2007 Baseball Article Archive
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Below is a listing of articles appearing on Doc’s site sorted by date.
BetUS Offers Early World Series Odds
by Jason Shimberg - 11/13/2007
It's difficult to predict who will win a seven-game series that is 11 months away. But BetUS has offered early World Series odds and their could be value to be had by placing a wager before the sharps drives the lines down. First, weigh the pros and cons then factor each team's players and managers returning. Give it your best shot and consider this you may want to invest in teams where the top free agents sign, as the signing of a player like Alex Rodriguez has the potential of moving a team from worst to first. And pray that your team's best player stays healthy.
Read more about Early World Series Odds.
MLB League Championship Previews
by Trevor Whenham - 10/10/2007
The greatest two weeks of baseball on the calendar are about to get under way on Thursday when the League Championship Series' begin. So much excitement, huge games every day, and plenty of betting opportunities. I'd take these two series over the letdown that is usually the World Series any day. Here's a look at how the two series shape up (odds are from Bodog):
Read more about MLB League Championship Previews.
MLB Playoffs Betting Preview
by Trevor Whenham - 10/03/2007
We're heading into the playoffs in baseball, an it's time to get ready for some postseason MLB betting. I find the playoffs challenging, at least compared to the heart of the regular season, because you are dealing with reasonably well-matched teams trying their best to win every night. There's no, or at least very little, way to exploit in the way of mismatches or motivation problems, or games that the public is ignoring. That means that the playoffs require a different way of thinking, and a different approach to handicapping baseball winners. Here are 10 questions I will be looking to answer as I decide where the betting opportunities are:
Read more about MLB Playoffs Betting.
MLB Divisional Series Odds and Analysis
by Trevor Whenham - 10/02/2007
If that crazy win by Colorado over San Diego on Monday night didn't get you fired up to bet on the MLB playoffs then you clearly weren't watching the same game that I was. That was drama of the highest order, and it's why playoff baseball is still the best thing that there is. With my newfound enthusiasm for baseball after that game, it only made sense to take a look at the series prices that are being offered in the division series to see what they look like, and if any value exists.
Read more about MLB Divisional Series Odds.
NL Divisional Series May Offer Nice Value Plays
by Harry Brewer - 10/02/2007
If you want to cash in on baseball during the playoffs, The National League Divisional Series might be worth a look. If you feel like the trends you may have been paying for are letting you down, here is your chance for redemption, because anything can happen.
Read more about NL Divisional Series.
New York Yankees Odds to Win the World Series
by Doc's Sports
Forget the Braves, the New York Yankees are really "America's Team" and if you have come to this page you must be looking for Yankees odds to win the World Series. Doc's Sports has provided its readers with not only New York Yankees odds to win the World Series, but World Series futures odds for every MLB team and they will be updated daily to reflect current betting patterns.
Read more about Yankees Odds to Win the World Series.
St. Louis Cardinals: a Bad Bet
by Harry Brewer - 09/18/2007
With a late-season run in a terrible division, the St Louis Cardinals should have taken and held first place with little resistance from the Cubs and Brewers. But after winning only one game in a 10-game stretch, they were exposed as frauds and this team has shown a serious lack of heart. A couple weeks ago this team was poised to win the division after a Milwaukee collapse and Chicago being, well… the same old Cubs.
Read more about St. Louis Cardinals.
2007 MLB Top Money Teams: Run Line and Money Line
by Trevor Whenham - 08/09/2007
We're about 110 games into the MLB season, so we are at the point where we probably know as much about most of the teams as were are ever going to know. Since we are at that point, it makes sense to look at the teams that have been the most profitable so far on the run line and the money line. By seeing which teams are providing a nice return, and by understanding how they have done it, we can learn what has worked and how it can be applied to make the last 50 games of the year profitable.
Read more about Top Money Teams.
Post 756 Giants - a Solid Bet?
by Trevor Whenham - 08/09/2007
Though the thought of Barry Bonds hitting home run number 756 and owning the most hallowed record in sports is disgusting to me on so many levels, I became resigned to it happening weeks ago. I just wanted it to happen so that I don't have to hear about it anymore, and so that every sporting event I try to watch isn't interrupted to show his every at-bat. In my mind, Hank Aaron will still be the true home run king, and all of this current mess will just be a bad memory.
Read more about Giants After Record.
Making Money From Baseball Props
by Trevor Whenham - 08/07/2007
If you like betting baseball but can't get enough action to keep your juices flowing from just the run lines and money lines, then it may be time for you to branch out into more of the props that are available. The advantage of prop bets for some people is that you don't necessarily have to handicap an entire game and all the elements involved in doing that to make a successful wager. You can just focus on the relative aspects of the game, and that can allow you to make a decision more quickly.
Read more about Baseball Props.
