 and he had allowed 12 runs on 18 hits in his last 12 innings prior to Sundays contest.<br />It all comes down to one thing and one thing only. The Yankees are still the Yankees and they will get respect until they fall 20 or 30 games out of first place.<br />LOSING STREAKS<br />Another misconception that handicappers can take advantage of is when top- notch pitchers are trying to end a teams losing streak. Its been well documented in this space over the past year and a half to never wager on a team knee-deep in a bad stretch. On the contrary, the best thing to do is bet against them and it worked to perfection once again this past Sunday afternoon.<br />Roy Oswalt was on the hill for the Astros, a team that had lost seven games in a row. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, had victories in three straight games. Not only was Oswalt favored, he was the -145 choice, the highest line the Astros had been on the road all season long! In addition, it wasnt like he was pitching against Micah Owings or Edgar Gonzalez. It was Livan Hernandez, who was coming off two impressive outings, allowing just two runs over his last 15 innings.<br />The result was a D-Backs victory, an easy 8-4 one at that. Oswalt couldnt save the Stros as he gave up 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in six innings of work. Hernandez went the distance in getting the win, throwing only 114 pitches as opposed to 101 for Oswalt.<br />MATT CAIN - STRUGGLING UNDER THE LIGHTS<br />Betting against pitchers, as well as teams, is another way to fatten the wallet.<br />The Giants Matt Cain is a perfect example. Cain has the stuff to be a dominant hurler in the big leagues for a long time, yet this is still just his second full season in the majors. Bookmakers seem to think hes a seasoned veteran, making him favored in eight of his 10 starts.<br />The perception of Cain is a pitcher who should win almost every time he hits the mound and the betting lines have reflected that. However, his only two victories have come in day games, which leaves San Francisco 0-8 in the eight night games hes started.<br />This is not to say he wont turn it around, since the Giants do not score any runs when he pitches (four runs or less in eight of his 10 starts), but its very interesting to see he is leading all NL pitchers currently in the majors at -778 units.<br />Perception affects the lines for certain teams and pitchers, and one way to beat the book is to realize the difference between fantasy and reality. If done properly, expect a windfall of cash, good enough to pay for a wonderful summer vacation in the Bahamas.<br /><br />Jack Pappano<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-41966012267992583722007-05-30T10:57:00.000-07:002007-05-30T10:58:30.969-07:00Managers on the Hot SeatI hand out a yearly predictions sheet prior to every baseball season and we have a little fun with it here at the Sports Network, as we try and figure out who will win the divisions, the MVP and Cy Young awards and things like that.<br />Last season one of the categories I added was that of first manager to be fired for each league. The powers that be here, though, couldn't add another row to the list without making it look silly, so we decided to scrap it altogether.<br />In hindsight it was probably a good idea, since there were no major league managers fired in-season during 2006. While we may have had zero changes last season, I think we could have as many as three or four in the coming months.<br />I would have bet my life before the season that Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel would be gone by now. In fact, I was so sure of it that I was going to choose either Davey Johnson or Jimy Williams as my choice for NL Manager of the Year, since I thought the Phils would start slow, fire Manuel, then get hot and claim the wild card.<br />Well, they did get off to a horrendous start, but somehow Manuel has weathered the storm and the Phils are playing pretty good baseball right now. Barring a complete collapse now, I cannot see Manuel getting fired. Pat Gillick has only pulled the plug on one of his managers in the middle of a season just one time in all his years as a general manager.<br />Of course Yankees' manager Joe Torre is the obvious choice to be the first skipper let go, but I don't think he is going anywhere either, especially since Roger Clemens is coming back next week. I wouldn't be surprised if Clemens got some assurances from George Steinbrenner that Torre's job is safe just to get him to come to New York.<br />Torre, though, is not the only manager in the AL East that is on the hot seat, as Baltimore's Sam Perlozzo and Toronto's John Gibbons both could be looking for work soon.<br />Despite the Orioles' improved play of late, that team is a mess and Perlozzo has completely lost control. If you don't believe me, just listen to some of the Orioles players, as a number of veterans have come out in recent weeks questioning some of their managers' moves.<br />Third baseman Melvin Mora was the latest to voice concern. Apparently Mora was peeved that he wasn't told he was not going to be in the starting lineup last Friday against the Oakland Athletics.<br />"I'm not upset that I'm not in there. I'm upset that they don't communicate with me," Mora said before batting practice. "I could've worked out or come here and worked early. I'm not the kind of guy that wants to work early and play the game, because I don't want to be tired. (Perlozzo's) the boss and he can do anything he wants with the lineup. I don't mind that. He can give me a day off. But we're veteran players here, and we need to know what's happening the next day."