The Mariners haven’t finished above .500 since going 85-77 in 2009 and haven’t made the playoffs in more than a decade. Yet, they’ll finish 2014 with about as many wins as losses, according to Las Vegas sportsbook Bovada.com.
As of Wednesday, the site had the Mariners’ over/under for wins at 81.5 and their odds to win the AL West at 7/1.
Believers in new manager Lloyd McClendon, new second baseman Robinson Cano and the promise of the Mariners’ young talent have other ways to bet little to win big. Bovada.com gives Seattle a 28/1 shot to win the 2014 World Series and a 14/1 chance to win the American League Pennant.
If those odds seem generous for a team coming off a 71-win season, a gander at their AL West peers provides perspective.
The Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are both 2/1 to win the division. The Texas Rangers are the favorites at “+190,” which translates to 1.9/1. Pragmatically, it means a gambler could risk $10 to win $19.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, lead all teams with an over/under of 92.5 wins. The Houston Astros, a black swan in what should be a competitive AL West, round out the bottom at 62.5 wins.
Playing the Astros 19 times last season was supposed to boost the Mariners win-loss record. Instead they went 10-9 and showed how far they were from being a real threat to the Rangers, A’s and Angels.
Speaking at the pre-spring training luncheon in late January, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik tried to temper expectations for 2014.
“We all want to win a World Series. That would be your goal, no question about it… but 29 other general managers would also say that. What I hope happens is we see really good growth. We see these players maximizing their talent. That’s all you can do.
“You could say this is what we want to do and then you get three guys hurt and it changes. We need to grow, have this team gel, have Lloyd and his staff wrap their arms around them and have each guy be the best player they can be. Play as a team. Let’s see how that concept works for us and let the pieces fall where they may.”
Zduriencik said the Mariners will fear no team.
“We’ve got some good teams in our division, but so what? If we play well, we can play with anybody.”
Will a new attitude be enough to win 11 more games? Is another 90-loss season inevitable? Vote.
[polldaddy poll=7833279]
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2180076 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2180076">5 Comments
There’ a chance, admittedly a slight chance, that the M’s could finish 3rd. The Rangers improved immensely. The A’s are solid. But the Angels lost pitching with Jerome Williams and Jason Vargas and both Albert Pulols and Josh Hamilton have been huge disappointments. Seems like Pujols is the new Kevin Mitchell in that he can’t seem to adjust to hitting in the AL and right now Hamilton is hurt again. This is a team on decline based on their five year record so if the M’s can stay on track they could sneak into 3rd. It would help if they got a #3 starter and another bat though.
Until Lincoln’s gone they will be @ or below .500.
The amount of $$$$ he has cost this team in lost ticket, parking and concession revenue is huge. If not for the TV and radio $$$ the M’s would be financially miserable.
Remarkable how a person keeps their job in light of the lost revenues this organization has
endured.
LONG past time for all of this management to go away and for the owners to bring on a new regime: NOTE: Look no further than across the street for what Allen has had the guts to do.
Of course, Nintendo will never get rid of this group so we are in for yet another year of tuning out this misery and looking forward to OTA’s.
And Vegas also had the Broncos favored.
Only 7/1 odds to win the AL West. Wow, Vegas gives us too much credit.
Hey Vegas! Step away from the crack pipe!