05/15/2008 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers have signed outfielder Ryan Braun to a record-setting eight-year contract that sets the bar for players with three years or less of major league experience.
The deal, worth a reported $45 million, covers the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year's arbitration years and his first two seasons of free agency. It includes the 2008 campaign and runs through 2015.
"I was drafted by the Brewers and although my career is just beginning, I know that the long-term future of this franchise is very promising," Braun said. "I hope that today's announcement is indicative of how much wearing this uniform means to me."
The pact exceeds the six-year, $31 million contract signed by Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who would have been eligible for arbitration the year before Braun. Rays third baseman Evan Longoria got a six-year, $17.5 million deal that was the previous standard for players like Braun that fall into the "zero-plus" category of service time.
"It's a very good contract for both the ballclub and Ryan," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.
Braun, just 24 years old, also received the largest contract in franchise history, surpassing the four-year, $42 million dollar deal the Brewers signed pitcher Jeff Suppan to before the 2007 season.
"We've always been looked upon as a small-market team, but we try not to have that attitude," Melvin added.
Braun captured the league's top rookie honor last year despite playing only 113 games. He batted .324 with 34 home runs and 97 runs batted in. His major league-best .634 slugging percentage surpassed the all-time rookie record of .621 set in 1930 by George Watkins of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Entering Thursday's action, Braun leads the Brewers with 29 runs batted in and is batting .287 with nine homers. He is also tied for second in the National League with 14 doubles.
Because Braun was not called up to the majors until May 2007, Braun would not have been eligible for arbitration until after the 2010 season, and would not have hit the free agent market until the end of the 2013 season.
<< Cubs aim to continue Wrigley success in finale with Pads
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wrigley Field has been a win factory this season for the
Chicago Cubs and will be today's site for the finale of a four-game series
versus the San Diego Padres.
Chicago has won two of the first three meetings wi
<< Arizona's Webb tries to stay hot vs. Colorado
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Webb will try to put together the best start to a
season in franchise history tonight, as he leads the Arizona Diamondbacks
against the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a three-game set at Chase Field.
Webb
<< Jays hope to sweep away Twins at Metrodome
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays shoot for their first three-game
sweep of the Twins in Minnesota in more than five years today, as the two
clubs end a three-game series at the Metrodome.
Toronto has taken the first two
<< Rolling Astros face tough test in Giants' Lincecum
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros haven't had much trouble scoring runs
lately, but the red-hot club may have trouble keeping up that pace when it
takes on San Francisco Giants star Tim Lincecum in this afternoon's finale of
a four-game ser
Nationals' Johnson heads to DL again >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals have placed oft-
injured first baseman Nick Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a torn
tendon in his right wrist, the team announced Thursday.
Johnson, who missed the
U.S. announces World Cup semifinal home sites >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States men's national team will play
World Cup semifinal round qualifying matches in Bridgeview, Ill., Washington,
D.C. and Commerce City, Colo., if it defeats Barbados in the second round.
The Unit
Around FCS: The Perils of Perrilloux >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - EX-LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux is in
search of team. And Jacksonville State is in need of a quarterback.
So who cares about the suspensions, legal issues and failed drug tests in this
mercurial athlete
AFL approves instant replay for 2008 playoffs >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arena Football League approved the use of
instant replay for this year's playoffs.
The league's Board of Directors unanimously approved the change, marking the
first time in the AFL's 22-season history
Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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