Betting Barry Bonds Home Run Props
by Trevor Whenham - 07/26/2007
Either you love Barry Bonds or you hate everything about him, and I suspect that how you feel has a lot to do with whether you live in San Francisco right now. I live a long way from the city by the Bay, so my disgust and contempt for this waste of oxygen really has no bounds. Sure, his swing is a pleasure to watch, but you can hardly notice it when you look at it because you get so transfixed by his freakishly overgrown head. Just writing about the guy makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Read more about Barry Bonds Home Run Props.
Colorado Rockies - No Place Like Home
by Harry Brewer - 07/20/2007
As we all hunt for high value plays in a baseball climate dominated by a few teams that come with high prices, it becomes easy to look at home favorites that look like can't miss picks. The problem is complacency sets in and many recreational bettors look to the best teams in the league, at home, with their ace on the hill. This is a bit of a desperation play. Trying to buy a win is how many bettors have gone broke over the years. Not only do you pay for the good home team but you also pay for jumping in bed with public money.
Read more about Colorado Rockies.
Huge Disparity Among MLB Teams Against Lefties
by Robert Ferringo - 07/17/2007
Did you know that the origins of the word "southpaw" are unknown? True story. Apparently it first showed up in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1848 as a reference to someone throwing a punch with his or her left hand. From there it just became part of the slang lexicon.
Read more about MLB Against Lefties.
Chase Betting: a Different Way to Bet Baseball
by Robert Ferringo - 07/13/2007
I think I have a threshold for psychological pain beyond that of a member of the general populace. I can stomach five straight hours of "Grey's Anatomy" on DVD with the wife. Screaming kids on the subway don't' rattle me. Watching midgets molest a Shetland pony at a frat party doesn't get my pulse up. But one thing that I simply don't have the stomach for is chase betting.
Read more about Chase Betting.
MLB Second Half: Fade or Follow?
by Robert Ferringo - 07/12/2007
With just over a half of the season in the books most baseball bettors feel like they have a great read on the teams and how the rest of the season is going to go. You know which teams are good on the road and which ones aren't, who hits lefties and who doesn't, and which teams to stay away from while a minor losing streak becomes a major cold spell. It's pretty easy, right?
Read more about Fade or Follow.
Fading the All-Star Pitchers
by Trevor Whenham - 07/12/2007
I watched the All-Star Game yesterday. Sort of. I mean, I tried to, but between the generally boring play (with the obvious exception of Ichiro) and the disgusting love that Barry Bonds got from the crowd I kept finding my finger on the remote control. Basically, it's the same thing every year - I seem to forget how unlike real baseball the game is, so I sit down to watch it with some anticipation. That lasts for about two innings, which is about as long as the starting pitchers last.
Read more about All-Star Pitchers.
MLB Second Half Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 07/12/2007
I'm a sucker for making predictions. I make them every chance I get for anyone that will listen. Some of them are right, and hopefully fewer are wrong. Every so often I hit one that I am particularly proud of. This year, my overachieving pick was definitely that the Mariners would be much better than expected. Fueled by that little bit of forecasting, here are my bold predictions of five things that will happen in the second half of the MLB season. Bet on them at your own risk.
Read more about Second Half Predictions.
Sunday Night Baseball Betting Angles
by Robert Ferringo - 07/07/2007
Monday Night Football is more than a weekly clash of hyper-adrenal berserkers -- it's an institution, like Christmas and assisted suicide. It's a celebration and the MNF game marks both the crescendo and the conclusion of the gambling week for our nation's most popular sport.
Read more about Sunday Night Baseball Betting.
Tips on Betting Doubleheaders
by Trevor Whenham - 07/05/2007
One challenge when it comes to handicapping baseball is dealing with the unique situations that only rarely arise. One such situation is the doubleheader. They don't happen very often, but if you treat them just like normal games you are probably sacrificing any edge you may have on those games.
Read more about Betting Doubleheaders.
MLB Betting: The Right Time to Place a Wager
by Trevor Whenham - 07/05/2007
When wagering on baseball you not only have to decide which team you are going to bet on, how much you will bet and which type of bet you will make, but you also have to decide when you are going to place your bet. Prices can change dramatically from the time that they are first released until the first pitch is thrown, so the payout for a particular bet can change significantly depending on when you get your money down. Placing your bets at the right time can increase your bottom line quite nicely.
Read more about When to Bet Baseball Games.
What Effect Will New MLB Mangers Have On Wagers?
by Robert Ferringo - 07/04/2007
It's tough being the manager of a Major League Baseball team. If you're Joe Torre you have to worry about squeezing in naps while your bullpen blows another lead. If you're Tony LaRussa you have to worry about the ice melting in your mixed drink during a St. Louis heat wave. If you're Jim Leyland you have to worry about running out of Newport Menthols in extra innings. And if you're Lou Pinella you just worry about the police finding the bodies buried in your backyard.
