March 24, 2012
Posted by Admin at 10:01pm UTC
Saturday afternoon linkage..
- The Phillies appear to be comfortable with beginning the season with Freddy Galvis at second base and are searching for a backup utility infielder via trade rather than a starter, sources tell Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
- Word is that the Yankees offered Freddy Garcia to the Marlins but Miami wasn’t interested, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Garcia, who is a trade candidate following the club’s signing of Andy Pettitte, is signed to a one-year deal is worth MM plus incentives.
- Angels manager Mike Scioscia and General Manager Jerry Dipoto met with Bobby Abreu following the outfielder’s comments to Lider en Deportes. DiGiovanna writes that the team may have no choice but to release the veteran if he continues to struggle and be a distraction.
- The case of Jairo Beras and his .5MM contract with the Rangers is in the hands of Major League Baseball, but the club is confident that he is 17-years-old, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telgram. Beras’ biological father also told the paper that Beras is in fact 17.
- The Mets are facing a serious numbers crunch on the 40-man roster, writes Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
March 24, 2012
Posted by Admin at 9:48pm UTC
If you are going to be going out of the country for Spring Break this year it is important to remember that you will have to have a valid United States passport. There are many incredible destinations overseas that are world famous for being great Spring Break destinations. If you do not get your passport in time for travel you may have to hire an online passport company that can provide you with an overnight US passport. Without a passport you will not be eligible for travel outside the United States of America.
Passport Needs
Unlike in the past, Mexico now requires all travelers to have a valid United States passport to be allowed entrance into their country. This is not such a big deal in this day and age as obtaining a passport is easier than ever. All you have to do is prove you are a citizen, fill out the correct paperwork, and you will have your new passports in just a few short weeks. All of these steps can be done online making obtaining a pasport incredibly simple and painless.
Getting A Passport
Most people are unaware that passports can actually be obtained rather quickly. It all depends on the reasons and how much an individual is willing to pay. By providing a copy of travel itinerary a passport can be expedited. Depending on the region in which the passport is being applied for an overnight passport is even an option. However, this requires going through a private company, so in addition to the government fee for passports, you will incur a high expedition fee.
Famous Nightlife
One of the most famous Spring Break destinations in all of Mexico is the town of Acapulco. It is home to some of the most stunning beaches in all of Mexico and has incredible nightlife geared towards Spring Break travelers. Every Spring Break thousands of students from all of the country descend upon Acapulco to have a great time.
Celebrity Visitors
Back in the 1950’s, Acapulco was a major destination for many world famous individuals. The Prince of Wales used to tell all of his friends that Acapulco was one of the best travel destinations he had ever seen. Also, celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor were known to travel to Mexico to party and have a good time. Students who travel to day to Acapulco can experience the same pleasures that made it a favorite among celebrities of the past.
Beautiful Beaches
One of the main reasons why Mexico is so popular with young travelers from America is the fact that the drinking age is 18. It is no coincidence that Spring Break is a favorite destination for young people with this fact. The nightlife in Acapulco is second to none, and offers some of the best club and bar scenes anywhere in Mexico. Anyone who is trying to find a travel destination where they are able to legally drink should consider Mexico.
Other Activities
There is more in Acapulco than just the young adult scene. Cliff diving and bungee jumping are huge attractions. Fishing is also quite popular. Sailfish in particular are abundant in the area and many fishing tours offer a free trip if no Sailfish are caught. There is definitely something for every in Acapulco from the night life to sunbathing and everything in between.
March 24, 2012
Posted by Admin at 9:26am UTC
The Cyclones will host the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. The Cyclones are 18-8 and are 4th in the Big 12 with an 8-5 record. The Sooners are second to last in the Huge 12 with a 3-10 record while having a 13-12 record.
Bet on sports
Oklahoma has lost five consecutive competitions. The Sooners have endured in the second half in many competitions not too long ago. This included a 69-58 loss in their newest game this past Tuesday to Texas where the Longhorns had a 24-9 run in the first element of the second half. This is in spite of the squad starting with a 10-2 record previous to conference play. The injury to guard Calvin Newell Jr. has merely made things worse for the Sooners.
