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Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series (Kansas City Vs San Francisco) + Prediction Time
Kansas City is making the most of their 1st playoff appearance since winning the World Series in 1985. The club has won 8 straight games over 3 series, and have shown they have power in their lumber, homering in most of their games. They have a slight advantage with their Relief Core, and must amp up their speed game again versus the Giants in order to win the 2014 Fall Classic. KC has home field advantage with the AL having won the ALL – Star Game. I personally think this is a hinderance, based on the way the team plays on the road. Whatever I feel, the oddsmakers have listed them as the Favorite.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I awoke this morning to a text stating that the Giants were the longshots in the MLB World Series this year at +100 when I placed my wager.
Kansas City was a -120 Favorite in the early morning Friday.
I exclaimed ‘yes’ because I was hoping for a nice odd for the NLCS Champs.
Chuck Booth and I stand to win $1477.50 on KC to win the World Series based on a $20 (50/1 Bet) and a $6 (80/1 Bet).
San Francisco was also the subject of my 1st bet on the Fall Classic to start the year. It was a 25/1 Odd back in January of this year, and we threw down $14 each.
Now since we could win $1477 on the Royals, and just $389 on the Giants, came the hedge bet for $500 on SF at Even money.
So we can win $1389.00 each on the Giants, and now $1477 still on KC.
The difference being, that we only had to wager $25 aggregate on the ALCS Champs.
The bet assures us of over $1000 each profit for the year.
Already, since the morning line, the odds have shifted to SF -105, to KC -115. I am not surprised, as the Sharps have spoken.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 17, 2014
Ho hum… another mind boggling, jaw dropping, heart stopping, head scratching historic playoff game in 2014.
Travis Ishikawa joins an elite crew…
Michael Morse and Brandon Crawford have heroics almost as important…
And Mike Matheny might have managed himself right out of St. Louis.
It is a night of baseball I will never forget and I celebrate on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Travis Ishikawa (you think?), Madison Bumgarner, Adam Wainwright and Jon Jay all owned October yesterday.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 16, 2014
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
Talking Royals, SF Symphony and answering an e mail from Michael Reisman.
The Giants are also only 1 win away from becoming the team of the decade, and it is only 5 years old.
San Francisco keeps scoring runs without actually getting hits. Insane… All of that and more on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Alcides Escobar, Yusmeiro Petit, Buster Posey, Jason Vargas, Ryan Flaherty and Kolten Wong all owned October yesterday
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 14, 2014
Talking new Dodgers front office and remembering Chambliss and Bartman.
The Cardinals Catching Situation is not the same without Yadier Molina, but at least they rostered 3 backstoppers.
Also speaking more about the LCS during this version of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Nobody Owned October last night as there were no games
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 13, 2014
I recorded today’s podcast despite being in the middle of an allergy attack.
That makes me Cal Ripken-esque on today’s version of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Kolten Wong, Seth Maness, and Gregor Blanco all owned October Sun night.
Royals Win Game 1 Of The ALCS And Are The New World Series Favorite: Betting Lines For Postseason Wagering
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Royals continue to shock the world with newfound power and late inning heroics, Based their 5th straight playoff win, they took a 1 – 0 ALCS advantage on the Baltimore Orioles in last nights contest for the ALCS.
I woke up this morning to see they are the new favorite to win the World Series at +210. The Cards are 2nd at +250, Giants are 3rd at +280, and bringing up the rears are the O’s at +333.
Furthermore to our point of drastic odds change with one game, the Royals are now -170 favorites to the win the American League Championship Series, compared to the Orioles +150 odd.
If you wanted to bet Baltimore, the time for value is right now. Kansas City will lose a game eventually, and the time to pounce is probably today. Of course I have been saying that about the Royals all postseason, but the odd is inviting for Baltimore. Read the rest of this entry
NLCS Preview: Cardinals vs Giants In A Battle For Decade Supremacy!
