2005 Baseball Article Archive
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Below is a listing of articles appearing on Doc’s site sorted by
date.
Betting the MLB Playoffs a Different Animal
by Robert Ferringo - 10/03/2006
Slowly but surely, the days are growing shorter and the sweet sweat of summer is calmly giving way to the cool breezes of autumn evenings. We are entering the Fall, a mystical and pagan time of year, replete with fantastic rituals and annual rites such as the harvest moon, Devil's Night and baseball's ultimate championship: the World Series.
Read more about Betting the MLB Playoffs.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 09/25/2006
The main event of this year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, without a doubt, is the Classic. The 23rd renewal should live up to its name at Churchill Downs.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Reasons to Bet Against the Yankees
by Trevor Whenham - 09/22/2006
It took until Wednesday night for the Yankees to officially clinch the American League East crown, even though that feat had been a foregone conclusion for about a month. Now that the regular season has no bearing for the team, the problem now becomes looking forward and deciding how confident we are about their chances in the playoffs.
Read more about Bet Against the Yankees.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 09/18/2006
Don't look now but the little team from Minnesota is just one game from knocking the Tigers out from the top spot in the AL Central. Winners of eight of its last ten games, this team has not let injuries affect them. Liriano and Radke still remain out but they have received timely pitching and clutch hitting, specifically from young bats Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. And having baseball's best home record at 50-24 surely does help.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Yankees Facing Quandary in the Outfield
by Trevor Whenham - 09/13/2006
Is it possible for a team to have too much talent? Can getting two more all-star caliber batters for your lineup be a bad thing? You wouldn't think so logically, but then logic has very little to do with anything that the Yankees have done in the last decade.
Read more about Yankees Crowded Outfield.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 09/11/2006
With the MLB postseason closing in, some of the biggest issues in baseball are emerging from the shadows. As the list of World Series contenders is dwindling as each week passes, discussion of playoff seeding has turned into a hot topic. This week's MLB week in review examines the pros and cons facing each club vying for one of the eight playoff spots.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
2006 Cy Young Award Betting
by Mike Hayes - 09/09/2006
According to the oddsmakers, the Twins' Johan Santana has all but wrapped up the American League Cy Young Award, but the race for the premier-pitching award in the senior circuit remains up for grabs with three weeks left to play.
Read more about 2006 Cy Young Award Betting.
Betting on the MLB MVP
by Mike Hayes - 09/08/2006
With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, a strong case can be made for a number of candidates in both leagues to garner MVP honors. And with three weeks of games remaining there might be a chance to grab some value in wagering on who will take home the MVP hardware.
Read more about Betting on the MLB MVP.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 09/06/2006
We're in the final month of the 2006 MLB regular season and with fewer than 30 games to go until the playoffs get underway, a lot is still left to be decided. This week, along with the last week in August, teams have made strong statements about their chances for the postseason. This week's MLB week in review takes a look at the best and worst of the past two weeks and analyzes how it affects the races that are still up for grabs.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
The Tigers Will Hang On For Playoffs
by Trevor Whenham - 08/31/2006
The Detroit Tigers, easily the most surprising story of the season so far, are slipping. They still have the best record in the league (though the red-hot Mets are about to catch up to them), but they have lost eight of their last 12 games and 14 of the last 21.
Read more about Detroit Tigers.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 08/28/2006
September is nearly upon us and the final five weeks of the 2006 MLB season will go a long way in deciding the teams that will be playing in October while the rest are left to stir in defeat. With all the close divisional and wildcard races currently going on in baseball, so much attention has been focused on the specific teams, while individual performances and accolades have been widely ignored.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Meaningful Baseball Games=Solid Wagering Options
by Mike Hayes - 08/28/2006
We once again approach the Labor Day weekend with the promise of meaningful baseball games through the entire month. And, with meaningful baseball games should come some solid wagering opportunities.
Read more about Meaningful Baseball Games.
Mets Won't Win The World Series
by Trevor Whenham - 08/24/2006
The baseball playoffs are around the corner, and the Mets are looking like the only real choice to come out of the National League. The Cardinals are a disaster, the Dodgers are coming back to earth and the Reds and the Phillies have more holes than a block of swiss cheese (Philadelphia picked up ancient hurler Jamie Moyer in a vain attempt to solve their pitching woes, for example).
Read more about Mets World Series.
High Value MLB Pitchers
by Trevor Whenham - 08/23/2006
A bettor's ultimate dream is a sure thing - the horse that can't lose, the team that's a lock, the fighter that will knock his opponent out in the first three rounds. That's a nice dream, but unfortunately it's a pipe dream. Some MLB pitchers, however, are close to being a sure thing.
