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.
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.
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.
Golf betting odds are throwing their weight behind Tiger Woods this weekend in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, and that’s no surprise given that Woods is the defending champion and has won this event five times in the past. But there are still some solid sportsbook options out there besides the world No.1, including a 25-year veteran who has been one of the best on the Tour over the last year.
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.
How do the Mariners’ MLB odds look for 2009?
Next question, please. Uh, hey, how about that Ken Griffey Jr.? Pretty cool to have him back home, huh?
Sorry for changing the subject, but it’s difficult to discuss the Mariners’ chances in MLB betting without a barf bag present.
After they lost Johan Santana via free agency and then Francis Liriano to injury, not many people thought the Minnesota Twins would be competing for a playoff spot in 2008. But the Twins persevered and finished just one game back of the White Sox.
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While March Madness betting players are gearing up for a busy sportsbook weekend, there’s some action on the links out there for online golf betting players. This week’s stop is the Transitions Championship, to be held at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, and the “Copperhead” course is known as one of the toughest on the Tour.
If those who bet on MLB take a quick glance at the 2009 Chicago White Sox roster, they’ll realize it’s out with old, in with the new in the South Side. The Pale Hose are only four years removed from a World Series title, but only a few key pieces of that championship squad remain.
March Madness odds are here! Woo hoo! I – oh, sorry, wrong blog. Just getting a bit ahead of myself, I suppose. I can’t help it, though – there are few events in online sports betting more exciting than March Madness betting. Maybe when (if?) The WBC odds are around long enough to develop cache, they’ll get people more pumped at the sportsbook.
Anyway, why not make a few picks for the next round of World Baseball Classic betting?
Instead of Pools, this round breaks down into two groups, with the top two teams from each group reaching the semifinal.
Group 1: Korea, Cuba, Japan, Mexico
Picks: Cuba, Japan
Forgive me for not respecting Korea in the WBC odds, but I just think it got a bit lucky in winning Pool A. Jung Bong, who has major-league experience, befuddled Japan in a 1-0 shutout. But Japan crushed them 14-2 in the first meeting, so the discrepancy in results looks like a fluke to me. I think Japan may have the best 1-2 pitching punch in the WBC odds in Dice-K and Yu Darvish, so I think it can join Cuba, who has looked as dominant as any team, in the semifinal.
Group 2: Puerto Rico, Venezuela, USA, the Netherlands (!)
Picks: Venezuela, USA
No Puerto Rico? Can you trust me at the sportsbook? I dunno, but I just have a feeling. Puerto Rico breezed through its pool, admittedly, and pounded the Cinderella Dutch twice. But I still think Venezuela matches up to them pretty evenly in talent, hitting-wise and pitching wise. More importantly, the Venezuelans are playing chips on their shoulders, mainly due to some weird political undertones that had Venezuelan fans booing Magglio Ordonez in round one. Puerto Rico hasn’t really been tested yet and could be overconfident, whereas Venezuela had to grind its way out of Pool C. The U.S. is a lock, since it’s the deepest team and has the home-field advantage for the rest of the WBC odds.
Happy WBC betting, folks!
In the 2009 MLB odds, the AL Central looks like a division on the rise. The Cleveland Indians, while they sputtered to a .500 record last year, could be one of baseball’s biggest bounce-back stories this season despite their increasingly tough local competition. They have enough young talent to challenge for the division crown, but only time will tell whether or not it all comes together at once.
There’s a new No.1 team in the NBA, but not by much. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers will probably fight for the top spot for the rest of the year, and NBA betting players will have a tough time deciding which team to go with in their offshore sportsbook.
The Detroit Tigers flabbergasted MLB betting fans last year; so much talent, such poor results. While the Tigers weren’t the only bust in last year’s MLB odds – the Diamondbacks and Indians come to mind – they may be the least likely to bounce back of all last year’s disappointments.
