Cardinals get Westbrook from Tribe, send Ludwick to San Diego

Baseball Betting Lines

07/31/2010 - St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired pitcher Jake Westbrook from the Cleveland Indians in a three-team trade that also involves the San Diego Padres.

Along with Westbrook, St. Louis acquired cash from the Indians and minor league pitcher Nick Greenwood from San Diego. The Padres got outfielder Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals, while the Indians received minor league pitcher Corey Kluber from the Padres.

Westbrook, who was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against Toronto in order for the trade to be completed, will fill out the Cardinals' rotation. He is 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA in 21 starts this season, his 10th in the majors and first full year since 2007.

The 32-year-old right-hander made just five starts in 2008 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, then missed all of 2009 while recovering.

Westbrook broke into the majors in 2000 with the Yankees before being traded to Cleveland, and he had been with the Indians since. In 221 career games, 181 starts, the right-hander is 69-71 with a 4.34 ERA, and was an All-Star selection in 2004.

"We've been looking for a quality starting pitcher to add to our rotation for some time," said Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak. "Westbrook is someone we've had our eyes on for a good period of time. We also want to wish Ryan Ludwick all the best with the Padres. He did an outstanding job for us over the past 3 1/2 seasons."

Ludwick, 32, made brief major league appearances with Texas and Cleveland from 2002-05, and spent the entire 2006 season at Triple-A. But after signing with the Cardinals, he got back to the majors in 2007 and played his way into a starting role. He was named an All-Star in 2008, when he hit .299 with 37 home runs and 113 runs batted in.

In 77 games this year, Ludwick is batting .281 with a .343 on-base percentage, 11 homers and 43 RBI.

Greenwood, 22, was a 14th-round selection by the Padres in 2009. The left- hander was 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA at Single-A Fort Wayne this season, and will be assigned to Single-A Quad Cities.

Kluber, 24, went 6-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) this year at Double-A San Antonio. San Diego selected the right-hander in the fourth round of the 2007 draft.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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