Read more about High Value MLB Pitchers.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 08/21/2006
The final month of the MLB season is eleven days away. Sept. 1 marks the first day of urgency. Some teams that need help will begin to scoreboard watch and most of the main playoff contenders will face off in a series of must win games.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Yankees and Red Sox at War - Again
by Trevor Whenham - 08/15/2006
Here's a story that could have been written any year this decade - with about 50 games left in the MLB season, the American League East is a dogfight with the Yankees and the Red Sox alone on the top and separated by just one game as of Sunday. Both teams have potent lineups, but this year more than any year recently both teams also have holes so big you could drive a tractor through them.
Read more about Yankees-Red Sox Baseball Rivalry.
Betting on the Heisman Winner
by Trevor Whenham - 08/15/2006
The Dodgers. What to say (and think) about the Dodgers? Three weeks ago I was thinking pretty nasty thoughts about a last place team with no heart and no hope. But now they have forgotten how to lose and they are in first place and in control of their own destiny for a playoff berth in the sad National League West. They've won 16 of their last 17 games, and would be doing even better in the standings if they hadn't preceded this ridiculous winning streak with an equally ridiculous streak of 13 losses in 14 games. Nothing like a little consistency. How did this happen? And, more importantly, is it sustainable and are they worth some betting attention? Here's a look:
Read more about 2006 LA Dodgers.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 08/13/2006
Six weeks to go until the MLB postseason kicks off and the races couldn't be more exciting. This week's MLB review takes a look at the contenders in each division as well as the wild card leaders and labels each team's chances of winning the World Series based on personal odds. Frankly, this is the most I have enjoyed baseball this late into the season.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Best MLB Parlay Pitchers
by Mike Hayes - 07/31/2006
Sometimes you don't have to look past the game you like the most to complete a successful baseball parlay as a handful of pitchers with a tendency to either win or lose at an above average rate also have a knack for being in games in which there is a strong run total tendency.
Read more about Best MLB Parlay Pitchers.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 07/30/2006
Teams have until 4 p.m. EST on Monday to make any last second trades that will help make the push towards the postseason. This week's MLB review examines the trades already completed and how those players impact their new clubs, as well as the potential moves that could go down within the next 24+ hours as the trade deadlines concludes tomorrow.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Despite Pitching Woes, Mets Favored To Capture Pennant
by Mike Hayes - 07/28/2006
Their Ace has been on the DL since before the All-Star break and their winningest pitcher hasn't won since June 23. They have used 10 different starting pitchers this season, including four rookies and Jose Lima. They are the Mets and they are your World Series favorites.
Read more about 2006 Mets Pennant.
Division Leaders Meet In Boston
by Robert Ferringo - 07/27/2006
The Los Angeles Angels are headed to Boston this weekend to bang heads with the Red Sox in a series between current division leaders. Los Angeles is tied with Oakland in the American League West while Boston is holding a tenuous 1.5-game lead over the Yankees in the East.
Read more about Angels-Red Sox series preview.
Braves Try to Stay Hot Against Mets
by Robert Ferringo - 07/27/2006
Atlanta has been the Big Brother of the National League East, winning 14 consecutive division titles. Each year they make a fool of the Younger Brother team that's supposedly going to catch them. But now New York is a mature club, and the Mets are making the suddenly-weakened Braves pay for all the past pain they've doled out on the Flushing Faithful.
Read more about Braves-Mets series preview.
Twins Have Become Every Bettor's Fantasy
by Mike Hayes - 07/26/2006
Less than two months ago the underachieving Minnesota Twins looked as if they were headed nowhere, buried deep beneath the world champion White Sox and upstart Tigers, but a 33-8 run has catapulted them into the American League playoff picture and in the process has made them one of the most profitable plays in all of baseball.
Read more about Twins Winning Streak.
Baseball's Best Over Bets
by Robert Ferringo - 07/25/2006
Last week we took an in-depth look at totals betting in Major League Baseball. We analyzed the top Under plays and certain teams that defy conventional wisdom when it comes to scoring runs. Today we're going to look at the top Over teams in the Major Leagues this season, and my opinion on whether their trend will continue or be curbed by adjusted lines for the rest of the season:
Read more about Best Over Teams.
Bizarro World: Betting Baseball Totals
by Robert Ferringo - 07/25/2006
What a lot of people don't realize is that oddsmakers use this common knowledge against the square bettor. Up is black and down is white in the Gambling World. It's Bizarro World. And since the books know what the common bettor is going to play before he does, the lines are set accordingly and the House continues to rake.
