Mar 3rd, 2009 – betED.com Press Release – Dominican team favored to win WBC at betED.com
New York Yankees’ slugger Alex Rodriguez may be a bit of a fallen hero in Major League Baseball, but not in the Dominican Republic.
That’s because the Dominican team is listed as the favorite at betED.com to win the World Baseball Classic, thanks largely to A-Rod’s decision to play for the Dominican Republic instead of the U.S. team.
The World Baseball Classic gets started Thursday, and the Dominican Republic is a +175 favorite to win at betED.com, which has WBC betting odds for all 16 teams involved.
The Dominican team will try to avenge a disappointing effort at the 2006 World Baseball Classic when it begins play against the Netherlands on March 7 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico.
Rodriguez and his teammates – which include top major leaguers David Ortiz, Edinson Volquez and Pedro Martinez – should have a relatively easy time, as the Netherlands is the WBC betting longshot, along with South Africa, at +15000 odds.
Rodriguez, who was born to Dominican parents and resided there for a three-year period in his youth, chose at the last minute to play for his native United States in the first WBC in 2006.
Despite his decision, the Dominican team was considered a heavy favorite heading into the inaugural Classic, but finished fourth after losing to Cuba in the semifinals.
Japan beat Cuba in the final to win the 2006 WBC. This year, Japan is at +350 odds to repeat and Cuba is +750.
The U.S. team is the next favorite behind the Dominican Republic, at +225.
One thing the American team won’t miss is the recent controversy surrounding Rodriguez, who’s admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while playing for the Texas Rangers.
Check out betED.com for a full list of World Baseball Classic teams and odds.
