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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 1, 2016
Al Bello
The Royals are signing their stars to long term deals, keeping the World Champs together for several more runs. This would not have been possible a few years ago.
It’s an Everything is Up To Date in Kansas City episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
2016 MLB Preseason Power Rankings
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With just 5 weeks to the regular season – and all of the important Free Agents finally being locked up with Ian Desmond signing with the Rangers, it is time to see where all 30 MLB clubs stack up.
We are going to be running weekly power rankings once the year starts on Apr.3, 2016.
The way I compile the Power Rankings is best on confidence to win the World Series. Some clubs may be more talented (or playing better) than a squad they are behind in the rankings, but the Division (and strength of opponents) plays a massive factor.
It is the reason why teams like the Royals or Astros will be selected above a team like the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Pittsburgh Pirates might win 90 games (which may only see one AL club join them), but because they have to contend with the Cards and Cubs in the NL Central, it will be tough for them to receive a great ranking (at least until games are played). Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB Divisions
Best Division odd value on the board this week.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
As the season approaches we are seeing more and more gambling entities finally display and update their Division odds on a daily basis.
Over the course of the year we will be doing a weekly post on both the World Series and the MLB Divisions for best value.
I have selected one good value pick and one bad value pick for each Division. Next to a good pick, or a bad one, there will be an assigned parenthesis number for the degree I love the wager compared to the other Division picks.
The Chicago Cubs are the biggest favorite to win their own Division which is not surprising. In the American League, the KC Royals have the lowest odd.
I like how this establishment has the Royals as their favorite lock to make the postseason, yet still have the Red Sox and Blue Jays favored over them for the World Series odds.
This goes the same for the Giants in the National League. San Francisco is +900 to win the ‘Fall Classic’, yet the Mets and Nationals are more of a favorite to win the NL East, then they are the NL West. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
The Cardinals continued their great play in the MLB since the turn of the millennium – with an MLB best 100 wins in 2015. The organization has transitioned to the next core of a young nucleus, while still holding on to a couple of capable veterans. Considering they have plenty of depth, and lots of payroll flexibility coming forth, the franchise could orchestrate a blockbuster trade soon. While I would favor Chicago over them slightly for the NL Central, the RedBirds, Mets, Dodgers Tigers and Mariners have the best value, while the Angels, Giants, Padres, Red Sox and D’Backs have the worst on the board this week.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I was all set to pounce on my 1st American League bet for the Fall Classic in 2016 earlier this week – when the O’s were at +5000, and presumably bringing both Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo into the stable.
With Fowler opting back to Chicago, the odd also dropped to +4500 in the meantime (also following the Gallardo wait time for the physical fiasco), and the value is no longer there.
Baltimore is a low 80 wins team in my view, and will not have enough for the postseason. Fowler would have added a few W’s for sure.
Of course with the chaos that has ensued, the Cubs have gone from +700 to +650 prohibitive best odd. There is no doubt in my mind they should be the consensus favorite.
One of these years the #1 seed will capitalize and win. I am still not plunking down cabbage at that clip though.
If I were to do my year end picks right now, I would still have Chicago ending their World Series 108 seasons drought – but I can’t place them as twice the favorite as the St. Louis Cardinals.
Still not sold on the Cubs Bullpen either, and I think Jon Lester can be had in the postseason. The Mets also line up favorably versus Chicago based on pitching matchups. New York has the better odds to wager with.
I am currently writing a faceoff piece between the Cubbies and Cards that I will post over the weekend. The difference is not a whopping 8 or 10 games like ‘FanGraphs’ and ‘PECOTA’ say. St. Louis should still be in the mid 90’s for victories on the campaign.
I have them as one of my best bets again this week.
New York Yankees have been taken off the best odds list with their injury to Brett Gardner. It is absolutely paramount that he and Jacoby Ellsbury set the table this campaign – and stay healthy.