Read more about Baseball Totals Trends.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 07/24/2006
Two weeks into the second half of the season and the true playoff contenders are rising to the top of the surface. Division races are heating up while the wild card groupings look to be headed down to the final weekend of play, especially in the National League.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Will The White Sox Defend Their Crown?
by Trevor Whenham - 07/20/2006
Remember the playoffs last year? The White Sox played small ball like few teams in recent memory have, and the payoff was huge. Instead of resting on those laurels, however, GM Kenny Williams really turned the team on its head.
Read more about Chicago White Sox Repeat.
Cardinals Not Looking Like Champions
by Trevor Whenham - 07/20/2006
Any discussion of the St. Louis Cardinals has to start by talking about Albert Pujols. If you think for a second that anyone but him deserves to be NL MVP, especially since he has posted his numbers despite taking three weeks off, hasn't been watching enough baseball this year. The guy is an absolute freak who does things that we may never see someone do again in our lifetimes.
Read more about 2006 Cardinals World Series Hopes.
White Sox May Be Looking To Unload Starter
by Trevor Whenham - 07/20/2006
Quick quiz - name a contending team in recent years that has traded away a quality starter at the trade deadline. Give up? I can't think of one either. Yet that strange step may be exactly what the White Sox, currently in control of the AL wild card race and chasing Detroit for the division title, are looking to do.
Read more about Chicago Wite Sox Starters.
Doc's Hot List/Cold List
by Robert Ferringo - 07/19/2006
Remember Beckett's Baseball Card Price Guide? What I remember most from those old mags is the Hot/Cold Lists. Those lists were classic, so I've decided to incorporate my own twisted version of them into the rotation for your reading pleasure.
Read more about Doc's Hot/Cold Lists.
Money Men Making Atlanta, Anaheim Pay
by Robert Ferringo - 07/19/2006
It's all about Money Players at this stage of the Major League Baseball season. Proven commodities. Steely-eyed assassins that attack with surgical precision and cold-blooded brutes that pummel with impunity. Yeah, those guys bang prom queens and porn stars. Those guys get the promotion. Those guys win. And those guys are who I'm backing during baseball's stretch run.
Read more about Braves-Angels Win Streaks.
Tigers Aim To Rip Rivals To Shreds
by Robert Ferringo - 07/17/2006
But now The Boys of Summer are out in full force. And the first opportunity for anyone to make their mark in the second half of this season will take place this week in Detroit Rock City. The defending World Series champion White Sox travel to Comerica Park to take on the American League Central-leading Tigers in an intriguing three-game series.
Read more about Chicago-Detroit Preview.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 07/17/2006
Half way through the month of July and finished with Pittsburgh's All Star festivities, the second half of the 2006 MLB season is just starting to get underway. So much is yet to be decided and most divisions are likely to come down to final week of September. Outside of the Mets' vice grip hold on the NL East, the other five division races are open for the taking. Through Sunday, all other divisions have its first and second place teams separated by less than five games.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Baseball's Best Under Bets
by Robert Ferringo - 07/15/2006
Here are the five best 'under' teams from the first half of the season, and my prognosis for whether or not they will continue on that path for the second half:
Read more about Best Under Teams.
Over or Under? Three-Year MLB Totals Trends
by Robert Ferringo - 07/15/2006
No one likes to bet the Under. I've discussed this in this space on several occasions. We're Americans, damn it! We want things bigger and better and bolder. Bigger houses. Bigger breasts. Bigger bombs. Bigger scores. It's what we do. We want greatness and we want excess.
Read more about Three-Year Totals Trends.
Rockies Rolling On The Under
by Robert Ferringo - 07/13/2006
The primacy effect is what kept the general public from making a killing off Coors Field as an Under park in the first half of 2006. That's right. I just said "Coors Field" and "Under" in the same sentence. And no I'm not drunk on Pete Coors' watered-down nectar. The Rockies are 34-47-6 against the total this season, third worst (or best, depending on how you look at it) in the league. That includes an absurd 14-29 mark in Coors Field.
Read more about Colorado's Under Park.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 07/10/2006
The 2006 MLB season is officially at its half way point. This week focuses in on the All Star festivities in Pittsburgh. Both the Home Run Derby and Tuesday's All Star Game will bring the best players together as well as deciding home field advantage for this October's World Series. This week's review of the MLB breaks down the first half and hands out the mid-season awards.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
MLB All-Star Game Betting Strategies and Advice
by Mike Hayes - 07/10/2006
What has long separated Major League Baseball from other sports is that any team donning a Major League uniform is capable of beating any other on any given day which is why it is surprising that the annual All-Star game has been subject to long-term dominance by one league over the other.
