WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO (July 12, 2006)-Now that the All-Star game has passed and the second half of the Major League Baseball season gets underway this weekend, the playoff push will begin as the contenders try to separate themselves from the pretenders in the next three months. Injuries to star players, an aging pitching staff and several other American League clubs enjoying terrific seasons have many believing this will be the first season the New York Yankees miss the playoffs under Joe Torre. After originally opening as favorites in April to make the postseason for a twelfth straight season, Pinnacle Sportsbook now lists the Yankees as underdogs to make the 2006 MLB playoffs.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, Pinnacle Sportsbook opened wagering with the New York Yankees as a 5/8 favorite to be playoff-bound again this season. Within less than two weeks, bettors flocked to the site backing another Yankees postseason appearance, which moved the odds to an overwhelming 2/9 favorite. With injuries to Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield combined with excellent play by Boston, Detroit and Chicago, belief in the Yankees making the playoffs for a twelfth straight season has waned, and now Pinnacle Sportsbook lists New York as a 5/4 underdog to be playing in October. Meanwhile, the sportsbook now lists the chances Steinbrenner's Yanks will miss the playoffs as a 5/7 favorite.

"Early in the season, the Yankees looked like virtual locks for the playoffs, but mounting injuries, unproven players logging significant time, a lack of quality pitching and immense competition for postseason berths in the AL have taken their toll and could bring an end to the team's postseason streak," said Simon Noble of Pinnacle Sportsbook. "Coming off the All-Star break the Yankees find themselves six games behind Chicago in the wild card race while trailing Boston by three games in the AL East. Unless they can make some deadline deals, the Yankees will be honing their golf games come October."

Further demonstrating bettor's lack of belief in this year's Yankees squad, Pinnacle Sportsbook now lists the team at 10/1 to win the World Series after originally opening as 4/1 favorites to win their 27th championship.