All of the incoming help with Starlin Castro, and internal improvement from Didi Gregorius will be for not.
Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez also will not hit a combined 79 dongs this year like in 2015. The club is also substantially thinner in the Starting Rotation.
They are a 85 win club as presently constituted, which should have them in the race for a Wild Card, but it is not worth betting at the +1600 odd. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives May.1, 2013 – May.31, 2013 (Episodes 190 – 220)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1219 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 190 – 220 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
We will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans. Check out all his Archived info here.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Jan.1, 2013 – Jan.31, 2013 (Lost Eps 70 – 100)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1216 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 70 – 100 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. So we will add the dates between Oct.24, 2012 and Feb.6, 2013 in case you missed any of his awesome 1st 105 episodes.
But we will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Dec.1, 2012 – Dec.31, 2012 (Lost Eps 39 – 69)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1215 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 39 – 69 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. So we will add the dates between Oct.24, 2012 and Feb.6, 2013 in case you missed any of his awesome 1st 105 episodes.
But we will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) – so they are easily accessible for all his fans.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Placed Bets: MLB Gambling 101 In 2016
I take my betting style from a philosophy used from a few decades of research. This book was one of the templates followed for success.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
So I have let my profits ride on this winter heading into futures betting in 2016 MLB. I thought I would take you into a little look on what I have thrown down so far – and what got me here over the last few seasons.
In 2014, I made 3 over/under selections (Washington over 91.5 wins, Kansas City over 81.5 Wins, and the Padres under 79.5 wins). Made a nice profit of a few hundred dollars for that – sporting a perfect 3 – 0 clip.
For my initial World Series picks in 2014, I wagered the Rangers, Rays but I was smart enough to take a +2500 preseason SF Giants selection.
Halfway through the season I plunked down some money on the Royals when they were near .500, talking of firing Ned Yost, and running at an +8000 odd to win the World Series.
I also was able to win money on the Orioles for the AL East Division, and at +5000 to win the World Series, I was able to hedge bet both KC and BAL in the 1st round of the postseason, and also the World Series. Read the rest of this entry
Perhaps It Is Time For The MLB To Adopt The ‘Boomerang Concept’ For Drafting Rounds In The Amateur Draft
The MLB should consider doing what all ‘even level playing field’ sports pools do and that is to use the boomerang method of each draft round. A team that drafts 1st in round one would draft last in round 2, before picking 1st in round 3 again and so forth. It wouldn’t alleviate tanking altogether – with the best talent still being absorbed in the top 10 most times, but it would level out the middle rounds for sure.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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We have all gone into pools/player drafts where we drew the worst card possible and then picked last. To offset the sting of this a lot – in the ‘interest of fairness’, the draft worked like a boomerang.
If there are 30 guys picking, the 30th guy picks the last selection in the 1st round, but then he is able to pick 1st in the 2nd round. Maybe it is time for the MLB to take this action for its Amateur Draft each year?
There has been so much talk about tanking by the teams like Phillies, Braves, Reds, Brewers, Padres and Rockies all following the path paved by the Cubs, Astros, Royals, Pirates, Nationals, Rays and Twins in yesteryear.
KC and Pittsburgh both had 2 decades of shame before they turned their franchises around to respectability. The Rays (once named the Devil Rays) failed to top 72 wins for the first 9 seasons since their inception to the MLB in 1998. before showcasing 80 wins for every year since 2008. Read the rest of this entry
The ‘PECOTA’ System For MLB Team Win Projections Should Be Thrown Into The ‘Woodchipper’ Fargo Style!
I wish the “PECOTA” system allowed for wagers based on their totals like Atlantis Casino did last week. Plenty of cabbage would be flung around on those totals.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This winter has brought my attention to the gambling world more often than I ever would have guessed. I already spent an impromptu weekend in Reno/Carson City after throwing down some serious cabbage at Atlantis Casino based on their over/unders last week.