It’s all about the Pennants in the LCS Round, The Cards are competing in their 4th straight NLCS, and 9th out of 14 years, while the GIants are in the series for the 3rd time in 5 years, and have never lost a playoff series under head coach Bruce Bochy.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I am not going to preview this from an analyst angle because our “Lead Podcast Personality” Paul Francis Sullivan ‘AKA Sully’ does a brilliant 20 minute podcast that he does daily, and he has described this matchup beautifully.
I will post the podcast at the end of the article.
Instead, I am looking at this series as a professional handicapper sense.
Opening Odds
STL -135
SF, +115
I have to give the nod to the Giants for value on this one. If you go down the rosters, the St. Louis franchise is a smidge better on the talent level, however how can you bet against San Francisco when they have won 8 straight playoff series from 2010 – 2014.
The Giants have also won 4 of 5 games in this year’s playoff. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 9, 2014
AP Photo – James A. Finley
The Cardinals and the Giants are meeting in the NLCS again, and a lot of people are not happy with that match up.
Perhaps if the 2012 NLCS featured an iconic moment, walk off homer or thrilling Game 7, this would be considered a welcomed rematch between two terrific recent champions.
It is an NLCS preview episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Brian Wilson Exercises His 2015 Player Option + Hopes To Rebound Like 2nd Half Of 2014 Indicated
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Brian Wilson has let the Dodgers know he is picking up his 2015 Player Option for $9.0 MIL.
The character Reliever, did not have a great season with Los Angeles, however he straightened it out in the 2nd half, and added a 1/3rd of an inning in the Postseason, to run his lifetime total to 18 scoreless innings to start his playoff career.
The man has a proven playoff pedigree and it baffled me on the reluctance to use the bearded fellow. Maybe we will find out his was really hurt, from what seemed to plague him from the 1st half.
Clayton Kershaw aside, no one had a worse trip to Australia and back then Wilson. as he came back with injuries to his back and neck, stemming from the quick turnaround flight after playing 2 games in Sydney.
The 32 Year Old Wilson posted a 5.66 ERA – and a 1.847 WHIP prior to the ALL – Star Break in 30.1 IP.
Post ALL – Star he was more familiar to what he has authored in career, having a 3.00 ERA and a 1.147 WHIP in his last 18.1 IP.
Wilson came to the Dodgers in August of 2013, after he recovered from a 2nd Tommy John Surgery that had sidelined him since April of 2012. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 8, 2014
The Cardinals and the Giants cement their reputations as the teams of the decade.
One reason they both made it this far was some questionable bullpen management from the opposing manager.
It is a dynasty episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Odds To Win The 2014 ALCS + NLCS In The MLB
Camden Yards will see home games in the ALCS for the 1st time since the 1997 season. Buck Showalter has a decisive edge in the managerial department over the Royals skipper Ned Yost. The O’s are the new owners of home field advantage all the way throughout the postseason now, as the top seed left in the American League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Dog Days Of October
The 4 teams in the League Championship Series were all underdogs in the last round.
When you also factor the Wild Card Games were both won by the Giants and Royals, (both not being the favorite), it marks the 1st 6 rounds of this postseason go to the “Dogs”.
Baltimore defeating the Tigers was probably the least surprising as the other clubs winning against their opponents. Again via a sweep of the 3 straight Cy Young Winners is impressive though.
The Nationals and Cards losing to the Giants and Cardinals had a lot to do with playoff pedigree with the teams moving on, as they handled the pressure better than the two upstart clubs. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series For The Final Four In The MLB Playoffs
The Orioles are the favorite to win the World Series among the last 4 remaining teams. The O’s will have Chris Davis back in Game #4 of the ALCS, and have to be happy they are playing the Royals. It has lined up nicely for Baltimore to take out the ‘Cinderella’ KC Squad.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
After licking my wounds for the last rounds 0 – 4 predictions of series, I am laughing all the way to the bank.
While I still picked the Nationals, Tigers, Angels and Dodgers because I thought they would win their last round best of 5’s, I never took the bait to bet any of these clubs.
