Minnesota Twins baseball team

Jack Morris is a candidate on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the 13th year. The Class of 2012 will be announced on Jan. 9. You can watch the announcement live at 2 p.m. ET on an MLB Network simulcast on MLB.com.

Jack Morris spent years trying to lend his support to get his friend and fellow former Twin Bert Blyleven voted into the Hall of Fame. Now that Blyleven has had his day in Cooperstown, it's Morris' turn for his own struggle.

It won't be quite that easy. But more than ever, it looks winnable. And if Morris is going to get into the Hall on the strength of an argument, it's the fact that he consistently won games.

It's a topic that drives fans of more specialized stats into fits, and those who focus on ERA into near hysterics. While those who focus on championships are encouraged, those who believe postseason performance is too small of a sample size to be a determining factor don't feel too good about his case, either. And those who believe a judgment on a player's Hall credentials shouldn't change over time have had a hard time with the second look that Morris' case has received.

But with passion on both sides of Morris' case, it's a hot topic. With Blyleven now in the Hall and Morris running out of chances, the next few years will make it hotter than ever.

Years ago, when barely a quarter of Hall of Fame voters were putting Morris' name on the ballot, he was nonchalant about his chances.

"I've come to the realization that if I don't make it, then I don't make it," Morris said at the time. "The only thing that changes in my life is that I'd get a lot more money, and when I walked by, people would say, 'There goes a Hall of Famer.'"

He couldn't have imagined that last statement would take on this kind of debate. He was hoping he could get a rise in vote totals as time went on. He's now closer than ever to the Hall, but he still has a ways to go.

Morris' vote percentage has risen in each of the last 10 years, from a low of 19.6 percent in his second year of eligibility to last year's mark of 53.5 percent.

A candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from Baseball Writers' Association of America members to gain election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Second baseman Roberto Alomar (90 percent) and Blyleven (79.7 percent) earned their ticket to Cooperstown on the 2011 ballot. Morris and former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin (62.1 percent) are the top returning vote-getters from last year's ballot. Results of the 2012 election will be announced on Monday, Jan. 9.

Blyleven and Jim Rice provide the examples of the better-late-than-never Hall of Famer. Blyleven was inducted in his 14th year of eligibility on the BBWAA ballot; he didn't top the 60-percent mark in voting until his 12th year. Rice was inducted in his 15th and final possible year on the ballot. He, too, didn't top 60 percent until his 12th year.

Morris is in his 13th year on the ballot. If there's going to be a major movement in his vote totals, it's going to have to come now. And it's going to take the acceptance that Morris' standing as one of the best pitchers of his era and one of the most accomplished postseason pitchers of the last 40 years is worth a spot, even though his stats don't compare well with all-time greats.

It's not just that Morris was the winningest pitcher of the 1980s. It's that nobody else was close. Morris won 162 games from 1980 to 1989, according to research on baseball-reference.com. The next-closest total was Blue Jays great Dave Stieb with 140, essentially a great season's worth of wins as a difference.

Without question, wins can't be a sole measure of a pitcher's Hall of Fame resume. It's still worth noting that every Hall-eligible pitcher who has led a previous decade in wins has been inducted, a group that includes Jim Palmer, Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn, Hal Newhouser, Lefty Grove, Burleigh Grimes, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson.

As longtime baseball columnist and Hall of Fame voter Joe Posnanski pointed out a year ago, Morris had a dozen 15-win seasons. Just nine pitchers in Major League history have more, and eight are in the Hall of Fame, with Greg Maddux on his way soon. Three of the four other pitchers with 12 seasons of 15 wins are in, too.

They weren't always statistically dominant, but they were successful.

The main argument against Morris, as it always has been, is the earned-run average. No Hall of Famer has been inducted with an ERA as high as Morris' mark of 3.90. For his career, his ERA was just slightly better than the league average, and he never finished better than fifth in ERA for a season. He also never won a Cy Young award.

Nevertheless, pick out any pitcher in the 1980s to pitch a must-win game, and it's hard to go against Morris. He never showed that better than on the postseason game. His Game 7 performance in the 1991 World Series remains the stuff of legend, 10 scoreless innings to outduel John Smoltz. He gave up three Atlanta runs over 23 innings for that series, and put up a 2.23 ERA for that entire postseason. He was even better for the Tigers in 1984, with two complete games in the Fall Classic and seven innings of one-run ball in the ALCS.

His performances weren't nearly as stellar in Toronto in 1992, his career nearly complete, but he still picked up his third World Series title with his third different franchise. In the process, he completed his legacy as a winner.

