Angels get Dan Haren and a tree falls in the forest

Baseball Betting Lines

07/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yawn.

That is exactly the first thought that went through my head when my I-Phone beeped on Sunday night with the news that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had acquired Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Joe Saunders and a few other guys that (trust me) you will never, ever hear from.

I don't understand this deal from either team's standpoint.

I guess if you try hard you can convince me that the Angels are attempting to keep pace with the American League West-leading Texas Rangers, who, of course, picked up stud Cliff Lee two weeks ago. But, Haren is nowhere near as good as Lee, and may not be all that much better than the one they gave up in Saunders, forgetting for a second the other extra pieces they had to give up.

In case you were wondering. Saunders is a year younger than Haren and also has two more wins than then him since the start of the 2008 season. And, by the way, does not earn $25.5 million over the next two seasons.

Saunders was viewed as an untouchable last summer and last winter when the Angels were engaging in talks with Toronto for Roy Halladay. Why did Anaheim pull the plug now? Did they covet Haren more than Halladay? I am sorry, but this move reeks of desperation from a team that is seven games back of the Rangers at the moment.

Maybe it's just me, but I am not a big Dan Haren guy. If he is that good, how come he is now going to be pitching for his fourth different organization since being drafted in 2001?

Aren't franchises supposed to build their teams around pitchers like Haren? Why is it that he is always the guy who gets dealt?

As bad as the Kansas City Royals are, how come Zack Greinke is off limits? Why do the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are heading towards their 18th straight losing season, not entertain offers for someone like Paul Maholm?

And yes, I would rather have Paul Maholm than Haren. For that matter, I would rather have Maholm than Roy Oswalt, but maybe that is why I am not in a front office at the moment.

I don't get the fascination with Oswalt either. I hate the fact that you have to convince players on a losing team to play for a winner. I hope Roy Oswalt, his no-trade clause and the $40 million coming to him all remain in Houston for the rest of his career, without a title.

We will see if Oswalt gets moved later this week.

People have said to me in the past week that in both the cases of Haren and Oswalt, it must be hard to get up every fifth day knowing you pitch for Arizona and Houston. Really? That raises more of a red flag for me. That means they have some quit in them. Cliff Lee seemed to do well in Seattle and I don't think I ever noticed Halladay struggling in Toronto.

I'm sorry, if you are moved around as often as Haren, I don't think that much of you. Minnesota dealt Johan Santana only when they had to. Cleveland dealt CC Sabathia and Lee when they had to. There was no reason for Arizona to move Haren, unless, of course, they don't think much of him either.

As little as I think of Haren, I would rather have him than Joe Saunders at the moment. But, if Arizona had already resigned itself to the fact that it had to deal him, couldn't they have found a better package than the one Anaheim gave up? Other than Saunders, the best prospect in the deal is 19 years old.

You have to think that due to his shoulder concerns, Brandon Webb re-signs in Arizona this offseason. With him, Haren, Ian Kennedy and even Edwin Jackson in the fold, that is a pretty solid rotation heading into 2011. Not to mention young offensive stars like Justin Upton, Chris Young and Mark Reynolds.

The Diamondbacks are not as far away as their record may indicate. This, though, probably isn't the only move they will make. I am guessing Jackson is the next to go.

I just don't get it. If this is the move that new general manager Jerry DiPoto is willing to start his legacy with, then good luck. And if this was a salary dump, then how long until the team sells off Justin Upton?

Bottom line, Anaheim is probably better off today than it was when the sun rose on Sunday, but in the grand scheme of things this is a move that will have little or zero impact on the American League West standings.

As far as Arizona goes, well, I guess it's back to the drawing board ... again.

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(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

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MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
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