I was sitting on bets I made earlier in the year. Back in January, I wrote an article proclaiming the Giants at 25/1 (Can win $400) a great steal. I bet the Royals at 50/1 and 80/1 (I can win $1500 if they take the WS) and I bet the O’s at 50/1 and 20/1 (with a potential win total of $720).
So even though I took a header on my picks, I have put myself in a great position of profit for the remainder of the playoffs..
To hedge the series, I have wagered the Baltimore Orioles and Cards to win the LCS’s for $134 wager, that pays +213 or $414. It ensures me to make a profit regardless of the outcome. Read the rest of this entry
The Royals Or O’s Winning The Title Would Be Good And Bad: MLB Payrolls Part 2
Kauffman Stadium was newly renovated about 5 years ago. It is a nice visual display of a ballpark, however it is far being in the top venues in the Majors for earning money. The Royals fans saw the club struggle to finally end a 3 decade long playoff drought this year. It is imperative that the MLB work with ‘cost control’ in the upcoming ‘Collective Bargaining Agreement. Both KC and Baltimore had to endure lengthy stints of losing campaigns, before compiling enough top-level draft picks to compete in their respective divisions. Hopefully other small to mid market teams will not have to be bad for that amount of time in the future to obtain success finally.
Yesterday I addressed the Dodgers potentially winning the World Series in the next few years while bringing more attention to the inequities of the big and small market clubs.
Even with LAD losing today and being eliminated, it doesn’t change the fact they will be playoff contenders for years to come based on their talent level, and super imposed revenue stream to outspend every team in the National League.
I identified the last several lower revenue teams that have had success, and pointed out that it took them big stretches of poor campaigns in order to collect on some good.
This is the biggest reason why baseball needs to adopt a salary cap – in order to leveling off the field.
Kansas City and Baltimore are perfect examples of this. The narrative is great here Franchises that haven’t appeared in the Fall Classic since 1985 and 1983 respectively, when both organization won their last Titles.
The Royals 29 years since that has been tough to stomach. The later George Brett years, the core from the championship had aged or moved on by the time he hung up the cleats.
After the 1994 strike/1995 lockout, the Royals found themselves at the bottom of the division for years. Read the rest of this entry
The Dodgers Winning The Title Could Cure Baseball In The Future – Part 1
Magic Johnson said the new ownership group would put their money down on the players to stay or come to the franchise, and man he wasn’t kidding. The Los Angeles Dodgers now own 5 of the top 23 player contracts of ALL – Time in the MLB. With a total team payroll likely to be north of $240 MIL for the next few years, he was right. The team is presently the highest salaried team, and they will pay about $16 MIL in Luxury Tax, based on 30% penalty for $51 over the $189 MIL mark in 2014. Their cash infusion to the NL has spawned a rapid ascent for other teams in the Senior Circuit – who are looking just to keep up, while some franchises have no chance at all with their revenue streams.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on how the Dodgers were going to change the way the MLB operates. I may be proven right this fall.
4 of the top 5 clubs were alive in the LDS round
1. LA Dodgers $240.7 MIL
2. NY Yankees $227 MIL
3. SF Giants – $172.4 MIL
4. Detroit Tigers – $170.5 MIL
5. LA Angels – $170.5 MIL Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 5, 2014
Patrick Smith / Getty Images
The Giants and Nationals played 18 innings, which means I could take my wife out for an anniversary dinner, come back and not miss the biggest highlights of the day!
I praise and learn how to pronounce Yusmeiro Petit!
It is a romantic episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 4, 2014
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times
Yesterday I said jokingly that the final score of the Cardinals and Dodgers game with Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright pitching would be 10-9.
It is one of my FEW predictions that actually came true.
The Dodgers and Nationals blew critical games, the Tigers bullpen is a joke and the Angels are showing why the best record in the regular season doesn’t mean crap.
Plus I remember my wedding day on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series Oct.3, 2014
The Orioles last won the World Series in 1983, and were closest next in the 1997 ALCS, before being ousted by the Indians. With having a 1 – 0 series lead on the Tigers, they have tied the Washington Nationals as the co-favorites for the World Series odds. Stay clear of betting them or Washington. The value is bad.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With Baltimore taking a 1 – 0 advantage on the Tigers yesterday, the oddsmakers now have them tied with the Nationals for the best odds to win the World Series.
