The start of spring training games this weekend signals that most of the winter’s dealing is done, and MLB rosters are close to being set. So the Bovada online sports book (www.bovada.lv) published its latest odds for the 2013 season.
The Toronto Blue Jays, who added R.A. Dickey, Melky Cabrera, Maicer Izturis, Mark Buerhle and Jose Reyes, among others, earned the gamblers’ seal of approval at 7-1, the favorites to win it all. They are followed by the Detroit Tigers at 8-1, which could make for a tidy American League Championship Series at 232 miles apart.
The top two National League teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals, are each listed at 17/2, which could make for an untidy, bi-coastal NLCS.
The bookmaker, apparently noting the absences of Chone Figgins and Munenori Kawasaki, was unimpressed with the Mariners’ low-profile roster upgrades, making them a 75-1 shot to win the Series, along with the Indians, Padres and Cubs.
Bovada obviously doesn’t read Bill James, the noted analyst, who on his blog recently picked the Mariners as the AL’s surprise team.
That doesn’t mean championship surprise, but it does mean that 75-1 might draw some action from more than the handful of Seattle-addressed dreamers.
ODDS TO WIN WORLD SERIES
7-1 — Blue Jays
8-1 — Tigers
17/2 — Dodgers, Nationals
9-1 — Angels
14-1 — Braves, Reds, Yankees, Giants, Rangers
18-1 — Phillies
20-1 –– Cardinals
25-1 — Rays
30-1 — Red Sox
33-1 — A’s
40-1 — Orioles, White Sox, Brewers
50-1 — D-backs, Royals, Pirates
75-1 — Cubs, Indians, Padres, Mariners
100-1 — Rockies, Marlins, Twins, Mets
200-1 — Astros
The question for the house (this would be you) is whether the bookies have it about right with the Mariners, are too optimistic, or there is a $20 bill in your wallet itching to go edgy on the Wedgies:
[polldaddy poll=6909760]
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2146635 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2146635">4 Comments
I’m not about to jump on the Jays bandwagon yet. Yeah they’ve had a nice offseason but that doesn’t guarantee going to The Show. I’m more for a Tigers/Dodgers World Series with the Tigers coming out on top. Think the Phillies are better than what they’re ranked here as well. Too much talent on that roster but not enough to get there.
At 75-1, I’d be willing to put $100 on the Mariners, although I’m not at all expecting a World Series out of them…at least not this year (although I’m more in Bill James’ camp than with the oddsmakers). I’d have given them better than 40-1 odds because I think they’ll be AT LEAST as good as Baltimore, Milwaukee and the White Sox.
Paddy Power, the Irish (legal) bookmakers were offering 150 to 1 against the Mariners winning the world series last week.
See? They’re already improving!