Read more about New MLB Managers.
Royals Winning with Fundamentals
by Robert Ferringo - 07/04/2007
That's right boys and girls, the Kansas City Royals - a.k.a. The Worst Franchise In Sports Over the Past 20 Years - is currently the hottest bet in baseball. And believe me, I know a little something about it.
Read more about Kansas City Royals.
How to Bet Inexperienced Pitchers
by Trevor Whenham - 07/04/2007
When it comes to handicapping baseball, one of the toughest ongoing challenges is figuring out how a game will turn out when one or both of the starting pitchers is very inexperienced. Sometimes a team will rally behind a rookie hurler and put on a stellar performance, while other times the rookie will completely fall flat. Some rookies will use their nerves and adrenaline positively and throw better than they can be expected to in their first game or two. Others will crumble under the pressure and scrutiny of the big leagues, or won't handle the powerful bats they face well at all.
Read more about Inexperienced Pitchers.
Phillies Hope to Avoid Late Season Slump
by Robert Ferringo - 06/29/2007
While the New York Mets have stumbled and bumbled their way through a putrid June, I was able to take solace in the fact that the one team that might have been just as bad was their rivals, the Atlanta Braves. The fact that the Mets, my favorite team, could go 8-15 over the past four weeks yet remain in first place in the National League East has been my only solace, and the only reason why I haven't tried to burn down Carlos Delgado's house yet.
Read more about Philadelphia Phillies.
Home Runs and Handicapping
by Trevor Whenham - 06/29/2007
There is nothing in baseball that is more exciting, or gets more attention, than the good old home run. Think about the biggest stories in baseball in the last decade - Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, even the dreaded steroids - all have to do with hitting a bunch of home runs, or wanting to hit more. Perhaps more than any other single act in a sporting event, America has a love affair with the home run. While they are exciting to watch and talk about, handicappers have to ask a bigger question about home runs - do they have any direct relation to winning? If they do then there's money to be made, and that's really the point, isn't it? Here's a look:
Read more about Handicapping Home Runs.
MLB Pitchers: Better Than Their Record
by Trevor Whenham - 06/27/2007
If you are reading this then I don't need to tell you how important pitchers are when it comes to handicapping baseball. It's safe to say that no single factor has more significance on the outcome of the game than the pitchers that take the mound following the National Anthem. Evaluating pitchers, then, is obviously key. The most relied upon way to do that for most people is to look at their records.
Read more about MLB Pitchers.
Lessons Learned From Interleague Play
by Trevor Whenham - 06/27/2007
Interleague play has finally and mercifully ended. Hallelujah. There's nothing in sports more tired, unnecessary and painful as the three weeks of random match-ups and substandard baseball we are subjected to in the heart of each baseball season. It's nothing more than a novelty, and like any bad idea the charm has decidedly worn off. There are only a maximum of five games a year in which I think it is acceptable to see an American League pitcher hit - the All-Star Game and up to four World Series games. That's it.
Read more about 2007 Interleague Play.
Reading Baseball Betting Lines - Understanding How To Read MLB Lines and Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 06/27/2007
I suspect that what keeps many people away from baseball is the perceived difficulty of reading baseball betting lines. Understanding how to read MLB lines and odds doesn't have to be tough, though. Sure, it's different than football, basketball and the other point spread sports, but once you get your mind around how the lines work it is actually easier to deal with in many ways than a point spread is.
Read more about Reading Baseball Betting Lines.
MLB Bullpens That Burn Money
by Trevor Whenham - 06/26/2007
There is nothing in the world, and I do mean nothing, that is more annoying than watching your team take a lead, hold it into the later innings, only to have the bullpen throw it away. I'm sure that the landfills of North America are full of televisions with fist-sized holes through the screens because of bettors' frustration caused by just such a situation. A substandard bullpen can make the difference between a postseason team and a team that wishes the season ended in August.
Read more about Bad MLB Bullpens.
Baseball Trades: Sellers and Buyers
by Trevor Whenham - 06/26/2007
The baseball trading frenzy is never as big or as exciting as we want it to be, but that doesn't mean that it isn't fun to speculate. As is the case every year at this time, there are contenders or perceived contenders that have some gaping holes that need filling, and teams that are looking to dump their expensive talent. If those two sides can come together, then magic can happen. Here's a look at four teams that are lining up to be major sellers and the potential destinations of their most valuable assets.
Read more about Baseball Trades.
LA Angels Championship Caliber?
by Allen Eastman - 06/26/2007
I've just watched the Angels finish a three-game sweep of the Pirates that put a lid on interleague play for another year. They have, far and away, the most balanced team in years. They can beat you in so many ways -- solid starting pitching, a lights-out bullpen, defense, speed, depth and of course Vladimir Guerrero.