I have been fortunate to nail down two straight years in which I have turned a $1000 profit on MLB futures. For those people who have been following our Gambling 101 series of bets, this is one of the best streaks I have been on all – time, and maybe it will end with me ‘letting it ride’ this year, but I am also confident it won’t.
I only wish that PECOTA’s win totals (BY BP) would come with the ability to win moolah just like Atlantis offered.
Oh, where to begin. LOL. Read the rest of this entry
Dear Atlantis Casino: I Am Coming Right Away To Throw Down Some Cabbage On Your 2016 MLB Team Over/Unders!
It is time to start placing bets on what you think all 30 MLB Clubs will do victory wise. I can only hope that Atlantis Casino in Las Vegas keeps these win totals before I come crashing through the door with a bag full of dough to bet tonight. While I agree with their stance on the American League for the most part, their National League prognostications border on dumb.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
2016 MLB win totals over / unders – baseball futures
Top 5 Projected MLB Holds Leaders (AL + NL) In 2016
With so much uncertainty in the air about Mark Melancon’s fate with the club, I can’t pick Tony Watson to win this category for a 2nd straight year. He was also the runner-up in the 2014 season. I say he is the Closer in the 2nd half of the year. His teammate Jared Hughes will get plenty of opportunities all year in late inning relief.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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It is time to get our fantasy teams ready in 2016. Because of the long winter year for certain players, the Relievers market has a pile of roster moves to go down before opening weekend in April. There are some guys that could make the list, but I am itching to write my list.
For the reasons I was just talking about, Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Thornton, Casey Janssen, Manny Parra, Eric O’Flaherty, Tommy Hunter, Franklin Morales, Neal Cotts, Nathan Adcock, Wesley Wright, Matt Capps, Sergio Santos, Ryan Webb and Joe Beimel won’t appear – although only a couple of those guys are even relevant to the Holds stat.
The biggest questions to think of include trade possibilities. Will the Pirates trade Mark Melancon? If this happens, NL Leader of Holds last year, Tony Watson, may see some time as the Closer for the Bucs. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The American And National League In 2016 MLB Action
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Spring time is coming fast and frequent and now we are seeing daily odds placed on the League Champions for the 2016 MLB Season. In most cases I hate picking these odds since the World Series odds tend to be more valued for the punters.
But sometimes it is still easier to prognosticate an AL Or NL winner instead of winning the whole thing. 14 clubs in the Junior Circuit are in play in my view, as are 9 potential Senior Circuit squads.
If you are here to wager on the A’s, Reds, Brewers, Braves, Phillies, Padres or Rockies for the upcoming season you are certainly delusional about baseball betting. However if you are only wishing to bet a few dollars, than who really cares. Read the rest of this entry
Youngsters Making An Impact In 2016; American League Central
By Shane Kay (Featured Baseball Writer/sonsof84.mlblogs.com) Follow @sonsof84tigers
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With spring training around the corner, we’re taking a look at a couple of young players for each team that I think will have a larger impact in 2016.
We started with the American League East yesterday and will move through division by division. Today we look at AL Central…
Chicago White Sox
Carlos Rodon, LHP – The 23-year old first round (3rd pick) draft pick, had created a ton of buzz coming into last season.
Rodon ultimately started out in Triple-A Charlotte before being called up to make his Major League debut on April 21st.
Although shaky at times with control issues, Rodon really put it together at the end of the season in his last 9 starts; he was 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA, .209 average against with a 8.7 k per 9 rate.
In total, Rodon was 9-6, with a 3.75 ERA, 1.443 WHIP in 139.1 innings, but it’s that last 9 starts that showed what he could really do.
