August 17th picks/lookback on day

August 16 results

Atlanta Braves Result- Won 2-1
St. Louis Cardinals Result- Loss 5-4
Texas Rangers Result- Won 7-3

Picks correct for day 2-1. Overall pick record 23-3

Atlanta Braves- Im sorry I never got an overview up on this game. I was busier than I thought I would be today, but it turned out to be a pretty good pick. I went back and forth on this game and the Cardinals and finally just picked the Cardinals. Huge mistake.

St. Louis Cardinals- I new this would be close. I thought about not putting it up or put it up as a "possible pick" switched with Atlanta, but I didn't want to only post 1 pick. St. Louis had some good opportunities to take this game. Including taking a 1 point lead going into the bottom of the 9th inning. St. Louis played every bit as good as Pittsburg, but Pittsburg was  able to edge this one out and drag the game into overtime. Causing a lot of people to miss the Rangers pick.

Texas Rangers- (Game pending)

Conclusion: Today was probably my least confident day finding picks than any day since I started this blog. Tomorrow doesn't look much better aside from 1 pick I like. But I can help you a little. Also a somewhat funny irony, all three of my losses where baseball and all 3 ended 5-4 (Bosten, Angels and Cardinals).

The Picks: I am making a lot of picks today. Just to see how it works and to answer some of your questions. It will probably affect my record negatively a little bit, but I keep getting emails from you on certain matchups...




Pick #1- Vindbjart

           I am just going to put this one up. This is a pick I am making this morning after the Cardinals ruined my decent streak. This is definetely a pick you want to make if you are trying to start over on a streak. Vindbjart is a huge favorite (-217 in some books) and even has the draw option. That might be all you need to know but here is a little more. They are 2-3-2 on the road and 4-2-2 at home. Oddly though they score more on the road. Forte is 4-2-1 at home, which is pretty good, however average less home goals than Vindbjart scores in away goals. Also Vindbjart scores more often period. Vindbjart ranks 7th in their league and Forte ranks 10th. Both teams in my opinion are pretty equal. But with the draw option in Vindbjart's favor, they are your best bet.

Pick #2- Dinamo Zagreb


    Dinamo has absolutely dominated their league in Croatia, while Malmo is a middling team in the the far better Swedish Allsvenskanliga. I liked this game from the begining, but here is a good comment that kind of swayed my way a little more; "Dinamo Zagreb is a very nice team out of Croatia who is 4-0-0 with a +11 Goal difference. Pretty impressive. They are 3-1-0 in the UEFA Champions League so far with a +5 GD including two straight wins against HJK Helsinki (One home and one away) who is a powerhouse from Finland with a +37 GD in 20 matches played.

Malmö FF hails from the Allsvenskan in Sweden and is 9th in that league with a 7-6-5 record and a -2 GD. They've recently won and drawn against Rangers FC from Scotland who is 3rd in their league which is still just starting up with only 3 matches played. Granted, Sweden is a better soccer country than Croatia but Dinamo's wins were against very good teams better than Malmö FF." Could be close but If you made me choose I would go Dinamo.

Possible Pick #4- Brazil

     This will be a short writeup, but Brazil looks like they should be in pretty good in this one. However, with the draw option I would say Mexico pickers may have a pretty fair shot at this. I think the odds would go something like 60/40 for brazil. Brazil is your best pick of the two stats-wise. Brazil is 4-0-1, Mexico is 1-1-1 in their tables. Brazil has scored a total of 12 points and a 12 point goal difference to add to that. Mexico has scored 4 points with a 2 point goal difference. If you cant choose just go Brazil.

Possible Pick #1- Atlanta Braves. No writeup on this game. Sorry just not enough time. Altlanta looks better on paper, but this game you have to choose at your own risk.

Possible Pick #2 Detroit Tigers

      Detroit (65-57) will host Minnesota (53-68) tonight as they have looked pretty good at home. Detroit is 34-26 at home and Minnesota is 26-38 on the road. Detroit ranks top 10 in everything for batting (9th in runs, 4th in batting average, 6th on base and 8th in slugging %) vs. the Twins 23rd in runs, 19th in batting average, 28th on base and 26th in slugging %. Now onto pitching; Detroit will bring out Brad Penny tonight who is a pretty poor pitcher for the most part. Upholding a 4.99 ERA, 8-9 record, 55 strikeouts and 1.49 in WHIP.  The good news is the Twins wont start one much better. Carl Pavano will bring his 4.55 ERA, 6-9 record, 69 strikeouts and 1.36 WHIP to the mound. With Detroit being better at home, Minnesota being worse on the road, Detroit having significantly better batting and Pavano and Penny cancelling each other out, I don't see why you wouldn't go with Detroit. Unless you are feeling an upset.

Possible Pick #3 -Texas

     Texas has been hot against the Angels for the last couple of days. And that is sorta what bothers me. It almost feels like SM is conditioning us for a Texas downfall. Thats the main reason I am putting this as a possible pick. Both teams will be starting pretty good pitchers. Texas will bring out CJ Wilson (3.28 ERA, 11-5, 153 strikeouts and a 1.23 WHIP) countered by the Angels Ervin Santana (3.10 ERA, 9-8, 143 strikeouts and 1.14 WHIP). Again I think the advantage here is Texas' batting. I think it will slightly outweight the Angels home feild advantage and CJ Wilson will cancel out Santana for the most part. I probably wont add these probable picks games to my record, but it is just some free info on a game you may be interested in.



I wont be back at a computer till 9 or 10 tonight. So this is all I have to finish your day. I am interested to see how all of these matchups end. Good luck tonight