Whether he's a Hall of Famer has been debated ad nauseam. With ballots coming and Blyleven out of the picture, that debate is about to pick up once again.

Chesney, McGraw Target Field tix on sale Sat., Dec. 10

Online betting players have been treated to a thrilling World Series so far, complete with pitching duels, historic offensive performances and sloppy bullpen work. Its going to come down to a seventh game, so MLB wagering fans should strap in for an exciting week of baseball as the season comes to a close in St. Louis with a Cardinals victory.

Game 5 – Monday, October 24th, 8:05 PM ET The Ballpark, Arlington, TX

Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.52) didnt have his best stuff in Game 1s 3-2 win at home, but he managed to get by, giving up a pair of runs on five hits over six innings of work. C.J. Wilson (0-3, 7.17) had trouble with his command, walking six and striking out four, but he only allowed three runs on four hits. Its been an inconsistent postseason for the 30-year-old Wilson, and this is his first appearance at home since Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit. You have to remember that this is only his second year as a starter and Wilson threw 223.1 innings in the regular season, along with 21.1 innings in the postseason, so fatigue is definitely a factor.

Carpenter is built for this and even when he doesnt have his best stuff, he does enough to keep the Cardinals in the game, and even though he has a 6.99 ERA in five starts at the Ballpark, he has a 2-2 record. You also should count on the St. Louis bats to wake up after a disappointing 4-0 loss in Game 4, and as a +113 MLB betting underdog on Monday night, they would be a smart bet.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

Game 6 – Wednesday, October 26th, 8:05 PM ET Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Colby Lewis (1-1, 2.95) should be familiar with going out on the road as all three of his starts in the playoffs have been away from home, and he pitched 6.2 solid innings in Game 2s 2-1 win for the Rangers, allowing a run on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Jaime Garcia (0-2, 3.97) was on the other side, tossing a three-hitter over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk, but he was let down by Jason Motte, who blew the save in the 9th inning. That was his second straight no-decision, even though he has settled down since getting off to a rough start in the postseason.

Strangely, something similar will happen in this game as well as the Rangers try to stave off elimination with a big performance. Look for the Texas bats to come alive late in the game and in particular, one of their big bats, like Nelson Cruz or Josh Hamilton, who is battling what he thinks is a sports hernia. The Cardinals will probably be favored, but Texas is the MLB betting play on Wednesday night.

Betting Edge: Texas Rangers

Game 7 – Thursday, October 27th, 8:05 PM ET Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO (If necessary)

The Rangers Matt Harrison (1-1, 502) and the Cardinals Kyle Lohse (0-2, 7.82) have been penciled in as the starters for Game 7, and neither pitcher made it out of the fourth inning in a 16-7 win for St. Louis in Game 3, which was highlighted by Albert Pujols three-homer performance. Harrison gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits over 3.2 innings, while Lohse gave up three runs on five hits over three innings of work in a game for the offensive fans. Its doubtful that the two will have that type of game again in Game 7, especially in St. Louis where the games have been relatively low-scoring due to a few factors, but most likely the weather. It has been cold and damp in St. Louis, which makes the ball heavier. In Texas, the ball is much easier to hit and the Ballpark has always been known as a hitters park.

This is going to be up in the air and again, the bullpens will probably come into play as Harrison doesnt have much postseason experience and the Rangers are asking him to pitch a Game 7 in the World Series. Lohse, well, he isnt a very good pitcher and definitely pitched above his weight during the regular season. But at home, in a Game 7 setting and a managerial edge with St. Louis Tony LaRussa, St. Louis is the sports betting pick to make here.

Betting Edge: St. Louis Cardinals

In a season where not one but two teams completed a pair of the most improbable comebacks to earn their respective league Wild Card spots, another team filed for bankruptcy in the same year they reached the ALCS, and another team showcased the antics of one of its star outfielders and one of the breakthrough personalities of the year, there is one common MLB betting theme that has prevailed: Not everything happens the way that it is expected to happen. The same can be said about the respective championship series, as both continue to wind down on Monday.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers
Sunday, 4:05 PM ET

There could not have been a better ending to an NLDS than Nyjer Morgan pumping one in to the outfield for a walk off victory, and it will be interesting to see if the Brewers can provide their fans with another incredible finish. Milwaukee earned the chance to finish the series at Miller Park where they led the majors in home wins this season, and they got the pitching matchups that they wanted as well. Whether or not they can now turn those advantages into something tangible and end the Cardinals improbable run only time will tell, as players like Albert Pujols fight with everything they have in what could be their final game in a Cardinals uniform. Pujols is among a couple of potential free agents on the roster, and if he is going to go out then he might as well go out in style. The Brewers however have taken nothing for granted and have persevered every step of the way, and it wouldnt be a major surprise if St. Louis magical MLB betting run ends in Milwaukee.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers @ Texas Rangers
Sunday, 8:05 PM ET

