"Anybody seen Charley?"

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been accused of micromanaging at different points throughout the postseason. Whether that point is true or not is debatable, but it is certainly more than what Charley Manuel has done for Philadelphia. Manuel is an old school-type, letting player’s work through difficult situations, so that next time they will be better prepared having experienced the rough parts.

The problem with that mentality is it’s the World Series, Charley. The time when you play for all the marbles, you remember, you brought home the trophy last season. Since Game 2, the Phillies haven’t looked like themselves. Errors in the field, mental blunders, lack of clutch hitting and bullpen issues that just won’t go away.

In Game 4, Manuel should have come out of the dugout, after Johnny Damon ran all the way to third base on a steal and Phillies fielding miscue in the top of the ninth of a 4-4 contest. Even if he was not inclined to do so initially, it would have absolutely necessary after Brad Lidge nailed Mark Teixeira. With Lidge having not pitched in 12 days, the game on the line, a calming influence of a manager to settle everything down, discuss how to pitch to Alex Rodriquez and play ball again.

Instead nothing. Catcher Carlos Ruiz became too conservative calling for fastballs, fearing Lidge’s slider might bounce in the dirt and get away and went after A-Rod with his second best pitch. As ESPN’s Bobby Valentine correctly pointed out after the game, if a catcher, pitcher and ultimately the manager are too afraid to let a pitcher throw his best pitch in fear of the catcher might have a passed ball, maybe the wrong catcher is in the game, since those are fundamental plays worked on March.

A-Rod ripped a single to left for the lead run and Jorge Posada crushed a double to left-center to build 7-4 lead and Manuel never left his dugout post.

Now Manuel has to turn to Cliff Lee and hope he can continue torrid postseason pitching streak. Philadelphia has won all four of Lee’s playoff starts as he’s allowed two earned runs in 33.3 innings. Since the left-hander put on a Phillies uniform, his team is 12-4.

DiamondSportsbook.com has Lee and Phillies as -149 money line favorites, with total of Un8.5. Philadelphia knows their margin for error is eliminated and they’ve won 34 of last 46 home games as favorites. Like all teams that have played the Yankees in the postseason, Philly players are commenting, they aren’t playing their best. Do you think the opponent has something to do with that?

New York is going to ride this three day pitching thing until they can no longer. A.J. Burnett has talked all season long about feeding off CC Sabathia and now is his chance. Burnett can be the pitcher that closes out opponent for the Yankees 27th World Series title. The Yankees are 51-22 after two or more consecutive wins this season and Burnett is 34-15 when the total is 8.5 to 10 over the last two seasons. (Team's record)

FOX will have Game 5 at 7:57 Eastern, with Burnett 4-20 (Team’s record) as a road underdog of +125 to +150 in his career, however he’s never had a group like this to support him.

MLB Series Wagering- White Sox at Twins

The Detroit Tigers lead the American League Central Division and their two closest pursuers will tangle in the Twin Cities, each with eyes on closing the gap before the All-Star break. After winning home series last weekend against the front-running Tigers, Minnesota (43-43, -4-1 units) had set its sights on gathering momentum on their nine-game homestand. Unfortunately, faster then you can say “Bruno”, that attempt has been blunted with three straight losses to the Yankees. The Twins have to pick themselves up and get ready to face divisional rival, who is playing very good baseball also.

The White Sox (44-41, +3.4 units) have won nine of last 12 to propel themselves past Minnesota and are 6-0-2 in last eight series. "The White Sox are playing very good baseball," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "If we go out and play like we did against the Yankees, we'll probably get our butts kicked here at home again. That's not too much fun." The Twins hope to recapture magic and are 40-17 at the Metrodome vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .265 or worse.

Chicago’s resurgence has been led by the offense and improved starting pitching. On the season, the White Sox are averaging 4.6 runs per game (11th in AL), however in last dozen outings, they have tallied a terrific 6.3 RPG. Manager Ozzie Guillen understands that continuing to play well won’t be easy in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The Pale Hose have lost four in a row in Minnesota and nine of 10 overall. He’ll have to hope his Friday starter John Danks (7-6, 3.76 ERA) can provide a spark. Danks has 1.51 ERA in his last five starts and Bookmaker.com has Chicago as +115 underdogs, which suits Danks and teammates, who are 11-4 (+9.9 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 or higher over the last two seasons.

Minnesota will counter with Nick Blackburn (7-4, 2.94), who has been moved up a day because of illness to Glen Perkins. Blackburn has been imposing in his own right; with 1.81 ERA the last nine times he’s toed the rubber, which has included three complete games. Blackburn and the Twins are 10-1 off consecutive losses.

Game 1 Edge: Twins

After being scratched Wednesday, Perkins (4-4, 4.38) is expected to give it go in Game 2. The left-hander is at his best when he has the opposition wearing out the Astroturf, beating ground ball after ground ball and keeping his infielders busy. Coming into the series, Minnesota had won 37 of last 54 games against teams with winning records and will want to reestablish that dominance.

