i don't know how you can every say one is more important than the other, in any sport really.
handicapping is the foundation of your betting strategy...but line shopping is how you maximize profits.
a bettor who fails to do either method correctly is limiting their profits. they go hand-in-hand.
especially in MLB, with the amount of underdogs a smart bettor is going to on throughout the course of the season...it's essential to utilize as many outs as possible and to shop for the best prices.
a lazy bettor may find plenty of +160's or +165's out there, but a good line shopper who can consistently find +167's or +168's...
and those add up over the course of hundreds and hundreds of plays all summer long...
a couple cents here and a couple cents there, can add up to THOUSANDS of dollars in profit!