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October 5th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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The MLB postseason is finally here! Here at Cappers Info, we have all of the ins and outs that you need to know before making your picks in the four series that begin on Wednesday. Use this as a reference not only for betting games in this series, but for futures World Series bets as well.

MLB Playoff Pick #1: Atlanta Braves (+160 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. San Francisco Giants: There's just something we like about the Braves right now. A feel good story always seems to rule the day, at least early in the playoffs. Case in point… Remember the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and the Colorado Rockies in 2007? These were teams that really sort of snuck up on everyone to make the playoffs, and when they finally got there, they did a ton of damage. Neither one won the World Series, but both did at least get there. Tim Hudson has been pitching out of his mind right now, and though the Braves don't have a bullpen full of names, if the rest of the starters can just stick with the powerful arms for the Giants, the pen can do its job. Remember the name Brian McCann. With Chipper Jones out of the lineup, it will be up to McCann, who led the team in homers with 21, to try to lead the way. Atlanta has a real chance to steal one of these first two at home, especially with its two aces on the mound, and if that happens, San Fran must watch out. The Braves had the best home record in baseball with 56 wins.

MLB Playoff Pick #2: Philadelphia Phillies (-300 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Cincinnati Reds : We know that absolutely anything can happen in the playoffs, but it's been over two months since any of the four big starters, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Joe Blanton have been beaten at home by any team in baseball. We don't really love Cincinnati's odds, particularly in the first two games in the City of Brotherly Love. We admire the grittiness of this team, but when push comes to shove, Cincinnati is the one team that really doesn't look like it belongs in the playoffs, as it took out a lousy division and really doesn't have the pitching rotation to keep up with any of the eight teams, let alone that of perhaps the best staff in the game. Unless Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson implode, this series shouldn't be all that difficult. The Phillies are the one team that really sprinted to the finish line this year, and if that momentum keeps going, this could be a very, very short series.

MLB Playoff Pick #3: Texas Rangers (+150 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Tampa Bay Rays : Be careful what you wish for, Tampa Bay! The Rays worked hard to get home field advantage throughout the American League playoffs, and they got just that, but now, they're probably going to have to figure out how to beat Cliff Lee at least once, if not twice, in order to get to the ALCS for the second time in team history. We don't love Tampa Bay's odds. Not only was Lee absolutely on fire in the postseason last year, but in Game 2, James Shields leaves us with no confidence, as he was one of the worst money pitchers amongst the teams in the playoffs and has been pitching horribly down the stretch. To top it off, there will be absolutely no home field advantage in Tampa Bay, as we know that the fans aren't showing up for the first two games of this series in the middle of the week and the middle of the afternoon. This is a very dangerous spot for the team with the best record in the AL, and we are here to exploit that.

MLB Playoff Pick #4: Minnesota Twins (+150 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. New York Yankees: These two teams might be a heck of a lot more evenly matched than the oddsmakers are letting in on. The Bronx Bombers might have a nightmarish lineup to try to face, but beyond CC Sabathia, is there really a pitcher in this rotation that you're ready to back up the truck on and back in MLB betting action? There certainly isn't from our standpoint. If this becomes a bullpen series, we love Minnesota's chances even though the Yanks have arguably the best closer ever both in terms of regular season and postseason accomplishments in Mariano Rivera on their side. Matt Capps, Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares, and Brian Fuentes are all absolutely studs out of the pen, and Rod Gardenhire knows how to use them. Justin Morneau won't be available at all during this series with his post concussion complications, but who cares? Even without one of the best hitters in baseball, the Twins have been on a roll. That should continue with a great series victory over the defending champs.

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July 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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On Tuesday night, the All-Stars of both the American League and National League duke it out in 2010 MLB All-Star betting festivities.

2010 MLB All-Star Game
Tuesday, July 13th
8:05 ET, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

National League Notes: The roster that manager Charlie Manuel has to work with is chock full of great pitchers. After most likely using Colorado Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, men like St. Louis Cardinals RHPs Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, Florida Marlins RHP Josh Johnson, and Philadelphia Phillies RHP Roy Halladay will all be available. Late in games, both Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton and San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell are available, while arguably the best setup man in the game right now, Cincinnati Reds LHP Arthur Rhodes will also most likely be called upon. Offensively, there are certainly a slew of guys capable of mashing the ball available on the roster. Just at first base alone, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, and Joey Votto are available, while Ryan Howard will be starting the game as the designated hitter. There isn't a ton of speed on the team, but adding both Milwaukee Brewers bash brothers, Ryan Braun and Corey Hart to the starting nine could be huge as well for the NL. The only player from the NL West aside from Jimenez that will be starting for the National League is Los Angeles Dodgers OF Andre Ethier. Ethier is going to have to shift to center field to accommodate the significantly slower Braun and Hart in the outfield, and if the NL isn't careful, defense could become a massive problem. There really aren't any fantastic fielders on this team in the outfield. There is also a significant shortage of left-handed arms in the bullpen, and against a lefty-stacked AL lineup, that could be a major issue as well.