Earlier, had mentioned the White Sox were receiving strong starting pitching and Gavin Floyd (6-6, 4.43) is another example. After throwing like the pitcher Philadelphia had given up on, Floyd put together a string of eight quality starts, which featured a glittering ERA of 1.39, before being roughed up for five runs in just over five innings at Kansas City in last start.

Watch for outcome of opening tilt, since Floyd is 4-0 if Chicago is off a loss. Otherwise the Sox are 7-2 in last nine as visitors and 15-3 in Game 2’s.

Game 2 Edge: White Sox

If the series is tied or Chicago had won previous two games, skipper Guillen has to like his chances going into All-Star break with a win. His starter is Mark Buehrle (9-2, 3.14), who will be flying to St. Louis after the conclusion of the contest to take part in fourth All-Star game. The lefthander has been nothing short of brilliant all year and the Twinkies have issues with lefties, posting 12-17 record coming into the series.

Scott Baker (6-7, 5.31) has not been nearly as proficient for Minnesota. If the former ace of the staff is unscathed one time thru the lineup, he’s done little to make adjustments going forward, which is odd for a veteran chucker, and is lit up the next time around. Difficult to like Baker in this spot, since he has 6.85 ERA in nine appearances against Chicago and Buehrle is 23-13, with 3.72 ERA versus the Twins.

Game 3 Edge: White Sox

This is a really challenging series to pick a winner, with Minnesota having history edge and Chicago playing better baseball. With the Twins not hitting as well and White Sox having more favorable pitching matchups, will support the Pale Hose and keep fingers crossed that is the correct wager.

Bookmaker.com series odds: Chicago +115, Minnesota -145

3DW Pick: White Sox

2009 Record – 4-7

MLB teams try to capitalize before the All-Star Break

With the 2009 All-Star game in St. Louis next Tuesday, several teams will be doing their best to position themselves to close with a flourish before the break. A number of teams can set themselves up in good spots to start the second half of the season by playing well or be undermined with doubt if they don’t play as good as they had hoped. Here is a look at four specific teams with intriguing schedules before taking a few days off to start next week.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have been in and out of first place the last couple of weeks in the National League Central and can create distance amongst its fellow rivals with a strong week of play. It won’t be easy for St. Louis, as they continue nine-game road trip against the teams in the division that are their closet competitors. Fresh off a series triumph in Cincinnati, the Redbirds are 21-19 as visitors, good for +1.1 units. Manager Tony LaRussa’s club has built a little momentum, winning four of five, after closing out June out with six losses in seven previous. Their mission starts in Milwaukee, with a three-game set. The Brewers come home after losing three of four to the Cubs and have been weaker than expected at Miller Park with 22-18 record. The Cardinals have won two of three in Milwaukee this season. After finishing up with the Brew Crew, they take the short jaunt down I-94 to Wrigley Field for three with the Cubs. Though no division title is going to be wrapped up before the All-Star game, a 4-2 week or better by the Cardinals provides a little working margin to start second half.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs were supposed to run away with the NL Central, but because of injuries, lack of consistent hitting and shaky late inning relief, Chicago is looking up at other teams within the division. The Cubs bats have shown signs of coming around, especially at home, where they are 24-14 (+3.7 units). The North-Siders are respectable fifth in ERA in the National League and have 50 quality starts, the most in the senior circuit. They are matching up with Atlanta presently and after a day off Thursday, play host to rival St. Louis. Though the Cubs have been mediocre all season, a potential 7-3 homestand has them right in the thick of division race. Series losses to Atlanta or the Cards, only raises more questions about how good this year’s Cubs team really is.

Tampa Bay Rays

The defending American League champions gladly return home after lost weekend wipeout in Texas facing the Rangers. Tampa Bay is fighting to close the gap between themselves, Boston and the Yankees. The Rays are in potentially outstanding situation to do just that with six home games, in which they should be favored in each one. Tampa Bay is 26-13 (+6.7 units) at Tropicana Field, leading baseball in runs scored at home (5.8 per game), and has Toronto and Oakland coming in. The Blue Jays and A’s both have losing records on the road this season. Tampa Bay has juicy home numbers that have any sports bettor salivating. The Rays are 89-40 at home the last two years and are 54-19 against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175. When favored as -150 or more on the ML at home, Joe Maddon’s squad is terrific 47-11. A 5-1 week gives the Rays back the momentum, as they try and hunt down the AL East favorites.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels have won 16 of last 22 games to be back where most thought they would be in the AL West. They are matched up with other division front-runner Texas to start the week, with the series winner emerging as first place leader come Thursday. Los Angeles leads the American League in hitting at over .280 and plays a style of baseball that is reminiscent to craps. For those not familiar with the game, a point is established and many try and wager on the five remaining numbers to win money and build up bankrolls. The Angels play in much the same fashion, getting a couple of base-runners to start and cashing in with base-hits that keep the Halos runners moving on the base paths and runs being compiled. Besides being tested by Texas, the Yankees come to town for weekend series, having won 10 of 12 contests. Though starting rotation lacks more familiar names, skipper Mike Scioscia has gotten by and previously horrific bullpen is improving, getting Halos back to among the best in the American League. A 4-2 week against still competition keeps momentum building.