Okay BetUS MLB\u00a0online betting\u00a0fanatics, after nailing a whopping 60 percent of my\u00a0MLB free picks\u00a0in 2008, your handicapping guru, Eric Williams is getting prepared to set the\u00a0BetUS Sportsbook\u00a0on fire with another amazing run all the way to the 2009 World Series.<\/p>\n
This look at the 2009 National League Central\u00a0MLB Odds<\/strong><\/a>, followed by my brief analysis and division winner prediction should give BetUS\u00a0MLB baseball betting\u00a0buffs everywhere a good sense of which team or teams are not only capable of winning the NL Central, but also contending for the 2009 MLB\u00a0World Series\u00a0title.<\/p>\n Chicago Cubs -160 Offseason Additions –\u00a0<\/strong>C Paul Bako, OF Milton Bradley, OF Joey Gathright, RHP Kevin Gregg, RHP Aaron Heilman, INF Aaron Miles, RHP Garrett Olson, RHP Jeff Stevens, OF So Taguchi and RHP Luis Vizcaino.<\/p>\n Offseason Departures –<\/strong>\u00a0C Henry Blanco, INF Ronny Cedeno, INF Mark DeRosa, OF Jim Edmonds, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Bobby Howry, RHP Jason Marquis, OF Felix Pie, INF-OF Daryle Ward, RHP Kerry Wood and RHP Michael Wuertz.<\/p>\n Analysis:<\/strong>\u00a0Besides the fact that the Cubs have yet to figure out who their closer will be, I\u2019m think they are pretty loaded and could go a very long way \u2013 if they can avoid the \u2018choke pill\u2019 they\u2019ve taken in each of the last two postseasons.<\/p>\n Offseason Additions –<\/strong>\u00a0C Humberto Cota, OF Jonny Gomes, C Ramon Hernandez, OF Jacque Jones, LHP Arthur Rhodes, CF Willy Taveras and 1B-OF Daryle Ward.<\/p>\n Offseason Departures –\u00a0<\/strong>LHP Jeremy Affeldt, C Paul Bako, RHP Matt Belisle, RHP Josh Fogg, OF Ryan Freel, RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Kent Mercker, OF Corey Patterson, INF Andy Phillips and C Javier Valentin.<\/p>\n Analysis:<\/strong>\u00a0Ho-hum. Another offseason in Cincinnati means another year they\u2019ve failed to really upgrade their ballclub. This team has \u2018mediocrity\u2019 written all over it \u2013 again.<\/p>\n Offseason Additions –<\/strong>\u00a03B Aaron Boone, C Toby Hall, LHP Mike Hampton, OF Jason Michaels, RHP Russ Ortiz.<\/p>\n Offseason Departures –<\/strong>\u00a0C Brad Ausmus, INF Mark Loretta, 3B Ty Wigginton and LHP Randy Wolf.<\/p>\n Analysis –<\/strong>\u00a0Let\u2019s see, how many quality starters do the Astros have not named Roy Oswalt? Don\u2019t get me wrong, I like Wandy Rodriguez and Brian Moehler, but let\u2019s be honest. Neither is the second coming of Sandy Koufax \u2013 or even Oswalt for that matter.<\/p>\n Offseason Additions –<\/strong>\u00a0OF Chris Duffy, RHP Trevor Hoffman, RHP Jorge Julio, 3B Casey McGehee, RHP Eduardo Morlan, OF Trot Nixon and LHP R.J. Swindle.<\/p>\n Offseason Departures –<\/strong>\u00a03B Russell Branyan, 2B Craig Counsell, 2B Ray Durham, RHP Eric Gagne, OF Gabe Kapler, RHP Guillermo Mota, LHP C.C. Sabathia, RHP Ben Sheets, LHP Brian Shouse and RHP Salomon Torres.<\/p>\n Analysis \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019ll be totally honest about it and say that, this ballclub is very pitching deficient \u2013 and everyone knows good pitching beats good hitting. New manager Ken Macha had better have a season-long supply of Excedrin headache medicine ready.<\/a><\/p>\n Offseason Additions –<\/strong>\u00a0INF\/OF Eric Hinske, C Jason Jaramillo, OF Craig Monroe, INF Andy Phillips, RHP Virgil Vasquez, INF Ramon Vazquez and LHP Donnie Veal.<\/p>\n Offseason Departures –<\/strong>\u00a0INF Chris Gomez, OF Jason Michaels, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, C Ronny Paulino, INF Luis Rivas and RHP John Van Benschoten.<\/p>\n Analysis \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0The 2009 Pirates will likely be a big league version of the Bad News Bears. There\u2019s not a lot of real competent hitters and even less competent pitchers on this ballclub. LHP Paul Maholm and RHP Ian Snell will need to start every other day in order for the beleaguered Pirates to even have a chance at reaching .500.<\/p>\n Offseason Additions:<\/strong>\u00a0SS Khalil Greene, LHP Royce Ring, LHP Charlie Manning and LHP Trever Miller.\u00a0<\/p>\n Offseason Departures:<\/strong>\u00a0LHP Randy Flores, RHP Jason Isringhausen, SS Cesar Izturis, LHP Tyler Johnson, RHP Braden Looper, INF Felipe Lopez, INF Aaron Miles, LHP Mark Mulder, RHP Russ Springer and LHP Ron Villone.<\/p>\n Analysis \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0The Cardinals failed to upgrade their bullpen and could really use another top-notch starter or two. Still, I never count out Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols.<\/p>\n Division Analysis:<\/strong>\u00a0This division race is one of the easiest in all of baseball to predict. Chicago will win with room to spare while the Cards take second The Astros and the Brewers will battle for third place while the Pirates and Reds will hope to avoid being cellar dwellers.<\/p>\n
\nCincinnati Reds +600
\nHouston Astros +15000
\nMilwaukee Brewers +500
\nPittsburgh Pirates +3000
\nSt Louis Cardinals +600<\/p>\nChicago Cubs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cincinnati Reds<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Houston Astros<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Milwaukee Brewers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pittsburgh Pirates<\/strong><\/h3>\n
St. Louis Cardinals<\/strong><\/h3>\n