i admit, this is probably a sucker bet but...

[blueedwards]

...i just bet that tampa bay will not finish last in the a.l. east @ 15:1. they should be better than last year and toronto or baltimore could fall right on their ass.

 

[blueedwards]

"The AL East is the toughest division in baseball, but our ballclub is going to play very well in the division. We're NOT going to finish last in our division, put it that way."
– Manager Lou Piniella in the Dayton Daily News


i believe, lou...i believe

 

[souzathelooza]

nice bet.

Where did you find
those generous odds ?

 

[blueedwards]

carib

 

[barman]

BLUE, I just saw this myself yesterday.

I will be contributing a major writeup on the Devil Rays in the next month, on accounta my being a resident here (Clearwater) since teams inception.

In short:

They've really, really been disappointing, especially with the way they blew tens of millions on Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez, Jose Canseco, Greg Vaughan, Vinny Cashstealer, and even Fred McGriff.

That being said, in the past 18 months this team has made some extremely postive moves.

They've got over 80 players in camp with 40+ that have significant major league experience.

For the first time ever, this team will hav 25 major leaguers on the roster come opening day, instead of 15 plus ten spares.

If they raise their BA five points they would be sixth in the league.

If they lower the ERA by .4 they will be in top half of pitching.

I think they will do both.

If this team plays up to previous history of their opening day roster, I think they could push 80 wins. Of course, if 4-5 key players go DOWN on me, they'll still threaten 70. And with the youth (Baldelli, Crawford, Huff, Lugo, Hall, not to mention most of the pitchers), it's not an utter stretch that 4-5 guys could go UP and they would bust 80 wins.

I was waiting with baited breath for the Season Win Totals, expecting 70 (it's 69.5), so I could pound the OVER.

Then I saw this CARIB prop.

IF my optimistic vision is on target, they will definitely finish at least 4th. AND FIFTEEN TO ONE.

We can't deposit until late next week, but plan to drop $300 on this prop. It would thus be the largest single sports wager I've ever made.

I guess you could say I do NOT think this is a sucker bet.

 

[blueedwards]

let's hope you're right. i made the play because of the odds more than anything. for this to hit, let's face it, toronto or baltimore is gonna really have to lay an egg.

 

[barman]

I hear ya...But it will primarily be a case of the Rays needing to play up to potential, which I think could net them that 76-86 type finish...that number would have comfortably put them out of last place in all six divisions last year. Hell, 76 wins would be 3rd or 4th.

Methinks it's the Orioles that will do the fade for us. They added three solid bats, but virtually no upgrades in pitching. Their roster reminds me of the Little Rangers past three years...all finished with less than 76.

Should make for a fun September for us, eh?

 

[barman]

It's dropped to 12/1 as of this morning....I can't get down until probably Wednesday...shit

 

[Mookdog]

Blue,

While the odds make this an enticing wager, I wouldn't recommend it on any other wisdom.
Toronto could fail, but just as easily could be the surprise of the AL (which might get them no better than 3rd in the East).
Baltimore has some talented young players and in my humble opinion should be eight or 10 games better than TB.
I'm gonna look at the schedule, though, because with this unbalanced alignment, you never know. And 15-1 is eye-catching.
That said, I'd take 15:1 on Lou Piniella's chances to die of a heart attack while bitching at an umpire.

 

[blueedwards]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mookdog:
Blue,

While the odds make this an enticing wager, I wouldn't recommend it on any other wisdom.
Toronto could fail, but just as easily could be the surprise of the AL (which might get them no better than 3rd in the East).
Baltimore has some talented young players and in my humble opinion should be eight or 10 games better than TB.
I'm gonna look at the schedule, though, because with this unbalanced alignment, you never know. And 15-1 is eye-catching.
That said, I'd take 15:1 on Lou Piniella's chances to die of a heart attack while bitching at an umpire.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

too late md...already got down. i like the bet. it'll make the a.l. east more interesting for me and, if it's close in september i can always hedge because i'm getting 15:1.

 

[Mookdog]

That's true. And I'll pull for you if it gets down to the wire.

 

[jwblue]

I don't see Tampa Improving much this year. Baltimore made some nice acquisitions (sic). Toronto has some nice sticks and Halladay. Not sure what Tampa can match with either of those teams.

IS

 

[blueedwards]

in spades...that's why the bet is 15:1. really, the only way this comes in is if toronto or baltimore under-perform. i think tampa can win 70-75 games.

its more of a fun bet for me. i think the chances it comes in are slim but are better than 15:1.

 

[barman]

If NY and Bos win 200+ between them and ONE of the two, Bal/Tor wins say, 83+ there's got to be a whipping boy in the division.

We think it's Baltimore. I think the Rays will top them by at least six games.

Got 3 units down so far, since I decided to use my re-up offshore for playing NHL, but I've done well on ice and will be adding to Rays Finish 4th or better bet, currently paying 8 to 1.

 

[jwblue]

Prediction:

Tampa Bay 63 wins.

IS

 

[blueedwards]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by InSpades:
Prediction:

Tampa Bay 63 wins.

IS<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

we'll see. hope you're wrong.

 

[Irish20]

You are out of your mind if you think the devil rays could possibly finish better than the blue jays. If you knew anything about baseball you would see the jays have added very well to their pitching to go with their #3 offense in the league. This bet is stupid... They should make a yes/no line on will the east finish , Yankees, Boston , Jays , Baltimore , Tampa Bay. like it does every year. Only possible change is that the jays catch the wild card and finish second. Watch out for Hentgen as the jays have more than just God Halladay now.

 

[barman]

IRISH, your myopia cheers me! I will be adding your name to the list of people who told me I'm insane on this one.

It's actually kind of a bigg list...heh

Oh, we will be able to enjoy at least a couple of the Blue Jays spring tilts here, on accounta they play about five miles west.

And I also got the Phillies four miles south and the Rays about 20 down in St Pete looking out over the Bay. Sweet.

Probably not a good time to tell you that today's High was 87 degrees, sunny and partly cloudy.

 

[blueedwards]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Irish20:
You are out of your mind if you think the devil rays could possibly finish better than the blue jays. If you knew anything about baseball you would see the jays have added very well to their pitching to go with their #3 offense in the league. This bet is stupid... They should make a yes/no line on will the east finish , Yankees, Boston , Jays , Baltimore , Tampa Bay. like it does every year. Only possible change is that the jays catch the wild card and finish second. Watch out for Hentgen as the jays have more than just God Halladay now.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

all i need is either the jays or the o's to falter. and, i got 15:1!.

if this bet was 5:1 i would not have made it. my personal opinion is that the likelihood that the d-rays end up better that one other team in the east is better than a 15:1 shot.

 

[bulldog77]

Blue:
I like it at 15-1, but I see its been hammered down to 8-1 at carib. I was too slow to pounce.