Any talk about the National League has to begin and end with the team that has dominated the pennant race, as the Philadelphia Phillies have ran away with the best record in the league so far in 2011. After adding Cliff Lee to an already impressive starting rotation, the Phillies have the sports betting weapons on both offense and defense to get the job done, and there is no doubt that they will push through the rest of the year and clinch the pennant.
Joining Philadelphia in the postseason will be the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, who have managed to remain at the top of the weakest division in the NL in their effort to get back to the big dance. The Atlanta Braves likely won’t catch the Phillies in the NL East, but they should have no problem locking up the NL Wild Card spot with the second-best record in their MLB betting division. That leaves the NL Central to be decided, and with so many teams at the top it is hard to project who will get in and who won’t. The St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates are all within one game of eachother for the division lead, and it could come down to the final days of the season to determine a winner. The only thing that is certain at this point in the season for the NL, is that it is the Phillies and then everyone else.
It seems to happen every MLB betting season, a team that is picked to push for a division title falls way short and ends up being the biggest flop in the majors for that given season. Usually it is a significant amount of injuries that holds teams back, while inconsistencies among the top stars on a team can also play a major role in their decline, or even both. This year it is the Chicago White Sox that have been the biggest flops in the majors, and mostly because injuries have had so little to do with their lack of success so far.
The defending AL Central division champion Minnesota Twins have been buried in the standings the first half of the sports betting season, but that is mostly due to the unbelievable amount of man games lost. With stars like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau spending most of the season on the DL along with a variety of other key contributors, the Twins have showed flashes but haven’t been nearly consistent enough to make a run. The White Sox on the other hand have a ton of talent on paper, but simply haven’t performed. The pitching staff has done well to rank in the top half of the majors, but the order has been horrible and is 17th in runs scored. It is fitting that the biggest flop so far this season also has the biggest bust in Adam Dunn, who signed a massive contract with the White Sox and simply hasn’t delivered so far. Despite nine home runs, Dunn is batting just .160, which is not that much worse than Alex Rios’ .213 mark. With big contracts Chicago will have a hard time moving either one, so the White Sox will have to figure this one out on their own.
While they remain a betting long shot to win it all in 2011, the Cincinnati Reds appear on the verge of becoming one of the top contenders to go all the way in the National League. It may be hard to commit to a team that ranks fourth in their division and are battling in the same league as the powerhouse Philadelphia Phillies, but at 25-1 odds the Reds could be the upset pick of the year.
Cincinnati is looking up at the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates in a stacked NL Central, but just one year removed from a division title they may not be that far away from repeating. The Reds have been inconsistent all year when it comes to a pitching staff that has been plagued by injuries, but the third-ranked offense in the league remains a threat on any given night and if their arms can get it together for a decent stretch they could get in to the MLB betting postseason. MVP Joey Votto leads a strong cast of hitters, and once they are there anything can happen. With Mike Leake emerging as one of the bright spots on their staff, and if Bronson Arroyo and Travis Wood can get their ERA down and perform with more consistency, Cincinnati could very well become one of the underdogs to go all the way and surprise with a World Series celebration in 2011.
When the consensus MLB betting pick to win this year’s World Series started the year off with consecutive sweeps through their first two series’, people were quick to criticize them as being overrated. The Boston Red Sox had broken the bank to bring in a couple of key offensive pieces in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, and the moves didn’t seem to make a big difference early on as they struggled through the month of April. The pitching staff didn’t even perform at the same level as they had last season, and that left the Red Sox at the bottom of the division looking up and needing to find a way to break out. But after both Gonzalez and Crawford picked up their level of play, and in the former’s case to the point that they are now in contention for a possible MVP award, the pitching staff got it together and the Red Sox have now won nine of their past ten and are at the top of the American League East.
Boston’s depth is really beginning to show, and if they keep performing at this level the Bruins won’t be the only team from the city making that type of championship sports betting news. Gonzalez is batting .347 on the season and paced the team with 60 RBI through his first 66 games, while even David Ortiz is getting into the act with a .321 average and 17 home runs. With former MVP Dustin Pedroia continuing to work his way back up and Jacoby Ellsbury consistently producing, the offense is getting the job done in front of a pitching staff that has long ranked as one of the best in the baseball. The Red Sox are finally reaching their potential, and now that they are it is unlikely they will slow down anytime soon.
Perhaps watching Lebron James and his Miami Heat teammates battle the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals ahead of the 2011 Belmont Stakes betting isn’t as difficult for fans living in the city of Cleveland with the success of their baseball franchise this season. Known for some of the worst teams in professional sports, the Cleveland Indians have risen above the Cavaliers and Browns to give the city hope that they could have a true championship contender in 2011, and it is a wise online sports betting move not to bet against them when they are playing at home.
The Indians won 19 of their first 25 home games in 2011 and are now on track to bring home the American League Central division with a comfortable cushion ahead of the second-place Detroit Tigers. The Motor City has had the good fortune of watching the Red Wings bring home Stanley Cup trophies over the past decade, and the Pistons weren’t that bad not too long ago so it is obvious that Cleveland is the more desperate city. A couple of key trades involving the acquisition of Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo allowed the Indians to grow their two biggest stars within the organization, and now they are producing at an elite level this season. Cleveland might not have what it takes to win a World Series in 2011, but they are a competitive team and they have brought a championship hope to the city making it wise to bet against them at home in the near future.
While the Boston Red Sox remain the online sports betting favorites to emerge from the American League, the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as the top contenders to win this year’s World Series. The Red Sox are now right alongside their AL East division rivals the New York Yankees at 6-1 odds, but it’s the Phillies that have taken over listed at 9-4, and for good reason.