Read more about MLB All-Star Game Betting.
MLB Futures At The All-Star Break
by Mike Hayes - 07/07/2006
As we head to the All-Star break the Mets and Tigers have emerged as solid favorites to represent their respective leagues in this year's Fall Classic and if the oddsmakers have it right, come October the Motor City will be celebrating the Tigers first World Series victory since 1984.
Read more about MLB Futures.
Home and Away Trends in MLB
by Mike Hayes - 07/03/2006
A review of the home and away performances of teams through the first half of the MLB season shows some interesting and potentially profitable trends led by the Jeckyll and Hyde Twins who are far-and-away the most profitable home wager and among the biggest cash burners on the road.
Read more about home and away MLB trends.
MLB Week in Review
by Jordan Adams - 07/03/2006
With the beginning July upon us and less than two weeks away from the 2006 MLB All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, this week's weekly review takes a look at the players participating in the game for home-field advantage. Every year the biggest issue with this game is the league allowing its fans to vote in the starters. And every year they fail miserably. Not only are the best players not voted in, but fans always choose the same players that we see every year, even if they are injured!
Read more about Week in Review.
Is It Time For Zito To Go?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/26/2006
Zito wants to stay in Oakland and Beane isn't shopping him around. Despite that, indications seem strong that he will be wearing a new uniform by the end of July, and that would alter the Major League betting landscape.
Read more about Zito Must Go.
Oakland's Summer Fun: Monster Runs
by Robert Ferringo - 06/26/2006
Oakland began the month 16-5, helping get the team back in the black in the Betting World. As recently as May they were nearly $1,000 in the hole for the season, but now they're up to around $350 in profit. And if you think they are good now, just wait until the weather gets really hot.
Read more about Oakland's Summer Runs.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 06/26/2006
Despite the 2006 World Cup reaching its peak and the NBA and NHL finals just wrapping up, the MLB season still continues to draw interest. July is less than a week away and just three months will remain until fall ball. Here is a look at some of the best storylines that will effect how the postseason could begin to shape up:
Read more about MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick.
Money Pit in Atlanta
by Mike Hayes - 06/26/2006
As hard as it might be to believe, the Kansas City Royals have been a stronger bet than the Atlanta Braves this season. So have the Orioles, Marlins, Cubs and in fact every team in MLB with the exception of the Pirates, thanks only to the fact that the woeful Bucs have dropped 11 in a row while the Braves managed to take two-of-three from the D'Rays over the weekend.
Read more about Money Pit in Atlanta.
The Cubs Woes Continue
by Trevor Whenham - 06/24/2006
There are a lot of you out there who won't want to hear this, but the Chicago Cubs are completely, utterly and irreparably terrible. Awful. This time it can't be blamed on a goat or some geek in the stands with a glove. They're just plain bad.
Read more about Cubs Woes Continue.
Is Clemens the Answer For Houston?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/24/2006
The mighty Roger Clemens has returned to baseball. The way people are talking about it you would think he walked on the Gulf of Mexico to get back to the Astros. The question is whether Clemens can provide the help that they need to get into the playoffs again. Solid arguments can be made for both sides of the debate.
Read more about Clemens Returns.
Are the Mariners on a Rising Tide?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/24/2006
Remember when the Seattle Mariners used to be a good team? I know the memories are hazy because it seems like a long time ago. They've been depressingly poor the last few seasons, and still aren't a particularly strong team, but at least they are showing signs of life. But is it a real improvement or just a fluky run which has seen them win five of six and 14 of 21 to move dangerously close to .500 and into contention in the AL West?
Read more about Mariners Rising.
Moneyline Versus Run Line Betting
by Mike Hayes - 06/22/2006
As we approach the mid-point of the MLB season the Tigers continue their reign as the most profitable wager both on the moneyline and run line. They have been a cash machine, producing $2,038 up to this point on the moneyline and $1,897 on the run line. But the Tigers appear to be the exception to the rule as trends indicate that profitability on the moneyline has little bearing on how a given team will fare when being bet on the run line.
Read more about Run Line Betting.