I don’t agree with this at all. If you still like the Detroit club, the time to bet is right now. Justin Verlander has a proven playoff track record, and the squad has David Price and Max Scherzer in Games 3 and 4, with Max Scherzer back for a potential game #5.
You always see these swings on a 1 game basis in the postseason.
The Dodgers will only be at this clip for 1 day too. If you want to put some cabbage on them, do it before Clayton Kershaw takes the hill and wins tonight.
The Angels are trailing their series vs the Royals, and are +145 underdogs as opposed to KC holding a LDS odd of -175 over LAA. Despite this, the Royals are not favored higher than the “Halo’s” on the odd for the World Series. Keep in mind the Royals are a better road team, while the Angels won 46 games on the road and 52 at home. Take the odd of +145 for this series versus Kansas City. They throw Matt Shoemaker tonight, and will still be able to throw Jered Weaver one more time. Tonight’s game has the Angels are a -152 favorite – whereas the Royals pay +135 if they win tonight.
Kansas City is favored to win the series versus the Angels at -175, to LAA’s +145, but are still a bigger longshot to win the World Series.
My advice: plunk some money down on the LAA for the ALDS series at that mark. It was a close game last night, and the Royals will not make it easy on themselves in the series.
I would still wait on the St. Louis team if you wish to bet them at all, as well as the Giants. Both teams have a tough nature to knock off, as their World Series in 3 of the last 4 years indicates.
You think the odds are high now, wait if they lose tonight’s games. It will jump to near +1400 or +1600. Wait a day for those guys.
Updated Odds To Win The World Series For All 9 Playoff Clubs.
T1. BAL +400
T1. WSH +400
3. LAD +425
4. LAA +650
5. KC +700
6. DET +750
T7. STL +900
T7. SF +900
Please note that it is illegal in most U.S. States to gamble
Odds are courtesy of www.bet365.com
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 2, 2014
You want to make a lot of money? Take my predictions for the playoffs, bet against ALL of them and make a fortune.
The Giants shutout the Pirates and at least one Bay Area team gets to move forward.
Meanwhile I talk pronunciations, Division Series and wishing that the Chronicle’s Sporting Green was printed on green paper again.
It is a throw your predictions away episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
4 MLB Post Season Games Slated For Friday, All 3 Hours Apart – Call In Sick!
The 1st game of tomorrow’s play will be held at beautiful Camden Yards..
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I am also an NFL fan, and while I love baseball more than life itself, these type of days are rare indeed, where the sport will carry four separate times, in order for all 4 games to be seen.
Now, good luck on all games to be under 3 hours, but it is possible with some of the ace pitchers throwing.
Here is the lineup..
All times EST
Detroit @ Baltimore 12:07 PM (Camden Yards) Justin Verlander vs TBD
San Fran @ Washington 3:07 PM (Nationals Park) Jake Peavy vs Stephen Strasburg
St. Louis @ LA Dodgers 6:37 PM (Dodger Stadium) Adam Wainwright vs Clayton Kershaw
Kansas City @ LA Angles 9:37 (Angel Stadium) Yordano Ventura. vs Matt Shoemaker
Now I for one, am thinking that the LA traffic will be gridlock with over 100, 000 people clogging up the freeways in Los Angeles on a October Friday night. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series, LDS Odds + NLWC Odds (All 9 Playoff Teams)
J
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Man Alive what a game last night. I was torn in so many directions, I may need an x-ray to make sure I have no ligaments busted up this AM, like Coco Crisp and Geovany Soto experienced.
Last evening was a perfect example of how betting with a hedge can totally benefit your plight, when you are sitting nice with some favorable bets made from a good value standpoint..
I have published many articles on this site, raving about the Royals from even before the season began during 2014. Now I picked Oakland to win last night’s contest, but financially I had a lot to gain on the Kansas City club advancing.
