StatFox FREE Weekly Newsletter


May 4th, 2006	In this issue: MLB Bullpen & Hitting Stats after Month One, Key Baseball Handicapping Links, FREE NBA First Round Opening Game FoxSheet (Chicago at Miami – Game 6), NFL Draft Recap, 2006 College Football Schedule & Early Preview

Early Season MLB Bullpen & Hitting Stats

The first month of the season has been filled with surprises, from Cincinnati’s hot start to the Tigers’ early season turnaround. The Mets & Blue Jays have also gotten off to impressive starts, proving that sometimes money spent between October & April can have a big impact. One thing that hasn’t been surprising, and has actually been preached for years by the folks at StatFox is the importance of two key stats when handicapping baseball.

These key statistical categories are Team Batting Average & Bullpen WHIP. Both tend to play an instrumental role in who wins and loses baseball games. This, in turn, can make a huge difference in your profits as a baseball handicapper. The following charts illustrate the Batting Averages and Bullpen WHIP’s for the teams through the first month of the season. You’ll find some very interesting results.

In terms of batting average, only two of the league’s top 15 hitting teams are below the profitability mark. In fact, those teams have combined for a phenomenal 232-165 mark for +54.62 Net Units! Alternatively, the bottom 15 are –73.2 units in the hole! When considering the Bullpen WHIP, the results aren’t quite as drastic, but still worthy of note. Of the league’s top half in that category, only four teams are below positive money line units. The top 15 teams have combined to win nearly 54% of their games, and +15.22 money line units. The bottom 15 have totaled –33.8 units!

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: Ride teams that are getting production out of their lineups and bullpens. Tampa Bay, Minnesota & Kansas City all appear on the bottom 10 of both lists while the Yankees, Detroit, Colorado, and Milwaukee are on both of the top 10 lists.

Team Batting Average Rankings (as of 5/3/06)
Rank	Team	Batting.Avg.	Record	Net Units
1	Toronto	0.304	13-12	0.35
2	Cleveland	0.304	14-13	-1
3	NY Yankees	0.294	13-11	-2.6
4	CHI White Sox	0.285	18-8	6.6
5	Detroit	0.283	18-9	9.55
6	Colorado	0.282	15-12	5.25
7	Texas	0.281	15-12	4.45
8	Milwaukee	0.280	15-12	1.95
9	Baltimore	0.276	14-14	-0.5
10	Houston	0.273	17-9	5.35
11	Cincinnati	0.271	19-8	13.45
12	Arizona	0.269	14-13	2.07
13	NY Mets	0.261	17-9	5.9
14	St. Louis	0.261	17-10	3.5
15	San Francisco	0.304	13-12	0.35
Top 15 Teams Total			232-165	54.62
16	Philadelphia	0.259	12-14	-6.65
17	Boston	0.258	15-11	0.2
18	LA Dodgers	0.257	12-15	-4.8
19	Seattle	0.257	12-16	-4.6
20	LA Angels	0.256	12-15	-4.4
21	Washington	0.253	9-18	-6.95
22	Atlanta	0.253	12-14	-3.15
23	CHI Cubs	0.252	14-11	2.05
24	Minnesota	0.251	10-16	-6.35
25	Florida	0.248	6-18	-10.7
26	Pittsburgh	0.243	8-20	-11.15
27	Tampa Bay	0.242	11-16	0.3
28	Kansas City	0.240	5-19	-10.9
29	San Diego	0.230	11-15	-7.1
30	Oakland	0.230	14-12	1.0
Bottom 15 Teams Total			163-230	-73.2