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times
by Robert Ferringo - 06/21/2006
This past Saturday and Sunday gave us perfect illustrations of the dark and heart-breaking side of sports and wagering. We would have all been better off spending the weekend dropping acid and going to the county rodeo. Instead, fans, gamblers, and Worshippers of Fate alike were privy to several fantastic failures and moments of brilliant destruction. The carnage that took place over one 36-hour period is still sending reverberations throughout the Sports World.
Read more about Best and Worst Times.
Marlins swimming up Major League stream
by Mike Hayes - 06/21/2006
You know the story. The owner of a fictional Cleveland Indian team wants a new stadium so she rids the squad of all the high-priced losers and replaces them with a bunch of no-names in the hopes that the team reeks so bad they are forced out of town. Sound a bit like the Marlins, who shed $45 million in payroll this off season and are down to a MLB low $15 million?
Read more about Major League Marlins.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Robert Ferringo - 06/19/2006
We need to shift our sports-loving gaze away from corrupt Uruguay officials and Togo temper-tantrums and back to our National Pastime. Summer is also the time of walk-offs and winning streaks, designated hitters and doubleheaders. There's work to be done, and money to be made. So put down the beach towel and pick up the boxscores, we currently have a number of compelling storylines from sea to shining sea.
Read more about MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick.
Finding Pitchers that Make a Profit
by Mike Hayes - 06/15/2006
Call it karma, voodoo, star alignment, sheer luck or whatever you like, but a fact of baseball that cannot be ignored by the gambler is the uncanny knack some starting pitchers have for getting generous run support from their teammates. While the success of some of these beneficiaries might be difficult to understand or back with money, betting against these guys can prove hazardous to your wallet.
Read more about MLB Money Pitchers.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 06/11/2006
Returning to their early season form, the Mets turned in an impressive week. They dominated the two best teams in the West, Los Angeles and Arizona, by winning six of their seven games on the road. They went 6-1 against the spread - including three victories as underdogs - and have opened up a 6.5-game lead over Philadelphia.
Read more about MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick.
Will Blue Jays Keep Flying High?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/07/2006
There are three types of baseball fans in this world - Yankees fans, Red Sox fans and everyone else who wishes that the Yankees and Red Sox would just go away. If you fit into that third category, the AL East has not been friendly to you in many years. Those two teams have been able to cruise into the postseason for so long because no one else in the division has put a fight this decade.
Read more about 2006 Blue Jays.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 06/05/2006
Entering June, the possibility of Albert Pujols challenging both Barry Bonds' 73 home runs and Hack Wilson's 191 RBI became realistic. Those thoughts seemingly came to a sudden halt after the slugger was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday with a strained oblique. Pujols, who leads the majors with 24 homers and 65 RBI, could be sidelined anywhere from two weeks to more than a month.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
MLB Totals Betting
by Mike Hayes - 06/02/2006
While wagering on point totals is an accepted part of the football season for the average sports bettor playing run totals in baseball generates little interest. However, for the gambler willing to do some research and wait for the right spots, betting MLB over-unders can result in a profitable experience.
Read more about MLB Totals Betting.
Can The 2006 Detroit Tigers Keep Winning?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/01/2006
If you had asked me at the beginning of the season which team would have the best record in baseball after 50 games, you would have had to give me 25 guesses before I'd have picked the Tigers. Next to the Royals and the Rays, no team has been more pathetic and hopeless for longer. Yet, somehow, the Tigers are doing very well, and it is past the point of being a lucky streak or a fluke.
Read more about 2006 Detroit Tigers.
Can The 2006 Detroit Tigers Keep Winning?
by Trevor Whenham - 06/01/2006
If you had asked me at the beginning of the season which team would have the best record in baseball after 50 games, you would have had to give me 25 guesses before I'd have picked the Tigers. Next to the Royals and the Rays, no team has been more pathetic and hopeless for longer. Yet, somehow, the Tigers are doing very well, and it is past the point of being a lucky streak or a fluke.
Read more about 2006 Detroit Tigers.
Factoring Umpires In MLB Betting
by Robert Ferringo - 05/31/2006
One of the first things you learn in Little League - before you know to tag up on a fly ball or hit the cut-off man - is that the Umpire's are Pure Evil. They suck. They are blind and they need your glasses. They don't know the rules and they cheat. They are getting paid by the other team.
Read more about Umpires In MLB Betting.
2006 MLB Wagering Trends
by Mike Hayes - 05/30/2006
With more than a quarter of the Major League Baseball season in the books, it's time to take a look at which wagering trends are likely to continue to turn a profit and which are likely to wilt with the summer heat.
Read more about 2006 MLB Wagering Trends.
