MLB Favorites Stumble Out of the Gates
The MLB season is not even a week old and there is still a TON of baseball to play, roughly 156 or so games, but the favorites have, for the most part, started the season badly. Obviously it is hard to worry after only 5 or so games have been played, but many teams that had great odds to win the Fall Classic this year are beginning the season behind the 8-ball.
At every sportsbook the Yankees are the odds on favorite to win the World Series this season. At most sportsbooks after the Yankees the favorites, in order, are the Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Angels, Rays, Phillies, Dodgers, and Indians. OK, so let’s take a look at the starts of these teams. Well, the Red Sox are currently in the basement of the American League East and right in front of them is the Yankees and Rays, both at .500. The Cubs are .500, as are the Angels and Mets. The defending champion Philies only have won win and their offense has been struggling. The Dodgers are 1 game under .500 and the Indians, who many picked as a World Series dark horse, started the season fantastic losing their first 4 games.
Early AL Returns
The Yankees big signings have not earned their big bucks so far, as pitcher C.C Sabathia was shelled in his first start for 6 runs in 4 innings and now has an ERA of 12.46. Mark Teixeira is not doing too bad hitting .250, but he has not looked comfortable in pinstripes so far. DH Hideki Matsui is hitting .071 with one hit, a HR, in 14 at bats. Even though the Red Sox are in last place and have only won one game they have not been blown out and they have faced the Tampa Bay Rays and the L.A. Angels. Their pitching was a concern heading into the season and that seems to be their problem, as in their 4 games they have given up at least 5 runs 3 times. The Rays have been decent, but the Indians have yet to win a game and their pitching has been horrible giving up 42 runs in 4 games and only scoring 21. That is not a good stat.
Early NL Returns
The defending champion Phillies? Well, they are 2 games under .500 and their once awesome offense must still be in Florida for extended Spring Training. The Phillies did tag up the Braves for 12 runs last Wednesday, but in their other 3 games they have scored a grand total of 4 runs. The Cubs and Mets have looked decent, especially the Cubs and their pitching, but neither is over .500. The Dodgers have lost 2 in a row and Manny is hitting a shade below .300, but he has yet to go deep. Their pitching has been stellar, at least in their first few games. They do have some bullpen concerns though.
So, what does all this mean? Absolutely nothing. I am still putting some dough on the Yankees to win the Fall Classic and for the Braves to pull a shocker and win the National League Pennant. AND I am from the West Coast! The beginning of the season does not mean much, but if the aforementioned teams continue to struggle, especially the Yankees, there will be quite a few unhappy fans and some less than gleeful future bettors.
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