Why The Houston Astros Have The Brightest Future In Major League Baseball
Carlos Correa was the 1st overall pick in the 2012 Amateur Draft for the Houston Astros. He came up in early June and proceeded to win the American League Rookie Of The Year Award with a 3 Slash of .279/.345/.512 with 22 HRs (led all shortstops in the MLB) and 22 Doubles in just 99 Games. This type of production will change the complexion of the team for the next 6 years. He is just going to be 21 for all of next season – and he looks exactly like a young Alex Rodriguez. In his 1st postseason action, Correa smacked 2 HRs in that pivotal game 4 of the ALDS for Houston, staking them to a 6 – 2 lead before the Bullpen gave up the game.
Trey Rose (Featured Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @Dynasty_Digest
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The Houston Astros had some very rough years from 2011 to 2013 (162-324 record).
While this was a tough time for the Major League Organization, their Minor League affiliates were thriving. Luckily for the Astros, a lot of their young talent has made their way through the minors and has finally landed in the big leagues.
This youth movement has helped the team drastically. Many baseball experts and fans didn’t predict the Astros to compete in 2015, but they proved them wrong.
In 2015, they made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. They accomplished this feat while having the 6th youngest roster in Major League Baseball (Average age of 26.7 years old).
If the Astros were this successful with a roster with so little Major League experience, then can you imagine what they will do once their talent matures throughout the next few seasons?
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
best odd value on the board this week.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Howie Kendrick signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past week, and the club has learned that Yasiel Puig has dropped 15 LBS in the offseason.
While I still peg the Dodgers for about 90 – 91 wins as of right now, they have the best odds on the board this week.
There is no doubt the San Francisco Giants lineup 1 – 8 is way better and Pitching Staff is also more rounded, however the gap between the two clubs is not a difference of +600.
I would put the Giants about 93 – 94 wins. Their roster moves while decent this winter with Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Denard Span, they all come with a little question mark here or there. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings: Early Win Total Predictions For Spring Of 2016
Just because there is parity in the American League it doesn’t mean that the Junior Circuit will not club the National League in Interleague this upcoming season. In fact, I am calling for them to be 50 games over .500 versus the Senior Circuit in the AL vs NL schedule. Most of that will be versus the weaker NL clubs, however the better NL clubs will not entirely dominate the whole AL either.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Updated on Feb.18, 2015
There is parity in the American League and their is a growing distance between the good and the bad clubs in the National League.
One could argue that the top 7 teams (NYM/CHC/SF/WSH/STL/PIT, LAD) in all of the Majors reside in the NL right now, and you then you can counter that by saying they have the 6 worst squads as well (PHI/ATL/MIL/CIN/SD/COL).
The funny thing about this whole ordeal is that the AL is absolutely going to cream the NL in Interleague this forthcoming season. On a 12 year win streak already, I am predicting a 175 – 125 W – L for the games between both leagues. The AL speedbags the National League in my view.
Last year, the American League held a 167 – 133 mark over the National League so that prediction up there is not foreign by any means.
All 30 MLB Park Home Openers With Local Start Times For 2016
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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The 2015 season is over and it is time to start planning for attending games in the 2016 year. This is our third straight year of posting all of the Season Openers for all of the parks.
I have been fortunate enough to see home openers in 8 different parks already in the last 4 years.
We have updated the previous article on this because all of the home start times have been posted.
We have also provided 30 links to all of the best chaser guides for the stadiums. This will aid you in making your travel plans for the 2016 season.
MLB Interleague 2016 Master Schedule With ALL Starting Times
MLB Scheduling 2016
Day + Date Away and Home, Times Start In EST
APR
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr.3, 2016)
Sunday, Apr 3 (1 Game)
Mets @ Royals 8:37
Monday, Apr 4 (1 Game)
Cubs @ Angels 10:05 (Angel Stadium Season Opener)
Tuesday Apr 5 (3 Games)
Mets @ Royals 4:15
Tigers @ Marlins 7:10 (Marlins Park Season Opener)
Cubs @ Angels 10:05
Read the rest of this entry
All 30 MLB Parks in 25 Days All By Ground
Chuck Booth (BBBA President/Owner mlbreports.com) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
For the last several years my buddy Josh Robbins and I have come up with ways to beat our individual world records for ballpark chasing.
