Slim Pickings In The Desert

Just got back from my annual spring trip to Las Vegas and I have to say it was the most disappointing one I can ever remember. As the regulars to this site know I was there to wager on this year’s baseball futures. The odds were terrible!! Let’s start with the American League. My numbers say that the Astros have a very good chance to repeat as AL Champs. Having Verlander all year and adding Cole from the Pirates makes them even better than last year. The best odds on Houston to win the pennant were 7/2 far below my minimum requirement of 5/1. The fact that they are the favorite and a repeater makes them an automatic toss. Usually under these circumstances I will wager on the two teams that my numbers say have the best chance of unseating the champions.  This year I like the Red Sox and Yankees but the problem is they are both “public” teams and their best odds ( Red Sox 4/1, Yankees +350) are also under my  5/1 threshold.  Thus I walked away from putting any money down on the American League. I have been playing the futures for over 30 years and this is the first time I can remember this happening.  Sometimes the best bet is having the will power to make no bet at all.

As for the National League the story is not much brighter. It took me all morning to find 5/1 odds on the Diamondbacks at the Venetian.  At the other eight properties I visited the odds ranged from 2/1 to 4/1. I put down 200 units for them to win the NL title. I put another 100 units on them to win the World Series at odds of 12/1. I love Arizona’s pitching but I am worried about their ability to score runs. Time will tell whether my whole trip was for naught. The good news is I came home with that Villanova cash and ultimately that is the name of this game. I will take another look at the baseball futures when I return to Vegas in search of college football odds but quite honestly I believe the D Backs will be this year’s only play.

If you are betting the Kentucky Derby tomorrow just remember horse racing will never be a fair game until they tell us what the horses weigh. Good luck and thanks for logging in.