MLB: Baseball Bettors’ Good, Bad & Ugly
With baseball approaching the traditional “start of summer” Memorial Holiday weekend
2008-05-20
With baseball approaching the traditional “start of summer” Memorial Holiday weekend, teams all across baseball are starting to settle into what might be their fate, good or bad in 2008. With plenty of baseball still to be played, change will undoubtedly occur. For MLB bettors, certain teams already have what 1980’s pop singer Roxette sang, “The Look”.
GOOD
Arizona 28-16 +9.9 units
Arizona may have “only” won six of last 10 games, yet they are still the best bet in baseball, with the best record in the major leagues. This is a complete team to boot, with three quality pitchers at the top of the rotation, led by the best pitcher in the game in Brandon Webb. The D-Backs right-hander is just the fifth pitcher in the last 88 years to start 9-0 and has won his last 11 regular starts, dating back to last season. For good measure, the Snakes slap the ball around proficiently, ranking second in baseball in scoring at 5.4 runs per game.
Chicago White Sox 23-20 +2.7 units
The White Sox are not making bettors rich on the season; however riding them of late has been a swell idea. After manager Ozzie Guillen went on tirade earlier this month, the Pale Hose responded by being shutout. Since then they are 9-4, +4.60 units, including five wins in a row and exceptional 7-3 road trip. Pitching has keyed the run, in seven games they have held the opposition to three or less runs. Those last five wins have put the Chi-Sox in first place in the AL Central.
Chicago Cubs 27-17 +5.2 units
While south side counterparts made good on the road, the North Siders cleaned up at the Friendly Confines. The Cubs completed 8-2 homestand, which included a sweep of Arizona. Both loses were by just one run. The Chicago hitters have helped out the pitchers tremendously, leading the majors in runs scored at 5.8 per game. The Cubs lead baseball in run differential at +69 and are 13-4, +8.9 units in games decided by four or more runs.
BAD
American League
After being more than 100 games over .500 the last four years, the American League “only” mustered 22-19 record versus National League foes in the opening of interleague play. That is not to say the junior circuit couldn’t run roughshod later on when interleague play continues, but it seems unlikely. With the National League averaging more runs per game than the AL and 12 of the top 16 hitters in the game residing in the NL, the competition figure to be closer this season.
Milwaukee 20-24 -5.4 units
The Brewers had the unfortunate task of traveling Boston, to face one of the teams with the best home record in the game, along with being one of the best interleague teams in recent years. Milwaukee lost all three contests and continues dismal play on the road with 9-15 record, and has fallen into last place.
New York Yankees 20-24 -10.4 units
As if the season hasn’t gone bad enough, the Yankees dropped a pair to the Mets, further fueling the negative New York media. The former Bronx Bombers are 24th in runs scored and seem to face a lefty everyday, with no right-handed sticks of Alex Rodriguez or Jorge Posada to balance the line-up. New York has been forced to use youngsters, like Ian Kennedy, Darrell Rasner and injured Phillip Hughes as starters, with payroll flunkies Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa taking up space.
UGLY
San Diego 16-29 -15.8 units
The San Diego offense is so bad its offensive. Nobody scores fewer runs than the Padres at 3.3 RPG. They are horrifically substandard also; 18 times they have managed to score two or fewer runs. The entire pitching staff has not been much of a help either, with 4.23 ERA. The bullpen, once a pillar of strength of the organization, is now in shambles. A 4.36 ERA only tells part of the story, with 2-12 record more reflective and closer Trevor Hoffman at the end of the line, as San Diego is 8 of 16 in saves. Now word comes Jake Peavy has had elbow discomfort for a month.
San Francisco 17-28 -9.3 units
Most experts assumed it was going to be a long season in San Francisco. Not enough hitting or pitching to suffice for the Giants. To this juncture, they have been pinpoint accurate. The San Francisco offense is next to last in scoring at 3.5 runs per game. The pitching beyond the brilliant youngster Tim Lincecum, has been lousy, with 4.44 ERA and they have surrendered the third most walks in baseball.
Detroit 17-27 -15 units
When you calculate the Tigers are 19th in runs scored, 20th in fielding percentage and 29th in team ERA, it is evident this is a team in trouble. By all appearances, manager Jim Leyland’s accountability practices for each player is having little affect on Detroit, with far too many players going thru the motions, and three up, three down commonplace. The Tigers have shown no bite against RH starters with 12-25 record.
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