American League Notes: The AL doesn't quite have the pitching staff of the National League, but it does have a solid core from top to bottom. LHP David Price will become the first pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays to start the All-Star Game on the hill. He will also be the youngest man to toe the rubber for the first pitch of the game since Doc Gooden, who is the only man younger than Price to ever start an All-Star Game. A slew of southpaws are going to be available for manager Joe Girardi, as Fausto Carmona, Andy Pettitte, Jon Lester, and Cliff Lee are all available. The bullpen also has some major relief arms as well to turn to, especially those of Andrew Bailey and Trevor Cahill. Closers are in full force for the American League All-Stars to boot, as Girardi can call upon Kansas City Royals closer Joakim Soria, Tampa Bay Rays closer Rafael Soriano, or Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde to shut the door if need be. Offensively, the perfect mix of speed, power, and average are in the starting lineup. OF Ichiro Suzuki, SS Derek Jeter, and OF Carl Crawford all have the ability to get moving on the bases in a hurry, while sluggers like DH Vladimir Guerrero, Evan Longoria, and Miguel Cabrera are all major home run threats. With big bats like 1B Paul Konerko, OF Nick Swisher, and DH David Ortiz waiting in the dugout to get their hacks at the plate, Girardi certainly has a ton of ammo at his disposal.

The Final Word: The National League hasn't won this game since 1996, and this doesn't appear to be the year that anything is going to change. All of the arms that the NL team has to offer are nice, but when the lefty firepower of the AL comes to bat, are there really going to be any answers? We tend to believe not. When push comes to shove, it'll be the American League sewing up home field advantage for the winners of their league once again with a comfortable victory over the NL All-Stars.

Prediction: American League -120

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April 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

After a long offseason of waiting, the New York Yankees will make their first appearance as World Series champions on Sunday night at Fenway Park, where they will take on their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox -120 at Diamond Sportsbook (Take Advantage of Our 100% Free Play Bonus by clicking This Link)

New York Pitcher: LHP CC Sabathia will be back for his second season in pinstripes. He arguably was good enough to win the AL Cy Young Award last season, and if not for the fact that he was roughed up in his final start against Tampa Bay, he would've won 20 games and probably won the honors. Sabathia finished 2009 at 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA. However, he's only 5-5 all-time against the Red Sox, though he does have a respectable 3.29 ERA against them.

Boston Pitcher: The Sox will counter by sending RHP Josh Beckett to the bump. Beckett pitched like a Cy Young candidate during the first half of last season, going 11-3 with a 3.35 ERA before the All-Star Break, but he settled down and went just 6-3 with a 4.53 ERA in the second half. Even though the former Florida Marlin is a solid 9-5 against the Bronx Bombers, he'd probably rather forget that he ever has to face them. Beckett has a lofty 5.33 ERA against the Yanks and allowed eight runs in as many innings of work against them in his last outing against them on August 23rd of last year.

Handicapping Notes: Both of these offenses can mash without a doubt, as New York topped the majors in run production last year at 5.65 runs per game, while Boston was third with 5.38 runs per game. The Red Sox are going to have a few new faces in the fold this year, as 3B Adrian Beltre, SS Marco Scutaro, and CF Mike Cameron are all new additions to the lineup. The Yanks, as always, found ways to try to improve their team in spite of the fact that they lost DH Hideki Matsui, LF Johnny Damon, and CF Melky Cabrera following their World Series run. In their spots are DH Nick Johnson and OF Curtis Granderson. LF Brett Gardner will probably start the year in left field as a part of a platoon.

Series Notes: Last year, this was a bloody rivalry that looked like it was going to be one-way traffic for the entire season. The Sox won the first eight meetings between these arch rivals, only to ultimately lose nine of the final ten over the course of the year to ultimately split the season series right down the middle at nine games apiece.

The Final Word: The Red Sox might be 7-3 against New York in Beckett's L/10 starts, but the one time that Beckett matched up with Sabathia, it was CC that got the job done for the men in pinstripes. It's not often that you see the Yankees as underdogs, particularly with Sabathia on the bump, and while you have that opportunity, you just can't pass it up. In fact, the only time last year that the ace of this staff was a pup was, you guessed it, in Boston against Beckett and the Red Sox.

Prediction: New York Yankees +100 at Diamond

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March 29th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans in the NL West as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

Check Out all of our World Series odds at the bottom of this post

1: Does Tim Lincecum have another Cy Young type of year in him? Over the L/2 seasons, Lincecum has gone 33-12 and has posted an ERA of right around 2.50. He's also struck out 526 batters in that stretch. However, many question his mechanics and think that he is setting himself up for a major arm and/or shoulder injury. It seems like there isn't anywhere to go but down for the 25 year old, but it could be awhile before that happens.

2: Where will 1B Adrian Gonzalez be at season's end? It doesn't seem like the answer to that question is San Diego. The Padres best hitter blasted 40 homers last season, but he's clearly unhappy in his current digs. San Diego is almost certainly going to be selling at the trade deadline, and Gonzalez is its best commodity.

3: Brandon Webb: Super stud in the making or banged up has been? The answer to this tough question is probably going to be the one that decides Arizona's season. Webb threw on Opening Day last year, but left with a shoulder injury after just four innings that ended his season. What the former ace of this staff has going for him is that he was never a power pitcher, so he may be able to recover and become solid again, but any time you recover from shoulder surgery as a pitcher, there's a big question about your return.

