American League East Betting Preview: Yankees Favored Again

It is always the New York Yankees that come into Spring Training as the betting favorites in the American League East. As long as they continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the off season, odds makers will overlook the role that team play has in baseball.

While the Yankees are the gambling favorite, it is more likely that the division champion will come from either Boston or Tampa Bay. Those are two teams that value the importance of team camaraderie over star power.

Baseball is a game that cannot be won by individuals. Sure, individual performances can help win short term, but in the long run, it is the teams that do the little things that ultimately claim the big prize.

New York enters this year as a 6/7 favorite in the division. It is a familiar role for the Yanks, but one that they have not succeeded in the past eight years. They have not won a World Series since beating the Mets in 2000, and in the eight years since they have been the betting favorite quite a few times.

Boston, on the other hand, has two titles since the last time New York won. They are the second choice of odds makers at 7/4. The Red Sox stockpiled starting pitchers this off season and could have the best rotation in baseball if they all remain healthy.

Tampa Bay may again be the team being overlooked. They are the defending American League champions and have almost their entire team from last year back again. David Price had a breakout October and may be the next great pitcher in the league. The Rays are a 4/1 pick.

Toronto has been the trendy pick over the past couple of years and now it looks as though the sportsbooks have stopped jumping on that bandwagon. They are 20/1 to win the division.

Bringing up the rear, as they have lately, is the Baltimore Orioles. Odds makers are giving them almost no shot to win the division at 50/1, and the power teams in the division could make it a long year for Baltimore.

February 21, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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