05/12/2008 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run homer, part of an electric offensive outing that saw the Chicago Cubs cruise past the San Diego Padres, 12-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.
Carlos Zambrano (6-1) made another quality start for Chicago, hurling seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits and two walks while fanning five. He had been scheduled to pitch Sunday, but was pushed back to Monday after rain delayed the start of the game for nearly an hour.
Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa also drove in two runs apiece for the Cubs, who have triumphed in four straight. Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome each scored twice and knocked in one apiece.
Randy Wolf (2-3) lasted only four innings for San Diego, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and five walks. The southpaw slipped to 0-3 over his last four starts, and 2-6 in his career against the Cubs. Sean Henn fared no better in relief, yielding five runs on three hits and three walks over just 1 2/3 innings.
Jody Gerut went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two walks for the Padres, who have dropped six of their last eight outings. Tadahito Iguchi and Edgar Gonzalez -- who made his MLB debut -- each added an RBI, as San Diego fell to 12-4 in the last 16 meetings with Chicago.
San Diego deadlocked the duel in the third when Iguchi delivered a base hit to right that scored Wolf, and then took a 2-1 edge in the fifth on Gerut's two- out solo shot to right.
Chicago responded immediately, though, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the inning. Zambrano began the offensive outburst with a double to right, and Soriano followed with a blast over the ivy in center field.
After Ryan Theriot walked and Lee singled to left, Ramirez swatted a single to right that brought Theriot around to score. Fukudome then drew a walk to load the bases, and Soto and DeRosa belted back-to-back base hits that plated three more runs. Soto's single to center drove in Lee and Ramirez, while DeRosa beat out an infield single that allowed Fukudome to cross the plate, and the Cubs surged ahead, 7-2.
The onslaught continued in the sixth, as Chicago stretched its advantage with another five runs. Ramirez worked a four-pitch walk to fill the bases, and Fukudome then walked as well, enabling Soriano to trot home. After a Soto fly out to center, DeRosa slapped another infield single, plating Theriot. On the play, San Diego third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff threw the ball away, and Ramirez and Fukudome both came in to score. Reed Johnson then connected on a base hit up the middle, and DeRosa circled the diamond to give the Cubs a comfortable 12-2 cushion.
The Pads trimmed the margin to 12-3 in the seventh, when Gonzalez singled home Scott Hairston, who had reached base on a fielder's choice. However, that was the only additional firepower San Diego could muster.
The Cubs got on the board in the home half of the first frame. Theriot smacked a one-out base hit to right, and Lee knocked him in when he laced a double to right.
Game Notes
Tuesday is slated for Chicago's Jason Marquis (1-2) to battle San Diego's Shawn Estes (0-0)...Prior to Monday's game, the Padres purchased the contract of Gonzalez from Triple-A Portland. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, infielder Callix Crabbe was designated for assignment. Gonzalez, who made his MLB debut as a defensive replacement at third base in the sixth inning, is the older brother of San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
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The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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