<br />Mora, who nearly came to blows following an on-field confrontation with teammate and longtime friend Jay Payton a few weeks ago, felt Perlozzo did not show him the respect he deserved.<br />"Mike Hargrove did it. Even Lee Mazzilli did it," Mora added. "I wasn't playing in the big leagues for a long time with the Mets, but Bobby Valentine would tell me, 'You've got a day off tomorrow.' Or, 'You're going to face Tom Glavine tomorrow.' This game is about communication. This game is like how you are with your wife. If you get good communication with your relationship, your relationship's going to be strong. That's the bottom line.<br />"That's why I see so many players playing hard for their manager -- because their manager treats them well. That's why you see a player like Curt Schilling bleeding on the mound -- because he wants to do everything for Terry Francona."<br />There have also been reports that the 67-year-old Johnson or reigning NL Manager of the Year Joe Girardi could step in if Perlozzo is in fact fired. One thing Perlozzo has going for him, though, is that only one manager has been let go in-season under owner Peter Angelos' watch. That was Perlozzo's predecessor, Lee Mazzilli.<br />Gibbons, meanwhile, is probably safer than I think. His team has been ravaged by injuries, most notably to closer B.J. Ryan and staff ace Roy Halladay. But big things were expected from the Blue Jays this season and they have severely underachieved.<br />Plus let's not forget Gibbons' track record from last year. Not only did he have a pretty public feud with infielder Shea Hillenbrand, but he also got into a physical altercation with starter Ted Lilly.<br />Halladay will be back this week, but if things continue to go south north of the border, Gibbons will be gone.<br />Over in the National League, Cincinnati's Jerry Narron has to be checking the Help Wanted ads in the classifieds.<br />After a promising 2006 campaign, the Reds were picked by some to win the under-whelming Central this year, but they have been the league's worst team with a 19-33 record. And unfortunately for Narron, things don't seem to be getting better anytime soon.<br />Adam Dunn is a mess. He continues to pile up strikeouts in droves. Some Reds fans I know think the team is going to be able to deal him. I have news for them, nobody wants him. There is a reason Dunn is still on the team now, and that's because nobody wanted him in the offseason. The only way the Reds are going to be able to deal him is if they get 35 cents on the dollar.<br />The bullpen that general manager Wayne Krivsky worked so hard to improve last season and over the winter has been atrocious. Not only do the Reds have an NL-worst nine saves, but the 4.78 bullpen earned run average is second-worst in the league. Eddie Guardado, though, should be back soon. And if that does not get you excited in Cincinnati, then nothing will.<br />If I was a betting man - which I am not anymore - I would say Perlozzo has the best shot of going, followed by Narron and Gibbons. Of course, all that could change if the Yankees are swept in Boston this coming weekend. Because Clemens or no Clemens, Steinbrenner will not stand for that and Torre and his four rings will be out of there faster than a New York minute.<br />Either way, though, I have a feeling that a change could be in the air somewhere soon.<br /><br />Roger Pitzer<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-24207535584823721312007-05-29T11:01:00.000-07:002007-05-29T11:14:56.798-07:00Hughes Doubtful for Game 4Injury woes have struck Larry Hughes again. For the second year in a row Larry Hughes may sit out an NBA playoff game against Detroit.<br /><br />The starting point guard sprained his left foot in the first quarter of the Cavaliers' 88-82 win in Game 3. Hughes was quoted as saying, "I haven't been faced with something this painful. I can hardly put any pressure on it."<br /><br />Hughes career has been slowed by injuries. Last season Hughes missed 45 games with a finger injury. If Hughes sits out Game 3, Snow may slide back into the starting lineup. Cleveland is a 1 point dog in tonight's match up. Even if Hughes suits up tonight he will not be 100% and will hinder Cleveland's chances of pulling off a Game 3 win.<br /><br />Peter Schoenke<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-76036631372598389842007-05-24T09:52:00.000-07:002007-05-29T11:15:48.021-07:00Thursday's Hot and Cold - MLB Starting PitchingWe all know that if your team expects to win the World Series, they better have a strong starting rotation and a deep bullpen. The ATSBets staff has put together a short list of hot and cold pitchers in MLB that may or may not help their team achieve the ultimate reward.<br /><br /><strong>Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2, 2.43 ERA)</strong><br />The Pirates certainly do not have the best bullpen to support Gorzelanny, but he has enjoyed some success against defending World Series champs St. Louis Cardinals. He has allowed only one run in his two starts against the champs this season. Gorzelanny will take the hill today vs. the Cards.