You see back in May, when the squad was struggling, I posted a $20 wager on them to win the World Series for a 50/1 odd. I then put some more cabbage on them at 80/1 a few months later amidst a losing streak.
In all, I stand to win the most on KC, out of any AL club I have left.
Now, I only can win $285 on the Angels to win the Fall Classic, which would only break me about even for the year.
As stated in a blog yesterday, the Tigers net me a return of $894, and the Orioles, will bounce my bank account to the tune of $804.
I was able to speculate when the teams would all be at their max peak earlier in the year.
Based on the mere fact, the A’s only paid me around $260 for the World Series, I bet them to win $50 to start the night at +100 for the Wild Card Game.. I couldn’t believe they were underdogs to start the game, but glad for it.
Once Oakland took a 2 – 0 led on Brandon Moss‘s 1st HR, I wagered $22 (In Play) on KC – for a return of $86 if they won. This would have won me my money back plus a small profit. This continued all night…. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series (All 10 Playoff Teams)
The Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise still has never appeared in the World Series. That didn’t stop the oddsmakers from giving them the #1 favorite status heading into the playoffs today. They are the deepest team on both offense and defense, and only lack postseason experience. The Stephen Strasburg ‘decision’ of a few years back, will never be put to rest until this club wins a title. Despite them being favored, I am not sure the ranking is justified, as the Dodgers reside in the same league.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It is time to place your bets on the World Series. The Washington Nationals are your favorites to win the whole thing at +450. The Tigers, Angels and Dodgers are both next at all tied for +500.
To round out the teams in sequence…5 – Baltimore is at +700, 6 – St. Louis at +900, 7 – Oakland at +1100, 8 – San Fran at +1400, and the Royals and the Bucs are the biggest odds on the board at +1600 for 9th.
At first glance I see the pattern. The Nationals are the most deep team across the board, with having all 4 starters as potential aces in Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister.
Each one of the players in the positional lineup, were over right near of plus.400 for Slugging Percentage, and this doesn’t even include Ryan Zimmerman – who will be an awesome bat off the bench at least to start. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Playoff Predictions 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The playoffs are upon us, and since we had such a great year predicting a lot of stuff, both Chuck Booth and I are putting our postseason prognostications up.
In other blogs we will take a look at the series and everything, but this is just pure bets.
American League
American League Wild Card Game
Oakland -104 @ Kansas City -106 (Jon Lester @ James Shields)
Chuck – Oakland, Hunter, Oakland
MLB Interleague Results For The Entire 2014 MLB Season
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The AL have won 13 out of the 17 years for Interleague play. The American League has also won every year since the start of the 2004 year.
1997: NL won 117 – 97 (.547) NL up yearly series 1 – 0
1998: AL won 114 – 110 (.509) Yearly series tied 1 – 1
1999: NL won 135 – 116 (.538) NL up yearly series 2 – 1
2000: AL won 136 – 115 (.542) Yearly series tied 2 – 2
2001: AL won 132 – 120 (.524) AL up yearly series 3 – 2
2002: NL won 129 – 123 ( .512) Yearly series tied 3 – 3
2003: NL won 137 – 115 (.544) NL up yearly series 4 – 3
2004: AL won 127 – 125 (.504) Yearly series tied 4 – 4
2005: AL won 136 – 116 (.540) AL up yearly series 5 – 4
2006: AL won 154 – 98 (.611) AL up yearly series 6 – 4
2007: AL won 137 – 115 (.544) AL up yearly series 7 – 4
2008: AL won 149 – 103 (.591) AL up yearly series 8 – 4
2009: AL won 154 – 98 (.611) AL up yearly series 9 – 4
2010: AL won 138 – 114 (.548) AL up yearly series 10 – 4
2011: AL won 134 – 118 (.532) AL up yearly series 11 – 4
2012: AL won 142 – 110 (.611) AL up yearly series 12 – 4
2013: AL won 154 – 146 (.513) AL up yearly series 13 – 4
2014: AL Won Season Series for the 11th straight campaign – yearly season series AL Up 14 – 4
SUN Sept.28, 2014 Results: NYM 8 HOU 3, 2014 – AL wins season series 163 – 137 (.543)
ALL Time: AL leads the NL 2353 – 2126 (.525)
See Ya All in 2015 for Interleague
CLICK THE READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON OR JUST SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE 2014 iNTERLEAGUE RESULTS
The Most Recent No Hitter For Each Franchise (Updated For September 28, 2014 )
The first Washington No Hitter since 1931!