College football betting
This is in spite of junior guard Steven Pledger scoring 17.3 points per game. In the Big 12, this is the 4th greatest total. Alongside 12.2 points per game, Junior forward Romero Osby is gaining 7.6 rebounds per game. The Sooners also have the second greatest rebounding total in the Big 12 with an average of 37.5 rebounds in each game.
The Iowa St. Cyclones have won 4 of their last 6 competitions. This features a 72-64 upset over Kansas on January 28. However, the newest game for the cyclones was a 79-64 loss at Baylor on Monday.
The sophomore forward that has been playing as a guard for a lot of the year in spite of his 6’8′, 270 pound frame, Royce White, is to blame for a lot of the success of the Cyclones. White has 13.2 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game. In all 3 of those categories, he leads the cyclones. However, he also averages 4 turnovers a game. The Cyclones in fact get about twelve turnovers in each game.
The prospects on the Oklahoma at Iowa St. game have Iowa St. has a -7.5 fave. The point total is at an over/under rating of 138.5.
MLB Baseball Wagering
March 23, 2012
Posted by Admin at 4:46pm UTC
Alcohol addiction is a very serious problem that can have many negative consequences for those who suffer from it. If you think you might have an addiction to alcohol or a drinking problem, you should seek medical assistance as soon as you can. One of the smartest and most effective ways to get over an addiction to alcohol is to seek out an alcohol medical detoxification facility. After you complete detox at one of these facilities, you can then join an intensive outpatient program to help you continue on the path towards sobriety.
Alcohol
Alcohol abuse is one of the most prominent substance abuse issues facing the country today. Millions of Americans struggle with a dependency to alcohol every single day of their lives. One of the reasons for this is the fact that alcohol is socially accepted and readily available almost anywhere. While alcohol is usually used responsibly by adults, many people do not know how to control themselves and end up developing a drinking problem very quickly. Alcohol addiction costs tax payers millions of dollars each and every year.
Alcohol Dependency
Alcohol dependency refers to the body physically becoming addicted to the substance. This occurs when someone has continuously been imbibing alcohol. This is very dangerous and it also requires medical attention to detox from alcohol abuse. As withdrawal from alcohol can lead to seizures and other nasty side affects that are dangerous.
Culture
As we’re well aware, Whitney Houston, and many other celebrities before her have passed away due to fatal concoctions involving alcohol and prescription drugs such as Xanax and the like. Alcohol mixed with any substance is bad news, but especially with prescription drugs however those addiction to alcohol do not heed the warning label on their bottles, and risk certain death when simultaneously imbibing the drug and alcohol.
Detoxification
For someone with an alcohol addiction a residential setting may be the best way to get help. They offer detoxification services that are medically supervised. One alcohol detoxification is successfully accomplished, a transition to a residential center happens. A schedule of daily activities including group therapies, counseling, and workshops is provided so that the recovering addict can cope with their addiction and what it is has done to them. It also gives them the necessary tools to find other ways of coping with the stress and undesirable emotions that lead them to alcohol in the first place. There is hope however, for those who suffer from an addiction to alcohol. There are many groups such as AA, where one will be able to find a sponsor who can help them get through the tough times.
March 23, 2012
Posted by Admin at 8:16am UTC
Earlier today, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine told reporters that Daisuke Matsuzaka could be back in the rotation as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. In the meantime, another BoSox pitcher is making a strong case for breaking camp with the club. More on that and other links out of the AL East..
- Right-hander Aaron Cook can opt-out of his deal with the Red Sox on May 1st if he isn’t on the big league squad, but the veteran might punch his ticket well before that, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Cook’s deal with Boston is worth .5MM if he is put on the major league roster.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman is keeping tight-lipped when it comes to the makeup of the club’s rotation, but he is preaching patience when it comes to Andy Pettitte, writes Jeff Bradley of the Star-Ledger. For his part, the 39-year-old says that he plans on keeping to his schedule and joining the team around May 1st.
- MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli likes Ryan Flaherty‘s chances of making the Orioles. The Rule 5 pick must be returned to the Cubs if he is not on the O’s Opening Day roster.
MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
March 22, 2012
Posted by Admin at 7:39pm UTC
Rafael DePaula is finally on the verge of beginning his professional baseball career. The pitching prospect agreed to sign with the Yankees for 0K in November, 2010, but hasn’t had a visa until now, so the deal hasn’t been completed. Agent Charisse Espinosa-Dash told MLBTR today that DePaula has his visa and that the original deal is expected to go through once the Dominican right-hander passes a physical.
MLB suspended DePaula in 2009 and he later confessed to using a false identity. The 6’2″ right-hander had a sharp breaking ball and a plus fastball that touched the mid-90s at the time that he signed, according to Baseball America. DePaula, who turns 21 this month, had been working out at the Yankees’ Dominican academy.
MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
March 22, 2012
Posted by Admin at 7:29pm UTC
According to recent studies regarding passport replacement procedures the most common way to lost pass port is in a local pub. The study revealed that a little over half of those who applied for replacement passports were under the age of thirty and claimed they had misplaced them when spending a night out on the town. A lost passport is a big deal, especially when traveling abroad, this is why it is important to keep track of the important document and perhaps find different ways of verifying age when spending an evening bar hopping or pub crawling. Luckily an expedited new passport is fairly easy to obtain.
Travel Documents
Passports are very important travel documents that allow their holders to travel freely throughout the world and then be able to return home to the United States of America. It is important for individuals who have recently lost a passport to note that getting a replacement passport is now easier than ever. All you need to do is go online and find a reputable passport agency that can help you get a replacement. Even if you are overseas and lose your passport, you will still be able to get on the internet and figure out how to get your expedited new passport.
Losing A Passport
While surely no one ever wants to experience losing their passports while on an overseas vacation, thanks to the internet it is not the problem it once was to get a replacement. In fact, many passport agencies that are based online can get you a replacement passport very quickly. However, the fact remains that this is very expensive and it is better to just make sure your original passport is safe while you travel. By keeping your passport in a safe location, you will not have to worry about losing it.
Passport Agencies
There are also many agencies that can help as well. Their prices may be a bit steeper but they can guarantee better arrival times. However, you must be sure that the passport is indeed missing, otherwise if found, your original passport is still invalid. A passport can reported missing to local authorities and they can work with the United States embassy and consulate to get a new one. In order to obtain a replacement passport the missing passport must be reported as missing or stolen. By reporting it missing it will red flag the passport in case someone tries to use it.
Virtual Backups
Although getting a replacement passport while overseas on a vacation is easier than ever before, it can still be quite a headache. The best thing to do is to keep your passport safe from thieves at all costs. A great way of doing this is by only carrying around town a photocopy of your passport. By doing this, you will be able to leave your real United States passport in a safe at the hotel you are staying at while abroad. You must keep in mind while you are traveling how important it is to keep your passport safe.
March 22, 2012
Posted by Admin at 7:04am UTC
Forbes Magazine calculates the Yankees (unsurprisingly) as the most valuable franchise in baseball, worth an estimated .85 billion. The second-place team on the list are (somewhat surprisingly) the Dodgers at .4 billion, up nearly 75% in value from last year as Forbes predicts the team’s forthcoming sale and new TV contract will return it to top-tier status. The Forbes list also reveals which teams lost value from last year and which didn’t turn a profit in 2011, as well as looking at how cable TV deals are changing the economics of the game.
Some other news from around the majors…
- Yasmani Grandal is happy that Padres teammate and fellow catcher Nick Hundley received a contract extension but isn’t worried that Hundley’s deal impacts his own future with the club, reports Dan Hayes of the North County Times. “It doesn’t matter if somebody got a deal or not. You never know what could happen,” Grandal said. “They could get traded or you could get traded. I’m not only playing for one organization. I’m playing for the 29 others that are out there. That’s one way I see it, and if it’s not meant to be it’s not meant to be. If I don’t make it to the big leagues with this club I can make it with any other team.”
- Hundley’s reasonable contract could make him a strong trade candidate, opines Dave Cameron of Fangraphs, who the Padres could deal this summer if Grandal has a strong first half at Triple-A.
- Felix Hernandez says he is asked about his future with the Mariners in almost every interview, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, and joked he might hang a banner reading “I’m not going anywhere” over his locker.
- The Athletics are thus far very pleased with the four prospects (Tom Milone, Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole and Derek Norris) they received from the Nationals in the Gio Gonzalez trade, reports Jeff Fletcher for the Washington Times.
