It has to be a fine day for the young Brits as they battle for the next group game in the Colombian under - 20 FIFA World Cup game tonight August 4, 2011. Being in Colombia right now, I can tell you that the atmosphere is just burning up pre-game here. Both teams brought their fans from their home countries as you can see flags all over town, people wearing the British flag as a t-shirt, Mexicans painting their faces, it’s all just craziness in the Colombian capital.
As far as the game goes, it will be an easy win for the British team as the young Mexicans have struggled to get on form here in the World Cup. Part of the reason has to be the altitude, it’s just tremendous here, lack of oxygen is really apparent. The good news for the Mexicans is that the game will NOT be played in Bogota, but rather a very humid and quite low altitude sea level based coast capital, Cartagena. Mexico´s hopes are indeed up as they hammered the Koreans in their last appearance, however, this website believes that England will surely win and take the knockout seat for the last 16 tonight at five local time. Mexico has stated that they will be conservative, and will not go out for an all win against their opponents tonight as the coach respects very much the British talent. The problem for the Brits is that they have not recorded their first win, and they surely need one if they want to continue their endeavors in Colombia.
The British coach is very much pressed for a win here, as they try to battle out the younger Mexican side. The British sports press syndication has expressed much concern over a non-qualification, but the coach remains optimist that they have played good football, and the problem has also been the group as England recently tied against Argentina. It would be great to see the British try to battle it out and actually get a win here in the Ärenera. If I were making a wager on tonight’s game, I would use the bet365 free bet to my advantage by placing the British team for an easy win with nice odds here. Give us a try, you won’t be disappointed. As always, check us out for more info every day providing the most reputable bookmakers in the world.
As the 2011 season reaches its final two months, the divisional races are starting to get much tighter. This means that every single game for teams that are in the chase become increasingly important with every day that passes. There is no better way to start the month of August than to have two of the best teams in the National League Central division battle it out to see who can get a leg up on their closest competitor. The St. Louis Cardinals will be traveling to Miller Field to take on the Brewers in what should be a classic dual between the traditional powerhouse (St. Louis) and the young upstart (Milwaukee). Both of these franchises have done a great deal of preparation to have the success that they are currently having, and it will be very interesting to see who ultimately comes out ahead in this one.
Despite being without Albert Pujols for a short amount of time, the Cardinals remain one of the top hitting teams in all of Major League Baseball. This can be directly attributed to the work of players like Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman, who have both proven to the rest of the baseball world that they are still hitters to be feared no matter which lineup they are a part of. St. Louis fans are very grateful that these two exceptional professionals have been added to the order this season, and it appears as though Berkman and Holliday could be the catalysts that the Cardinals need in order to make a return trip to the postseason. While Milwaukee will most certainly prove to be a formidable opponent, don't expect them to be able to win this game over the Cardinals.
Milwaukee has been slowly making their way up the standings over the past couple of seasons, and they have finally reached their ultimate goal, which is giving themselves an opportunity to win a divisional championship. Their biggest opponent to reaching their destiny, however, has been leading the division for the better part of a decade, and it doesn't appear as though they plan on giving up their title without a fight. Prince Fielder has made believers out of everyone in Major League Baseball and having teammates like Ryan Braun on the roster certainly help him in his quest to get the Brewers on top of the National League Central. Look for Milwaukee to give St. Louis a run to the end of the game, but ultimately, they will come up short at the end against a very good Cardinals team.
There is a lot to like about the Brewers at this time, but they still are not at the level that the Cardinals are at. Milwaukee has certainly proven itself to be a team that will succeed well into the future, but it is difficult to pick them to win this game over the Cardinals due to St. Louis' past history against the Brewers. It won't be such a walk-in-the-park, however, in future seasons, as the Brewers continue to improve as a franchise.
There have been few teams this year that have performed better on the road than the Los Angeles Angels. Even though they are only three games above .500 away from home, this is still a very good record to have in Major League Baseball. The Angels will be traveling to Detroit over the weekend to take on the Detroit Tigers in a series that is very important to how each team will perform down the home stretch of 2011. Los Angeles currently finds themselves a couple of games back in the American League West division behind a very good franchise in the Texas Rangers. The Tigers are currently in first place, but only by a slim margin, which they have struggled to maintain in past seasons. While the game should be very competitive from start to finish, the Angels should be able to utilize their outstanding pitching staff to overcome Detroit in the Motor City.
Los Angeles' offensive attack won't be confused with the leaders in Major League Baseball this year. It has been a solid starting rotation and outstanding bullpen work that has carried the Angels to where they currently stand right now. The team can thank their relievers for getting them out of quite a few jams this season, and it will be important for the bullpen to keep their focus throughout the final two months of the season. Scott Downs and Jordan Walden have been absolutely sensational this year, and it has been Walden that has really stepped forward and taken control of the team's closer position. Los Angeles has always been known to have great late-inning pitchers, and manager Mike Scioscia has proven once again that he can put together a very solid staff of pitching coaches to help this unit maximize their skill.
