Ankiel returns to Cardinals, with a different kind of power

Baseball Betting Lines

08/10/2007 - St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel made his return to the club on Thursday, as the team purchased his contract from Triple-A Memphis. Ankiel then belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning, part of St. Louis' 5-0 win over the San Diego Padres.

Ankiel had been plagued by injuries and control problems since breaking into the majors as a pitcher in 1999, but he resurfaced as a power-hitting outfielder. He started in right field and hit second in the lineup, finishing the game 1-for-4 with the big blast in the seventh inning.

Ankiel was leading the Pacific Coast League with 32 home runs at time of purchase and was tied for second with 89 RBI. He won 11 games and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2000, but retired as a pitcher in March, 2005 due to control problems and then missed the entire 2006 season due to left knee surgery. However, he returned to the majors with a vengeance on Thursday and even got a curtain call after clubbing his third career major league homer.

Over a four-year major-league career as a starter, he pitched in only 51 games, including 41 starts, compiling a 13-10 mark with a 3.90 ERA.

He was selected by St. Louis in the second round of the June 1997 Free Agent Draft and made his major league debut on August 23, 1999.

The 28-year-old spent the majority of the 2004 campaign on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on his left elbow on July 16, 2003. He appeared in five games out of the bullpen late in the year for the Cardinals and posted a 1-0 mark with a 5.40 ERA. His victory over Milwaukee on October 1 was his first since April 8, 2001.

However, an inability to focus his control on the mound forced him to re- evaluate his career. Ankiel retired as a pitcher in March, 2005, and was reborn as a power-hitting outfielder. A further setback occurred the following season, when a left knee injury suffered in spring training derailed his comeback.

Hitting as a lefty this season, Ankiel is batting .267 with a Pacific Coast League-best 32 home runs in 102 games for the Memphis Redbirds, and he is also tied for second best in the PCL with 89 RBI.

The team opened a roster spot for Ankiel by placing infielder Scott Spiezio on Major League Baseball's restricted list due to an apparent substance abuse problem.

Www3sex Baseball Betting News

<< Hudson, Arizona edge Pirates
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orlando Hudson drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh to support Doug Davis' seven strong frames, as Arizona bested Pittsburgh, 4-2, at Chase Field. Davis (9-10) remained unbeaten for the sixth strai

<< Jones jump-starts Cubs to rout of Rockies
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacque Jones went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Chicago Cubs pounded the Colorado Rockies, 10-2, in the first of a four-game set at Coors Field. Ryan Theriot and Jason Kendall both scored twice whil

<< Sharapova leads top seeds into quarterfinals
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russian Maria Sharapova led a charge of the top four seeds into the quarterfinals at the $600,000 East West Bank Classic on Thursday. The top-seeded Sharapova, fresh off her title in San Diego, had a diff

<< Shoppach's HR carries Indians over White Sox
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelly Shoppach's opposite field three-run homer highlighted a five-run fourth against Mark Buehrle, as Cleveland downed the Chicago White Sox, 7-5, at U.S. Cellular Field. Buehrle's ineffectiveness was Aar

<< Cowboys down Colts in preseason opener
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Romo had an accurate night passing and Keith Davis returned an interception for a score, as the Dallas Cowboys opened their preseason with a 23-10 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Indiana

Pac-10 - Can USC go undefeated? >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Trojans head into 2007 as the clear- cut number one team in the nation, but unlike last season, they have four tough contests away from Memorial Coliseum where they have not lost since 2001. Both UCLA and

Phils welcome Braves to town for three >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Breakout southpaw Cole Hamels can improve an already solid home record tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves in the first of three games at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels, who was drafted by the Philli

Marlins, Mets start series at Shea >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida lefty Scott Olsen will try for a second straight victory tonight when the Marlins visit Shea Stadium to open a three-game series with the New York Mets. The 23-year-old former sixth-round draft pick defeated Housto

Friars send Ledezma to hill in Cincy >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Well-traveled left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma makes his first start of the 2007 season in his third uniform tonight when the San Diego Padres visit Great American Ball Park to open a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.

Tigers host Oakland in first of four games >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers try to avoid falling further behind in the AL Central this evening when they begin a four-game set with the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Detroit dropped the final two games of its three-game

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.