June 12, 2006 (New York, NY) - the New York Yankees were at it again this weekend at the venerable ball park and if you had your cash on them against the Oakland A's, the overpaid ballplayers sure burned you dough!

In the three game set with the A's and the game before against the Red Sox, the Yankee pitchers yielded 26 runs, while the vaunted New York hitting attack, delivered just 15. With about $50 million a year sitting on the bench in the form of Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi and Derek Jeter as the designated hitter, New York is very vulnerable.

Two teams that were money in the bank this past weekend were the A's and the Mariners who are quietly strolling up the standings in the AL West. So much for the slump that everyone was concerned with regarding Ichiro Suzuki who is now hitting .366 and has an incredible 20 stolen bases! Bettors may want to keep an eye on the over/under totals with Settle as they are hitting up a storm and second basemen Jose Lopez is putting up astonishing numbers. Prior to this season he had a total of 7 homeruns and 47 RBI's in 397 at bats, while this year he has 9 homeruns and 50 RBI's in 261 plate appearances.

If Beltre, Sexson and Everett ever get untracked, watch out!

Once again a team that does well on the road comes home with all kinds of momentum and gets pushed around in their own house. The Reds were coming off an outstanding road trip and were welcoming the anemic hitting Chicago Cubs. After winning the first convincingly, they were handled rather easily by Dusty Baker's troops.

At least someone is doing something right in the nation's capital and it isn't George Bush. The Washington Nationals are 8-2 in their past 10 games for greybeard manager Frank Robinson. Texas loss was Washington's gain as Alfonso Soriano continues to annihilate National League pitching. Twenty three homeruns and 47 RBI have and were only early into June!

The weather may be hot in Arizona, but the Diamondbacks are stone cold as of late. When the visiting teams outscore you 58-14 in seven games, I would suggest that some soul searching is in order and you just know a players only meeting is about to be announced!

Bob Acton

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