Most Profitable MLB Squads
by Mike Hayes - 05/30/2006
Bettors smart enough to back the Tigers often this year have seen their bankroll grow at a remarkable rate as Detroit, who boast a MLB-best 35-15 mark, have far and away been the most profitable team to wager on through the first quarter of the baseball season.
Read more about Most Profitable MLB Squads.
Royals Setting New Standard for Futility
by Robert Ferringo - 05/30/2006
I guess this is what we should've expected out of David Glass, the multi-millionaire former President and Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart. Glass made his mark as the head of a company renowned for making money peddling shoddy, low-rent, bargain-basement products. So now it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that as the Owner of the Kansas City Royals he is in charge of a shoddy, low-rent, bargain-basement Major League Baseball team.
Read more about Betting on KC Royals.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 05/30/2006
The last full week of May witnessed the impact of several new teams climbing to the top of their division, however no feat was more notable then Barry Bonds' 715th home run. While the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks came out of the woodwork to take first place in their respective divisions, Bonds eclipsing Ruth was a mammoth story that ate up the press coverage not just yesterday, but most likely for the rest of the season.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Are Young Pitchers Worth the Hype?
by Trevor Whenham - 05/26/2006
The media seems to be head over heels in love with the young pitchers that are developing in baseball these days. Every young stud that comes along is referred to as the greatest prospect with the nastiest stuff we have ever seen. Sports fans eat up the hype, but do the pitchers live up to it? Here's a look at eight pitchers who are 25 or younger and the value they offer bettors:
Read more about MLB Young Pitchers.
The Dodgers are Hot - But are They for Real?
by Trevor Whenham - 05/25/2006
The Dodgers are one of the more storied franchises in sports, but it has been a rough time to be a Dodgers fan for the last several years. Sure, they made the playoffs in 2004, but St. Louis quickly ended their World Series dreams. Last year they started out 12-2 and people were thinking that the team was playoff-bound again despite a major roster overhaul. Then they crashed back to earth and ended up at 71-91, their second worst record since they moved to L.A. in 1958.
Read more about LA Dodgers 2006.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 05/22/2006
As June approaches, the 2006 MLB season continues to heighten. While there is well over four months left of games, the division races have been exceptionally close. All three AL divisions, as well as the NL West, have its top two teams either tied or separated by only one game. The NL East and NL Central have its leaders ahead by 2.5 and 4 games, respectively.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
Where will Roger Clemens Land?
by Trevor Whenham - 05/19/2006
There are two types of people in this world - those, like me, who love Roger Clemens, and those who hate him. His fans believe that anyone with 341 wins, 4,500 strikeouts and seven Cy Young's can take all the time he wants to decide if and when he'll pitch again, and we should just count ourselves lucky if we eventually get to watch him.
Read more about Roger Clemens.
Will Yankees-Mets Equal The Hype?
by Robert Ferringo - 05/19/2006
No matter what Joe Buck tries to tell you, the Yankees-Mets rivalry is neither the Hatfields against the McCoys nor Israel against the PLO. In fact, given that the Mets haven't made the postseason since their 2000 loss to the Yankees in the World Series, the "rivalry" between Gotham's two teams has been more like Eddie Murphy against Charlie Murphy in a joke off, or Emilio Estevez against Charlie Sheen in a stripper banging contest.
Read more about Yankees-Mets rivalry.
Interleague Play - Are You An AL Guy or an NL Guy?
by Robert Ferringo - 05/19/2006
Boxers or briefs? Blondes or brunettes? Elvis or The Beatles? There are plenty of these little tests that can be given to a man that will give a sense of his soul. With baseball, there's really just one fundamental question to which the answer gives us a peek into your psyche: American League or National League?
Read more about Interleague Play.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 05/15/2006
Barry Bonds' chase of 714 has consumed baseball and reached a point where it is flat out irritating to watch his coverage. You could not escape the madness if you tried. He is the first thought opening ESPN's Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight, as well as the last remark of the shows.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
MLB Parity Equals Deep Playoff Races
by Jordan Adams - 05/11/2006
"Trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cent" was a lyric from Tupac Shakur's "I Get Around." While it was clear he wasn't describing the game of baseball, that verse could apply to a majority of MLB teams in the 2006 season.
Read more about Parity in MLB Baseball.
Five Inning Lines and Second Chance Betting Offer New Ways to Bet MLB
by Mike Hayes - 05/10/2006
With starting pitchers pitching less and relievers pitching more, both bettors and bookies are faced with a new challenge - determining just how much a good or bad bullpen is worth in establishing a line or placing a wager.