Detroit has been pretty much the polar opposite of the Angels when it comes to the part of the team that they have relied on to get them wins. The lineup has been outstanding throughout the course of the season, and while they are not at the top of the list as far as team runs per game are concerned, they certainly have shown the propensity to be able to score a lot of runs in a short amount of time. While there are some power hitters on this roster like Johnny Peralta and Miguel Cabrera, Detroit still knows how to manufacture runs without having to rely on the long ball. This will ultimately help them reach their goal of returning to the Playoffs this season, but it will not give them the advantage over Los Angeles in this particular Sunday afternoon game.
For the Angels and Tigers, it has been difficult to put themselves in a position to succeed this year with all of the competition that they have to overcome in each of their divisions. However, both teams appear to be primed and ready to do whatever it takes to come out victorious at the end of September in order to test their luck in the 2011 Playoffs. Look for Los Angeles to take that next step forward on Sunday versus Detroit.
While the Kansas City Royals certainly aren't the best team that the American League has to offer right now, they could catch the Cleveland Indians in a slump on Sunday afternoon if Cleveland doesn't start playing the way they did during the first half of the 2011 season. The Indians have been very good on their home turf this year, which means that Kansas City is going to have to bring their best game if they figure on defeating Cleveland in the final game of this series. The Royals will be sending Kyle Davies to the mound, and that fact should automatically tell bettors everywhere that the Indians should be the favorite to win the game even before they take the field. Davies has been dreadful in almost every game that he has pitched this year, and it doesn't appear as though Sunday is going to be the day where he is able to turn everything around.
Davies' season has been one of the least productive of any starting pitcher in recent memory. With a 1-9 record and an ERA that is hovering around the 7.00 mark, the Royals cannot legitimately believe that they have the opportunity to win a game when Davies is scheduled to pitch. That lack of confidence certainly isn't good for any professional baseball player to be taking out on the field with him, so one can only imagine how the entire team feels when Davies gets the ball. Sooner or later, Kansas City is going to need to utilize their farm system in order to find someone else who can be more efficient than Davies. While they might not be an instant star in the Royals rotation, you would have to believe that any contribution at this point would be better than what Davies can offer every fifth day.
It is difficult to say that Fausto Carmona's season is going much better, however. Once thought to be the next superstar pitcher in the Cleveland Indians organization, Carmona has let his fanbase down this season with a sub-par year that has to have the team's front office considering whether he is going to be a part of the franchise's future plans. While he didn't have a great year in 2010, it was a significant improvement over the preceding couple of seasons. Carmona, however, has taken a big step backward this year, and Cleveland will certainly not be able to count on him come Playoff time if he continues to pitch the way that he has been. With the lineup that the Indians have, however, they should still have a terrific opportunity to win this important game against the Royals.
While Cleveland fans certainly can be excited about where the franchise is going, they have to be concerned with the Detroit Tigers taking over first place in the American League Central division, and the Chicago White Sox making a significant run to take over second place. Getting back to their winning ways against Kansas City should be able to give the momentum they need to be competitive during the last two months of the season.
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Anibal Sanchez and his Florida Marlins teammates travel to Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday night July 30th to take on their division rivals, the Atlanta Braves. The Braves will be countering Sanchez on the mound by assigning Tim Hudson to toe the rubber. Florida has finally gotten themselves to the point where they are playing some consistent baseball. Even though they have not achieved the results that they would have liked over the course of the season, they are still remaining competitive in each of the games that they play, which is really all the front office can ask for considering that the franchise works with a limited budget. Atlanta, on the other hand, has done everything in its power to compete with the Phillies on a seasonal basis, and it appears to be paying dividends this year with the Braves inching closer to taking over the number one spot. The Braves should be able to do what is necessary to come out victorious against the Marlins in this matchup.
This is the third consecutive season that Sanchez has been able to keep his ERA under 4.00, which is exactly what the Marlins will need if they expect to return to the Playoffs in the future. The problem for Florida lies in the fact that Sanchez might be gone by the time that they need him the most. If the beginning of the season was any indication, the Marlins are closer than a lot of experts think to reclaiming the top spot in the National League East. Still, their lineup has some improving to do before they can consider themselves among the elite teams. With franchise player Hanley Ramirez struggling as much as he is, it is difficult for the rest of the batting order to get themselves going. An excellent offensive output is exactly what Florida is going to need if they expect to overtake the Braves on what should be a balmy night in the Peach State.
