***all-star Game***

[hlr13miami]

I'm sure Louie will start something for this topic, I just wanted to get ya'll thinking now. I saw in my book the odds are posted on who will win. I figure if we start early we can get in before the odds move to much out of favor.

Later.....

[Louie]

Here are the current odds from BetUS:

1001 National League All Stars +115
1002 American League All Stars -135

Personally I'll take the +115 at this point for an allstar game where we don't even know who is starting...

[grandmaster]

Im surprised those odds are up so early.

[Louie]

Im surprised those odds are up so early.

No kidding? is about all you can do. Might as well take the extra scratch and take the dog. There is no value the other way besides home field. It's a coin toss.

[donkeypunch]

The AL is the far superior league, Personally I would want a better price if I was playing the NL.

[Louie]

The AL is the far superior league

Sure it is. But, in an all-star game, I don't believe the AL has any significant advantage over the NL and I see no reason why anyone should lay 35% chalk in a game where the talent pool is even. We are just talking about the top 5% (if that) of the players in each league. In fact, I would argue that the starting pitching may be beter for the NL. Maybe even more. Take a look at the top batting averages and ERAs in both leagues...

AL Batting Leaders:
1. Milton Bradley, Tex .330
2. Alex Rodriguez, NYY .327
3. Joe Mauer, Min .326
4. Hideki Matsui, NYY .323

NL Batting Leaders:
1. Chipper Jones, Atl .394 (+.64)
2. Lance Berkman, Hou .365 (+.38)
3. Albert Pujols, StL .355 (+.29)
4. Matt Holliday, Col .328 (+.05)


AL ERA Leaders:
1. Cliff Lee, Cle 2.34
2. John Danks, CWS 2.62
3. Shaun Marcum, Tor 2.65
4. Felix Hernandez, Sea 2.83
5. Joe Saunders, LAA 3.06

NL ERA Leaders:
1. Edinson Volquez, Cin 2.08 (+.26)
2. Tim Lincecum, SF 2.54 (+.08)
3. Ben Sheets, Mil 2.59 (+.06)
4. Johan Santana, NYM 2.93 (-.10)
5. Jair Jurrjens, Atl 2.94 (+.12)


AL Home Runs Leaders:
1. Josh Hamilton, Tex 19
2. Grady Sizemore, Cle 18
3. Jason Giambi, NYY 17
4. Jermaine Dye, CWS 17
5. Carlos Quentin, CWS 17

NL Home Runs Leaders:
1. Dan Uggla, Fla 23 (+4)
2. Chase Utley, Phi 22 (+4)
3. Lance Berkman, Hou 21 (+4)
4. Adrian Gonzalez, SD 21 (+4)
5. Ryan Braun, Mil 20 (+3)


The only of these categories where the AL is winning is the #4 pitchers in Hernandez over Stantana...

[bigwinnner8]

Wow, I did not know there was such a difference in the top players in each league. I'll get on the NL too, but I'm going to wait until closer to the game as I think most of the betting public is going to blindly play the AL based on... well they pretty much destroy the NL every year. Thanks for the numbers Louie.

[Louie]

Lineups announced. No surprise that they consist of half Red Sox, Yankees, & Cubs. Fans voting for the All-Stars is so incredibly weak. Here are the starters:

American League
Pos. Player Team
C Joe Mauer Twins
1B Kevin Youkilis Red Sox
2B Dustin Pedroia Red Sox
SS Derek Jeter Yankees
3B Alex Rodriguez Yankees
OF Josh Hamilton Rangers
OF Manny Ramirez Red Sox
OF Ichiro Suzuki Mariners
DH David Ortiz* Red Sox
*injured, will be replaced by the Rangers' Milton Bradley.

Natonal League
Pos. Player Team
C Geovany Soto Cubs
1B Lance Berkman Astros
2B Chase Utley Phillies
SS Hanley Ramirez Marlins
3B Chipper Jones Braves
OF Ryan Braun Brewers
OF Alfonso Soriano Cubs
OF Kosuke Fukudome Cubs
DH NA*

[Louie]

Complete 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Rosters

[bigwinnner8]

I hate the all-star game simply because the players are picked by fan vote. Since I can remember its been "NYY+BOS vs NL"

[bigwinnner8]

I'm lookin at NL +140 / AL -155 / ou10

The line's moving in the right direction for NL hopefuls...

[Louie]

There is no way I would ever consider laying that much chalk on an all-star game. If there is that much of a difference in the top talent of each league, then there is something seriously wrong with baseball.