<br /><br /><strong>John Smoltz (Atlanta Braves 6-2, 2.85 ERA)</strong><br />Smoltz is just one win away from becoming the NL's first 7 game winner. The Braves host the Mets today and Smoltz is 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA at Turner field. The Braves are favored today as Smoltz takes the mound against former teammate Tom Glavine.<br /><br /><strong>Chris Young (San Diego Padres, 5-3 2.89 ERA)</strong><br />Young has won three of four starts in May to turn around his season from a mediocre April. The big right hander has allowed one earned run over 20 1/3 innings at Petco Park. The books are favoring the Padres tonight as they host the Cubs.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Cold</span><br /><br /><strong>Jae Seo (Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2-4, 7.80 ERA)</strong><br />It may be time for Seo to find another role in MLB. Perhaps in the minor leagues? Seo has recorded just three wins in 25 starts since his move to Tampa Bay last June. Saturday Seo gave up seven runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Florida. The D-Rays are underdogs at home today as they host Seattle.<br /><br />Rodney Whitehurst<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-25032240541055070442007-05-22T09:46:00.001-07:002007-05-29T11:16:37.525-07:00Impact Rookie WideoutsIt is a big leap from NCAAF to NFL. Most rookies eventually hit the wall towards the end of the season which truly lets a rookie know the rigorous difference in NCAAF and NFL schedules. Let's take a look at the rookie receivers that were top picks that may or may not impact the league next season.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Calvin Johnson, Detroit (#2 pick)<br /></span>Standing at 6-4 and possessing great speed, Detroit will line up with Johnson on one side and Roy Williams on the other. With Mike Martz calling the shots in Detroit, Johnson should be able to make a small impact as long as John Kitna is protected and will be able to get him the ball.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City (#23 pick)</span><br />Kansas City will be a good fit for Bowe as Tony Gonzalez is currently the only weapon in the passing game. Bowe should be able to come in and make an impact as the other Chiefs receivers, Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker, don't have the potential to become a true number one.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Dwayne Jarrett, Carolina Panthers (#45 pick)<br /></span>Dwayne Jarrett must have impressed the Panthers as they released Keyshawn Johnson after the draft. Due to Jarrett's size he will be an impact within the red zone. Jarrett doesn't have great speed so he will not be a deep threat. As long as the Panthers utilize his strengths, Jarrett should be able to help them in his rookie season.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis (#32 pick)<br /></span>The Colts hope Gonzalez can fill the role of Brandon Stokley this season. Gonzalez possesses good speed and good hands. He was slightly under shadowed at Ohio State by Ted Ginn, but he is no slouch. Gonzalez will be the third option after Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Ted Ginn, Miami (#9 pick)<br /></span>Dolphin's fans were as shocked as all of us when Miami selected Ted Ginn at #9 over Brady Quinn. Ginn has great speed and will impose an immediate deep threat impact. Ginn can be used on special teams as a punt/kick return option as well. This could be a good fit for Ginn as he will not be used as the number one option as Chris Chambers fits that role.<br /><br />JB Floyd<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-44256997458002167992007-05-17T11:58:00.000-07:002007-05-17T12:03:01.276-07:00Trends of Detroit and Chicago<strong>ATS Trends</strong><br /><strong><em>Detroit<br /></em></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.<br />Pistons are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.<br />Pistons are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.<br />Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.<br />Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br />Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br />Pistons are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog.<br /></span>Pistons are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.<br />Pistons are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.<br />Pistons are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.<br />Pistons are 11-4-3 ATS in their last 18 games playing on 1 days rest.<br />Pistons are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 road games.<br />Pistons are 20-9-3 ATS in their last 32 games overall.<br /><span style="color:#ffff33;">Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog.<br />Pistons are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 playoff games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br /></span><strong><em>Chicago</em></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.<br />Bulls are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.<br />Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.<br />Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.<br />Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.<br />Bulls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.<br /></span>Bulls are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.<br />Bulls are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.<br />Bulls are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.<br />Bulls are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.