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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This hasn’t been said in MLB betting circles in ages – maybe the mid 1980s? – but things may finally be looking up for the Kansas City Royals, especially in the anything-goes AL Central. Raise your hand if you knew they went 18-8 last September. All those draft picks are finally arriving and the pitching staff even offers a glimmer of hope.
Mar 3rd, 2009 – As the Groin Pulls
It’s one of the annual traditions of spring training. Writers may wax poetic on the green grass, the bluer than blue skies and the endless possibilities each team may have for the upcoming season– but what baseball in March is really all about are hip-adductors, namely the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineusmuscles tearing, as out of shape ball players try to run from here to there.