Even at age 36, Tim Hudson still is regularly considered to be amongst the top pitchers in the National League. For years, Hudson has pitched incredibly well wherever he has gone, and Atlanta has just been another stop in his journey to the Hall of Fame. While Hudson will most assuredly have to pitch well to defeat the Marlins, he might have a little more slack than he would if the Braves were playing Philadelphia or St. Louis. Hudson has recorded double-digit win totals in every season that he has started 10 or more games, which extends all the way back to 1999. This should be the win that adds yet another season to that total.
Atlanta is certainly a team that is on the rise in Major League Baseball, and it will be interesting to see just how far they are able to carry their success this year. Their lineup needs some improvement from top to bottom, but it is the pitching that has become the staple of all of the good Braves teams. With the starting rotation that Atlanta has right now, there is no reason why they can't contend for the pennant this postseason.
If you have been a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for the last two decades, there has been a lot of heartache and disappointment that you have been exposed to throughout each individual season. Finally, fans of the franchise are being rewarded this year by a team that has proven its worth in the National League Central. While the Pirates probably will not contend for a World Series Championship this season, it's good to see the organization taking a step in the right direction. The young talent that has come up through Pittsburgh's farm system is finally starting to gel, and it seems as though the Pirates are going to be a team that could wreak havoc on the National League for the foreseeable future. The Phillies will counter the Pirates on Saturday night with one of the top pitchers in baseball, Cliff Lee. He has been pretty much unstoppable the entire year, and it will be difficult for Pittsburgh to put enough runs up on the board to come out of this one victorious.
James McDonald is scheduled to get the ball for the Pirates on Saturday evening, and it should be interesting to see if McDonald is able to withstand the offensive firepower that the Phillies bring to the table on a regular basis. McDonald has had a pretty good year for the most part with a winning record and an ERA under 4.00. Still, that doesn't mean he isn't vulnerable to one of the best lineups in baseball from top to bottom. If he is able to limit the number of pitches he throws per inning, he might have a shot at coming out of this game with a win. However, falling behind in the count on a regular basis is certainly going to hurt his, and the Pirates', chances of winning in Philadelphia.
Cliff Lee has used the 2011 season to prove once again that he is one of the premier starting pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. Lee finds himself in arguably the best rotation in baseball, which has to make his job a lot easier when he takes the mound every fifth day. Lee is now in his second stint with Philadelphia, and it doesn't appear as though he is struggling with his new surroundings. The National League is finally getting a taste of what the American League has had to go through for the past 11 seasons, and Lee is certainly not taking it easy on any team. If the Phillies end up winning another World Series this year, it will be directly attributable to the outstanding work that Cliff Lee has done over the course of this season.
The Pirates certainly have come a long way just since last season, but they still have some work to do if they plan on competing with the Cardinals and Brewers on a regular basis. Their hitting is still marginal at best, and the starting rotation is going to need some improvement as well. Still, it is good to see Pittsburgh fans get rewarded for their loyalty to the team, and this should be the start of a pretty successful run into the future.
For the Florida Marlins, 2011 has been a turbulent season that hasn't produced the kind of results that they originally thought they were going to have after one of the best starts in franchise history. The team had seemingly come together to have a magical season when everything went wrong in one gigantic collapse. With the team's manager making a surprise resignation and a prolonged losing streak, Florida hasn't been able to recover despite getting back to their winning ways. Their opponent on Thursday afternoon will be the Washington Nationals, who lead the Marlins by the slimmest of margins in the National League East. Washington has been playing much better baseball this year, and it appears as though they might be turning the corner towards legitimacy in the very near future. This should be a very competitive matchup, but Florida appears to have what is going to be necessary to defeat the Nationals in the Nation's Capital.
Without achieving a great level of success at any one particular aspect of the game this year, the Marlins have struggled to do what it takes to stay competitive in a large number of their games this season. With five players having 10 or more home runs this season, one would think that the Marlins would be having no problem scoring runs with this kind of support. Unfortunately, the team does not have one player on the roster that is hitting over .300 this year, which is really holding them back from being as effective as they could be. It is also worth mentioning that this might be Javier Vasquez's last chance to prove himself in Major League Baseball, as he continues to struggle to make it longer than three innings in the majority of his starts. Still, Washington's starting rotation is not that special, which means that Florida should have the upper-hand in this particular game.
It's not that the starting rotation is not talented, they just aren't able to keep opposing hitters off the base paths frequently enough to put their team in a position to win the majority of their games. The blame could also fall on the batting order for not providing enough run support, as the team has not showed much in the way of being able to score an abundance of runs. Save for Michael Morse, the team really has not had a hitter that has stepped forward to really become the leader that this lineup needs. The Nationals will continue to struggle until they start getting consistent hitting, which appears to only be available to them through the free agent market.
Both of these teams are kind of in the same situation in terms of where they are at as franchises. They both seem to be on the brink of breaking out and really challenging the Phillies and Braves for divisional supremacy. On the other hand, they have not proven that they have the ability to win on a regular basis, which will ultimately hold them back until they can remedy this problem.
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