My record is all 30 MLB Parks (every pitch) in just 23 Calendar Days. I accomplished this feat in 2012. You can read about that trip here. After scouring the MLB Schedule for 2016, there is not even an attempt to try for the record this season.
Unless it changes, it will be another campaign I will sip (Gas Monkey Cinnamon Tequilla) as the world record holder for another year.
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
Yoenis Cespedes led all LF for HRs with 35 on the campaign in 2015. He picked a contract year for his best season to date out of the 4 years he has been in the Major Leagues. Cespedes hit 17 HRs with the Mets in 2 months, after smacking out just 18 in the first four months with Detroit. Cespedes finished in the top 40 for both leagues in respective big fly’s, and was tied for 13th overall with Manny Machado and David Ortiz. New York brought him back for at least another year, where he helped the Mets go 34 – 23 down the stretch. Expect more of the same in 2016. Mets are the best bet of the week for the ‘Fall Classic’ value wise.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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A couple of things have happened over the last week. The Mets signed Yoenis Cespedes and no odd was changed after this. Very strange indeed.
With adding the Cuban slugger, the Mets have almost assured their fanbase for another post season berth in 2016. This club is more like it was in the last 2 months than it was in the 1st four months.
Even if the Nationals were to have an unbelievable year – the Mets should still make the postseason as the #1 Wild Card seed.
I have the Mets as a 96 win team after this move, with the Nats listed about 93 victories. Had the Nats picked up Cespedes, I would have given Washington a 95 – 92 win advantage over New York. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 20, 2016
PHOTO BY: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY
What teams can lay claim to “Team of the Decade” for the 2010’s?
What team can enter the conversation with a 2016 World Series win?
It is a long term legacy episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Dear FanGraphs On Your MLB Season Projections: I Wish You Ran A Gambling Site!
Talk about no respect. Back to back pennants and a projection by Fangraphs to finish tied for 12th in the American League with 79 wins, and 16 less than 2015 – even though the talent level is pretty much status quo. KC, STL and PIT are all projected to tank 15 games each from 2016 – 2015. No way fellas!
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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So I studied the recent FanGraphs projections for the upcoming 2016 MLB Year and was completely shocked at where these guys had the defending World Series Champions projected at for W – L Record….79 – 83 and tied for the 12th best record in the Junior Circuit??!!
Fangraphs, you are high if you think that will actually take place. For that, I wish you ran a gambling website to promote betting. The sharps would have a field day on a couple of these selections. I would throw down some serious money on your totals.
Lets not entirely rule out Cleveland winning the AL Central as they have also prognosticated here, albeit at just 84 wins. That victory total is about right for the Tribe – But how can you have all AL teams (except BOS) pegged between 78 – 86 wins? Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
By re-signing Alex Gordon – and then providing depth at the Starting Rotation, KC has cemented itself on a playoff spot in 2016. They are still 4 or 5 wins better than Detroit – but health could play a factor there. Still like them better than the AL East clubs cannibalizing each other at the top, and the AL West is a little up in the air between Houston and Texas. +1200 is still a fantastic odd for the team to repeat as World Series Champs.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Since we last chatted on these odds, the KC Royals have signed Alex Gordon and Ian Kennedy, the Baltimore Orioles have inked Chris Davis – and Detroit settled on a 6 year pact with Justin Upton.
The only club that budged on the odds were the Tigers going from +2500 to +2200. For the record, I believe that both the Tigers and Royals are great value picks right now.
In doing these deals, both franchises have set themselves up nicely for a postseason berth in this forthcoming year.