<br />Bulls are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 vs. Eastern Conference.<br /><span style="color:#ffff33;">Bulls are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.<br />Bulls are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.<br /></span><strong>OU Trends</strong><br /><strong><em>Detroit<br /></em></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Over is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.<br />Under is 10-1-1 in Pistons last 12 playoff games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br />Under is 14-3-1 in Pistons last 18 playoff games as an underdog.</span><br />Under is 21-7 in Pistons last 28 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.<br />Under is 24-8-1 in Pistons last 33 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br />Under is 46-18-1 in Pistons last 65 games as an underdog.<br />Under is 38-15-1 in Pistons last 54 Thursday games.<br />Over is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 games following a S.U. loss.<br />Under is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 games following a ATS loss.<br />Under is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 road games.<br />Under is 42-17-1 in Pistons last 60 games as a road underdog.<br />Under is 37-15-1 in Pistons last 53 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.<br />Under is 7-3 in Pistons last 10 Conference Semifinals games.<br />Under is 43-20-1 in Pistons last 64 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.<br /><strong><em>Chicago<br /></em></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Under is 7-1 in Bulls last 8 Thursday games.<br />Over is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 playoff games as a favorite.<br />Over is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 playoff games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.</span><br />Over is 7-2 in Bulls last 9 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.<br />Under is 8-3 in Bulls last 11 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.<br />Over is 5-2 in Bulls last 7 vs. NBA Central.<br />Over is 5-2 in Bulls last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.<br />Under is 5-2 in Bulls last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.<br />Over is 7-3 in Bulls last 10 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.<br />Over is 7-3 in Bulls last 10 overall.<br />Over is 7-3 in Bulls last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.<br />Under is 9-4 in Bulls last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.<br /><strong>Head to Head<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Pistons are 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Chicago.<br /></span>Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Chicago.<br />Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.<br />Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-70878708729936948152007-05-16T10:26:00.000-07:002007-05-16T11:22:15.894-07:00QB ControversyMiami Dolphins new Head Coach Cam Cameron has his hands full with the decision as to who will hover over the center this season. The Dolphins QB depth chart is very crowded and could get even more interesting if veteran Trent Green joins the mix. Here is a rundown of what the Dolphin's QB chart looks like:<br /><br />Draft Pick <strong>John Beck</strong> (BYU) - Beck is the Dolphin's project this year. Beck did play a pass offense at BYU and he certainly has the arm to succeed in the NFL in the future. And since he did play in the MWC conference there will be a significant increase in competition. There are no easy games in the NFL and Beck will need time to develop.<br /><br /><strong>Daunte Culpepper</strong> - When Daunte was brought into Miami he was considered to be the one to bring the Dolphins back to the Marino days, however, he has been nothing short of a bust. Over the past 2 seasons he has played in eleven games. There is no doubt that Culpepper has the skills, but his lingering knee injuries have caught up with him. The Dolphins cannot rely on Culpepper and this is evident with their draft pick and trade talk about bringing in Trent Green.<br /><br /><strong>Trent Green</strong> - Although Green is still wearing a Chiefs uniform, he is the wild card. It is assumed that Green will report to the Dolphins camp this year and not to the Chiefs. Green is familiar with Coach Cameron and would make for a nice mentor to John Beck.<br /><br /><strong>Cleo Lemon</strong> - Arkansas State product, Cleo Lemon, is very raw but he has played in 4 games last season and made one start. Lemon passed for 412 yards and two touchdowns and showed good mobility during his short trial last season.<br /><br />The Dolphins will likely determine the starting QB by the end of preseason. If Culpepper is on his way out, look for Green to start. If not, we suspect Culpepper and Green will battle till the end.