Diamondbacks sign P Benson to minor league deal

Baseball Betting Lines

03/17/2010 - Tucson, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed veteran pitcher Kris Benson to a minor league contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The 35-year-old appeared in eight games (two starts) in 2009 with the Texas Rangers and went 1-1 with an 8.46 earned run average.

The first overall pick in the 1996 draft by Pittsburgh, Benson has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness the last two years. He missed the entire 2007 campaign after undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his pitching shoulder.

Benson then signed with Philadelphia in February 2008 and made 11 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before getting released that August.

In 203 games -- 197 starts -- Benson has compiled a 69-74 record with a 4.41 ERA over eight big league seasons with the Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore and Texas.

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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.

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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. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.