Halladay versus Oswalt - intriguing match-up today.

[Mudcat]

Phillies are a big road favorite - understandably so. Looking at -215 now.


I am leery of laying the chalk. People are talking like Halladay is the second coming who has been working in complete obscurity and now, on being exposed to the light, can expect to go undefeated for the rest of his career.

That is not what I have witnessed here in Toronto. Halladay is a horse. He is great. But he is also capable of clunkers - particularly early season. He has never been as consistently dominant as some of the top guys I have seen (Maddux, Unit, Pedro). He has been just a notch below. If he was in his solid mid-season groove, I'd lay that chalk but not today.

Houston has been sucking it pretty hard though.

Hmmmm . . .

 

[Archie]

I think you are wrong in saying that Halladay is not consistent.....


but I still wouldn't take him in this spot....


Oswalt might be back to his former solid stuff....


gotta think the stros are gonna be fighting hard, scratching and clawing to win at least 1 out of their first 6 games at home before the homestand ends

 

[MrMonkey]

I had Halladay at -210 opening day. As much as a Phils fan and they are scorching the ball, past leery in taking the Phils, no way! Oswalt agreed might turn in a gem? Already won series and Astros have to win sometime? Maybe RLine for Astros at +115 might be interesting?

 

[Jello]

I am really tempted by the +200 and up being offered right now on HOU. Oswalt typically doesn't start to really get into a groove until around June, but you gotta believe with Houston desperate to get a win he is going to be grinding hard today. I think +200 on a pitcher of that caliber, in a situation like the Astros are in (clawing for a win)..... like I said I am really tempted.

 

[Mudcat]

Might be worth waiting Jello. The Houston line has been improving consistently since +169 openers. Wouldn't wait too long though as hedgers/scalpers may start to buy back some Houston in the hour before gametime (2 o'clock).

 

[Tron]

I do not subscribe to the belief that Oswalt will be grinding any harder today than he was on Opening Day.

 

[Jello]

I do not subscribe to the belief that Oswalt will be grinding any harder today than he was on Opening Day.

I think when a team is 0-6, everyone is gripping and grinding a little harder trying to do whatever extra they can to get that first win.

 

[Acid Joe]

I grabbed him early and got -183 or 185 somewhere in that range. I am waiting for the clunker too but don't feel it will be against Houston today.

Once Halliday gets noticed he will consistently be in the -250 range with Phil.

 

[Swarmy]

i don't like the matchup so I took the over 7.5+100 on this game. 5-3 philly isn't unrealistic.

 

[Mudcat]

Phillies up 2-zip, however Astros have loaded the bases with no one out in the 6th . . .

 

[Bread]

Only one run scored. Ref called a foul on ball that looked to be right over first base bag. Ended up being a double play after that.

Go refs!

 

[Mudcat]

Astros come away with one run only.

 

[Bread]

Hou 2nd and 3rd one out.

 

[Bread]

Wow. Houston is really really bad.

 

[Mudcat]

Final. 2-1 Phillies. Halladay gets the complete game and, with the one run being unearned, goes to 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA.

 

[xpansive]

Gday guys. Had a mini (biased) write-up on this game in american sports section

http://gamelive.com/forum/showthread.php/2293-Game-3-Phillies-v-Astros-mini-review

Greatful to be walking away from that a slightly happier man

 

[MrMonkey]

Poor Willie Bee is in for a long year with that team. 13 total runs scored so far.

 

[Archie]

suck it mudcat