Valuist
03-30-2006, 10:48 AM
I don't bet individual games; too much upkeep and work. If you bet horse racing, its pretty tough to bet day in day out sports like MLB or the NBA. But I'll make a few futures wagers so there's a little something to root for.
White Sox UNDER 91 1/2 wins--had everything fall into place last year. 35-18 in one run games but Jenks has been a closer for about 6 weeks in the major leagues. Puzzling trade of Rowand leaves a hole in CF; Podsednik, spark plug for the offense may still have nagging groin pull which will limit stolen bases. Garland had a career year; lets see him do it again. Positives: pickup of Vazquez and Thome has started to hit w/power in spring training. Still he's mid 30s w/back problems.
Yankees UNDER 97 1/2 wins--Great hitting but do not like their pitching at all. Big names have big ages; Big Unit will be 43 YO. Had less K's than IP for the first time in 15 years. Mussina has been about a 4.50 ERA pitcher the past 2 years. He'll still get some wins w/that offense but he's nowhere near the pitcher he used to be. Chacon has never thrown more than 160 innings and Pavano good numbers in 2003-2004 were likely the product of pitching in a good park (Florida). Toss in Jaret Wright, very solid in 2004 at Atlanta w/Leo Mazzone, but terrible last year and this team will be in shootouts in more than half their games. Great closer but the rest of the bullpen are big question marks.
White Sox UNDER 91 1/2 wins--had everything fall into place last year. 35-18 in one run games but Jenks has been a closer for about 6 weeks in the major leagues. Puzzling trade of Rowand leaves a hole in CF; Podsednik, spark plug for the offense may still have nagging groin pull which will limit stolen bases. Garland had a career year; lets see him do it again. Positives: pickup of Vazquez and Thome has started to hit w/power in spring training. Still he's mid 30s w/back problems.
Yankees UNDER 97 1/2 wins--Great hitting but do not like their pitching at all. Big names have big ages; Big Unit will be 43 YO. Had less K's than IP for the first time in 15 years. Mussina has been about a 4.50 ERA pitcher the past 2 years. He'll still get some wins w/that offense but he's nowhere near the pitcher he used to be. Chacon has never thrown more than 160 innings and Pavano good numbers in 2003-2004 were likely the product of pitching in a good park (Florida). Toss in Jaret Wright, very solid in 2004 at Atlanta w/Leo Mazzone, but terrible last year and this team will be in shootouts in more than half their games. Great closer but the rest of the bullpen are big question marks.