<br /><br />JB Floyd<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-49997702840403722892007-05-10T10:59:00.000-07:002007-05-10T11:17:18.987-07:00Will the Bulls Put up a Fight?As evident by the odds posted by the oddsmakers for Thursday's Game 3 between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons, there is belief that the Bulls will bounce back. The Bulls have been outscored by 47 points during the first two games, so home court advantage and a must win game has given the Bulls a 2 point edge for Thursday night's match up. <br /><br />The Bulls have led for 16 seconds in the series and have trailed by at least 10 points during virtually all of the last seven quarters. The Bulls were beaten on both ends of the court losing the opening game 95-69 and suffered a 108-87 spanking in Game 2. <br /><br />Detroit seemed to have no problems with the Chicago zone defense as the Pistons shot 52.6% from the floor in Game 2 and out-rebounded the Bulls 51-30. <br /><br />The Bulls are 25-17-1 against the spread at home this season, while the Pistons are 29-13 ATS on the road. May the best team win!<br /><br />Jack Pappano<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-40421871643023310172007-05-09T10:52:00.000-07:002007-05-09T11:20:06.844-07:00ATS Experts NBA Handicapping Records L30For those of you interested in banking off the shots of our NBA Experts, you can view our records by clicking on the link below. Our experts expect to have successful NBA playoff run and we look forward to helping our members earn profits while doing so. Check out the stats below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.atsexperts.com/atsrecords.php">http://www.atsexperts.com/atsrecords.php</a>ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-50745145601281366362007-05-09T10:20:00.000-07:002007-05-09T10:31:26.926-07:00Padres Trend in MayThe Padres are 46-18 in the month of May since 2005 season, including a 5-2 record heading into Wednesday's game to start the month this year. Last year San Diego posted a 19-10 record during May and the year before that finished the month 22-6.<br /><br />Geoff Blum was quoted as saying, "May the past two years has put us into the postseason". If this is true, teams that start out in the hole will be looking up all season.<br /><br />Most handicappers will write this off as sheer coincidence with a slight mental edge from the Padres players. A couple of losses could surely shake the confidence of the Padres and swing this trend the other way. Last year, the Padres' pitching was the biggest reason for their success and posted an NL best 3.58 team ERA in May.<br /><br />This season the Padres are 18-15, hitting 2.39 and putting up between four and five runs per game. They currently rank seventh in the NL in ERA and have one of the best bullpens in baseball backing up the starting rotation.<br /><br />Mike Harmon<br />ATSNetwork.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-44394256210435266162007-05-03T10:55:00.000-07:002007-05-03T11:30:04.938-07:00Money MakersIt's never too early in my book to display which MLB teams are sending home the profits. The MLB season is still very young, but there are a few teams we might be able to expect to contribute throughout the season.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Milwaukee Brewers</span></strong> - The Brewers are a top a weak National League Central, however, they may be the surprise team in '07? The Brewers have been doing it both at home and away. With a 16-9 record, look for the Brewers to be in the NL race up until the end. <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Boston Red Sox</span></strong> - No surprise here. With a dynamic batting order and an extremely solid pitching staff, the Red Sox are trying to rebound from last years disappointing end of the season. The Red Sox are a well rounded team and will put up one hell of a fight to contend for the World Series crown.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Cleveland Indians</span></strong> - The Indians are showing signs that there will be quite a dogfight in the American League Central. The offense and pitching have been timely and have stepped up at the right times. The Indians have contributed to early MLB profits, but the question is whether they can keep it up?<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Atlanta Braves</span></strong> - After losing the NL East for the first time in 12 years, the Braves are trying to bounce back from the '06 season. There will be great competition down the stretch with the Phillies and Mets battling to win the NL East. The Braves have lost Hampton again for the year and are relying on young talent. It will be interesting to see how they will withstand adversity when it hits. <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Arizona Diamondbacks</span></strong> - The Diamondbacks are another early surprise on my list and in the NL. They are a very streaky team, starting the season 9-4 and then drop seven of eight before their current run. If Brandon Webb and Randy Johnson can stay healthy, Arizona will be around all season long.<br /><br />Mike Harmon<br />ATSExperts.comATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-90315485469997631812007-04-26T10:02:00.001-07:002007-04-26T10:02:45.826-07:00Prior Undergoes Shoulder Surgery; 2007 Season OverChicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior underwent successful right shoulder arthroscopy on Tuesday, ending his 2007 season.<br />The surgery was performed in Birmingham, Alabama by Dr. James Andrews, who performed a debridement of Prior's right rotator cuff as well as repair of labral and capsular injuries in his shoulder.<br />Prior began a comprehensive rehabilitation program in Birmingham on Wednesday overseen by Dr. Andrews and the Cubs medical staff and will continue his rehab program into the offseason.