- Matthew Eddy of Baseball America recaps the week’s minor league transactions.
- Vernon Wells thinks the Blue Jays could make “exceptions” to their policy of not offering contracts longer than five years, reports Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. Ironically, Wells’ seven-year, 6MM deal with Toronto in 2006 is no doubt a major reason why the current Jays management team has adopted this policy.
- Some newly-hired bench bosses make FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal‘s annual list of managers on the hot seat, including Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine.
MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
March 21, 2012
Posted by Admin at 6:29pm UTC
Even with the addition of the extra Wild Card spot in each league, there are at least a handful of teams that are well aware that they are at least one season away from contending for a playoff spot. The Baltimore Orioles are on that list, among the American League teams that despite undergoing some significant change in the offseason are still in need of a few more adjustments before they can be considered contenders. The Orioles have made a habit of occupying the cellar in the AL East over the years, and it will be difficult to end their string of four straight last-place finishes in one of the toughest MLB betting divisions in baseball.
When you consider that Baltimore hasn’t won 70 games since 2006, there is a sense that there should be major change throughout the club. Unfortunately, even with some key signings the Orioles don’t come close to representing a championship MLB betting contender. The team signed 26-year old left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to bolster the starting rotation, but the truth is that Chin is actually only a downgrade from Jeremy Guthrie, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies after spending the previous two seasons as the team’s ace. With Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter among the top options, it is clear that Baltimore has one of the worst starting rotations in the AL, and will be challenged not to finish with the highest team ERA.
Fortunately for Orioles’ fans they do have some key pieces on offense that will make the team worth watching. The team is trying to build around Matt Wieters and offseason addition JJ Hardy, and also added Nick Markakis to fill out the batting order. Wieters is a gold glove catcher that can bring a ton of offense, and Hardy is a rising star at shortstop, so those two will make up the team’s nucleus going forward. Brian Roberts and Mark Reynolds are currently pegged for the heart of the order, and Baltimore is hoping that Adam Jones can also provide some pop. The problem is that even with the offensive pieces the Orioles haven’t had the minor league depth to deal for a starting pitcher, and there aren’t many big names that have Baltimore at the top of the list for places that they would like to play.
The biggest task for the Orioles now is acquiring the players to build the starting rotation while complimenting Wieters and Hardy with better pieces to grow a young nucleus. This team has a lot of work to do going forward if it wants to be a legitimate sports bet contender, and while they will win some games, it will be hard for Baltimore to avoid the AL East basement. The Orioles are now committed long-term to following the same blueprint as the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, and while they may not see immediate results, the team is much better off in the long run.
MLB baseball sports betting and news
March 21, 2012
Posted by Admin at 5:55am UTC
Lance Berkman told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick that he thinks Bud Selig extorted new Astros owner Jim Crane into moving the team to the AL next season. “I think that’s exactly what it was,” said the former ‘Stro. “To tell [Crane], ‘We’re going to hold the sale of the team up until you guys agreed to switch?’ It just happened that the Astros were being sold at an optimal time for that to happen.”
Conspiracy theories aside, here’s the latest from around the league…
- Jeff Francis can opt out of his minor league contract with the Reds on March 28th, but he told reporters (including John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer) that he will report to Triple-A if he doesn’t make the team.
- MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki hears that the Phillies have been looking for infield help lately, but no one seems to be a clear upgrade over Freddy Galvis. The Phightin’s lost utility man Michael Martinez due to a broken bone in his foot today.
- Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com wrote about all of the Athletics roster turnover. “You do know your time is limited here,” said Brandon McCarthy. “You’re not looking to put down roots.”
- Joe Torre is waiting to see what happens with the Dodgers‘ ownership situation before returning to his old job at MLB, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Torre’s group bowed out of the bidding because of the parking situation at Dodger Stadium.
- “I think that we as a franchise have a chance to go through sort of an evolutionary process to get us back to where we want to be,” said Mets GM Sandy Alderson to Andrew Keh of The New York Times in the wake of the team’s recent financial moves. “From just an overall, organization standpoint, the landscape today is a lot brighter than it was two or three days ago, going into a potential three-week trial.”
MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com