07/05/2009 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Baseball has announced the rosters for the 2009 All-Star Game, and the squads are filled with many familiar names, as only a pair of first-time starters were selected.
The 80th Mid-Summer Classic will be played July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and for the second season in a row a member of the host team was the top vote-getter overall. New York's Alex Rodriguez received the most votes for last year's game at Yankee Stadium.
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols will make his eighth All-Star appearance and sixth start -- fifth as a first baseman -- after garnering 5,397,374 votes, the second-most in history behind Ken Griffey, Jr., who had 6,079,688 votes in 1994.
Pujols' teammate, catcher Yadier Molina, will make his first All-Star Game appearance, as St. Louis is one of three National League teams to have two starters in the game.
The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies and their NL East arch-rival New York Mets also each had a pair of starters selected. Philadelphia outfielder Raul Ibanez and second baseman Chase Utley will be in the lineup, while New York outfielder Carlos Beltran and third baseman David Wright were also voted in by the fans.
This marks Ibanez's first All-Star Game selection in his 14-season career.
The rest of the National League starting lineup is filled out by Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter headlined the American League squad, receiving a league-high 4,851,899 votes to earn his 10th All-Star Game selection -- his fifth as a starter.
Jeter will be joined in the infield by new teammate Mark Teixeira, who is an All-Star for the second time. Filling out the rest of the infield are the reigning AL MVP -- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia -- and last year's AL final vote winner -- Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.
Twins catcher Joe Mauer is the AL's starting backstop, while the Junior Circuit's starting outfield will consist of Boston's Jason Bay, Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Texas' Josh Hamilton.
The AL champion Rays will have four total players to join their manager, Joe Maddon, in St. Louis, as shortstop Jason Bartlett and outfielders Ben Zobrist and Carl Crawford were selected as reserves for the All-Star squad.
The other American League reserves are Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones; Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis; Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez; Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson; Angels outfielder Torii Hunter; Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau; Texas third baseman Michael Young and Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill.
Headlining the AL pitching staff is 42-year-old Tim Wakefield, who will make his first All-Star Game appearance in his 17th MLB season. Wakefield, a knuckleballer who recently set a Red Sox record for most career starts, is the second oldest player to make his first All-Star Game appearance to Satchel Paige, who was 46 years old.
Joining Wakefield are Kansas City's Zack Greinke; Toronto's Roy Halladay; Detroit's Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson; the White Sox's Mark Buehrle; Boston's Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett; Minnesota's Joe Nathan; the Yankees' Mariano Rivera, who is making his 10th All-Star Game appearance; the Angels' Brian Fuentes; Oakland's Andrew Bailey, who is the only rookie in the game, and Seattle's Felix Hernandez.
Arizona's 21-year-old outfielder Justin Upton is one of four first-time All- Stars among the National League reserves. Joining Upton in that respect are Colorado outfielder Brad Hawpe, Houston outfielder Hunter Pence and Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
Accompanying them on the team will be Atlanta catcher Brian McCann; Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada; Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson; Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder; Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard; Pittsburgh second baseman Freddy Sanchez and San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
The National League pitching staff will consist of San Francisco's Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain; the Cubs' Ted Lilly; Arizona's Dan Haren; the Dodgers' Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton; Florida's Josh Johnson; St. Louis' Ryan Franklin; San Diego's Heath Bell; the Mets' Francisco Rodriguez and Johan Santana; Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero and Colorado's Jason Marquis.
Each team will have an additional player, as voted again by the fans.
The National League choices are Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds, Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino, San Francisco third baseman Pablo Sandoval and Washington shortstop Cristian Guzman.
The American League candidates are Angels infielder Chone Figgins, Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, Toronto outfielder Adam Lind and Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena.
Balloting for the final player began Sunday and will continue through 4 p.m. (et) on Thursday, July 9.
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Blanton pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings,
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
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