4: Can Jim Tracy keep the Rockies going like he did last season? The Rockies rewarded their interim manager by giving him a big contract in the offseason to lead the team into the future, but he's got a lousy history as a manager and might not be a great fit for the long run. He'll have to push the right buttons this year to make up for the fact that Colorado is arguably playing in the toughest division in the majors.

5: Is Vicente Padilla a legitimate ace? Padilla is going to get the ball on Opening Day from Manager Joe Torre, but that doesn't mean that he truly needs to be the ace of the squad. With SPs Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Hiroki Kuroda starting off the season in the rotation, all that Padilla is going to be asked to do is put up solid numbers and be a legitimate top starter, but not necessarily a true shutdown ace.

6: Are the kids for the Diamondbacks ready to really light the world on fire? If you just look at the stats that OF Justin Upton and 3B Mark Reynolds put up last season, you'd think that the world is already ablaze. Upton blasted 26 homers and drove in 86 runs, leading the team in batting at .300. Reynolds hit 44 dongs and stole 24 bases, and he's expected to show that he has that legitimate 30/30 type of talent yet again in 2010. Anything less than 70 combined homers, 200 combined RBIs, and 60 combined steals for these two this year would be a disappointment.

7: Do the Rockies have a pitcher that can take over as a true #1? SP Ubaldo Jimenez seems to the best candidate for the Rocks, as he led the squad in wins (15), ERA (3.47), and strikeouts (198) in '09, but a 1.23 WHIP and only one complete game really don't feel like figures for a real ace. Now that SP Jason Marquis has moved on to Colorado, Jimenez may not have a solid #2 behind him in the rotation, so there's going to be more put on his shoulders to win 17-18 games this year and improve his quality start rate.

8: Is there a batter on the Giants that can be a force in the middle of the lineup? Save 3B Pablo Sandoval (.330, 25 HRs, 90 RBIs), no one else in this lineup did anything of any real note in 2009. There weren't many free agent acquisitions either, as 1B Aubrey Huff isn't going to frighten the solid pitchers in this division. The G-Men ranked 26th in the bigs in run production at 4.06 runs per game, and it doesn't look like there's any hope of doing much better than that in 2010.

9: Will Manny be Manny in 2010? Manny's mouth has already wagged this year, as he said that this will be his last season in Dodgertown. He only hit 19 homers last year in 104 games and had that 50 game ban for his illegal substance usage, but the truth of the matter is that this 38-year old probably doesn't have that much left in the tank. He's going to be expected to be a dominant cleanup hitter again for LA, but don't be surprised if he's not.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the NL West when the season is said and done? This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of most importance. This could be the most competitive division in baseball this year, particularly if the Diamondbacks really come through and play like the team that was picked to go to the playoffs last year. The Dodgers and Rockies really look like the same type of team, and it's hard not to give the nod to one of the greatest managers in baseball history. Don't be surprised if there are four teams fighting for two playoff spots when it's said and done… Dodgers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Giants, Padres

 

Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/29/10)
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Los Angeles Dodgers +200
Colorado Rockies +220
San Francisco Giants +220
Arizona Diamondbacks +450
San Diego Padres +4000

2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 3/29/10)
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Los Angeles Dodgers +175
Colorado Rockies +245
San Francisco Giants +250
Arizona Diamondbacks +260
San Diego Padres +3000

Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 3/29/10)
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Los Angeles Dodgers +190
Colorado Rockies +245
San Francisco Giants +400
Arizona Diamondbacks +425
San Diego Padres +2500

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March 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans in the NL West as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

Check Out all of our World Series odds at the bottom of this post

1: Can the #1 and #1A for the Cardinals continue to pitch like Cy Young candidates? Manager Tony LaRussa had better hope so. SPs Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright combined to win 36 games last year, and each had sub-2.75 ERAs. Now that fellow SP Joel Pineiro has departed, there really isn't a ton of depth in the St. Louis rotation, so Carpenter and Wainwright are once again going to have to carry the load to take some pressure off of a suspect bullpen.

2: Is OF Alfonso Soriano finished? The former New York Yankees phenom only batted .241 last year with just 46 extra base hits, 20 of which were home runs. However, 118 strike outs in 117 games played just isn't going to cut it, and neither will a .303 OBP. For a player that is as much of a liability on defense as Soriano is, he had better be a legitimate 30/30 prospect every single year, or the boys from the Windy City may have to consider making a move.

3: How many home runs will 1B Prince Fielder and OF Ryan Braun hit this year? 80? 90? Heck, 100? The only thing that is going to stop these two from blasting at least as many as the 78 home runs is the fact that there just isn't any protection in this lineup for them unless one of these youngsters that they're throwing in the field is going to step up and pick up some of the slack. Still, pitching to these two is always lethal, and considering the fact that both are still very, very young, they're both only getting better from here.

4: Is there any hope for the Pirates this year to break their dastardly streak of losing seasons? In a word, no. If you want a great quiz in a bar (even in Pittsburgh), ask any so called sports fan to name the five starting pitchers for the Pirates. Beyond Zach Duke, you may not hear any other names if you surveyed an entire sports bar. Save 2B Akinori Iwamura, there really isn't much experience in the field, and now that both middle infielders Jack Wilson and Freddie Wilson have been traded, there isn't much to get excited about any more in Steel Town.