Read more about Five Inning MLB Lines.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 05/09/2006
While the month of April brings showers, the following month has brought much more than flowers to some of MLB's early strugglers. After suffering a drought for the first month of the '06 season, three NL teams have soaked themselves with impressive winning streaks this week.
Read more about MLB Week in Review.
MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 05/01/2006
The last week of April brought about some very interesting storylines. First and foremost the Cincinnati Reds hold baseball's best record, coming into Sunday's game at 17-7. Despite having some very mediocre pitching to start the season, some diamonds in the rough have emerged. The likes of Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarnacion have played tremendously in this first month and really sparked the offense.
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Three Up/Three Down - Who's Hot And Who's Not In Sports Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 04/29/2006
This week we look at three teams that are turning heads for their impressive performance on the field, court and field, and three more that are sinking into a pit of despair.
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MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 4/24/2006
The past seven days of baseball has been a great example of how tough it really is to dethrone and keep the defending champs down. The Chicago White Sox breezed through their weekly schedule and have been on a tear since starting the season 1-4. The world champions have won 12-of-13 and all six of their games this week, all being on the road.
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What's Wrong With The Yankees?
by Trevor Whenham - 4/21/2006
A poet once who once said, "The West is the best" may as well have been describing the Detroit Red Wings; dominators of all things NHL this season. But it is playoffs time once again in the NHL's Western Conference and any of the seven other conference contenders will look to deny the Red Wings their date with destiny.
Read more about Yankees Problems.
Three Up/Three Down - Who's Hot And Who's Not In Sports Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 04/19/2006
Once again this week, this column looks at three teams or players that are turning heads for their impressive performance on or off the field, and three more that are sinking into a pit of despair.
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Betting the MLB Runline
by Mike Hayes - 04/17/2006
Though it lags in popularity among baseball wagering aficionados, betting the MLB runline is an intriguing and potentially profitable alternative to the traditional moneyline, and now there are more runline options available to bettors than ever before.
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Positive & Negative Effects of 2006 MLB Player Movement
by Jordan Adams - 04/17/2006
A consistent theme comes up at the beginning of every MLB season and the 2006 campaign is no different. This trend can label teams as one of the following: those who are World Series contenders, those who rise from the shadows to surprise and those who are destined for the cellars of their respective divisions.
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MLB Week in Review + Free Series Pick
by Jordan Adams - 04/17/2006
The second week of this 2006 MLB campaign dispels any notion that parity is non-existent in baseball. Although still early, the money-laden Yankees have been as inconsistent as any other team thus far, the Colorado Rockies are in first place in its division and the NL Central has shown itself to be the deepest division, yet winning seems to come in a roller coaster format.
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Three Up/Three Down - Who's Hot And Who's Not In Sports Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 04/12/2006
This column will regularly look at three teams or players that are turning heads for their impressive performance on or off the field, and three more that are sinking into a pit of despair.
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Sportsbooks Offer MLB Props Galore Heading Into 2006 Season
by Mike Hayes - 03/31/2006
From the possibility of a Barry Bonds drug suspension to which major league manager will be the first to get canned, sports bettors are faced with a smorgasbord of baseball propositions that is sure to whet the appetite of even the heartiest gambler.
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Chicks Dig The Long Ball So Who's Your Lady Killer?
by Jordan Adams - 03/29/2006
With the monotonous spring training schedule finally coming to a conclusion on April 2, Sunday's nightcap provides the first regular season game, bringing the an American tradition -- the long ball -- front and center. 2006 should provide one of the most intriguing home run races in some time. Not only is the '06 campaign headlined by Barry Bonds' pursuit of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, but also the field for the home run crown could be the deepest ever. Bonds, however, may not be the smartest bet. Bodog lists him as 12/1 odds to capture the home run title.
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2006 MLB Predictions and Futures Odds
by Mike Hayes - 03/28/2006
Just days after the White Sox ended 88 years of frustration on the south side of Chicago by brining home a World Series title, we took a look at some potential value plays on World Series futures for 2006. With the season now just days away its time to make some more 2006 MLB predictions and see whether their remains a dark horse or two worthy of a wager.
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Doc's 2006 AL West Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/28/2006
Like the great tide of the Pacific Ocean, constantly rolling and breaking over the shore, Oakland just continues to roll along. A little further down the coast, the Anaheim Angels are happy and healthy (for now) and looking to make a return trip to the World Series.
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Doc's 2006 AL Central Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/28/2006
The American League Central is the Major League equivalent of the Lost Boys. In 2005, Chicago was their Peter Pan, bucking the odds and an 88-year history of failure to win the World Series.