Read more about LA Angels.
Runs Hard To Come By In These Five Ballparks
by Robert Ferringo - 6/19/2007
Yesterday we broke down the top 'over' ballparks through the first one-third of the season, so it's only natural that today we show you the other side of the coin and delve into the five top 'under' stadiums in Major League Baseball:
Read more about MLB Under Ballparks.
Looking 'Over' MLB's Top Scoring Ballparks
by Robert Ferringo - 6/18/2007
There are tricks and trends to follow all over the Major League Baseball stratosphere when it comes to betting baseball totals. The starting pitchers and how they matchup up with the opponent's lineup is a given. Whichever fat slob of an umpire is behind the dish is component No. 2, and a underrated one at that. But one factor that I feel is generally misrepresented or miscalculated by the general public is the stadium in which the game is being played.
Read more about MLB Over Ballparks.
Mets Mess Makes Them Unreliable Bet - For Now
by Robert Ferringo - 6/15/2007
Yup, the Mets have hit the skids, and self-doubt is the first step down the path of an Imploding Season. It quickly infects a clubhouse and spreads like that horrible parasite that enters the brains of ants in the jungle and drives them mad. I'm not certain if the Mets are there yet, but staring down the barrel of the Subway Series against the cocked-and-locked Yankees certainly isn't helping.
Read more about Mets Mess.
Oakland A's Offense Parties Like It's 1899
by Robert Ferringo - 6/14/2007
Oakland's 64 percent 'under' performance in their first 65 games is by far their most severe start to the season in the last decade. But even as one of the most reliable 'under' clubs in the league over the past two years they still only ended up at 55.2 percent. So will the A's continue to cash 'under' with UEFA soccer scores or should we look to fade them as Oakland's offense creeps towards the 21st century and the 'overs' balance out?
Read more about Betting Oakland Totals.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Real or Fools Gold?
by Harry Brewer - 06/13/2007
If you are looking to cash in on good teams at a decent price, you probably won't be looking to back division-leading teams. These are usually very good squads with star power and plenty of press to drive the chalk up. The problem for many bettors is that they overvalue big name players and well-known teams when handicapping. The books are on to that and rightfully jack up the price.
Read more about Arizona Diamondbacks Betting.
Clemens the Answer or Question in New York?
by Robert Ferringo - 06/12/2007
So let me get this straight: Roger Clemens is supposed to be the savior of the New York Yankees season. Clemens, a known scumbag with psychopathic tendencies, is the knight in shining armor that's supposed to make us forget about how old this team is, how their bullpen is already burnt out and how their lineup is poorly constructed? Is that right? Clemens is the missing link? He's the one who will salvage this ruined empire?
Read more about Clemens Comeback.
Recognizing Streaks
by Allen Eastman - 06/12/2007
The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano, Detroit's Gary Sheffield and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford are three position players that are hot. Pitchers James Shields of Tampa Bay, Sean Marshall of the Cubs and Mariano Rivera are also on fire right now. Teams that are rolling at this moment include the Yankees, Mariners and A's, who have all won eight of their last 10. If you're pouring over each box score every morning and making notes (mental or otherwise), then you are well on your way to making some serious money betting baseball.
Read more about Recognizing Streaks.
Ten MLB High Value Pitchers
by Robert Ferringo - 06/08/2007
I don't play fantasy baseball to vicariously relive my Glory Days on the diamond. I don't play fantasy baseball for money. I don't play to have an excuse not to talk to my wife or to talk smack to my friends. I don't play fantasy baseball because Peter Gammons told me I should or because "everybody is doing it".
Read more about MLB High Value Pitchers.
Laying the Points on the Run Line
by Trevor Whenham - 06/08/2007
When it comes to betting on baseball, I feel sorry for the -1.5 run line. It doesn't get nearly the attention that it probably deserves. Most people are aware that it exists, but far fewer use it to its full potential in their betting repertoire. I obviously wouldn't suggest that you use the -1.5 run line every time you make a bet, but then I don't think that there is any bet that should be used without question in every situation. In the right situation, though, it can be a powerful tool. Here, as a refresher, are five situations where the bet deserves a second look:
Read more about Laying Points Run Line.
Baseball's Best Starters
by Allen Eastman - 06/02/2007
In my last article I talked about the importance of a bullpen to the outcome of a game (and potential profit or loss). This week I'll take a look at some of baseball's best overall pitching staffs.
Read more about Baseball Best Starters.
Strike Point: MLB Weekend Preview
by Strike Point Sports - 06/01/2007
Weekend baseball encompasses some of the best match-ups of the week. We'll break down which series you should be focused on, as well as the pitching duels that will give the advantage to either side.
Read more about MLB Weekend Preview.
