Dodgers demote Broxton from closer's role
Baseball Betting Lines
08/13/2010 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers demoted Jonathan Broxton from the closer's role after he suffered his fifth blown save of the season by faltering in the ninth inning Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Broxton, chosen as an All-Star the last two years, has a 4-4 record with a 3.50 ERA with 21 saves this season entering Friday night. The right-hander has suffered three blown saves in his last eight appearances, including the horrible outing Thursday night when he didn't retire a batter.
The Dodgers, who were ahead by seven runs at one point Thursday, led 9-6 going to the ninth inning when Broxton entered the game. He hit Placido Polanco with a pitch, walked Mike Sweeney and Jayson Werth. An error on third baseman Casey Blake scored two runs and Carlos Ruiz then slammed a two-run double to the gap in left-center field to end the game.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre will use Hong-Chih Kuo as the closer for the time being, although Broxton can earn the job back. Kuo has a 3-1 record with a 0.90 ERA and three saves going into Friday's game in Atlanta.
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Recently I had an email debate with an angry reader who said I did not understand "the science of oddsmaking", as he called it.
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With a growing aversion to risk, it should come as no surprise that Vegas bookmakers have been panicking this NFL season.
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And much to the dismay of the books, those favorites are finding ways to cover the thick chalk. In fact, prior to Week 7, the four teams listed above are a combined 16-2-2 (88 percent) against the spread. (The tables turned dramatically in Week 7, but more on that later.)
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