OUR JIM SEZ MID-WEEK UPDATE FEATURES MLB & NFL NEWS/NOTES PLUS WE CHECK OUT THE BIG 10 IN OUR LATEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL FIVE-YEAR POINTSPREAD BREAKDOWN CHART

By Jim Hurley:

The Major-League Baseball Trade Deadline is just now only a week away (July 31st) and there's a growing sense that any/all of the big deals involving pitchers have happened already - and that's too bad if that is true!
    
No doubt the deals that moved CC Sabathia from Cleveland to Milwaukee (he's 3-and-oh already for the Brewers, you know), Rich Harden from Oakland to the Chicago Cubs and Joe Blanton from Oakland to Philadelphia were solid in-season swaps for the clubs both dealing away those hurlers and the clubs that brought back young/minor-league talent in return but could some of the potential big-time buyers - and we mean you, ...

(Volume X - Number 35)
Tuesday, July 22

SARATOGA OPENS WEDNESDAY... FULL FIELD SCHUYLERVILLE PREVIEW... HOT SIRES AND HORSES TO WATCH, PLUS A LOOK AT TURF SPRINTS AND MORE!

I like to think that when the compressors and the air-conditioning went on Saturday, and with things remaining the same on Sunday, which caused the final day of the Belmont spring/summer meet to be cancelled, it might have been a spiritually mechanical homage to The Spa on the part of the Elmont, Long Island plant...but whatever the reason, the downstate meet is finished and the anticipation is over. That 2008 meet is archived and those owners and trainers stabled there that haven't already done so will soon be on their way up the thruway to exit 24 at Albany, the I-87 Northway and Exit 14 or 13N depending on which way you want to approach the Historic Spa. 

All I know is I'm on my way as well and if opening day is any indication, this could be one heck of a value-driven race meet.
There are ...

HANDICAPPING NOTEBOOK

OUR ANNUAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PREVIEWS START FRIDAY!

You regulars know that this is about the time of year where we start providing our college football conference previews here in the NOTEBOOK. With the season being just a little over five weeks away, it's time to get busy!

Here's the tentative schedule for this summer's previews:

FRIDAY: ACC Atlantic Division
SATURDAY: ACC Coastal Division
SUNDAY: Big East
MONDAY: Big 10
TUESDAY Big 12 North
WEDNESDAY Big 12 South
JULY 31st: Pac 10
AUGUST 1st: SEC East
AUGUST 2: SEC West

Those are all the divisions in the six BCS conferences. We've decided this year to run through the "big boys" uninterrupted on consecutive days. That will put a temporary damper on our pennant race coverage. But, football makes the handicapping world go round. The newsstand magazines have already been out for a bit as it is. We want to make sure you're putting some quality time in your handicapping ...