MLB Betting: Home Sweet Home
by Trevor Whenham - 05/31/2007
It seems illogical in many ways when you think about it, but it's undeniably true - many baseball teams are significantly better at home than they are on the road. I say it's illogical because these guys essentially travel for a living -- they fly in the best planes, eat the best food and stay in the finest hotels, so there shouldn't be a particular reason why they wouldn't be at their best on the road. Similarly, it's not like the hometown crowds are always big or boisterous, especially mid-week.
Read more about MLB Betting Home Teams.
MLB Teams That Could Become Money Burners
by Trevor Whenham - 05/31/2007
When you get lost in the desert and see something that isn't there, that's called a mirage. Some of the teams in the major leagues so far this year have been mirages too. There are teams that have jumped out to impressive starts and can be expected to maintain them - like Boston and the Mets, for example. For the purposes of this article those teams aren't very interesting. Far more fascinating are the teams that are playing much better than you could reasonably expect by looking at them on paper. Those teams intrigue me for at least two reasons.
Read more about MLB Teams on the Decline.
Phillies Continue to Offer Value
by Harry Brewer - 05/30/2007
When parity shows up, the most informed take advantage. In the case of the Philadelphia Phillies, there is value to be had at the betting window.
Read more about Philadelphia Phillies Betting.
Top Bullpens=Top Profit Makers
by Allen Eastman - 05/28/2007
In an earlier report, I talked about the importance of considering a team's bullpen when analyzing a particular (or any) pitching match-up.
Read more about MLB Top Bullpens.
Dirty Dozen: 12 Hottest MLB Teams
by Robert Ferringo - 05/23/2007
Now we'll move on to the Dirty Dozen Baseball Report. It's like a power ranking, only different. They are in no way a statement on who I think is going to win the World Series or be the first to cure cancer. Instead, it's just my thoughts about how teams had played during that prior week as well as where I think they're headed in the upcoming week.
Read more about MLB Dirty Dozen.
Will Braves Scalp Loyal Backers?
by Robert Ferringo - 05/21/2007
So just because a team pulls some clutch hits out of its ass or is capable of bombing a few long balls, that doesn't mean that they're going to be a winning bet. To this point in the season the Braves have been able to do both and have been a very strong wager, but I will be monitoring them closely because if the two out hits dry up or if they're playing in a spacious stadium then they'll become a "play against" team faster than you can say Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Read more about Braves Scalping Bettors.
Baseball Betting Systems - Manipulating the Run Line
by Robert Ferringo - 05/15/2007
No matter what sport you're talking about, it can be devastating to lose a perfectly good wager by 0.5. Whether it's a run or a point, a loss is a loss and that hook can be as lethal on the diamond as it is on the gridiron.
Read more about Baseball Betting Systems.
Seattle Mariners a Solid Bet
by Trevor Whenham - 05/15/2007
When I was growing up, the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate was in my hometown. I didn't realize how lucky I was at the time to watch players like Danny Tartabull, Tino Martinez, Edgar Martinez and, briefly, Alex Rodriguez, take their last steps towards impressive pro careers. Because of those experiences I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the lowly Mariners.
Read more about Seattle Mariners Betting.
MLB First-Time Starters
by Trevor Whenham - 05/11/2007
The Yankees pitchers have presented a real handicapping challenge for us this year. That statement is true in a lot of ways. Ace Chien-Ming Wang has alternated between truly brilliant and truly terrible. Carl Pavano has been as durable as we have grown to expect from him, and he has been joined on the DL by pretty much everyone else who can throw a ball. Those aren't the challenges I am talking about, though.
Read more about MLB First Time Starters.
Know Your Bullpens
by Trevor Whenham - 05/10/2007
This has probably happened to you more times than you can count - the starter for the team you have bet on has a decent outing, he hands it over to the bullpen with a comfortable lead, and you feel good. But then his relievers do their best impressions of a tee-ball tee and your money goes flying out of your pocket. I'm not sure that there is anything more frustrating than an implosion by a bullpen in an otherwise winnable game. Despite that, though, most baseball handicappers are guilty of spending too little time considering the bullpens when they make a pick in a game.
Read more about Know Your Bullpens.
The Inconsistent Diamondbacks
by Robert Ferringo - 05/10/2007
The most predictable attribute of youth is that it will always be unpredictable. And unreliable. And inconsistent. And altogether maddening.
Read more about Arizona Diamondbacks.
MLB Teams on the Rise
by Trevor Whenham - 05/10/2007
We're about six weeks into the baseball season and a lot of what we thought we knew before the season started has been thrown into the question. Are the Brewers really this good? How about the Indians? The Dodgers? Other teams that we thought we would see in a dogfight for the postseason have, to this point, been disappointing. Some of those underwhelming teams will, as history has taught us, continue to underwhelm through the rest of the year.
Read more about MLB Teams.