It is no surprise that if it reaches game seven the Tigers will want to give the ball to Doug Fister, who pitched them to a memorable sports betting bonus win in game seven of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and proved that he can handle the pressure. Texas will counter with Colby Lewis if it gets to that decisive game, although the Rangers would be happy to put it away in six if they can get the job done in the first of consecutive games at home. The Tigers have proven to be a worthy opponent so far, but Texas has been here before and have every intention of getting the job done. The way that players like Nelson Cruz have delivered in the clutch just makes you believe that this is a team of destiny, although Delmon Young and company may have something to say about that. The Rangers and Tigers both deserve their chance in the World Series but only one team can advance, and in this case experience and home field advantage will make the difference.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

MLB Betting players who follow Milwaukee last saw the Brewers in the World Series in 1982, when they were in the American League and they lost to St. Louis. Now, the National League Central champions will look to send their Central rivals packing in the NLCS, and they should be able to put the Cardinals away in a close series.

What: MLB Betting
When: October 9th-17th (Check best sportsbook for start times)
Where: Games 1, 2, 6, 7 (Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI); Games 3-5 (Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO)
Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Why Bet On St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have the most momentum of any team left in the postseason as they battled hard to put pressure on Atlanta, who collapsed down the stretch, then they managed to hold off Philadelphia, the World Series betting favorites, complete with a 1-0 win on the road in Game 5 in which Chris Carpenter outdueled Roy Halladay. St. Louis has a solid group of veteran players, led by Carpenter and Albert Pujols, who have been here before and relish the pressure of the playoffs. The hitting carried the team in the regular season as the Cardinals led the National League in runs scored and average, and there are few teams in the majors who can boast a mid-lineup order of Pujols, Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday. That isnt to say that their pitching is awful, as Carpenter, Jaime Garcia (despite a rocky Game 1), Edwin Jackson and Kyle Lohse can get the job done, especially the first two. Octavio Dotel, Arthur Rhodes and Marc Rzepczynski have bolstered the bullpen in middle relief, and they were very good down the stretch. The Cardinals have put Jason Motte in the closers role for now, but they can always fall back on Fernando Salas as well.

You have to wonder how much the Cardinals have left in the tank after their massive run to the playoffs, especially a veteran team that has battled some injuries this season. Two months ago, most MLB betting players put the Cardinals out to pasture and they expended a lot of energy just to get here. It actually may be beneficial to play the Brewers, a heated division rival with whom the Cardinals have been physical with, so it should be easy for them to get up for Milwaukee. Also, the bullpen is a worry as it was well below average for most of the season.

Why Bet On Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have homefield advantage, and this is huge for Milwaukee, who won an MLB-high 57 games at home in Miller Park during the regular season, then won all three of their home meetings with Arizona in the NLDS, and then Game 1 against the Cardinals. We know that homefield advantage plays a big role in most sports, but this Milwaukee team is like two different squads when theyre home and away. While the Cardinals have their power trio in the middle of their lineup, the Brewers may have the best one-two punch in the game in Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, and there is potential power throughout the lineup with Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks, who is finally healthy, and dont count out Yuniesky Betancourt. The Brewers can swing the bat with anyone in the majors, and that means theyre never out of a game. But they got to this point by improving their starting rotation with Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, picking them up to go with Yovani Gallardo, who is one of the most underrated hurlers in the major leagues. Milwaukee also has a deadly late-inning duo in Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford, and their middle relief is effective as well. The Brewers feel like theyre a team of destiny, and one that may be broken up due to financial issues after this year, so theyre playing with urgency.

But that can backfire on the Brewers, who cant let their emotions get the best of them, especially against their division rivals. The Brewers have the edge in talent over the Cardinals, but its all about keeping their heads and not trying to do too much, especially away from home. Milwaukees trouble on the road is a head-scratcher, which puts a lot of pressure on them to maintain their perfection at home. If they dropped a game in Miller Park, can they get it back in St. Louis?

How It Will Play Out

Milwaukee should be the MLB betting favorites, and Game 1 was the 19th time that these two have met in 2011, so there arent many secrets left between them. Its been almost even as the Brewers are 10-9 against the Cardinals this year, with 10 games coming in under the posted total (along with a couple of pushes).