5: Aroldis Chapman: The real deal or a real bust? The only thing that this fire balling southpaw has going against him is that Dusty Baker is the man that is going to be taking care of his arm. Chapman's talent level is clearly off the charts, as he can throw the ball at least 102 MPH on a relatively regular basis. However, with Baker's history of ruining the careers of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the Cuban defect has to be concerned.

6: Is the Matt Holliday/Albert Pujols combination the best in baseball? There's an argument that Braun and Fielder is a better combo, there may not be better in all of the MLB than what the big bats in St. Louis are going to accomplish. Unlike in Milwaukee, there is a ton of protection floating around in the Cards' lineup, which could lead for some mega, mega numbers for Pujols (.327, 47 HRs, 135 RBIs) and Holliday (.353, 13 HRs, 55 RBIs in 63 games with St. Louis).

7: Can Lou Pinella figure out his bullpen issues? Chicago ranked just 20th in baseball in the bullpen last year, and a lot of that was because RPs Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol never really got things going. Gregg (4.72 ERA, 23/30 save chances) is now departed, which leaves Marmol (3.41 ERA, 15/19 save chances) as the one true closer option. He'll have to keep it together to pick up the slack for a rotation that is effective, but doesn't eat a ton of innings.

8: Does the ageless Trevor Hoffman have another full season under his belt? Why not? Hoffman doesn't throw the ball 100 MPH anymore, but he went 37 for 41 last year in save chances and had a 1.83 ERA. The future Hall of Famer is really the only solid option for nailing down games for Manager Ken Macha, and for as cut and paste as the rest of this pitching staff from #1 to #11 is, Hoffman is going to have to be the consistent, calming influence in the bunch.

9: Is this the year that the Reds finally break the .500 mark? It had better be, or Manager Dusty Baker is going to find himself without a job. The addition of SS Orlando Cabrera was a quiet signing in the offseason, but he's the type of consistent ball player that can solidify a lineup that already features three sluggers in 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips, and RF Jay Bruce. Cincinnati definitely has the ability to compete in this division in '10.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the NL Central when the season is said and done? This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of most importance. Are there are teams in this division that really have the horses to win the World Series? Probably not. However, there are a ton of teams that can win 80+ games in this division, which should make the race for the pennant incredibly interest… Cardinals, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, Astros, Pirates

Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/15/10)
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St. Louis Cardinals -190
Chicago Cubs +350
Cincinnati Reds +700
Milwaukee Brewers +800
Houston Astros +2000
Pittsburgh Pirates +10000
 
2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 3/15/10)
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St. Louis Cardinals -160
Chicago Cubs +300
Cincinnati Reds +700
Milwaukee Brewers +900
Houston Astros +1800
Pittsburgh Pirates +5000
 
Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 3/15/10)
(Get Your 50% Signup Bonus at 5Dimes, Must Use This Link)
St. Louis Cardinals -175
Chicago Cubs +330
Cincinnati Reds +700
Milwaukee Brewers +750
Houston Astros +2500
Pittsburgh Pirates +9000

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March 15th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans in the NL East as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

Check Out all of our World Series odds at the bottom of this post

1: Is OF Jason Heyward the real deal for the Braves? Jason Heyward may only be 20 years old, but he already has all of the hype in the world surrounding him. Manager Bobby Cox thinks this is a five-tool player that can make the difference between the Braves making the playoffs and missing them. 3B Chipper Jones, the elder statesman of the team, is pushing for Heyward to start the season in the Opening Day lineup.

2: Are the Phillies really better off now than they were at the end of last season? We're referring to the acquisition of SP Roy Halladay from Toronto which send SP Cliff Lee and a host of others to Seattle. There are a lot of prospects that went away in that deal for the Phils, and even though Halladay is arguably the best right-handed pitcher in the last decade in baseball, he can't possibly give them more than what Lee did down the stretch and in the playoffs.

3: If the Mets can stay healthy, can they compete? New York is a very interesting situation. Last year, this was a team that was amongst the favorites to the win the NL East. Largely, it's the exact same team from last year at this time. CF Carlos Beltran and SS Jose Reyes are already battling injuries, and both may miss the start of the season, but if SP Johan Santana can continue to be a dominant ace and the lineup holds together, it's possible to think that this team could make it to the playoffs.

4: Were the Fish wise to re-up SP Josh Johnson for a long term deal? Is there a more emphatic way to say "Heck yes!" Johnson chucked 209.0 innings last season and went 15-5 with a team-best 3.23 ERA. Injuries are the only real issue for the big righty, but if the Marlins can keep him off of the DL, he's good for at least 15 wins every single season at the top of the rotation.

5: Tommy Hanson: The real deal, or a real sophomore slump? The real deal. In 21 starts last year, Hanson showed absolutely no signs of slowing down. He ultimately finished up 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and a miniscule 1.18 WHIP. Opposing batters also only hit .225 against him. The 23-year old righty struck out 116 men in 127.2 IPs last season, giving him a K/9 that anyone would be proud of (8.18). You just can't teach someone how to throw a 97 MPH fastball, and Hanson has that ability. As long as he's got that giddy-up in his arm, he's going to be a force in the Atlanta rotation.

