World Series odds

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by oracle80

The Yankees will have a rotation of Mussina, Wang, Johnson, and Wright. There bullpen has really come around as of late and the hitting is incredible.
They also will have a luxury this year that they havent ha in recent years, and thats rest in September. The last few years way too much energy was used trying to get a division title and they had little starch left for the playoffs. This year they can chill in September and be healthy and ready and rested. Yanks will win this thing.

But at 5/2 would you bet it?

I have high hopes for the Yanks this year but the pitching is just too inconsistent. You know going in that you are going to get quality starts from Mussina and Wang. How a guy can go 14-5, play in New York and still be underrated is bizarre. Johnson and Wright are freak shows and you never know what to expect from those two guys. The bridge from starter to MO isnt what it use to be. Going against the deeper rotations presents a serious problem in my opinion.

Hittingwise, this could be the best lineup i have ever seen. I cant think of one better. They can small ball and they can mash.

The defense is the X factor. Against the NL, if they decide to go Defense, Giambi's bat becomes a big loss. If they leave him in, the Yanks get way suspect at the corners with Arod having a strange year.

I am not of the mindset that they CANT win. Too much talent. But at 5/2? Just a bad bet in my opinion.

Originally Posted by dalakhani

But at 5/2 would you bet it?

I have high hopes for the Yanks this year but the pitching is just too inconsistent. You know going in that you are going to get quality starts from Mussina and Wang. How a guy can go 14-5, play in New York and still be underrated is bizarre. Johnson and Wright are freak shows and you never know what to expect from those two guys. The bridge from starter to MO isnt what it use to be. Going against the deeper rotations presents a serious problem in my opinion.

Hittingwise, this could be the best lineup i have ever seen. I cant think of one better. They can small ball and they can mash.

The defense is the X factor. Against the NL, if they decide to go Defense, Giambi's bat becomes a big loss. If they leave him in, the Yanks get way suspect at the corners with Arod having a strange year.

I am not of the mindset that they CANT win. Too much talent. But at 5/2? Just a bad bet in my opinion.

Have you looked at the 3rd and 4th men in the rotations of oak, Chisox, twins, and Tigers? Are you kidding me? All game threes and game fours in the Al playoffs will be football games. 14-10, 13-10, 14-13, etc. All the 3 and 4 guys stink. Therefore it comes down to who hits better, and who has the best 9th inning guy. Yanks have all those teams beat in those departments by a mile. Yanks go to the Series and then take batting practice against those sorry NL pitchers.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Have you looked at the 3rd and 4th men in the rotations of oak, Chisox, twins, and Tigers? Are you kidding me? All game threes and game fours in the Al playoffs will be football games. 14-10, 13-10, 14-13, etc. All the 3 and 4 guys stink. Therefore it comes down to who hits better, and who has the best 9th inning guy. Yanks have all those teams beat in those departments by a mile. Yanks go to the Series and then take batting practice against those sorry NL pitchers.

You are nuts to think the Yanks are going to make it to the World Series. You have to remember that the first round is best out of 5. A team could throw their number 1 in game one. Their number two in game 2. Their number 3 in game 4 and then come back with their number 1 in game 4 is so desired. Then you get into the Division Series which is a best of 7 and you would only have to throw your number 3 once and possibly never throw your number 4.

I like Minnesota if they make the playoffs. They are 3rd in the American League in team era. Their staff also doesnt walk people. They have only given up 275 walks all year. And they are 2nd in the AL in striking people out. 929 strikeouts v 275 walks--I will take that anyday of the week. They also have the highest team avg in the AL. Good pitching with good hitting is deadly.

[gales0678]

As a baseball fan - and I yankee fan i have a built in bias-

but

I will say i have a decent opinion on day to day to games. As the playoffs start i will give out some writeups on who i think will win and why.

As for the futures odds that are out there now - I think for those who like Oak and Det or the White Sox you have fair prices - the Yankees will always never have good odds to take -

Therefore a good play right now , just based on the odds would be to take the team from Flushing at 7/2. They have a much easier road to the world series than the Yanks. I think if you locked in the Mets now at 7/2 or 3.5/1 you would be in good shape and would be able to hedge the AL team in the WS and guarantee yourself a profit. I think if it was yanks vs mets , the yanks would be favorites , but not HUGE favorites say -130 vs +110. In this scenario you could guarantee yourself a profit. Now if the Yanks don't make it , I feel the mets would be slight fav's or even against other AL teams and then you could make a lot of $$$ either way. The key is for the Mets to make the WS out of a weak NL.

good luck - ytd 27-17

[slotdirt]

I'm a lifelong Tigers fan, and assuming the impending collapse doesn't actually happen in the last 30 or so games....

How can you not love their rotation? Who has a better third starter in the playoffs than Jeremy Bonderman? I'm serious about that. Their bullpen is absolutely the best in baseball right now. In fact, I'd say their pitching in general has been the best in baseball throughout the season. And it's not like they have a bunch of chumps swinging the sticks either.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

I think the Yanks (when compared to other probable playoff teams) have mediocre starting pitching,and poor middle relief.They have the best hitters in baseball(best that $ can buy.) I just don't think it will get them all the way.One only needs to use the same plan as the Halos use to beat them:hit the mediocre Yankee pitching,and bend(don't break) with your own pitching staff.In my opinion,you have 1 1/2 good post season pitchers.You have Mussina,and Johnson.I think you have an excellent chance to win the games you start Mussina in,and have a 50% chance to get the excellent start from Johnson that you need.I don't trust the Wang Wormkilla(again,the Halos had no trouble hitting that one,)and sure as hell don't think Wright is a quality post season starter.The Halos got to him early on Saturday.I can guarantee you that the opportunistic A's,Twinks etc. would,and he would give up a 7 spot to the Mets with that stuff he has early in games.Not only that,but your middle relief is going to get hit very hard if you are wrong(and your starters struggle.)This big hit mediocre pitch team works well enough in the regular season(against like teams,)but I don't think it will work against staffs that are hot like CHICAGO WAS LAST YEAR .I very much think Oracle is wrong about the 3rd and 4th starters for the A's.Man don't I wish that was true.It simply isn't.Blanton is red hot.Loaiza(who I counted on being able to gain games off of) has been dominant since August 2nd.If you can get to Haren early,you have a chance,but after the 1st 2 innings,you are not going to get anything from this guy.Zito has been their worst starter in the last month,and he almost threw a no-hitter against Texas on Friday Night.Of the 4,I think he is the most likely to be off his game in the post.The other 3 are very consistent right now.So,I have no idea wtf he is writing about with the 3rd and 4th starter.Please tell me.Pick me up.I would love it to be true(it isn't.) I watch them all the time.Their starter went down,and it has made exactly zero...NADA...difference.That is their main knock(their closer has a groin problem.)People think they have a bad offense.I wish that was true.There are a lot of ideas people have about that team,and they are falsely based on past years teams,or the injured 1st half team.I think the last time they lost a series was in July.If you go back,you will probably see that Loaiza was one of those lossing pitchers.Wouldn't happen right now.I only wish Loaiza was pitching the way he was in July.Unfortunately he isn't.

[slotdirt]

I love paragraphs.