Sports Book Rules for Suspended Games
by Robert Ferringo - 05/08/2007
You know, it's hard enough to turn a trick and make a buck in this business. But when you make a bet on a Major League Baseball team that ends up winning the game and still end up losing money it's enough to make you throw up your arms and vow to only bet on bingo and illegal cockfighting from then on.
Read more about MLB Rules for Suspended Games.
Money MLB Pitchers: Low Risk, High Return
by Robert Ferringo - 05/04/2007
In baseball, momentum is as good as the next day's starting pitcher. Well, that's just as true for those of us who make a living wagering our gold on the game as it is for those who make their way within the diamond. But there's an advantage us moneymen have over managers: we can pick tomorrow's starter. Believe me, that's quite a comfort compared to the plague that is Tony Armas Jr. or Julian Tavares.
Read more about Money MLB Pitchers.
Baseball Betting: Lefties vs. Righties
by Trevor Whenham - 05/02/2007
When it comes to handicapping baseball, nothing is more important than the pitching. If you don't know that then you have some work to do. It's not just who is pitching that day and how they have been playing, though. Different teams react very differently to right handed pitchers than they do to left handers.
Read more about Left or Right Pitchers.
There's No "Bull" in this Pen
by Allen Eastman - 04/30/2007
It was a 17-inning marathon that lasted four hours and 55 minutes and saw the Dodgers beat the Padres, 5-4. I saw an extraordinary performance from the LA bullpen (Beimel, Broxton, Tsao, Saenz, Saito and Billingsley), which combined for 10 and 2/3rd innings, allowing just one hit while striking out nine.
Read more about MLB Bullpens.
MLB Totals Trends
by Trevor Whenham - 04/26/2007
We're still less than a month into the baseball season, and what we think we know about most teams will prove to be wrong by the time the season ends. However, some clear trends are emerging. MLB totals betting, over the short term, is one area where the trends can be strong, easy to explain and understand, and profitable if handled properly. Here's a look at seven teams that have consistently performed above or below the posted totals so far this year and why they have done so.
Read more about MLB Totals Trends.
Dirty Dozen: 12 Hottest MLB Teams
by Robert Ferringo - 04/25/2007
Raise your hand if you are surprised at all that Alex Rodriguez and his monster April just happens to coincide with the Yankees fading into the bottom of the American League East cellar. If you happen to have your hand up right now there are men in suits outside your door ready to sterilize you.
Read more about Dirty Dozen.
Betting MLB Player Props
by Trevor Whenham - 04/20/2007
If you're looking for action to keep the long baseball season interesting, you don't have to limit yourself to just looking at the teams. In fact, betting on individual players is, in the right cases, a great way to make some money. And it's fun, too.
Read more about MLB Player Props.
What Constitutes a Unit in MLB Betting?
by Robert Ferringo - 04/17/2007
I've said it before and I have no shame about it: when it comes to money I can be a huge pansy. Now, this is ironic because I make my living as a gambler and handicapper. I'm involved in an ongoing struggle with Fickle Fate as I entrust my livelihood to mutant athletes playing games of skill and chance, and I do so willingly.
Read more about Units in Baseball Betting.
Unders Coming Through Big In Early MLB
by Allen Eastman - 04/17/2007
Several trends have emerged over the first two weeks of the baseball season. But the biggest and most profitable trend for me has been playing the UNDER. Sure, part of it is the quality starts that many pitchers are putting up. But a bigger reason for the low scoring games is the terrible weather that has hit the Midwest and the East. I mean, where else would you see the LA Angels facing the Cleveland Indians in Milwaukee? That was one of the scenarios that developed after the Indians were forced out of the "Jake" and played their home opener at Miller field.
Read more about Baseball Betting Unders.
MLB Team Props
by Trevor Whenham - 04/11/2007
When people look to bet on baseball, they most often look towards the money line. The more adventurous will try the run line or maybe the totals. The savvy may give the alternate run lines a try. It's far less common for people to look at team props as a way to make a few bucks. As with most of the more obscure bets, team totals probably aren't something that you would want to play all the time. You need to find the right tool to capitalize on a given situation. Here's a look at some of the team props on offer and scenarios where they might be useful.
Read more about MLB Team Props.
Dirty Dozen: 12 Hottest MLB Teams
by Robert Ferringo - 04/10/2007
We've got one week in the books and between snow outs, Dice-K, errant first pitches from public officials and Johnny Estrada's soul patch, I'd say that things have gone pretty well. We've had a few surprises - like how well Arizona is playing - and a few things go as planned - a slow start by the Yankees and expected awfulness from the Nationals - and if the first week is any indication we're going to be in for a another fun and profitable summer.
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MLB: Five to Fade, Four to Follow
by Robert Ferringo - 04/10/2007
Quick, who has been the best bet in Major League Baseball since Opening Day of 2003? If you said the New York Yankees I command you to throw yourself out your office window. The correct answer is enough to make Kirby Puckett quit groping some woman in a bar in Heaven and throw a cocaine-induced smile back on his beloved Minnesota Twins.
