I really like checking in on Major League Baseball season win totals just as spring training is becoming rolling. It serves a few purposes. To begin with, it is a good opportunity to consider every team and get a sense of both what your expectations are and what the gambling public is believing. Secondly, and more important, it’s a good exercise in humility. By checking back in August or so, you can remind yourself how small you really can know about a staff before they have played and how fast things can change. A few of the teams will perform as we’ll expect them to. But others will probably be so far off those numbers which they will be nearly unrecognizable. Here’s a look Whatsoever of the numbers placed at BetOnline right today:
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Arizona – over/under 74.5: This is only one of several teams on this list which seems to keep coming close to relevance but really struggles to get over the hump. And this just is not going to be their year. I enjoy the over, but since I like them to acquire about 78 matches, not because I like them to become great.
Atlanta – o/u 86.5: I enjoy the youth with this team, and they have done an adequate job of building on it. Odds would imply they are the third-best team in the NL East. However, when I had to pick one team to acquire it, this would be it. It might just be sentimentality, but I enjoy what they have going on. I like the above.
Baltimore – o/u 59.5: How pathetic is it the lowest number on the plank isn’t nearly low enough. This is going to be a horrifyingly poor group. Just dreadful. The under is solidly favored at -125, but at this price it’s the right play.
Boston – o/u 94.5: ” I was convinced early on that the Red Sox will win the AL East. However, since things have gone , I’ve changed my mind and believe they will finish second behind the Yankees. I visit 95 wins, thus there isn’t any worth in this number. I would take over if I had to.
Chicago Cubs – o/u 88.5: At this stage, I think among 3 groups is going to win the NL Central, and they will do it with a win complete somewhere in the low 90s. The issue, however, is that I can’t decide which team it’ll be. I like things about all three – Milwaukee less compared to the others. The Cubs should bounce back into a disappointing ending to an often-disappointing season, so I lean over.
Chicago White Sox – o/u 74.5: I am disappointed that the White Sox could not get any traction with the big free agents, because I like the upside here. They’ve been bad for a long while, but they’ve done a good job of rebuilding the proper way. I really don’t think they will contend or anything, but I like the above here.
Cincinnati – o/u 79.5: I’m watching Reds play in Chicago this summer, so I’d like for them to be decent. It would result in a much better match. But, unfortunately, this feels like a generous amount. Like, five or even six wins generous in my eyes. I’ll all over the under here.
Cleveland – o/u 90.5: There are 13 guys who were on the roster at the end of last year who aren’t now. Stunning turnover. However they have talent still, along with the Central is a wreck so they receive a boost out of that. In any other division I’d lean beneath, but here I lean above.
Colorado – o/u 84.5: Last year this team was a pleasant surprise. There are just a few matters tougher than following up a season like that. However, I really like that they stepped up for Nolan Arenado, and have reasonable faith in the young pitchers. I’m going over.
Detroit – o/u 68.5: When is the last time it felt like the Tigers had a plan? It’s been too long, and right now that they seem to be just plain water. They aren’t any good and do not appear to be moving towards respectability with any urgency. I hate where this group is right now. Very easy beneath.
Houston – o/u 96.5: This really is a big number. Scary large. However, the Astros are my choice to win it all this season, and there’s so much explosiveness on this team. I have to discuss – if I like it or not.
Kansas City – o/u 69.5: The Royals reveal just how hard building a group is out of a huge market. They slowly built, had their success, and they are just awful again – and it’s going to have a long while before that changes. Easy under.