No Washington Nationals pitcher has ever thrown a no hitter. The last one thrown representing Washington? Bobby Burke, who no hit the Red Sox in August of 1931.
That’s all over now!
Jordan Zimmermann threw the first Washington Nationals no hitter (and the first in Franchise History since Dennis Martinez‘s perfect game as a member of the Montreal Expos.)
9 complete, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts of the Marlins, who for the second straight year end the season on a no hitter. Last year Henderson Alvarez won 1-0 over Detroit. This year the Marlins LOST 1-0.
Odd symmetry.
Safe to say, Jordan Zimmermann looks solid for this post season.
It is time to update my list!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 25, 2014
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
The Giants can clinch their third post season berth under Bruce Bochy today. Hopefully San Francisco fans can truly appreciate what a remarkable run their team has had.
Chances are it won’t last much longer.
It is a City by the Bay episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Kyle Lohse, Carl Crawford, Mark Buehrle, Ryan Flaherty, Brad Hand, Andrew McCutchen, Taijuan Walker and Josh Reddick all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
NL Wild Cards Virtually Sewn Up With Giants/Bucs: Huge Night Monday/Week Ahead For AL Chase
The Pirates started the year almost 10 games under .500 in early May. Since that timeframe, they have operated 22 games over .500. The Pirates are within a magic number of 3 to collect their second straight playoff appearance. Heading into play tonight, they also own the #1 wildcard slot over the Giants, because even though they are tied, the Bucs have the tiebreaker – with best head to head season series record.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Pirates have done a fantastic job brushing off their competition in head to head battle the last few weeks. As such, they have moved their playoff magic number to 3 versus the Brewers.
This squad has done more than that though…With a the Giants being swept down in San Diego this weekend, they have taken over the #1 wild cards slot over San Francisco – by way of tiebreaker (they won the season series vs SF).
Vance Worley, Edinson Volquez and Josh Harrison have surprised us all this year, and have picked up the slack for the club’s reluctance to add high – priced talent through trades or Free Agency.
Pittsburgh ended the year at home with a 51 – 30 record, and will have to hold their own with 4 against the Braves @ Turner Field, before ending the campaign against the Reds at The Great American Ball Park. Read the rest of this entry
ATR (Ask The Reports) Sept.20, 2014: World Series Betting + MVP Talk!
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Every once in a while we will air the (ATR special, like our founder Jonathan Hacohen used to do every week). Sometimes a lot of good questions are asked, all at the same time.
Rather than go on for days on social twitter, it is easier writing in a format that doesn’t limit you to 140 characters:
We had 2 such questions that were good enough to write an article about.
Q: Who do you think should be the MVP in both the AL and NL this year?
A: This one is easier in the AL than the NL, but I would like to point out that the clear-cut favorite (Mike Trout) is not having as good of a year that he did in 2012 and 2013, however this trophy is going his way with the year LA has had.
Will finish with 35 HRs and 110+ RBI, with over 110 Runs scored, (currently has 81 Extra Base Hits for huge MLB Lead) and his stellar defense is definitely the difference separating him from Martinez (a primary DH) and Cabrera.
I will also point out that Victor Martinez (.970 OPS, 30 HRs and 104 RBI) would certainly be right up there if he weren’t playing on the Tigers.
His numbers, contact rate, and overall professionalism as a hitter have saved Detroit’s bacon this year.
V-Mart is hurt by the fact Cabrera is on the same club. For as much as the two time reigning MVP has been dealing with injury,. his so-called “down year” still has him with a 3 Slash Line of .318/.380/.527 with 104 RBI.