Team Batting Average Rankings (as of 5/3/06)
Rank	Team	BP WHIP	Record	Net Units
1	Detroit	1.082	18-9	9.55
2	NY Mets	1.118	17-9	5.9
3	St. Louis	1.159	17-10	3.5
4	San Diego	1.180	11-15	-7.1
5	LA Angels	1.193	12-15	-4.4
6	NY Yankees	1.212	13-11	-2.6
7	Arizona	1.255	14-13	2.07
8	Boston	1.272	15-11	0.2
9	Milwaukee	1.278	15-12	1.95
10	Colorado	1.352	15-12	5.25
11	Toronto	1.363	13-12	0.35
12	CHI Cubs	1.370	14.11	2.05
13	Texas	1.377	15-12	4.45
14	Oakland	1.402	14-12	1.0
15	Washington	1.403	9-18	-6.95
Top 15 Teams Total			212-182	15.22
16	Pittsburgh	1.407	8-20	-11.15
17	Philadelphia	1.429	12-14	-6.65
18	LA Dodgers	1.454	12-15	-4.8
19	Atlanta	1.480	12-14	-3.15
20	Florida	1.481	6-18	-10.7
21	CHI White Sox	1.500	18-8	6.6
22	Seattle	1.538	12-16	-4.6
23	Cincinnati	1.540	19-8	13.45
24	Cleveland	1.569	14-13	-1.0
25	Kansas City	1.587	5-19	-10.9
26	Houston	1.618	17-9	5.35
27	Minnesota	1.691	10-16	-6.35
28	Tampa Bay	1.706	11-16	0.3
29	San Francisco	1.769	13-13	0.3
30	Baltimore	1.831	14-14	-0.5
Bottom 15 Teams Total			183-213	-33.8

Baseball Handicapping Hot Spots

Here are some other great places to get plenty of Baseball Handicapping information:.

StatFox Team-by-team Reports

StatFox Power Ratings

Free NBA 1st Round Playoff FoxSheet of the Week: Miami at Chicago – Game 6

Chicago has given Miami all it can handle through the first five games of their NBA Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Series, but now, the Bulls are on the brink of elimination. Can they stave off the Heat to force an all-important Game 7? We’ll find out Thursday night at 8:05 PM ET, when Game 6 tips-off. StatFox.com is showcasing this game as its FREE NBA Playoff First Round Opening Game FoxSheet! Miami opened as a 2-point favorite, but the line quickly moved to 1-1/2. The total is set for 196.

Chicago's youth movement and feistiness has frustrated the Heat, but Miami managed to regain control of the series with a comfortable 92-78 win on Tuesday night. This came an injury to Dwyane Wade and more foul trouble from Shaquille O’Neal, who has struggled through that problem in virtually every game of the series. His size is a problem for the Bulls, but the latter has turned to position defense and an occasional flop to minimize that deficiency. As far as Wade is concerned, he returned to the game after leaving before halftime and is expected to be fine for Thursday’s game.

Again, tip-off is slated for an 8:05 PM ET. The FREE NBA FoxSheet is loaded, including a 70%-plus ATS Situations as well as a Game Simulator Edge Star. Get all of the handicapping details by visiting our FREE NBA FoxSheet of the Week.

NFL Draft Recap

The NFL draft was full of interesting & noteworthy news, and it all started at the top. Houston’s #1 selection of DE Mario Williams from NC State was a shocker to say the least. How about the Bills at #8, selecting a player most figured could slip into the late teens? And then there was Matt Leinart…the Hollywood star slipped all the way to #10 after being considered a potential overall #1, both this year, and last. He went to Arizona though, and there has been quite a buzz surrounding his arrival to a team loaded with great receivers and free agent running back pickup Edgerrin James.

How will it all shake out in 2006? Did the draft give some teams a bigger lift than others? How will it affect the posted win totals for the upcoming season, and are there any good value spots in these Futures to consider? Take a look as StatFox reviews this past weekend’s NFL draft.

College Football Preview & 2006 Schedule Release

It might only be May, but this past weekend’s NFL draft got the old blood flowing for football once again. With the anticipated release of the 2006 StatFox Edge Football Annual in July, we have feverishly began putting together the materials to make this year’s version the best one EVER. We don’t want to tip our hat yet as to what will be improved, but trust us, it will be exciting, and well worth the $6.99 investment!

In terms of the upcoming college football season, a lot will have to happen for it to live up to the standards set in 2005. This past year was one of the greatest seasons in college football history, topped off by perhaps the single greatest game. That’s a lot to match, particularly when this year’s race for the national title figures to be wide open.

Click here to read a spring preview of the upcoming season, featuring the StatFox Preseason Top 25 poll, as well as a list of intriguing non-conference games, and changes to look for in 2006. Plus, click the link below for a full schedule of games, starting August 31st.

COMPLETE 2006 College Football Schedule

The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping

Early Season MLB Bullpen & Hitting Stats

Baseball Handicapping Hot Spots

Free NBA 1st Round Playoff FoxSheet of the Week: Miami at Chicago – Game 6

NFL Draft Recap

College Football Preview & 2006 Schedule Release

COMPLETE 2006 College Football Schedule