The stage is set for MLB baseball’s midsummer classic.

As boring as baseball has been this 2008 MLB baseball season, their midseason All-Star break will still come at you with full force whether you like it or not. After all, these guys have to do something to take our minds away from all the steroid issues surrounding their stars right?

And when the 2008 MLB All-Star Weekend gets here, those stars will be featured, with or without the use of steroids. Hopefully, stars that get the invite for the midsummer extravaganza won’t have to since this event won’t be as competitive as a regular season game anyway.

So who got the invite?

The 2008 MLB All-Stars were named last Sunday (well some of them anyway…) and it was no surprise that four of the defending champions Boston Red Sox were selected for the American League All-Stars led by team captain Manny Ramirez.

Ramirez will be joined by Red Sox teammates David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. However, as great as it would be seeing…

Read More » The 2008 MLB All-Star Starters both for the American League and the National League are almost complete

For all ya’ll who missed it, a New York Mets fan was accused of blinding an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop during a game at Shea.

Yep, and the culprit is New York Mets fan Frank Martinez. He pleaded not guilty to the ‘’blinding an Atlanta Braves pitcher'’ crime with a high-powered flashlight. He he… Nice. Very nice.

Frank Martinez was arraigned in Queens criminal court on charges of interfering with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment. He was held on $1,000 bail and is due back in court May 1.

Yup, unfortunately, the guy was booked for helping his own town’s team win. He he… I definitely don’t get that. If he helped the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets instead, would he get into deeper shit?

For what it’s worth, the authorities claim Martinez, 40-years-old, flashed the light at the players in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday from his seat behind home plate. He quickly was ejected from the game.

‘’The defendant’s alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game,'’ Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

The Atlanta Braves were destroying the Mets 7-0 at the time of the incident. Probably without anything better to do, (and maybe bored out of his mind too…) Fred…

Read More » The day when Mets fans start blinding Braves pitchers

8:10 p.m. Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves Best Line: HOU +125, ATL -127 John Smoltz and his bald spot are getting lots of love from the bookies. Even though it seemed like the Braves were completely man-handled by the Astros and the sweet-swinging Hebrew Morgan Ensberg. And tonight the Braves get Roger Clemens. It’s a spectacular pitching match-up between two Hall of Famers that makes it curious as to why the Braves are favored, even if by a small number. It’s a total sucker bet probably, but we’re total suckers– we can’t ignore Clemens and the Astros getting some beans on this one.

Read More » Chopping Lines: A Tale of Two Horses

MLB PLAYOFF YTD= 2-4 Houston Astros 10, Atlanta Braves 5 Status=LOSS · There’s not much we can say about the Braves other than the fact that we feel sorry for them. We feel sorry for their fans. It must be frustrating to win a division every year and then get smoked in the playoffs. Well, we don’t feel that bad. LA Angels 5, New York Yankees 3 STATUS=LOSS · Maybe there’s something to this whole "Rally Monkey" thing? Still seems like the Yankees’ series to lose with Randy Johnson still set to pitch.

Read More » MLB Betting: Oof, It’s Getting Ugly

4:00 p.m.
Houston Astros
at
Atlanta Braves

Best Line: ATL -108, HOU +107 o/u 7
Well, what do you we do here? Everybody loves the Astros because of the workhorse triumvirate of Pettite/Clemens/Oswalt and the fact the Braves have been the best first round no-shows in the playoffs for the last four years. With Tim Hudson taking the mound for […]

Read More » Chopping Lines: The Return of Chief Knock-A-Homa

Two early afternoon games that look like possible underdog winners are the Houston Astros getting +125 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates(12:35 p.m.)–and our betting crush Zach Duke–and the Philadelphia Phillies getting +135 at Atlanta(1:05 p.m.) this afternoon. Houston starting pitcher Brandon Backe is scrubbish at times(even though he pitched 6.2 shutout innings during his last start), but we’re still agog over the Astros’ playoff push and how their bats seem to come alive when they need it most. And how about the Fightin’ Phils? Just when you think they’ll get shoved out of the wild card race they come up with inexplicable victories.

Read More » MLB Betting: Dog Day Afternoon

2:20 p.m. Atlanta Braves (71-55, J. Sosa) at Chicago Cubs (61-65, M. Prior) Best Line: ATLANTA +155, CUBS -168 There’s one thing that sticks out more than Mark Prior’s oblong head–his record against Atlanta. The Cubs’ ace is 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA against the knock-a-homas in his career. And even though Braves’ pitcher Jorge Sosa was put back in the pen, the injury to Mike Hampton has enabled him at least another couple starts. Sosa’s had one bad outing since he’s been a starter posting a 8-2 record and a 2.63 ERA.

Read More » Chopping Lines: Putting Out the Hot Prior in Your Pants

With lines hovering at +175–and higher– for today’s afternoon game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves it’d be foolish not to throw money at pitching phenom Zach Duke(who has yet to give up a run) against the Braves’ Tim Hudson. Sure, Duke may be due for a blow-up, but taking an under at an average of 7 1/2 is a great bet unless everything completely falls apart. Monitor all the Covers lines and get in on the action. Quickly. Hurry. Game is at 1:05 p.m. Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves [Covers]

Read More » MLB Underdog Betting: Go Bet On Zach Duke RIGHT NOW

1:05 p.m. Washington Nationals (55-46, R. Drese) at Atlanta Braves (57-44, J. Sosa) Best Line: Atlanta Braves -172 Looking at the schedule in the beginning of the season who could have thought that the winner of this series would be in first place in the NL East? After last night’s 4-3 win against the pesky Nationals, Atlanta leads the NL East by a slim two game margin over Washington. The Nationals had a five and a half game lead in the NL East but have dropped eight consecutive one run games.

Read More » Chopping Lines: The Revenge of Chief Knock-A-Homa