The big 1B for Detroit has seen his HRs cut nearly in half, but he is still leading the league in Doubles with 49 – and has 73 Extra Base Hits are even more than he had last year.
The Tigers never running away with the competition also is a drawback for both players. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Baseball Is A Great Value Live At The Park
Safeco Field is among the very top valued parks in the MLB. A pair of tickets can be had for $35 – $40 at the most, and there are an unbelievable amount of free parking spots within a mile of the venue. The pricing for the 2014 Post Season is decent as well for those with season ticket holder status. $40 for face valued tickets (LF Bleachers) during the LDS round. That goes to $85 during the ALCS – and only $120 per ticket for the World Series games. I can’t even buy a ‘Standing Room Only’ Ticket for my local NHL Hockey team. to see the worst team in the league for that much!
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Stop me if you heard this before…Baseball is dying.. Come on folks, the actual facts don’t suggest that at all. Sure if you are going back to the day when there were 3 networks on TV, and that is it.
I am going to let you in on a little secret here. Back in 2004, I was once a NHL hockey fan. Yeah, let the stereotype stand for living north of the border, but yeah I followed the sport religiously, even more than baseball for a period.
At that point in my life, I had been to about a hundred games live in Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, and had been to exactly 3 MLB games (1 at Skydome in 1989, and 2 at Olympic Stadium) in the mid 90’s.
Once I went to Safeco Field once in 2005, I was hooked and had the vibe to see all other 29 parks in rapid fashion.
My love for viewing baseball parks escalated from there into 4 world record chases – to become the fastest to see a full game live at all 30 MLB Stadiums.
A lot of my friends and family are often baffled why i don’t just watch hockey, and support the local hockey team. My interest dwindles every year, and especially now that I am more rabid about baseball than ever, doing this website daily. Read the rest of this entry
A Regional World Series In 2014? NYY/BOS/ATL Maybe All Out Of The Playoffs For 1st Time Since 1989
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst), with a heavy assist for the idea to Josh Robbins: Follow @chuckbooth3024
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The Nationals and Orioles both locked down their respective league’s East Division’s last night. Could it be a possible Beltway World Series?
Or how about a Freeway Series (I-5) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels Of Orange County near Disneyland and Fullerton (or whatever Arte Moreno’s team us called now).
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe iconic close series of 1985 and 1989 respectively, meaning the I-70 series (KC vs STL) or the Bay Bridge (Earthquake Series), between the A’s and Giants.
Both of those winning clubs have not won the Fall Classic since those years.
Even Detroit and Pittsburgh are only 284 Miles apart, should they have a chance meeting.
Who is not here for the 1st time in 20 years – will probably be the Braves (whose playoff chances are on fumes), and the Yankees/Red Sox all failed to have at least one representative of those 3 in the Post Season since 1989, when the Cubs, Dodgers, A’s and Blue Jays made the playoffs.
2009 was the last time teams within close proximity to each other squared off in the World Series – when the Yanks took out the defending champion Phillies in 6 games.
The Yankees/Mets 2000 “Subway Series” was the last time two teams in the same city played in the Fall Classic, something the 2 Los Angeles squad’s could do.
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series Currently
I am fully expecting the Pirates to lock down the 2nd wild card in the National League. I think 86 wins is the magic #
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Last time I did the Odds to win the World Series was the last time I am doing worst odds this year, and furthermore, I am not touching the best value bets for the next few weeks, until the playoffs begin.
I had a subpar week at 5 – 5, after several red hot weeks. The Cardinals and Orioles took great strides in the wins, while I was wrong in predicting a slight retraction for the Angels and Bucs on the loss side.
The Blue Jays actually have played well in September, but have still fallen in odds because of hot streaks for other clubs.
Kansas City has come back to the pack a little.
I was fully wrong on thinking the Braves would take a run at least a playoff spot.
I forecasted the M’s, Yankees and Brewers to go into a bit of a dry spell. Read the rest of this entry
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