6: Should SP Stephen Strasburg start on Opening Day for the Nats? The little that we've seen out of Strasburg this Spring has been fantastic, but it's hard to see how Washington is going to let him start this season in the majors. Though he had some extra starts under his belt at San Diego State in relation to some of these arms that just came out of high school, he's still going to need at least a little bit of time to adjust to the professional game. By the end of the year, the fans in DC will get to see their stud.

7: Will the Marlins see the Ricky Nolasco of the first half or the second half of last season? Nolasco was optioned to the minors after dropping to 2-5 with a 9.07 ERA on May 22nd. From that point on though, the Marlins' #2 pitcher was lights out, allowing three runs or less in 17 of his 21 outings. There were a few duds in there, but after watching him give up zero earned runs and strike out 16 Braves in his final start of the season, the sky is the limit for Nolasco.

8: Can the Braves generate some more excitement with their offense this year? If Atlanta had a shred of offense last year, it would've been in significantly better shape. The team ranked 17th in the majors at 4.54 runs per game, and that was largely thanks to the fact that the Braves couldn't blast any homers (149, 22nd) or steal any bases (58, 29th). Not only should the aforementioned Heyward help that out, but having OF Nate McLouth for an entire season will help as well.

9: Are there any signs of decay coming for the Phillies' hitters? Probably not. 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, OF Raul Ibanez, and OF Jason Werth all knocked 30+ homers last year for the Phils, while OF Shane Victorino batted a solid .292 and had ten dongs of his own. The only man that really had an off year in '09 was SS Jimmy Rollins. Don't expect J-Roll to bat just .250 again this year, which could make the two-time defending NL champs all the more dangerous.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the NL East when the season is said and done… This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of most importance. This is an incredibly deep division, and it's also one with a ton of upside for the future as well. The standings should ultimately look a lot like they did last season, though Atlanta may challenge for a playoff spot for longer this year than it did last season. Philadelphia, Atlanta, Florida, New York, Washington.

Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/15/10)
(Click Here for a Huge 100% Signup Bonus at BetUS Sportsbook)
Philadelphia Phillies +600
Atlanta Braves +2200
New York Mets +2400
Florida Marlins +2500
Washington Nationals +10000
 
2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 3/15/10)
(Exclusive 100% Signup Bonus at Diamond Sportsbook, Using This Link)
 Philadelphia Phillies +600
New York Mets +1800
Atlanta Braves +2200
Florida Marlins +4000
Washington Nationals +8000
 
Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 3/15/10)
(Get Your 50% Signup Bonus at 5Dimes, Must Use This Link)
Philadelphia Phillies +600
Atlanta Braves +2200
New York Mets +2500
Florida Marlins +3000
Washington Nationals +19000

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March 7th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans in the AL West as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

Check Out all of our World Series odds at the bottom of this post

1: Will Cliff Lee be able to work his magic back in the American League? The biggest splash of the offseason came when the Mariners swung a three-way deal with Toronto and Philadelphia and ultimately landed LHP Cliff Lee in the exchange. Lee was only a .500 pitcher during the regular season, but he lit the world on fire in the playoffs. Now that he's back in the AL though, things could be considerably different. He won't be asked to be an ace though, as RHP Felix Hernandez already has that role in Seattle already locked down.

2: Can someone step up for the Halos and take command as the ace of the staff? The biggest question here is who has the ability to do it? RHP Jered Weaver and LHP Joe Saunders both won 16 games last year, but the leader of this staff was RHP John Lackey. Now, Lackey is playing in Beantown, which could leave a gaping hole in this rotation. If Weaver can't prove to be an ace in every sense of the word, Manager Mike Scioscia is going to be begging his front office to make a move to keep pace in this division.

3: Will CF Josh Hamilton returning to his slugging form in 2010? It's hard to realize that Texas won 87 games last year in spite of the fact that its best slugger only popped ten home runs for the entire season. Still, the Rangers blasted the third most home runs in the MLB last year, and getting some more power from the middle of their lineup will only help boost the cause in 2010. You'd better believe that Hamilton is ready to turn back into a 30+ home run hitter in the launching pad in Arlington.

4: What was GM Billy Beane doing when he signed RHP Ben Sheets to a $10M deal? Ultimately, this risk isn't as big as everyone has made it out to be. If Sheets ultimately fails to produce off of his surgery-filled 2009, the A's are going to be out $10 million in a year in which they probably weren't competing for a playoff spot anyway. If Sheets does get off to a good start though, Beane has either found himself an ace to keep for the duration of the year, or is could just be used as another pawn to bring some more prospects to Oakland.

5: Chone Figgins: Is he the difference-maker to either Seattle? Putting Figgins up right beyond RF Ichiro Suzuki in the lineup really just doesn't seem fair. Now, we're talking about two guys who make a ton of contact and put balls in play, can hit for power, and can run like the wind. For a team that hovered under four runs per game for a good chunk of the season and finished at just 3.95 runs per game, expect to see plenty of games led off by Ichiro with a single, a steal of second, and Figgins either pushing him to third with a sacrifice or knocking him home with another single.

6: What about the Angels? What does losing Figgins do to them? Anaheim now has a huge hole in the left side of its infield that could've been filled by Matt Sweeney this year, but he was traded to Tampa Bay in the Scott Kazmir deal of last season. Now, Macier Izturis is going to have to take over at the hot corner, which will take away an option off of Scoscia's bench as well. If there are any injuries in this infield, there just isn't enough depth to take the Halos afloat.

