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07/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners continue to push forward in their attempt to take over the top spot in the American League West. Although the club has gone just 5-5 since the All-Star break, a recent slump by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim now has Seattle finding itself just two games out of first place in the division standings.
The Mariners' climb towards the top has not been an easy one, as they have trailed the Angels by as many as eight games over the last month. Seattle's resurgence began about three weeks ago, as they won nine of 10 games to close out the month of June. The winning carried over into early July and at 13 games above .500 (54-41), Seattle is very much alive in both the races for the AL West crown and the league's wild card spot.
The Mariners closed the gap in AL West earlier this week by taking two out of three games from the Baltimore Orioles. However, they failed to capitalize on the momentum, as they dropped two out of three games to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.
Seattle opened the series with a 4-2 win on Friday night. Starter Miguel Batista earned his 10th win of the season, limiting the Blue Jays to just two runs on five hits through 5 2/3 innings. The Mariners' bullpen took care of the rest, holding the Blue Jays scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings. Closer J.J. Putz continued his dominance by collecting his 29th save of the season.
Seattle registered just six hits in the win, but received a two-run homer from Adrian Beltre in the fourth inning to take control of the game.
Friday's win would be the last for Seattle, as it dropped two straight to end the series. The Mariners lost a 1-0 heartbreaker on Saturday despite an outstanding effort from starter Jeff Weaver. The right-hander was dominant in the loss, allowing just one run on four hits through eight innings. However, the Mariners' struggles at the plate continued, as they collected just three hits in the loss.
Seattle's hitting problems were evident again during Sunday's 8-0 setback, as the Mariners were held to a meaningless three hits for a second straight day.
Starting pitcher Felix Hernandez was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits through six innings. The Mariners also suffered a meltdown in the fifth inning that led to the ejection of manager John McLaren.
SUZUKI SIGNED THROUGH 2012
Although the trade deadline is still a week away, the Mariners have already made their most important move of the season by re-signing center fielder Ichiro Suzuki to a five-year contract extension. The re-signing was a must for Seattle, which would have had to go through a bidding war for Suzuki during the offseason.
Suzuki did not come cheap, signing for a reported $90 million over the next five years, but the deal, which was finalized on July 13, will keep the All- Star in Seattle through the 2012 season.
Signing Suzuki before the offseason gives merit to the Mariners' stance that they are dedicated to building a winner. Ichiro has been the cornerstone of the franchise since joining Seattle in 2000. He has more than 200 hits in each of his seven major league seasons while earning a Gold Glove in each of the past six years.
Suzuki has continued to thrill this season, batting .346 with 136 hits on the year. Just two weeks ago, he recorded the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history on his way to being named the contest's MVP. He became the first Mariner to garner the honor since Ken Griffey Jr. did so in 1992.
Suzuki's deal includes much more than the reported $90 million in guaranteed salary. The Japanese star will also receive a $5 million signing bonus, a yearly housing allowance, a new car, a personal trainer and interpreter, plus four first class tickets from Seattle to Japan each year.
Executive vice president Bill Bavasi spoke about the importance of re-signing Suzuki and what the outfielder has meant to the Mariners and the city of Seattle.
"This is a tremendously important day for our ballclub, the club's fans and for Ichiro, but more importantly, it's a real exciting day for us," Bavasi said. "Ichiro is a cornerstone that you use to build a winning club. He plays hard, he plays the game right, he sets a great example for our younger players, and any players, just based on his dedication and his preparation."
As for Ichiro, he is happy to be able to call Seattle home for the next five seasons.
"Well, I can't say there was a particular day that I decided [to stay]," said Suzuki. "But during the season we go to different teams, different places on the road, and the fans from opposing teams always told me, 'Please come here, please come to our team,' in many different places. To be honest, I was moved during those times, and also the fans in Japan [who] asked me to come back to Japan to play. But in the end, when I came back to Seattle and the fans here asked me to stay here, that was a moment that meant the most to me and that's when I decided."
REITSMA GIVES PEN A BOOST
Chris Reitsma's return to the Seattle bullpen has given the Mariners a solid right-handed set-up man. Unfortunately, the Mariners will be unable to gauge Reitsma's long term affect until he proves that he can be called upon on a nightly basis. The oft-injured hurler has spent the majority of this season on the disabled list, missing time from April 19 to June 4 with an elbow injury only to go back on the DL from June 11 to July 5 for the same reason.
Reitsma has been solid since re-joining the club earlier this month, having allowed just one run over his last four appearances. He has shown power and control on the mound and has given the Mariners another option in the late innings. However, the right-hander has yet to pitch on consecutive nights and many in the organization are unsure as to how his elbow will respond.
If Reitsma is able to regain full strength and become a solid reliever, the Mariners may have found the missing piece to a run at the AL West crown. However, if his troublesome elbow limits his playing time, the Mariners may have to hit the market in search of another setup man.
Reitsma is confident that his elbow is ready for the test. He has dealt with elbow problems in the past and believes that he is more than ready to pitch on back-to-back nights.
"At this point in time, I feel I am fully able to do that," he said. "I realize there are going to be days when I wake up after pitching the night before and my elbow will ache a little. But I don't anticipate anything happening to debilitate me the rest of the way. If it stays like this, I definitely can pitch in back-to-back games."
McLaren will be proactive in testing Reitsma's endurance, but is not going to do anything that may jeopardize the health of his already-stellar bullpen.
"When you are coming off an injury, pitching back-to-back is one step back," McLaren said. "We had that issue with (Brandon) Morrow, because he had never done it before. We got over that hurdle a little bit and now we have to do the same with Chris."
WHO'S HOT
Designated hitter Jose Vidro has been hot out of the break, hitting safely in five of his last six games and going 15-for-39 (.385) at the plate since July 6. Vidro, who is a career .301 hitter, is batting .299 with 47 runs scored this season.
WHO'S NOT
Raul Ibanez is battling through a slump right now, going just 4-for-35 at the plate over his last 10 games. He has gone hitless in four of his last five outings and was a pitiful 1-for-12 during the Toronto series. The outfielder is batting .258 with six home runs and 57 RBI on the season.
ON DECK
The Mariners will travel to Arlington for a four-game set against the Texas Rangers beginning Monday. The opener will feature Horacio Ramirez (5-2, 5.89) and Texas ace Kevin Millwood (6-8, 5.50). Tuesday's double-header will kick off with a showdown between Mariners lefty Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 4.02) and John Rheinecker (0-0. 12.00), with Ryan Feierabend (1-3, 9.31) pitching the nightcap for Seattle opposite Kameron Loe (5-8, 5.69). Wednesday night's finale will feature Batista (10-7, 4.32) and Brandon McCarthy (4-7, 5.53).
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Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
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