Articles by Cappers Picks related to Major League baseball gambling online.
Mets hoping bolstered bullpen gets them over the hump – At first glance, the New York Mets enjoyed a respectable season, winning 89 games and featuring a number of players that put on impressive seasons. In reality, it was another wildly disappointing year in New York. The Mets were met with yet another September swoon, dashing their postseason hopes despite a strong start to the season.
In MLB betting, the type of champion varies from year to year. Sometimes we see a dominant franchise rule the roost wire to wire and take the World Series odds; the 2007 Boston Red Sox come to mind. Sometimes we see good but not great teams overcome their flaws to play their best baseball in October and win it all. The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals come to mind, and so do the 2008 Phillies.
Atlanta used to be an MLB betting certainty to win the National League East, as it took the division 11 straight years. After three years of third and fourth-place finishes, the Braves have reloaded and are looking to challenge New York and Philadelphia in the East.
The Braves scored 770 runs last year, and they got rid of slugger Mark Teixeira late in the season, which definitely hurt their offense.
In one of the better division pennant races from last season, the Dodgers outlasted the Diamondbacks to win the NL West by 2 games. With Manny Ramirez aboard for the whole season, LA should be able to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the division.
Something tells me this isn’t going to be the case, as the NL West could be more competitive this season than most people think.
The 2009 WBC is over, the MLB preseason is underway, and Scott Orgera weighs in with his weekly MLB Power Rankings article for the 2009 MLB baseball season.
1. New York Yankees – 2008 Record – 89-73
Coming out of camp, this team boasts the strongest, most balanced starting rotation in the game.
We know what to expect entering 2009 MLB betting for the NL East. The Marlins are in the middle of their typical five-year cycle: dismantle World Champion roster, acquire boatloads of prospects, slowly develop them, become competitive, sign a couple free agents for playoff push, win World Series, rinse and repeat.
While MLB betting fans will never mistake the Washington Nationals for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays or even the 2009 Kansas City Royals, things may finally be looking ever-so-slightly up for them this season. While only a die-hard online sports betting player knows anything about their obscure pitching staff, it definitely looks like this team will hit in 2009. Think of them as the Baltimore Orioles of the NL East.
The NL Central has been dominated by the Chicago Cubs the last two seasons as they have clearly been the class of this division. While there have been some significant player moves by the rest of the teams to try and close the gap, it remains to be seen if it will enough to dethrone the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs -200: While shuffling their line up somewhat, this year’s team remains basically intact from last season’s team that won 97 games.
Few MLB odds competitors have had easier rides over the last five years than the Los Angeles Angels. Consistently fielding strong, well-rounded teams and sharing a division with weak competition have translated into four AL West titles in the last five years. Though the Angels made a few changes in the offseason, they remain strong in virtually every area, so there’s no reason for online sports betting fans to expect anything less than continued success in 2009.
In MLB betting, general managers don’t come much crazier than Billy Beane. The man who popularized Moneyball was thinking outside the box again this offseason, but not in his usual sense. Sure, he grabbed another handful of on-base machines from free agency, but they weren’t they typical no-name guys whose peripheral stats suggested breakouts.
The NL East has basically been a two team battle the last few seasons with the Mets and the Phillies going down to the wire. The question this year is can anyone else in the division stay in the race long enough to challenge for the top spot.
Here is a look at the current odds to win the NL East.
Texas Rangers (2008 Record: 79-83, 2nd place in AL West, 21 GB)
Since their late ’90’s run of division titles and playoff appearances, the Rangers have done a complete about face when it comes to winning baseball. With the exception of a decent 2004 season under Buck Showalter, in which they finished 16 games above .500, this team has failed to push their record into the black in ten years.
Atlanta Braves (2008 Record: 72-90, 4th place in NL East, 20 GB)
America’s Team was the model of consistency between 1991 and 2005, winning 14 division titles, 4 National League pennants, and 1 World Series in that span. Anchored by dominant pitching staffs and led by the legendary Bobby Cox, the Braves were the class of the NL year after year. The tide has shifted, however, and Atlanta has been unable to punch its ticket to the post-season for three seasons running.
Same old, Same old. MLB betting fans shake their heads when they look at the Texas Rangers‘ 2009 roster. Nothing has changed in Arlington since the days when a certain former U.S. President owned them. Bandbox ballpark, powerful hitters, and a completely empty cupboard in the pitching department.
Team USA is battered, but not broken
Team USA has advanced to the Semifinals of the World Baseball Classic despite suffering an avalanche of injuries.
There are only four teams left in the Classic as the semifinals get ready to start Saturday night in Los Angeles with Venezuela playing Korea at 9 pm ET.
Tampa Bay Rays (2008 Record: 97-65, 1st place in AL East, AL Champions)
The Rays as a team were definitely one of the feel good stories of the year in 2008, riding a healthy mixture of youth and optimism all the way to the AL Pennant. Perennial bottom dwellers since their inception 10 years earlier, the ’08 Rays came out of the gate strong and never really looked back.