This has seven games written all over it, and the Brewers need to be able to take at least one game in St. Louis, where theyve lost six of their last 10. They should be able to snatch a game on the road and send their bitter rivals packing after a wild series. The Cardinals will make it interesting with their experience, but the Brewers have too many weapons and will break through to reach the World Series. Take Milwaukee with your online betting baseball picks.

Cardinals Brewers Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, outfielder Ben Revere and right-hander Nick Blackburn all underwent surgeries on Friday, according to general manager Bill Smith.

“Three players underwent surgery Friday morning as part of their end-of-season physicals,” Smith said via email. “All three are expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training.”

Morneau underwent a stabilization procedure on the tendon in the back of his left wrist and will be in a cast for six weeks.

Morneau’s wrist plagued him earlier in the season, as he was placed on the disabled list with a sprained left wrist on June 14 before eventually having neck surgery on June 29. He also had a cyst removed from his left knee and a bone spur removed from his right foot on Aug. 19.

Revere, meanwhile, had his left knee cleaned out and had loose pieces of cartilage removed.

Blackburn was diagnosed with Radial Tunnel Syndrome and had a decompression of the radial nerve in his right forearm, which essentially removed pressure from an entrapped nerve in his forearm. He will be in a splint for six weeks.

With the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox not competing in this years ALCS and that leaves the chances wide open for the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. The Rangers are the 2010 defending AL Champions and would love a shot at a second World Series appearance in a row. The Tigers were AL Champions in 2006 when they went to the World Series and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rangers want the chance to prove that last year was not a fluke (if it hasnt been proven already) and the Tigers would love a rematch of the 2006 World Series, provided the Cardinals beat the Phillies in game five of the NLDS.

Why Bet on Detroit

The Tigers are favored to win game one of this series, and Detroit also stands as the favorite to become AL Champions. The betting sites consider that a neat trick when you remember that the Tigers were chasing the Cleveland Indians for half the season for the AL Central title. Detroit wasnt even a playoff favorite at the All-Star break. But there are plenty of good reasons to bet on the Detroit Tigers to win the AL pennant.

The Detroit Tigers come into the playoffs with the hottest pitching staff in baseball. It is more than just Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander (although he is a huge part of the reason why Detroit beat the Yankees). But there are other starters such as Doug Fister and Max Scherzer that also helped put the beat down on the Yankees. Detroits offense did not really help as it only scored 17 runs in the five games of the ALDS. But the pitching in Detroit should help carry the Tigers far.

Why Bet on Texas

The Rangers did not make it easy on themselves by getting blown out in the first game of its ALDS series against the Tampa Bay Rays 9-0. But the online wagering crowd in Texas relaxed when the Rangers starting pitching finally clicked in for the playoffs. The Rangers do not have the convenience of calling on a Cliff Lee to win games in the post-season. But the young Ranger pitching staff that enters the playoffs have shown that it is more than capable of winning big games.

How it Will Play Out

The Rangers young pitching staff has shown that it can respond to big games and make a difference in a series. After the game one blowout against the Rays, the Rangers staff settled in and allowed only 12 runs in the next three games before clinching the series. But questions still remain about the ability of the Rangers staff to be World Series-caliber.

The Tigers are really rolling both on the mound and on offense. Detroit came into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams down the stretch, and maintained its momentum into the playoffs. It will be a tall task to ask a young Rangers team to stop Detroit.

Pick: Detroit Tigers

It would have seemed ludicrous at the time that they were considered the consensus World Series favorites, but the Boston Red Sox will not be in the American League postseason in 2011. Thanks to one of the most improbable sports betting comebacks in the history of the sport, the Tampa Bay Rays made it in ahead of Boston, and will now have the even tougher challenge of rallying against the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. Game three in that series will be played Monday back in Tampa Bay, where that final day of the regular season was carried out last Wednesday, while game thee between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers will also go Monday.

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Monday, 5:07 PM ET

The biggest handicap that the Rays faced heading in to this MLB betting series was the fact that needing a win in each of the final few days before the end of the regular season did not allow them to set up their starting rotation to be ready for the ALDS. That included All Star David Price getting the call in the finale against the Yankees, which meant that he would have to wait until this game three to have a chance to start. Tampa Bay was forced to go with rookie Matt Moore and James Shields though the first two contests, but will finally get their ace on the mound in hopes that they can take this one at home. The Rangers have been among the most consistent teams all season and have power in every aspect of the game, so the Rays need to capitalize on intangibles such as momentum if they are going to overcome once again. Tampa Bay has no business winning this series, but the same could have been said about them even getting in ahead of Boston.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Monday, 8:37 PM ET

The Tigers will return home knowing exactly what they need to do to close out this series, and it continues with Max Scherzer on the mound against the veteran Freddy Garcia. If there is one MLB betting bonus area of this series where Detroit is projected to have the edge, it is the depth in the starting rotation, and they will need to take advantage of that here. Scherzer finished the regular season with a 15-9 record and 4.43 ERA, and he allowed more than four runs only twice over the final two months. He will need to bring his best stuff to the park on Monday to hold off a powerful Yankees offense, and prevent the veteran Garcia from stealing one on the road. Garcia and Bartolo Colon were two key signings for New York in the offseason that have really panned out better than expected, and if he can steal one here in this position, it will go a long way for the Yankees not only in this series but in the longer run.