7: Does Scott Feldman have another great season in him? After winning just seven games in his previous four seasons in the majors, Feldman finally stepped up and had the year of his life in 2009, going 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA to lead the Rangers. Now that RHP Kevin Millwood has left for Baltimore, that will heap even more pressure on the 27-year old to perform as the undisputed ace and leader of this pitching staff.

8: Will DH Vladimir Guerrero provide Texas will some bulk in the heart of the order? Last season, the Rangers took a chance on the thought-to-be washed up Andruw Jones, who turned around and blasted 17 homers. It's pretty clear that Vladdy can't play in the field much anymore, but he still has one of the most powerful swings in baseball, and he'll still be an incredibly tough out. Look for Guerrero to provide a great level of protection for guys like 3B Michael Young and RF Nelson Cruz.

9: Can CF Ken Griffey Jr. be the calming influence necessary to keep OF Milton Bradley in check? Seattle had better hope so, or Bradley may tear apart this entire locker room just like he did in Chicago. There just had to be some better options out there for the Mariners in the outfield, but hopefully for the Mariners' sake, Bradley can focus in more on improving his lousy .257 batting average from last season instead of trying to avoid being a clubhouse cancer with Griffey standing by his side.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the AL West when the season is said and done… This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of most importance. As we discussed last week, if Nolan Ryan's edict comes true, the Rangers are going to be the team to beat in a very competitive division. There are just too many flaws on both Seattle and Anaheim for this to pan out properly for either squad… Rangers, Mariners, Angels, Athletics.

 

Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/8/10)
(Click Here for a Huge 100% Signup Bonus at BetUS Sportsbook)

 

Seattle Mariners +1400
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim +1600
Texas Rangers +2000
Oakland Athletics +6500
 
2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 3/8/10)
(Exclusive 100% Signup Bonus at Diamond Sportsbook, Using This Link)
 
 
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim +1800
Texas Rangers +2200
Seattle Mariners +3000
Oakland Athletics +7000
 
Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 3/8/10)
(Get Your 50% Signup Bonus at 5Dimes, Must Use This Link)

 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim +1700
Texas Rangers +2500
Seattle Mariners +2600
Oakland Athletics +8000

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March 4th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

 When you've got eight All-Star appearances, four of which you were the starting pitcher, had a season where you had a 1.69 ERA, the best hits per nine innings ratio in baseball history at 6.555, the fourth best K/9 in baseball history at 9.548, the second most starts in the modern era, the fifth most innings pitched in the modern era (5,386), 222 career complete games, 61 career shutouts, and you struck out just  a few batters in your time (like 5,714 of them), people tend to listen when you talk.

But when you say your team is going to win 92 games and take down the division when that squad hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999 and has only won one postseason game in franchise history, people may think you're a little bit wacky.

I, on the other hand, am not one to ever disagree with the great, Nolan Ryan.

Ryan told the media on Wednesday that he would be "disappointed" if the Texas Rangers didn't knock off the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Oakland Athletics to win the AL West this year.

"A lot of people won't agree with me," Ryan said. "… But I also think that we have a balanced ballclub, and I think our club is coming together in a way that I think they're ready to make that move."

On one hand, it doesn't seem so unrealistic to think that the Rangers could improve by just five wins from last season's fantastic total of 87. If you're looking at it on paper though, things may not look so easy.

Just look at what's around them. Texas is mired in a division where all four teams have a season win total projection of at least 79.5 by the oddsmakers at BetUS Sportsbook. The Mariners clearly made the splash of the offseason in this division when they picked up LHP Cliff Lee from the Phillies in a three-way deal that included Toronto's RHP Roy Halladay going to the City of Brotherly Love. No one expects the Halos to be as good as they have been in recent years, but they're still a team managed by Mike Scioscia, thus should never be counted out.

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Save OF Josh Hamilton, no one really underachieved expectations last year. Sure, the 2008 Home Run Derby star will probably hit more than ten homers this year, but can SS Michael Young be counted on to bat .322? Will CF Marlon Byrd's replacement duplicate his .283 average and 20 home run output? Will RHP Scott Feldman be able to win 17 games again? Will someone be able to produce like RHP Kevin Millwood has in years' past?

These are all fantastic questions that beg to be answered for Texas. However, I'll pose some oppose questions that are equally important…

Will 2B Ian Kinsler, a man that has had a lifetime .279 hitter really only bat .253 again this year? Will RHP Rich Harden be able to step into the rotation and pitch like the man who had a 1.77 ERA in the second half of the season with the Cubs in 2008 as opposed to the one that had a 4.09 ERA last year? Why can't DH Vladimir Guerrero return to his '08 form in which he knocked 27 homers and drove in 91 RBIs in '08? Who's stopping a bullpen which had almost every one of its members post a sub-4.00 ERA last year?

Last season, the Rangers kept the pressure on both the Red Sox for the AL Wild Card and the Angels for the AL West crown in spite of the fact that it only had the 10th best offense (4.84 runs per game) and the 18th ranked pitching staff (4.38 ERA) in baseball. Things not only can get better, but they will get better for a team that lost six of its L/8 games on the season.

The recipe is absolutely right for success in the Lone Star State… If for no other reason, would you like to be the batter that has to stand in the box as an angry Ryan is whistling a 98 MPH fastball at your head or be on the wrong side of a patented headlock?

92 wins? You got it boss. They say "Don't mess with Texas." This year, that slogan should change to "Don't Mess with the Rangers."

Why?

Because Nolan Ryan said so.

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March 1st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans in the AL Central as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

1: Will the M&M Boys continue to light it up for the Twinkies… Any time you've got two guys on your team that combine to bat well over .300 with 58 bombs and a shade under 200 RBIs, you've got something special. That's what the Twins have with 1B Justin Morneau and C Joe Mauer. Mauer hit a whopping .365 last season, which no one expects him to be able to match in '10, but there's no reason to think that this duo won't have just as much run production again for the defending AL Central champs.

2: Does a healthy Jake Peavy give the White Sox the best rotation in baseball… In baseball, probably not. In the AL Central, absolutely. The White Sox traded the kitchen sink and half of their minor league system to the Padres for the right to acquire Peavy in hopes of developing a nasty #1-#3 combination in the front end of their rotation. Peavy's career stats tell the story. He's 95-68 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.18 career WHIP. As long as fellow starters LHP Mark Buehrle and RHP Gavin Floyd have similar seasons to what they did in '09, the White Sox are going to be lethal.

3: Was picking up Max Scherzer from the D'Backs worth getting rid of both Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson… This is a very interesting question from the Tigers' standpoint, and the answer to it will probably decide whether or not they contend again in 2010. In losing Granderson, 30+ homers and 20+ stolen bases went out the door. Jackson pitched like a Cy Young candidate last season at times. Scherzer has all of the potential in the world and looked great at season's end for Arizona, but this was a costly, costly trade, and anything less than 17 wins and an ERA hovering around 3.50 is going to be a big disappointment for the Tigers.

4: How much longer does Ozzie have… If the Chi Sox don't get off to a good start this year, look for GM Kenny Williams to make the move on Manager Ozzie Guillen before the move gets made on him. Both Williams and Guillen should be ashamed of the way that this team played last year, as it clearly had the potential to win the AL Central. But when push came to shove, it was sell, sell, sell at the deadline. Things have set up nicely again for Chicago, but if they don't go so well, look for Guillen's recent World Series ring to be forgotten and to see him on the unemployment line.

5: Will the Indians show any signs of improvement in 2010… It's really hard to see. This pitching staff is still woeful at best, and the lineup really was crippled was C Victor Martinez was traded from it last year. Keep an eye on 1B Matt LaPorta, who may be the best prospect that the team has going for it right now, but even getting 40+ homers from the slugger isn't going to be enough to help out a team full of budding prospects that are very, very raw.

6: Can someone step up and help out Zach Greinke in KC… The Royals very quietly made a few signings of note in the offseason, including OF Scott Podsednik, OF Rick Ankiel, and C Jason Kendall. Kendall may not seem like a highly coveted free agent signing, but he'll bring his veteran knowledge to a very young pitching staff that badly needs some help. Look for the new catcher for the Royals to step up and help guide some of these young pitchers through tough times in 2010.

7: Is a true ace going to step up for the Twins… This is what really took Minnesota out of the playoffs a year ago and is what will probably keep it down again in 2010. The Twins have a lot of decent looking arms at the front end of their rotation, but Scott Baker isn't the man to lead this team to the Promised Land. Unless something gets back into Francisco Liriano and he becomes a superstar once again, there really isn't an arm in the bunch that has the potential to be that real #1 go-to guy.

8: Is the Damon deal going to work for the Tigers… Talk about spending a boat load of money on a liability! Sure, Damon batted .282 last season with 24 homers, 82 ribbies, and a dozen steals, but how much of that was a product of Yankee Stadium? The porches in one of baseball's newest stadiums are as short as could be, and the wind tunnels there carry balls out of the park that are routine pop flies in other yards. Now, Damon has to move to Comerica Park, where he has to hit the ball a mile to get it out of the stadium, and at 36 years old, he's more of a liability in left field than he ever was before. Spending $8M for this seems like an awfully miserable signing.

9: Has Closer Bobby Jenks had it… Once upon a time, Jenks was one of the most dominant closers in baseball. Last season, he went just 29 for 35 in save chances, including two blown saves in his final three outings of the year before being shut down. Former closer JJ Putz was signed in the offseason, most likely to put some pressure on the White Sox's stopper. If Jenks can't get his act together, he'll be a middle relief man again in a heartbeat.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the AL Central when the season is said and done… This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of most importance. This should be a hotly contested division once again, as the top three teams should all be in it right at the end. None will be able to compete for the Wild Card in all likelihood. Don't be surprised if the season has to get extended by a day again this year… Twins, White Sox, Tigers, Royals, Indians.

 
Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 3/1/10)
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Chicago White Sox +2500
Minnesota Twins +2500
Detroit Tigers +3000
Kansas City Royals +6500
Cleveland Indians +8000

 

2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 3/1/10)
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Minnesota Twins +1800
Chicago White Sox +2000
Detroit Tigers +2000
Cleveland Indians +5000
Kansas City Royals +7500

 

Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 3/1/10)
(Get Your 50% Signup Bonus at 5Dimes, Must Use This Link)

 

Minnesota Twins +2500
Chicago White Sox +2800
Detroit Tigers +3500
Cleveland Indians +8500
Kansas City Royals +10500

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February 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

As a part of our MLB betting previews for the 2010 season, Cappers Info poses ten questions that should be on the minds of all baseball fans as they prepare to make their MLB picks for the year.

