Few would have picked the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins at the bottom of the NL East standings this early in the year, but after three combined blown saves, the preseason favorites are a combined 2-5 and looking to get out of a big hole.
The Phillies return for their home opener on Monday, and are favored by 1 1/2 runs according to the latest Marlins Phillies betting line with Cole Hamels returning to the mound.
The lefty, who is the only pitcher on staff with a World Series ring, World Series MVP and NLCS MVP, blushed when manager Charlie Manuel chose him for the home opener. Continue reading
The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2011, but return as just a shell of their former selves after losing demi-god Albert Pujols to free agency and manager Tony LaRussa to free agency.
The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping a tough April schedule will leave them battle-tested and prepared for the rest of the regular season.
As Felix Hernandez has already shown, pitchers start the regular season ahead of hitters. This is the time as a pitcher to grab a few fairly easy wins before the hitters get caught up to snackin on fastballs. Still, King Felix plays on a team that doesn’t really feel like scoring many runs. That’s been okay for him in the past, but will be a big disadvantage with top pitchers rolling for some of the most explosive AL lineups in years.
Baseball is here-ish!
After one of the biggest off-seasons in a decade (although the NFL really snuffed it out pretty quickly didn’t it?) the dust is finally settling for the upcoming MLB season. And with just under two weeks remaining until opening day, the picture is getting clearer for individual award favorites.
As we inch closer to kicking off the 2012 MLB season, it’s only right to throw out predictions for the coveted awards given at the end of the season. With the huge offseason moves made by big names that moved into the American League, the dynamics of the MVP race is going to be one of the most exciting we have ever seen. Bovada.com is listing all odds for the MLB awards currently and there are slew of categories you can check out. Looking over the names on the list in the AL we have the usual contenders in Jose Bautista, Robinson Cano, Evan Longoria, Adrian Gonzalez, and Miguel Cabrera.
The Los Angeles Angels have not been this excited since Danny Glover was their coach. I mean, sure they did win a World Series with Mike Scioscia, but this year, there have to be supernatural forces at work for Scioscia, otherwise there’s no possibility you can get the talent he inherited in just one offseason.
If last year’s success for the Tampa Bay Rays was any sign of things to come for the franchise, the crowd’s signature hitting of the cowbell will be plentiful in October.
The Tigers made a run deep in the playoffs as the underrdog past the New York Yankees, only to fall to the Texas Rangers. Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander finally threw an entire season of quality pitching and Miguel Cabrera either quit drinking all together or hit .338 drunk, which I would prefer to think. Throw into the mix Prince Fielder hitting after Miggy and you are looking at a team that is no longer an underdog against anyone.