Ness Notes (July 31)

And the last will be the first! The Pittsburgh Pirates entered last weekend as the biggest money-burners in MLB with a mark of minus-$2,283 at $100/game. However, the team’s three-game sweep of the Giants gives Pittsburgh the longest active winning streak in MLB (five games) as of Monday morning. The Cubs’ four-game sweep of the Cardinals ties the Mets for the second-longest streak. What’s going on here?

My bye for Monday is the Az D’backs over the Chi Cubs at 8:05 ET. I only have one play for Monday as I follow my winner 22* (Twins) on Sunday. He’s another one of my exclusive Las Vegas Insiders, on a three-month run of 64%. Get it now!

The NL West seemingly has a stranglehold on losing streaks these days, as the Dodgers entered the weekend riding an eight-game losing streak and having lost 13 of 14 games since the break (they had been outscored 81 -29). While the Dodgers swept the Nationals in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium this weekend (Washington had entered the weekend on a six-game winning streak, by the way!), the West’s rival National League, the Giants, open the new week with the majors. ‘ Longest active losing streak (seven games).

Pittsburgh’s recent hot streak has allowed them to climb out of the bottom of the “moneyline” rankings, as the Cleveland Indians take over the “top” spot. The Indians are down $2,145 on the season, while the Pirates are down $1,921. The Indians own by far the worst money line record in the American League, as the Devil Rays (43-62) own the second-worst record in the league under $550.

The Tigers took two of three from the Twins this weekend. Detroit has had the best overall record in the MLB for quite some time, and as of this morning, their 70-34 mark is seven games better than the Mets, who own the second-best record in the MLB at 63-41. . However, Detroit’s money line advantage is even more impressive. The Tigers own the best record in the MLB with more than $3,224, almost double the second best record in the majors, held by the Twins (more than $1,684).

The Mets are third with more than $1,335 and the Red Sox are fourth best with more than $1,168. They are the only four teams to show a profit of more than $1,000 (at $100/game) for the season and believe it or not, the Arizona Diamondbacks (53-31) own the fifth-best record in the MLB, earning more than $647 .

Monday’s MLB schedule features just 10 games with the Indians/Red Sox broadcast on ESPN at 7:05 ET. The game features the return to the mound of 43-year-old David Wells. Wells went 15-7 with a 4.45 ERA last season, his first with the Red Sox. He is 20-4 with a 3.52 ERA in his career against the Indians, but he will be making just his third start of the year in what has been an injury-plagued season.

It should be noted that Boston went 11-1 in its home starts last year and Cleveland starter Paul Byrd, despite a 3.52 road ERA, has seen the Indians go 3-7. in their road starts in 2006. The marquee of the night, though. The matchup is the opening game of a three-game series in Anaheim between the A’s and Angels (10:05 ET). The 55-50 A’s have held at least part of the AL West lead for 45 of the past 46 days, but the 54-50 Angels own the best record in MLB in July, 19-6 ( Haren vs. Santana).

NFL ratings

The 2006 NFL preseason begins in less than a week when the Raiders and Eagles meet next Sunday in Canton. My countdown to the next soccer season starts today and will continue every day.

The Jets finished last in the AFC East in 2005 with the Browns and Ravens finishing tied for last in the AFC North. The Texans finished last in the South and the Raiders in the West. In the NFC, the Eagles finished last in the East, the Packers in the North, the Saints in the South and the 49ers in the West. Why mention this?

Because in each of the past three seasons, two teams that had finished last (or tied for last) in their respective divisions bounced back to make the playoffs the following season. The Chiefs and Panthers bounced back from last place in 2002 to make the playoffs in 2003. The Chargers and Falcons were last place teams in 2003 but made the playoffs in 2004 and then last year the Bears and Bucs followed suit. last place. ends in 2004 to make playoff appearances in 2005.

Will two (or more?) of the aforementioned teams do the same thing in 2006? Over the next month, this will be one of many topics I’ll cover in my NFL previews. The Seattle Seahawks made their first Super Bowl appearance last year, losing Super Bowl 40 to the Steelers (21-10). Can the Seahawks avoid the recent “Super Bowl loser curse” in 2006?

The Tennessee Titans lost Super Bowl 34 to the St Louis Rams, but came back the following year, going 13-3. That’s the last time a Super Bowl loser has followed his Super Bowl loss with a playoff appearance. In fact, none of the last five Super Bowl losers have been able to post a winning record next year.

Beginning with the Giants, who lost Super Bowl 35 to the Ravens and then went 7-9 in the 2001 season, the list includes the Rams who lost Super Bowl 36 (then went 7-9), the Raiders who lost Super Bowl 37 (then went 4-12), the Panthers who lost Super Bowl 38 (then went 7-9), and the Eagles who lost Super Bowl 39 (then went 6-10).

Much more to come this week.

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