Check Out all of the AL East Teams Odds to Win the World Series at the Bottom of this Post

1: How much will losing Jason Bay cost the Red Sox… Considering the fact that the Red Sox really didn't do much else to bolster their lineup in the offseason, this could be a huge factor. Bringing in Mike Cameron to replace Bay in the outfield just isn't the same, and unless 3B Adrian Beltre has that much better of a year than the third base platoon did last season for the Sox, finding the pop to replace Bay's team-high 36 home runs is going to be difficult.

2: Was the acquisition of SP Kevin Millwood worth it for the Orioles… It certainly can't hurt, that's for sure. The O's had the worst pitching staff in baseball by a country mile, posting an ERA that was a tenth of a run high than any team in baseball (5.17). Look for Millwood to bring at least a little bit of stability to the Baltimore rotation, as he put together a 13-10 season with a 3.67 ERA for Texas in '09.

3: Who has the better rotation, the Yanks or the Sox… Tough call. Throwing out there CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Javier Vazquez seems to be unstoppable, but for my money, if they're all healthy, seeing Josh Beckett (in a contract year, no less), Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz (or Tim Wakefield) is the best in baseball. In a short series, Sabathia is the man that you want on the hill twice, but for the duration of 162 games, Boston gets the nod.

4: Can Toronto piece together a pitching staff without Roy Halladay… Considering the fact that it couldn't really keep a staff together with Halladay, it's hard to see how Toronto plans on doing it without Doc throwing every fifth day. Unless Ricky Romero is set to become an ace, the Jays probably have the worst staff in the division.

5: Do the Rays really have the horses to stick around in this division again… As long as they don't become sellers at the trade deadline, they probably do. Figure that they won 84 games last season without having any starting pitcher log more than 13 wins and with BJ Upton batting under his weight for the majority of the season. Carlos Pena also didn't ultimately bat his either. Upton is in a contract year, so he may turn into trade bait, but for now, Tampa Bay should have both the Yanks and Sox on notice.

6: Did the Yanks make the right move to bring in Curtis Granderson… Heck yes! Granderson may not be your prototypical leadoff hitter, as he's probably not going to bat much higher than .250, if that. But what he does bring to the Big Apple is the ability to hit home runs, steal bases, and play solid defense. With those short fences to shoot at, manager Joe Girardi could turn the former Detroit Tiger into a 30/30 guy in a heartbeat.

7: Is the real David Ortiz the one from the first half of the season, or the one from the second half… Boston had better hope that Big Papi doesn't get off to the same start that he did last year, or something is going to have to be done. If you look at Ortiz's holistic numbers, seeing 28 homers and 99 RBIs is nothing to be ashamed of for a man that played in 150 games. But the Sox need him more than ever without any major protection like he has had in the past around him.

8: Can Adam Lind and Aaron Hill both knock 35 dingers again this year… All together now: Who are Adam Lind and Aaron Hill? If you're not a fantasy baseball guru, you probably had no clue that the Jays had two 35+ HR hitters last season. Considering that the only "major" off-season signing for this team came in the form of C Jose Molina, it goes without saying that Toronto needs to get everything that it did and more from Lind and Hill this year, but it's highly unlikely that either is going to put up numbers anywhere near as good as they did a year ago.

9: Will the trade for Rafael Soriano pay dividends for the Rays' bullpen… When Tampa Bay went to the World Series, it was really on the strength of its bullpen. Last year, even though their numbers weren't bad, the Rays felt like a jumbled mess in the pen. Now that Soriano joins the fold as the closer of this team, that may put guys like Grant Balfour, JP Howell, Dan Wheeler, and Lance Cormier in defined roles, which manager Joe Maddon hopes will solidify the unit.

10: Bottom Line: How will the standings look in the AL East when the season is said and done… This is the question that we will pose for all six divisions and is the one of greatest importance. It's hard to see how anyone is running down the Yankees, but expect to see Tampa Bay and Boston battling it out for the second position and the Wild Card slot in the American League. When it's all over with, look for the standings to look like this… Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Orioles, Jays.

Odds to win World Series at BetUS Sportsbook (as of 2/22/10)
(Click Here for a Huge 100% Signup Bonus at BetUS Sportsbook)

 

New York Yankees +300
Boston Red Sox +700
Tampa Bay Rays +2500
Baltimore Orioles +10000 
Toronto Blue Jays +12000

 

2010 World Series Odds @ Diamond Sportsbook (as of 2/22/10)
(Exclusive 100% Signup Bonus at Diamond Sportsbook, Using This Link)

 

New York Yankees +350
Boston Red Sox +575
Tampa Bay Rays +1475
Baltimore Orioles +7000 
Toronto Blue Jays +8000

 

Current Odds To Win The World Series @ 5Dimes (as of 2/22/10)
(Get Your 50% Signup Bonus at 5Dimes, Must Use This Link)

 

New York Yankees +350
Boston Red Sox +700
Tampa Bay Rays +1700
Toronto Blue Jays +12500
Baltimore Orioles +15000

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