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Doc's 2006 AL East Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/28/2006
Move over Yankees and Red Sox, Toronto is taking over.
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Doc's 2006 NL West Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/27/2006
You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.
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Doc's 2006 NL Central Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/27/2006
Regular season guts but no postseason glory. That's been the story of the National League Central over the past few years. The NL representative in the World Series in each of the last two seasons has come from this division, but they've been trounced by the American League in each instance.
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Doc's 2006 NL East Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 03/27/2006
Being a Mets fan in Atlanta is a little like being a Muslim in Alabama or a Republican in San Francisco. At least, that's how it would be if the people of Atlanta actually cared about the Braves.
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Doc's 2006 Baseball Predictions: MLB Over/Unders
by Max - 03/24/2006
The 2006 baseball season is right around the corner and Doc's Sports is already hard at work. We have already started the number crunching and a few statistics have certainly caught our eyes regarding 2006 baseball predictions. The first is the race for the AL East championship. With the Blue Jays spending money in free agency to bulk up their team, is this the year that they can finally compete with the Yankees and Red Sox? My guess is yes, and I would expect them to challenge for the wild card. They have made numerous key signings during the off-season and this has given them a new look.
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Spring Training Developments and How They Affect Baseball Futures Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 03/22/2006
Spring training records don't really mean a whole lot. A team can tear up the Grapefruit League, then crater when the real thing comes along, or they can be terrible in the Cactus League and then never look back all season. That being said, there are clues to be picked up from how teams and players behave that can tell you what you may expect for the season. Here's a look at seven stories that are important coming out of spring training and what they could mean to baseball futures betting:
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2006 World Baseball Classic Betting Picks
by Chris, the Impaler - 03/01/2006
When the United States' starting nine take the field against Mexico on March 7 in Pool B's draw of the World Baseball Classic at Phoenix, the winner of Pool A will have already been decided at the Tokyo Dome. But just because the USA won't get into the action for another full week, don't let that stop you from point-and-clicking a well-placed win market wager on your favorite team to win their pool in the WBC and move on to the second round of international baseball competition. World Baseball Classic betting is offered at all major online sportsbooks.
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Bet To Win: 2006 World Baseball Classic Odds
by Chris, the Impaler - 02/27/2006
Team USA is listed as the even money favorite to win it all when the inaugural World Baseball Classic begins in four locations across the globe from March 3 to March 20. One thing is certain: the country that wins this tournament can claim they are Baseball's World Champions. Not even the winner of the World Series can make that claim. This article will focus on World Baseball Classic odds and give some betting suggestions as well.
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Cuba In Along with World Baseball Classic Odds
by Stal Herz - 01/21/2006
For months, the United States was trying to stop Cuba from participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic because it did not want a communist country receiving financial benefits from the event.
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Key Players Missing From Baseball Hall of Fame
by Stal Herz - 01/16/2006
Election to the Hall of Fame is a passing from mortality to god-like positions amongst the greatest that have ever played the game of baseball. Last week, Bruce Sutter passed through to immortality while the mere men were left waiting by a phone that never rang.
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MLB Hot Stove: Pre-GM meetings
by Dallas Jackson - 12/02/2005
Dec. 5 marks the start of MLB's winter meetings and with all of the action expected to take place, we will take a look at the moves made before General Mangers head to Dallas.
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Early Baseball Props Offer Some Value
by Mike Hayes - 11/07/2005
The champagne has barely stopped flowing on the South Side of Chicago since the White Sox ended an 88-year drought by winning the 2005 World Series but that doesn't mean you have to wait until next season to get some baseball action.
Read more about Offseason baseball props.
MLB - NL Divisional Previews
by Robert Ferringo - 10/03/2005
Second chances. That's the theme of the National League playoffs this season, and St. Louis, Atlanta, Houston or San Diego is going to take advantage of their most recent opportunity and hopefully turn it into a World Series championship.
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MLB - AL Divisional Previews
by Robert Ferringo - 10/03/2005
Technically, Tuesday's tripleheader kicks off what promises to be another classic fall of Major League Baseball playoffs. But realistically, the playoffs began last weekend when New York rolled into Boston and Chicago traveled to Cleveland, with each jostling to secure its spot in the postseason.
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All-Time Biggest Baseball Collapses
by Mike Hayes - 09/30/2005
While football dominates the sport betting scene this time of year there has been some unusual competition from baseball this year thanks to several undecided pennant races and the near total collapse of the Chicago White Sox.
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