Tag Archives: the-professor

Wednesday rant – MLB and buying wins

baseballpicIn what endeavour would you be responsible for spending in excess of $203 million, have little or nothing to show for it results wise and still be in a job? In baseball that’s where. How does Brian Cashman, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the New York Yankees retain his job? The Yankees, who have all but been eliminated from post season play, have currently won 81 games. When viewed against their payroll (second highest in MLB), they pay about $2.5 million per win. The concept of ‘buying wins’ was adopted by Billy Beane and brought to the public’s attention in the book and film, Moneyball. By comparison, the other New York team, the Mets get better value for money as they pay about $1.17 million per win spending less in payroll and winning nearly as many games as the Yankees.

Probably the best result in 2014 has been returned by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who baseball17have qualified for the post season winning 86 games spending $908,000 per win. As for the Oakland A’s, they spend a little more than the Pirates at $970,000 per win and are still in the wildcard chase. The bottom line is getting value for money and the Yankees haven’t whilst the Pirates and A’s have. Maybe Mr Cashman and the Yankees need to re-think the strategy.

Professor’s Tuesday rant – EPL managers on the hot seat

man utdWho will be the first manager sacked in the Premier League this season? Louis van Gaal, head man at Manchester United must be a short priced favourite and we are only a few weeks into the campaign. After a 5-3 loss at Leicester City on the weekend (after Man U led 3-1) and sitting mid table with five points from five games, it is only a matter of time if results continue to go badly. How long before the Board bring back Sir Alex ?

Also on the hot seat must be Alan Pardew at Newcastle Steve-Bruce-and-Alan-PardewUnited. Lamenting at the foot of the table, things will need to change really quickly at St James’ Park for Pardew to hold his job! Hull City manager, Steve Bruce has already been tipped to slip into the Newcastle job with Alan Shearer as his off sider.

Whilst I think Van Gaal has the hotter seat given the expectations at Old Trafford, that Newcastle sources today said “the manager’s job was completely safe” must have Pardew feeling very uneasy.

The Gelding’s red hot selections for Caulfield on 20 September 2014

MarkThe Gelding’s attention is on his home track at Caulfield tomorrow and after last week’s stellar day on the punt he is primed and ready to go with some value bets that pack a punch!

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 5 Horse 8 – Spirit of Heaven
Race 6 Horse 1 – Spillway
Race 7 Horse 10 – Silent Achiever (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 8 Horse 1 – Samaready (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 9 Horse 5 – Trust in a Gust

You can hear the Gelding discuss the results with the Professor and the panel this Sunday at 11.00am on Sportzfan Radio live from the Southern Football League Division 1 Grand Final at Springvale oval broadcasting on 88.3 Southern FM.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Gelding’s tips for 15 March 2014

Mar 13 2011 026The Gelding’s attention is out of State at Randwick today with his hunt for winners leaving no stone unturned. Last week’s selections were a mixed bag with some success with Solicit and Fiorente. He is looking for a better day today!

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Randwick

Race 3 Horse 7 – Junoob
Race 5 Horse 7 – Snitzerland
Race 7 Horse 2 – El Roca (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 8 Horse 9 – Zoustar (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 9 Horse 12 – Cosmic Endeavour

The Gelding’s tips will be discussed by the Professor on Sportzfan Radio tomorrow at about 5.30pm.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Sportzfan Radio back on air this Sunday

MarkThe Professor will be back behind the microphone this Sunday from 5.00pm on 88.3 Southern FM with John O’Callaghan, Mordiboy (aka Fatman), Paul Dalligan and DC Coutta in the line up talking AFL, NRL, Paralympics, sports betting, the NRL Almanac and a whole lot more.

We’re back and better than ever!

 

Gelding’s tips for 15 February 2014

Mar 6 2011 010The Gelding’s attention is on Flemington tomorrow and he is certainly hoping for a change of form as, although he picked two winners, he was a bit wide of the mark with his other selections last week at Caulfield. He has put some extra work in this week and is sure these tips are ‘on the money’!