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Indians Situation Creates Betting Conundrum
by Robert Ferringo - 04/09/2007
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Mother Nature can be a filthy whore when she wants to be. And now she has something in common with former president Andrew Jackson. They both hate Indians.
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Profits With Help From My Friends
by Allen Eastman - 04/09/2007
There are many things that go into becoming a successful handicapper. You've got to be able to devote hours and hours to the non-stop information that comes your way either by television, radio, newspapers or on the Internet. You've got to be able to dissect it and translate it. Those are all handicapping basics. However one important tool that is often overlooked is networking. It's a tool I use year around and it has led to many a winner for me.
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Mariners Backers Could See Profit in 2007
by Robert Ferringo - 04/06/2007
Potential, that ever-alluring trait and currency of fools and dreamers, has once again intoxicated scores of baseball fans in its annual Spring Seduction. Hope and expectations abound, with much of the excitement for fans, gamblers and fantasy baseball eunuchs revolving around the promise and latent possibility radiating from young studs, just-entering-their-prime superstars and hidden gems whose production has been long awaited.
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Baseball Betting: First Five Innings
by Trevor Whenham - 04/06/2007
When betting on basketball you can sometimes manage your risk or exploit a favorable situation by betting the first half and, in the NBA, the first quarter. The same goes for football. In both cases, the first half bet is increasingly common and viewed as a logical way to approach a game. Far less common is using similar logic when betting on baseball. An increasing number of online sports books will allow you to play a first half, or five inning, bet. That bet has many of the advantages of the bets in football and basketball and can, in some cases, give the bettor more control over a betting situation.
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MLB Series Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 04/06/2007
If you like variety when it comes to the bets that you make on baseball then the sportsbooks are more than happy to give you what you want. As long as people are willing to make a bet, chances are a book will offer it. One such offering that is interesting to look at is the Series Price. Though it's not a particularly common or popular bet, it is definitely easy to understand. You're just betting on which team is going to win a series - which team, for example, will win at least two games in a three game series.
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2007 MLB Payrolls - Money Doesn't Always Buy Happiness
by Trevor Whenham - 04/06/2007
As we start another baseball season, everyone is looking for every handicapping edge that they can possibly find. One that pops into mind as being worth exploring, if only because it is in the news so often, is the team payroll. When it comes to which teams pay who how much, there are two numbers that put it all into context - 15 and 195. The Florida Marlins had the lowest MLB team payroll in 2006 with just a few dollars less than $15 million at the start of the year.
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Betting Alternate Run Lines
by Trevor Whenham - 04/05/2007
If you like betting baseball run lines but want even more variety to your wagering menu, then know you have other options. Actually there are a couple of alternatives - the two different varieties of alternate run lines. A traditional run line is essentially a moneyline with a point spread of 1.5 - the favorite has to win by two or more runs for a bet on them to pay off, while the underdog can lose by one and you will still win your bet. Alternate run lines work in the same way, only they allow you to bet on different spreads.
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Brewers Rare "Trendy Pick" That Could Get Job Done
by Robert Ferringo - 04/05/2007
Generally, when all prognosticators in a major sports league agree on who is going to be a "sleeper" or "breakout" team you can nearly guarantee that said team is going to fall on its face in the most gruesome and disastrous way possible. Then every one conveniently forgets that they were pimping Trendy Team back at the start of the season.
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MLB Handicapping: Looking for a Dog
by Allen Eastman - 04/04/2007
I wont do it. I can't do it. Even if it looks like the "Game of the Year," you wont see me laying anymore than -150 for a baseball favorite. It's money in the bank, right?
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2007 Chicago Cubs Preview
by Vegas Sports Informer - 04/02/2007
The 2007 Baseball season is here, and this could be the year that my loveable losers, the Chicago Cubs, take home the World Series ring. The Cubs enter the season with expectations of a championship. After a horrible 2006 season the Cubs spent $300 million on free agent acquisitions and this year they will have a healthy Derrek Lee.
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MLB Extra Innings Package Still Up in the Air
by Max - 04/02/2007
I am one of those handicappers that likes to watch my selections play out live instead of just handicapping the games and checking the box scores later in the evening. I feel watching each of my selections gives me an advantage for the team's next game and often times you will see me come back with the opposite side or continue to ride that team. Watching the games allows me to determine if I was on the right side of the game and whether I lost it because of a bad bounce or a fluke play.
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MLB Run Line Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 03/30/2007
If you ask most people what they know about betting baseball, their knowledge will usually end with the money line. That's the most common -- and for many the most profitable -- means of wagering on the game for the largest percentage of casual bettors. It's easy to understand and fairly easy to find value when betting the traditional way. If you limit yourself to just looking at the money line, however, then you are leaving potential profit on the table. The run line isn't ideal in most situations, but there are circumstances in which betting the run line is the best way to maximize your profit.