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

It would have seemed ludicrous at the time that they were considered the consensus World Series favorites, but the Boston Red Sox will not be in the American League postseason in 2011. Thanks to one of the most improbable sports betting comebacks in the history of the sport, the Tampa Bay Rays made it in ahead of Boston, and will now have the even tougher challenge of rallying against the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. Game three in that series will be played Monday back in Tampa Bay, where that final day of the regular season was carried out last Wednesday, while game thee between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers will also go Monday.

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Monday, 5:07 PM ET

The biggest handicap that the Rays faced heading in to this MLB betting series was the fact that needing a win in each of the final few days before the end of the regular season did not allow them to set up their starting rotation to be ready for the ALDS. That included All Star David Price getting the call in the finale against the Yankees, which meant that he would have to wait until this game three to have a chance to start. Tampa Bay was forced to go with rookie Matt Moore and James Shields though the first two contests, but will finally get their ace on the mound in hopes that they can take this one at home. The Rangers have been among the most consistent teams all season and have power in every aspect of the game, so the Rays need to capitalize on intangibles such as momentum if they are going to overcome once again. Tampa Bay has no business winning this series, but the same could have been said about them even getting in ahead of Boston.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Monday, 8:37 PM ET

The Tigers will return home knowing exactly what they need to do to close out this series, and it continues with Max Scherzer on the mound against the veteran Freddy Garcia. If there is one MLB betting bonus area of this series where Detroit is projected to have the edge, it is the depth in the starting rotation, and they will need to take advantage of that here. Scherzer finished the regular season with a 15-9 record and 4.43 ERA, and he allowed more than four runs only twice over the final two months. He will need to bring his best stuff to the park on Monday to hold off a powerful Yankees offense, and prevent the veteran Garcia from stealing one on the road. Garcia and Bartolo Colon were two key signings for New York in the offseason that have really panned out better than expected, and if he can steal one here in this position, it will go a long way for the Yankees not only in this series but in the longer run.

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

The way that the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals got in to the postseason was nothing short of impressive, but now comes the even tougher task of making an impact in the playoffs against two of the best teams in the majors in the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies respectively. Both teams have the weapons to make an impact, but will be in tough to continue their improbable runs after spending a ton of gas just to get to the big MLB Betting dance. Here is a quick look at this Saturdays games.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers
Saturday, TBS

The Diamondbacks broadcasters had a sense of uneasiness in their voice when they talked about preparing to face Milwaukee in the NLDS on Thursday, and it could be because of the way that the Brewers have dominated this season. With the All Star trio of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee will look to flex its muscle at home against an Arizona team that was able to win games despite not playing at an elite level in the NL West, and unless Ian Kennedy can carry out the unlikely task of shutting down the Brewers offense they will have a tough time opening the series with a win.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees
Saturday, TBS

The Yankees biggest problem heading in to this MLB betting season was a lack of pitching depth in their starting rotation, an area that Ivan Novas development has been crucial in. Nova goes second for New York behind CC Sabathia at the top of the rotation, and will counter veteran Doug Fister for Detroit as the pinstripes look to improve their standing in the series before the series shifts to the Motor City.

MLB Betting Pick: New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers
Saturday, TBS

The Rays will never stop believing after the incredible sequence of events that unfolded on the final day of the regular season, and if they can somehow work with the momentum and continue to play the way that they have as a unit, they do have a chance at an upset. Matt Holland will start the series for Texas with Tampa Bay expected to release their official decision sometime on Friday. The Rangers have unfinished business in the AL, and have no intention of letting the Rays Cinderella story continue.

MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers

St. Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, TBS

The Cardinals fought with everything that they had to complete the comeback and catch the Braves, but now face the even more daunting task of matching up with the Phillies in the NLDS. Philadelphia will have the edge in every pitching matchup as expected, and it may take another sports betting bonus miracle for St. Louis to rock the boat in these beginning with Roy Halladay on the mound Saturday against Jaime Garcia for the Cardinals.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies