Griffey arrives at Mariners spring training
Baseball Betting Lines
02/19/2010 - PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -Sporting a bucket hat with sunglasses, Ken Griffey Jr. arrived at the Mariners' spring training complex Friday with the kind of reception reserved for a veteran and clubhouse leader. Griffey embraced manager Don Wakamatsu and general manager Jack Zduriencik, and bellowed greetings to teammates from across the clubhouse. Slated to be the Mariners' designated hitter, Griffey flew overnight from Florida after watching his daughter's basketball game. He took his physical Friday after proclaiming that he'd lost seven pounds through dieting and exercise. Griffey talked to most everyone in sight, even fans. He held court outside the complex with a group of fans following his physical. ``Good to see him,'' Wakamatsu said. ``It got real loud in there. It's amazing how one guy can change the karma of the room.'' Other Mariners position players arrived in camp Friday, including third baseman Chone Figgins and outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Ryan Langerhans. Mike Sweeney, another team leader from last season, is expected Sunday after signing a minor-league deal last week. ``When you get Griff in here, it kind of puts pressure on everyone else,'' Wakamatsu said. ``I just called (Sweeney). I said 'Griff's here, where you at?' He said, 'I got a late invitation. It wasn't my fault.''' Cliff Lee, who is coming off foot surgery, is scheduled to take part in pitchers' fielding practice as early as Saturday. It will be his first baseball drill of spring training, with a bullpen session slated for Wednesday. ``I feel good now. I feel like I could do it now,'' Lee said. ``But it's kind of 'Take it easy, better safe than sorry' type of stuff at this point. Foot feels fine. It's a little sore from time to time but it's nothing that's major at all.'' In other news, Erik Bedard played catch for about 12 minutes Friday as he rehabs his surgically repaired left shoulder. Catcher Rob Johnson, who had offseason hip and wrist surgery, caught a bullpen session Friday morning, took batting practice and ran without any noticeable hitch in this stride in conditioning drills. ``He wanted to catch more than one guy and we kind of had to hold him back a little bit,'' Wakamatsu said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Ole Miss football player dies after workout
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bennie F. Abram, a junior football player for
Ole Miss, died Friday after collapsing during the first day of the team's
routine conditioning program. He was 20 years old.
Abram started experiencing diffi
<< Durant two clear at Mayakoba
Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Durant carded a five-under 66
Friday to push his lead to two strokes after two rounds of the Mayakoba Golf
Classic at Riviera.
Durant finished 36 holes at El Camaleon Golf Course at 12-under-pa
<< Ferrero reaches Copa Telmex semis
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 Juan Carlos
Ferrero was a quarterfinal winner Friday at the $475,300 Copa Telmex tennis
event.
The second-seeded former French Open champion Ferrero got past qualifier a
<< Four Europeans in final eight at WGC-Accenture
Marana, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Casey, the highest remaining seed, won his
third straight match by a 5 & 4 margin Friday to lead four Europeans into the
quarterfinals at the WCG-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Casey, the No. 2 seed
<< Eskimos ink DE Pettway
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Eskimos signed defensive end
Kenneth Pettway on Friday.
Pettway has played the last five years in the NFL, though his last game action
came in 2008 with Green Bay,
"Kenny's past experienc
Daytona 500 champion McMurray takes pole at California >>
Fontana, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When you're hot, you're hot.
That's how the reigning Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray is right now after
winning Friday's Sprint Cup Series qualifying at Auto Club Speedway.
McMurray, who was the 25th driv
Ojeda, Alvarez share lead in Colombia >>
Rionegro, Colombia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Francesco Ojeda managed an even-par 71
Friday and was joined in the lead by Oscar Alvarez after two rounds of the
Abierto Internacional de Golf II Copa Antioquia.
Alvarez fired a seven-under 64 at
Williams, late run spark Sixers over Spurs >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lou Williams scored 14 of his 20 points in
the fourth quarter to spark the Philadelphia 76ers to a 106-94 win over the
Spurs.
Andre Iguodala added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Elt
Jackson and Bobcats dominate Cavs >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stephen Jackson poured in 29 points and
pulled down eight rebounds, as the Charlotte Bobcats handled the Cleveland
Cavaliers, 110-93, in a battle between two teams that made moves prior to
Thursda
Querrey upends Roddick in Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sam Querrey knocked off fellow American and
reigning champion Andy Roddick on Friday in the quarterfinals of the $1.226
million Regions Morgan Keegan Championships tennis event.
Querrey, the eighth see
MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
|