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 4 Horse 13 Mandela
Race 5 Horse 4 Scratchy Bottom (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 6 Horse 4 Hucklebuck
Race 7 Horse 7 Samaready (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 9 Horse 8 Decircles

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Gelding’s tips for 25 January 2014

MarkThe Gelding’s attention is on his home track at Caulfield today and with Australia Day just around the corner, he is urging punters to get out and have a wager* on some of his pre-Australia Day selections.

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Caulfield

Race 2 horse 5 – Iconic
Race 5 horse 5 – Whistle Baby
Race 6 horse 3 – Limes (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 7 horse 8 – Quick Snitzel (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

* always gamble responsibly!

Gelding’s tips for 18 January 2014

Feb 6 2011 005The Gelding’s attention is on Flemington today and after last week’s less than fruitful day at the track, he is looking to make amends with some value predictions for punters. He did have one success with Miss Promiscuity for the ladies at the Tennis club though.

As always, the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Flemington

Race 2 horse 8 – Spellrocker
Race 4 horse 10 – Prince of Penzance (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 6 horse 8 – Kaiser Sun (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 7 horse 3 – Index Linked
Race 8 horse 12 – Mandla

You can hear the Gelding talk matters racing with the Professor on Sportzfan Radio tomorrow from 4.00pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Gelding’s tips for 11 January 2014

Feb 6 2011 020The Gelding’s attention is on Flemington and after shedding the New Year cobwebs last week, he is looking to start building the war chest with some astute selections today.

There seem to be some standouts in several races that demand attention.

As always the bets are on an each way and all up basis.

Flemington

Race 2 horse 5 – It’s One
Race 3 horse 3 – Reckless Assassin (for the ladies at the Tennis club)
Race 4 horse 8 – Averau
Race 6 horse 5 – The Peak
Race 8 horse 11 – Miss Promiscuity (also for the ladies at the Tennis club)

You can hear the Gelding discuss the results with the Professor tomorrow on Sportzfan Radio.

Good luck and good punting!

The Gelding

Friday musing…..the Ashes, Australian Open, Hewitt, Arsenal…..

Chris Barwin HillsWell the Aussies wrapped up the Ashes in record time and in the end it was great to win and win well, but it was something of an anti-climax given the meek way the English capitulated. Clearly their batting let them down throughout the series and the only ones who could put their hands up would be Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes. Michael Carberry was passable, but he got a lot of starts at the top of the order and only once went on to make a 50. He reminded me a bit of Usman Khwaja, not how he batted, but the fact he continued to get a start and didn’t go on and post a decent score.

One of the quirkiest statistics from the recent series was the batting performance of Nathan Lyon. He batted six times for sixty runs, but was not dismissed in any of those six innings and as a result did not have a series average. I am not sure about the record for the most consecutive number of “not outs” in Test cricket, but it must be right up there.

While the Aussies won the series 5-0, their batting was still brittle at times and the forthcoming series against South Africa will reveal how much progress has been made. It has been widely discussed how well Brad Haddin batted in the series and I think he was the first batsman ever to score greater than fifty in five consecutive first innings of a series. Certainly he was the first to do it in an Ashes series. If Australia need to rely on him and the tail to bale them out in South Africa we will be in for a rude shock. Rogers, Warner, Clarke & Smith all made two centuries in the Ashes series, but to be successful against the Proteas we will need more partnerships. I doubt we can win the series, but it would be good to be competitive.

Moving away from the cricket to the tennis, it was good to see Lleyton Hewitt win a tournament in Australia last weekend. I have never been a particular Hewitt fan, but there is no doubting his competitiveness, his passion for the game and his passion for the Davis Cup. He has battled a lot of injuries over the last five years and most other sportsmen would have given up by now. It is hard to think of too many former Number 1 players who have hung around well after their star has dimmed. Good on him and I hope he does well in the Australian Open.

Bad news about Theo Walcott from last weekend, but one small positive is that at least it happened in January so they can utilise the transfer window if they wish. Better news with Oxlade-Chamberlain fit to resume, Giroud & Ozil likely to play and Ramsay & Gibbs pretty close. It is time to extract revenge on Aston Villa after that poor start to the season.

Have a great weekend.