Bootcheck had been on the DL since June 9 with a strained right forearm. He
was 0-1 with a 10.13 earned-run average prior to the setback.
A corresponding roster move was not announced before the Angels kicked off a
three-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays with an 8-2 win.
<< Cristman leads New England over L.A., Beckham
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Cristman scored two first-half goals and the
New England Revolution held off David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy, 2-1,
on Friday to win a battle conference leaders at The Home Depot Center.
Cristman s
<< Rockies top Marlins in slugfest
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Iannetta drove in four runs, including the
game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, as the Colorado Rockies trailed by as
many as nine runs but rallied for a wild, improbable 18-17 win over the
Florida
<< Angels rout Blue Jays
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Howie Kendrick finished 2-for-4 and drove in
three runs as Los Angeles drubbed Toronto, 8-2, in the first of a three-game
set.
Garret Anderson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored
<< Rapids roll to 4-0 win over Red Bulls
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark and Tom
McManus each had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Rapids rolled to a 4-0
win over Red Bull New York on Friday to snap a four-game winless streak.
Omar Cum
<< Report: Duhon to become a Knickerbocker
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have reportedly agreed to a
two-year, full mid-level exception $12 million contract with guard Chris
Duhon.
The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that Duhon will sign with the Knicks wh
Briscoe fastest in qualifying at Watkins Glen >>
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Briscoe won the pole for Sunday's
Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. The No.6
Team Penske driver rounded the 3.37-mile road course in one minute, 29.3456
seconds
Williams sisters win third Wimbledon doubles title >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Venus and Serena Williams won their
third Wimbledon doubles title on Saturday with a straight-sets victory over
Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.
Just hours earlier on Saturday, Venus defeated
Rangers place Benoit on DL, call up Nippert >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Joaquin
Benoit on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with right shoulder inflammation.
The move is retroactive to July 3.
Benoit has compiled a 3-2 record with a 5.60
Orioles select Aquino, designate Bukvich >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles selected the contract
of pitcher Greg Aquino from Triple-A Norfolk and designated pitcher Ryan
Bukvich for assignment on Saturday.
Aquino was 2-2 with a 2.45 earned run average
Romero leads Sindelar, Allem by a shot >>
Endicott, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eduardo Romero fired a seven-under 65 on
Saturday to take the second-round lead at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.
Romero, who also opened with a 65 in the first round Friday, stood at 14-under
130 for a
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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