Jacobs Field no longer a safe haven for the Tribe

Baseball Betting Lines

08/14/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Once upon a time, the Cleveland Indians could turn to Jacobs Field to ease their troubles.

The Indians spent much of the season with the top home record in the majors, but lately they've been getting hammered pretty good in their own backyard. Since the All-Star break, Cleveland is just 6-13 at home.

Those struggles came to a head over the weekend, when the Tribe returned home from a seven-game road trip only to get swept by the New York Yankees in three games at Jacobs Field. Then again, perhaps it's more of a Yankees problem than a home field problem.

Cleveland is now 0-6 on the year against the Bronx Bombers, which accounts for the only two times the team has been swept in a series this season.

Still, the Yankee series is only a small sampling of a larger issue for the Tribe. With the weekend sweep, the Indians have now dropped 13 of their last 20 games and have failed to take hold of the division while the Detroit Tigers have struggled.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves and let our chins fall and pout about it," manager Eric Wedge said following Sunday's 5-3 loss. "This is a tough game. All teams go through stretches like this. We've got to handle it with a lot of strength and personality and toughness, and move on."

Moving on is going to be a difficult task for a Cleveland team that was just outscored by a 22-6 margin this weekend. The Indians got off on the wrong foot early in Friday's 6-1 loss, as they could manage only four hits off Yankees starter Phil Hughes in the rookie pitcher's second start off a long stay on the disabled list. Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona was tagged with his seventh loss of the season after giving up four runs in seven innings.

The Indians dug themselves another early hole on Saturday, as starting pitcher starter Paul Byrd yielded seven runs in the second inning en route to an 11-2 loss. On Sunday, the Indians were on the wrong end of a 5-3 final largely because they failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the seventh inning.

The offense has indeed been struggling, with an average of 3.4 runs over the last 20 games. But like Wedge said, there is no time for the Indians to pout about it, since they play five of their next eight games against the Tigers, with whom Cleveland shares the top spot in the American League Central.

"We've got to get it going," pitcher Jake Westbrook said. "And we've got to get it going now."

SHAPIRO HAPPY FOR TRADES HE DIDN'T MAKE AT DEADLINE

Considering how the team has fared over the past few weeks, general manager Mark Shapiro was recently asked whether he had any regrets of not pulling the trigger on one or two more moves at the trade deadline.

"I think the danger in this game is looking at any juncture in time and taking that as a conclusive evaluation," Shapiro told the team's official site over the weekend. "It doesn't feel good at the moment. That's the reality of the emotions of the last four-to-six weeks. But we need to put that behind us and focus on (winning from) here on out and recognize the opportunity we've got."

Wedge said he was more than happy to have received Kenny Lofton prior to the trade deadline. But there were a few potential deals that could have ultimately hurt the team. One involved reliever Octavio Dotel, who is now on the DL.

"I don't think we missed an opportunity," Wedge said. "We looked hard at every opportunity. I'm thankful for some of the trades we didn't do. Ninety percent of the cases, when you examine July trades, you're going to win or lose ultimately with the club you built in the offseason and the depth you've got."

WHO'S HOT

First baseman Ryan Garko is hitting .326 over the last 25 games, a span of 86 at-bats. Despite some less-than-stellar run support, Carmona has turned in a rock-solid 1.84 ERA over his last six starts.

WHO'S NOT

Grady Sizemore (.192) is hitting below the Mendoza Line over the last six games.

A LOOK AHEAD

The Tribe had an off-day on Monday, but now welcome the Tigers to Jacobs Field to begin a two-game set. Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia (14-6, 3.52) faces Jeremy Bonderman (10-5, 4.75) in Tuesday's opener. On Wednesday, Carmona (13-7, 3.26) will square off with Jair Jurrjens, who will be making his first big-league start.

Cleveland gets another day of rest Thursday before traveling to Tampa Bay for a weekend series with the Devil Rays.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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