<br />After spring training this year, Prior didn't go with the Cubs to start the season. Instead, he remained behind in Mesa, Arizona for extended spring training. He only had one outing, which ended early because of discomfort in his shoulder.<br />Prior was 0-2 in four spring training games, three of which were starts, with a 6.97 ERA this year.<br />Last season, Prior was limited to just nine games because of the shoulder problem, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA. Prior to his injuries, he won 18 games in 2003, helping the Cubs reach the NLCS for the first time since 1989.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-26625365711459555412007-04-26T10:01:00.000-07:002007-04-26T10:02:01.671-07:00Phils Option Smith to MinorsThe Philadelphia Phillies optioned pitcher Matt Smith to their Triple-A affiliate in Ottawa and recalled pitcher Fabio Castro on Thursday.<br />The 27-year-old Smith recorded a dismal 11.25 earned run average in nine games for the Phillies this season. He was acquired by Philadelphia last summer as part of the trade that sent Bobby Abreu and the late Cory Lidle to the New York Yankees.<br />Smith had a 2.08 ERA in 14 games with Philadelphia in 2006.<br />Castro, 22, was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in six appearances for Ottawa this season.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-26234595663688114262007-04-25T10:57:00.001-07:002007-04-25T10:57:58.930-07:00Mitchell Named Coach of the YearSam Mitchell, who guided the Toronto Raptors to an NBA-best 20-game improvement this season, was named Coach of the Year on Tuesday.<br />Mitchell garnered 49 first-place votes and 389 points from a panel of 128 sports writers to become the first Raptor head coach to capture the Red Auerbach Trophy.<br />Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan was second with 301 points (39 first-place votes) and Dallas' Avery Johnson was third with 268 points (28 first-place votes). Candidates were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.<br />In his third season as the Raptors' head coach, Mitchell led his club to its first Atlantic Division title and a franchise-record-tying 47 wins. That gave Toronto the third seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage in the playoffs for the first time in team history.<br />That was a dramatic turnaround, as the Raptors went just 27-55 in 2005-06.<br />Mitchell played 13 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2002. It took him just two years as an assistant coach before being tabbed head coach of the Raptors in June of 2004.<br />The Raptors finished 33-49 in his first season as head coach.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-60987383865677935182007-04-25T10:55:00.000-07:002007-04-25T10:56:54.386-07:00Bengals Sign LB MillerThe Cincinnati Bengals signed restricted free agent linebacker Caleb Miller to a one-year contract on Tuesday.<br />The versatile Miller appeared in every contest last season for the Bengals and started four games at middle linebacker as well as three games at outside linebacker.<br />He finished the campaign third on the team in tackles with a career-best 100.<br />In three seasons with Cincinnati, the former Arkansas product has totaled 150 tackles and one sack.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-43016691972201999552007-04-25T10:53:00.000-07:002007-04-25T10:54:32.073-07:00Lofton Headed Back to Tennessee for Senior SeasonGuard Chris Lofton announced on Tuesday he will return to the University of Tennessee for his senior season and will not enter the NBA Draft.<br />Lofton led the Volunteers and the Southeastern Conference in scoring this past season, averaging 20.8 points per game. He also led the league in three- pointers per game (3.42).<br />"After reviewing my draft status, I have decided to remain at the University of Tennessee for my senior year," Lofton said. "According to the information that we received from the NBA draft advisory committee I was not guaranteed to be selected in the first round of this year's draft. Because of this, I have decided not to submit my name for the draft. I appreciate all of Coach (Bruce) Pearl's guidance throughout this process. Coming back for my senior year will give me the opportunity to work on my game so I can become a better player. There are also a lot of things that we can accomplish here as a team."<br />Lofton, the Southeastern Conference player of the year, also announced that he has been invited by USA Basketball to attend the trials for the 2007 Pan American Games Team.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3888689327312581502.post-14315657313000367872007-04-25T10:39:00.000-07:002007-04-25T10:53:18.777-07:00Big Unit Back on the Mound TuesdayRandy Johnson will make his much anticipated season debut Tuesday night against San Diego after the club activated him from the 15-day disabled list.<br />The 43-year-old Johnson had back surgery in October then pitched in three rehab starts before being cleared to begin his second stint with the Diamondbacks.<br />He and Arizona fans hope it's just as successful as the first. Johnson won four of his five Cy Young Awards with Arizona and the club won the 2001 World Series.<br />Then, Johnson spent two frustrating campaigns with the New York Yankees before being shipped to the desert in a January trade.<br />To make room on the roster for Johnson, the club optioned right-hander Yusmeiro Petit to Triple-A Tucson.ATSNetworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14798358462783219349noreply@blogger.com0