I believe with the Upton deal that Detroit is now and 86 – 87 win team. I firmly think that KC will be the only club in the American League to top 90. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 18, 2016
SEAN M. HAFFEY/GETTY IMAGES
The Royals are aiming for their third straight pennant in 2016. If they do, they will join the Earl Weaver Orioles, Charlie Finley A’s, Bronx Zoo Yankees, LaRussa A’s and the Torre Yankees as three time pennant winners since Divisional Play began. The Torre Yankees are the only ones since the Wild Card.
It is a “Let’s Join Some Big Company” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 16, 2015
Today is part 2 of my conversation with 3 time World Champion Lonnie Smith.
This segment, we talk about his transition to Kansas City and his recollections of the blown call in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series.
Upon further review, please enjoy this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Thanks to PastPros for setting up the interview.
How To Stop Tanking Maneuvers In Order To ‘Rebuild’ MLB Teams
In the last year of the current ‘CBA’ there may be a change to the new agreement that would stop teams from intentionally losing under the “integrity of competitiveness” clause. Teams such as Houston and the Chicago Cubs have laid the template down, and now other teams are following suit like the Phillies, Braves, Reds, Padres, Rockies and Brewers.
Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
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How to stop Tanking?
Spearheaded by Jeff Luhnow – the complete ‘tank philosophy’ has taken off across sports which is a terrible thing for competitive balance.
Teams in other leagues such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Cubs, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Timberwolves and Indianapolis Colts have had completely terrible teams with the goal of landing the top selection in that draft(s).
Tanking has become much more widespread and is EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. The problem is losing this badly leads to teams being terrible likely for long periods of time so they can be at the top of the draft and have a chance at elite players.
The differences in tanking differ by league though, in basketball if you don’t have the elite talent then you will never win and that talent is found almost always at the top of the draft.
In football you need a quarterback to be a super bowl contender and tanking will likely be just for the quarterback as the Colts did for Andrew Luck.
Hockey (like baseball) requires depth but top line players carry a huge premium and are available at the top of the draft and you defiantly need at least a few to be Stanley Cup contenders. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
The Nationals were 36 – 25 in the games that Denard Span appeared in for the 2015 year. He is going to help the Giants offense as a legitimate leadoff man in 2016 and can play all 3 positions in the Outfield. They have 3 decent starting players beyond the grass, and should be able to fill all 162 games with Belt and Blanco also being on the depth chart out there.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I absolutely love the Giants Free Agent Signing of Denard Span. This is a club that has extreme depth in all 3 OF positions now, and Span has worked the role of a Leadoff man brilliantly in the last several years.
Yes between he, Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan they have spent time on the sick bay over the last few years, but when you add that Brandon Belt could play LF, or Gregor Blanco who filled in admirably well in 2015, than you see that the roster just became stronger.
It is for these reasons alone I have finally taken the +900 odd off as one of my worst picks on the betsheet. This signing definitely tips the scales back in San Frans favor over the Dodgers.
The 1 – 8 lineup looks nice with Span, Joe Panik, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt, Matt Duffy, Brandon Crawford and Angel Pagan all capable MLB Starter. I could see this squad leading the Batting Average in the Majors in the coming year.
While I love the club, the odd at +900 is bang on now. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB Divisions
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Not that much has happened since we last checked into these numbers over the last 3 weeks. The biggest jump on the board was the Giants going to favorites of the NL West after the Johnny Cueto signing.
The Dodgers have since countered and are making this race for the NL West that much better again. It wasn’t long ago that the Los Angeles NL franchise were the favorites to win the entire World Series.
I think it is almost a dead heat right now between San Francisco and LA – and could come down to the transactions that are done in the next 8 months.
New York did pick up Aroldis Chapman but are still only listed as the 3rd favorite in the Division. New York has the best Bullpen, the Jays the best offense – and Boston might be the best overall club in the AL East.
If you believe the Yankees will continue to spend $ like Washington is printing it everyday should they contend this coming season, that +200 for the Division is a good odd. Read the rest of this entry
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