Sports betting

MLB Baseball Picks, MLB Picks, Online Baseball Picks & Lines

by Kevin Taylor | May 28 2009

Sports betting and baseball have a long and storied history, going back over a century. We are about to start another chapter, as the 2009 baseball season is getting set to toss out the first pitch.

We're here in bottom half of the fifth, it's a 2-1 count and there goes the sign. The pitcher looks back the runner at second, kicks, winds, fires, aahhnnd it's a bit outside.

Sound a little anti-climactic? Well it should, because that's exactly what kind of under-the-radar approach Major League Baseball is taking right now in the wake of all the bad press it received early this year when A-Rod spoke up on steroids.

Thus far the last several years have been a bit rough for America's pastime, but in the upcoming season the potential for what this entire situation could do for old-school fans of the sport and bettors alike is unlimited if the head honchos handle it right.

In the meantime, the first pitch on opening day is quietly creeping up on us behind the shadows of March Madness and it's time to take a look at the new season from a sports betting perspective.

MLB odds for this year's American and National League champs have been posted and sports bettors everywhere have already started making their picks on which teams have the best shot at the Worlds Series.

Early ramblings out of the visitor's dugout are on whether 2009 might bring another surprise team to the forefront like the Philadelphia Phillies. That's not to say that jaws across the baseball world collectively dropped last October when Philly stormed the field. After all, the Phils did put up 92 wins to take home the NL East pennant for a second consecutive season. But regardless of that feat, odds on the City of Brotherly Love taking the World Series for a second straight year are not exactly in their favor.

Online sportsbooks have the baseball future odds on the New York Mets set at 6-to-1 and the Chicago Cubs at 7-to-1. They hold an edge over Philadelphia (15-to-1), while the odds on the Arizona and the LA Dodgers are not far behind.

Players in Philadelphia will probably tell you they prefer it this way. In fact when asked about his slim chances of taking the mound against the Atlanta Braves on opening day, Phillies' ace Cole Hamels (elbow), last year's World Series MVP, recently told media he loves betting long shots and that he always puts his money on the dog. So there you have it.

Anyone interested in true longshots need look no further than the American League East where for the first time in their 12 year history the Tampa Bay Rays are not being clumped into the 'Field' category for winning the World Series.

Perhaps it was some fateful reward for dropping the devil portion of their nickname (or more likely thanks to youthful talent on the mound and speed on the bases), but the Rays made it to the show last year. Sports books are offering a sweet 12-to-1 betting lines on Tampa Bay taking that next step and standout second baseman Akinori Iwamura, fresh off his World Baseball Classic win with Japan, is said to be bringing a ton of enthusiasm into the clubhouse.

Thanks to depth, talent and an enormous payroll—not to mention its impressive spring record—the New York Yankees division future odds at +350, have them as the favorites to win the AL, while the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox (+500) are second.

Other than just trying to pick winners, also try taking a look at the season win totals being offered as well as the player props on homeruns, stolen bases and pitching victories. Getting a few long-term investments on futures or season win totals before the first pitch goes out can help keep a casual fan involved throughout the entire 162 games. By keeping a finger on the pulse you might also be surprised how much more prepared you can be from a betting standpoint when the playoffs come around in October.

Yes, the Majors Leagues faced a slew of sliders and knuckleballs this year in the off-season but has brushed itself off and stepped back in the box. As the 2009 season rolls along, look for this sport to clean itself up and start gaining back some of the integrity it was once known for.

The baseball lines and baseball future odds are all up for the sports betting public. The regular season is about to see the opening day pitches, so get all your baseball picks in, and enjoy the season.