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Betting Baseball Totals
by Trevor Whenham - 03/30/2007
Bettors that are already familiar and comfortable with betting totals in football or basketball may want to expand their range to betting baseball totals. Though some of the concepts are the same between baseball totals and those other sports (the public loves the over, for example), the decidedly smaller range of scores decreases the margin of error and makes your calculations and certainty more important.
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Betting Baseball Tips
by Trevor Whenham - 03/28/2007
It's baseball time again. Six glorious months of watching baseball and, if all goes well, making money. Nothing could be better. It's been a while since we last had baseball to watch, though, so we're all probably a little bit rusty. To get back into the swing of things, and to make sure that we go into the season ready to make some serious money, here are five betting baseball tips that you won't want to forget:
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Four Teams That Will Dissapoint Baseball Bettors
by Trevor Whenham - 03/28/2007
As baseball handicappers we're at a dangerous time of year. Spring training is almost over, optimism is high in virtually every city, and we can read all sorts of reports about players that are going to have monster years. It's easy in the face of all that to fall in love with a team. That can be costly. Every year there are teams that seem poised in the spring to have a big year, yet they don't seem to turn that potential into betting success. Here are four teams that have the potential to break loyal bettors' hearts and wallets:
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Baseball Betting Tips
by Robert Ferringo - 03/27/2007
Back in my formative days as a desperate and depraved amateur gambler the thought of grinding my way through another baseball season was as appealing as smothering myself in honey and throwing myself into a bear bit. Baseball season was a bleak wasteland on the betting calendar, a seven-month endurance trial akin to some wild Loma ritual in Guinea. It was a daily exercise in masochism of the soul.
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How to Bet Baseball
by Trevor Whenham - 03/27/2007
Baseball season is just around the corner. Finally! No sport offers more consistency or more opportunities to make money than baseball does. Baseball is potentially so profitable that, legend has it, sportsbooks just hope to break even over the course of the season. Despite the comparative ease of handicapping baseball, though, many people who regularly play football or basketball haven't crossed over to baseball yet.
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What is the Value of Starting Pitching?
by Trevor Whenham - 03/27/2007
When it comes to handicapping baseball, no single factor gets more attention, or has more effect on the game, than the starting pitcher. A good pitcher can make his team look much better than they are, and pitching woes can make the most talented team look like the Royals. Understanding pitchers, and assigning a reasonable value to them, is the key to making money betting on baseball.
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2007 MLB Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 03/26/2007
Over the past several weeks there has been so much attention focused on college basketball and the NCAA Tournament, not to mention the upcoming NFL Draft, that a lot of gamblers may have overlooked the fact that Major League Baseball is actually less than a week away.
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How Much Chalk is Too Much in MLB Betting?
by Trevor Whenham - 03/26/2007
Betting on baseball takes a different mindset than football or basketball. In the latter two sports you typically bet the point spread, so you have to deal with spreads that can get ridiculously large for favorites, but your payout is about the same every time you win. Winning when you bet on a good team like the Chargers pays as much as winning when betting on a terrible squad like Oakland. That's not the case with baseball.
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What We Have Learned From Spring Training
by Trevor Whenham - 03/21/2007
Spring training is a strange phenomenon - it never seems to end. Baseball is the ultimate endurance test - a month of games to get prepared for six months of games to decide which teams get to play another month worth of games. Because of that, the ultimate baseball handicapping survival tip is to relax and not overvalue anything. Baseball reality as you know it is going to completely reinvent itself over the course of the season.
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MLB Player Props for 2007: Doc's Looks at the Value
by Mike Hayes - 03/07/2007
If you thought making a big score on preseason player props was out of the question, look no further than last season when Ryan Howard led all of MLB in home runs and could have been secured at 40/1 this time last year.
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MLB Season Win Totals Predictions
by Mike Hayes - 03/06/2007
The 2007 baseball season is upon us and with it comes win totals on the futures board. Here's a look at which teams are most likely to exceed expectations and which aren't.
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Preseason Baseball Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 03/06/2007
Spring training is here, and that means that life is good. If you're a baseball fan then you have probably been aching all winter to hear the pop of the glove and the crack of the bat, so this is heaven. If you're a bettor then you're probably excited, too, because you know that baseball, when wagered on properly, can be enormously profitable.
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Finding Value in 2007 MLB Futures
by Trevor Whenham - 02/21/2007
Spring training is underway and that has me salivating over the prospect of another long, glorious summer of baseball action capped by a brilliant autumn of playoff action. The spring is an exciting time for a baseball fan because anyone can convince themselves that their team is going to win it all.
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