The Phillies have impressed more than the other two teams through the first couple of months of the season ahead of the Preakness Stakes betting race, with their offense coming alive behind the deepest pitching staff in the league. Philadelphia has ran with Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay leading the way for a group that also boasts Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Cliff Lee. Philadelphia has gotten enough offense out of Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino, and if the hitters can continue to score then the Phillies will be successful. The same can be said for the Red Sox over the past couple of weeks, with Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkillis getting the offense going after the team struggled out of the gate, and that has them pushing the Yankees for position in the AL East. New York’s pitching was dynamic to open the year with AJ Burnett and Bartolo Colon bouncing back after struggling the past couple of years, and the offense doing enough to make the difference. But while Boston has done a solid job of climbing back above .500, the Yankees will need to put things together to avoid falling apart.
After failing to reach the World Series for the first time in three years, the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t make many personnel moves in the offseason. The one they did make however should have a stronger impact than any made by the other teams in the National League. The Phillies managed to bring back playoff performer Cliff Lee long-term, and after watching what he has done in past postseasons the team is confident that they will be able to make another run at baseball’s ultimate glory. Philadelphia has looked good early on this MLB betting season, but they might be just heating up.
The Phillies have lost consecutive games only once this sports betting season, and with such a complete team it is very unlikely that they will have many big losing streaks over the next month. Philadelphia’s schedule won’t be easy with a couple of key series’ against the division-rival Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, but for a team that is as deep as Phillies betting against long losing streaks could be the key to winning big. Philadelphia hasn’t been swept in 2011, and if they concede a couple of games they could be prime candidates for a big payday. A loss could mean having to double up on them to make a profit in the next game, but with the odds in the favor that they will eventually get that big win before being pushed to far, the Phillies remain a money-making lock to players that can pick their spots.
While the Toronto Blue Jays did an excellent job in unloading the contract of long-time outfielder Vernon Wells, and the Boston Red Sox landed a couple of key acquisitions in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford in the American League, the best offseason MLB betting move leading into this year was made in the National League. The Philadelphia Phillies managed to sign Cliff Lee to a five-year, $120-million deal in the offseason, with an option for a sixth year. The deal was worth less than the reported seven-year deal that the New York Yankees offered, but the city and team he left behind from his first stint with the club was enough to convince Lee of where he wanted to play.
Less than a month into the season, and the veteran’s presence with the club is already paying off. A helpless crowd at Nationals Park in the nation’s capital watched as Lee struck out 12 batters over nine innings of shutout ball last week, allowing just three hits in a 4-0 Phillies’ win. The 32-year old had struggled somewhat with his command through his first two starts back in a Philadelphia uniform, but already fans can see the potential he has to help this team, and we are only now reaching the Kentucky derby betting period. Lee is 2-1 with a 4.19 ERA through three games, and after displaying his stuff in the past couple of postseasons, there is every indication that his return to Philadelphia was the best offseason move.
It’s been nearly a week since MLB betting enthusiasts took in the first game of the 2011 regular season, and already there is talk about which rookies could potentially be named as rookie of the year. Remember baseball betting fans, the season is seven months and 162 games long, and a lot can happen between the first and last weeks of the season. With that in mind, here is a look at some of the rookies making progress after week one.
JP Arencibia C Toronto Blue Jays – Going into 2011, the Toronto Blue Jays chose to part ways with veteran catcher John Buck, in hopes of using top catching prospect JP Arencibia behind home plate. Over the last few seasons in the minor leagues, Arencibia has simply put demolished opposing teams from an offensive standpoint, while his defense has gradually progressed.
Thus far in his career, Arencibia has played in two games and has amassed, two home runs, one triple and five runs batted in. Meaning to say, the offensive side of things isn’t really an issue. What’s more, his defense behind the plate has made him appear more like a grizzled veteran than a rookie learning on the job.
Brandon Belt 1B San Francisco Giants – Despite a belief from many, ourselves included that the San Francisco Giants would keep Aubrey Huff at first base during 2011, the team decided that the future is now for top fielding prospect Brandon Belt. Belt like Arencibia is known more for his offense as opposed to his defense. As a result, the Giants, a team based more on pitching than offense, felt it was time to bring their best fielding prospect on board, and shipped Huff to the outfield. Belt is off to an okay start, but in reality, if the Giants want to contend, Belt will need to pick up the offensive load.
The March Madness betting tournament allows baseball handicappers the opportunity to reflect on all of the offseason moves entering the 2011 regular season. This offseason, after missing the playoffs for the second time in three years, the Boston Red Sox made certain that on paper it wouldn’t happen again in 2011. Here is why the Boston Red Sox will win the 2011 sports betting online World Series.
This offseason, the Boston Red Sox made two of not only the biggest, but most important moves to help a team win a World Series. Firstly, the Red Sox traded away parts of their future to the San Diego Padres, in order to acquire another home run hitter in Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez has been a main stay in San Diego for most of his career, and has long been considered as a fantastic player suffering on a bad team. Now that Gonzalez is playing first base with the Boston Red Sox, he has the opportunity to really show off his talents. What’s more he only has a year left on his current contract and it appears all he wants to do is win a World Series this year.
Secondly, after strengthening the infield, the Red Sox then went out and acquired former Red Sox killer, Carl Crawford. Crawford, a player that became expendable in Tampa Bay thanks to the emergence of Desmond Jennings, was able to receive the biggest contract of his career at seven years $162 million. Crawford is one of the most competitive players in the entire MLB, and after years of being on losing Rays squads, finally has a chance to be a part of a dynasty.
While the Gonzalez and Crawford acquisitions will help on the field, the addition of Bobby Jenks to the bullpen will strengthen the back end. Last season, Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard struggled mightily as the closer and setup man for Boston. However, this year with Jenks in the fold, you can expect both players to bring their A games all season long.
