Seattle Mariners 2008 Record: 61-101, 39 GB in AL West
By far the most disappointing team in baseball last year, the Mariners and new manager Don Wakamatsu look to return some semblance of respectability to the Pacific Northwest. On paper this was a club filled with promise as it broke camp last March, carrying a pitching staff that had the potential to keep the M’s in the playoff chase all season.
Chicago Cubs 2008 Record: 97-64, NL Central Winner
After early post-season exits the past two seasons, the North Siders are in prime position to make a run at their third straight NL Central title. Heartbreak has been a common theme for this franchise since what seems like the dawn of time, but they will once again sport a roster that all but guarantees that they’ll at least be in the mix for a playoff spot in ’09.
Boston Red Sox (2008 Record: 95-67, 2 GB in AL East – AL Wild Card Winner)
After coming within 3 measly runs of another AL Pennant in 2008, the BoSox are back with what could be a much stronger team.
While the boys from the Bronx grabbed the East Coast headlines this Winter by spending enough money to purchase a small country, GM Theo Epstein and crew took a somewhat different approach to retooling. By taking fliers on injury risks with tremendous upside and proven track records like John Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Rocco Baldelli, they may wind up getting the most bang for their buck out of all the 30 MLB teams.
Even if the aforementioned players do not pan out, the Sox still boast a very strong roster. The outfield is made up of a formidable group featuring Jason “don’t call me Manny” Bay, Jacoby Elisbury, and JD Drew in right with Baldelli able to fill in at all 3 positions. Being with the team from the start of the season should boost Bay’s numbers, who still put up a respectable showing after having to fill some really big shoes down the stretch in ’08. The right side of the infield is solid with on-base machines Kevin Youkilis and reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia. The left side, on the other hand, is a bit of a question mark with third baseman Mike Lowell recovering from hip surgery and the shortstop position up for grabs in a battle between veteran Julio Lugo and 25-year old Jed Lowrie.
After a lot of uncertainty over contract details, the Sox were finally able to bring back the man with the C on his jersey to man the backstop. Reduced to a mediocre hitter at this point in his career, Jason Varitek is still crucial to the success of a pitching staff which is relying on some young but effective arms like phenom Jon Lester and even some key bullpen pieces such as Boston native Manny Delcarmen.
The starting rotation is as deep as they come, led by post-season hero Josh Beckett, Lester, and Dice-K, and rounded out by knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and newcomer Penny. Smoltz is expected back in May, which should push either Wakefield or Penny to an already solid pen. If injuries should hit, already experienced youngsters Clay Buckhholz and Justin Masterson are waiting in the wings as well as top prospect Michael Bowden. The fiery Johathan Papelbon may be the best 9th inning man in the league next to Mariano Rivera and he now has ex-Dodger Takashi Saito, a closer in his own right, to set him up. If David Ortiz can bounce back to anything close to his 2007 form, Terry Francona’s squad should once again be playing meaningful October baseball. Look for Boston to finish with around 97 wins this season.
Bet Online Under/Over: Under/Over 95 Wins (-115)
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Baltimore Orioles 2008 Record: 68-93, 28.5 GB in AL East
The O’s finally appear to be headed in the right direction after years of misguided acquisitions and poor draft choices. They are still a few years away from challenging in what should once again be baseball’s toughest division.
Costa Rica, February 17 – BookMaker.com, the leading online gaming and sports book destination, issued lines today on the continuing Steroids epidemic in Major League Baseball. The new lines include The Next Baseball Hero To Be Caught Using Steroids, Which Slugger Will Admit To Juicing and Will or Will Not A-Rod Make A Trip To Capital Hill.
The MLB free agent signing period is well underway and sports betting fans need to start paying attention as there is no doubt that some of the signings should greatly impact the chances of certain teams against the BetUS online sportsbook MLB betting spread.
Francisco Rodriguez, K-Rod to online betting fans because of his ability to strike-out opposing batters, today signed a 3 year 37 million dollar deal with the New York Mets.
The signing, almost a year after the Mets signed top pitcher Johann Santana, was the lead story on some of the major sports broadcasting networks throughout the night.
The Philadelphia Phillies (99-72 SU, 76-89-6 O/U, 81-90 RL) and Tampa Bay Rays (104-69 SU, 80-90-2 O/U, 92-80 RL) will take square off at Tropicana Field tonight at 8PM Eastern for Game 1 of the 2008 MLB World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook and tonight’s pitching matchup figures to be a thriller with Phillies left-handed staff ace Cole Hamels (17-10, 2.92 ERA), going up against talented Rays lefty, Scott Kazmir (13-8, 3.54 ERA).
I’m not impressed! Not with the Philadelphia Phillies (96-71 SU, 78-89 RL, 73-88-6 O/U) Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers (87-79 SU, 84-82 RL, 75-85-6 O/U).
I’m actually not that impressed with my Game 1 selection that I predicted on Thursday as a blind man could have called Philadelphia’s Game 1 win with crafty lefty Cole Hamels on the mound.
Oct 7th, 2008 – betED.com Press Release – Bet the NLCS and ALCS at betED.com
Who plays who in the 2008 World Series will be determined when the NLCS and ALCS get underway Thursday and Friday.
Philadelphia and Chicago are favored as the MLB Playoffs kickoff with two early games on Wednesday.
Sportsbook.com has Dime Lines for most MLB games so make sure you wager on the playoffs here to take advantage. You can also find a complete list of futures odds on our Live Odds page.
Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Betting Preview
The Chicago White Sox didn’t seem like a team that could thrive in the clutch after being swept by the Minnesota Twins last week.
