Odds to Win the 2012 American League Central
Carrie Stroup here with your odds to win the 2012 American League Central. We have every Major League futures betting option available here at Sportsbook.com, where everybody bets!!!!
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
2011 record: 79-83 (.488), -11.2 Units
Odds to Win American League Central: 25/1
Odds to Win American League Pennant: 40/
Odds to Win World Series: 80/1
Over/Under Regular Season Wins: 74.5
HITTING
The departure of Juan Pierre opens things up for SS ALEXEI RAMIREZ to hit leadoff . . . 2B GORDON BECKHAM will get a fresh start, but his leash is shortening . . . 1B PAUL KONERKO faded last year. He’s potential trade bait for the rebuilding Sox . . . Did DH ADAM DUNN need a year to adjust to A.L. pitching and DHing? With his contract, the Sox will have to find out . . . OF ALEJANDRO DE AZA’s late-season surge probably wasn’t for real, but it was enough to get him the inside track on a starting job with Carlos Quentin having been dealt to the Padres on New Year’s Eve . . . OF ALEX RIOS has bounced back before, but at his age the odds are longer now . . . The organization believes in OF DAYAN VICIEDO. His improving approach and power fit well in U.S. Cellular, but he could platoon with KOSUKE FUKUDOME in left field . . . C A.J. PIERZYNSKI has motivation for one more solid season as free agency looms . . . 3B BRENT MOREL is good glove, buth has a limited stick . . . OF/1B BRENT LILLIBRIDGE has an improving bat and can play just about anywhere.
We have every Major League futures betting option available here at Sportsbook.com, where everybody bets!!!!
STARTING PITCHING
JOHN DANKS doesn’t look like a true No. 1 starter, but he keeps consistently throwing strikes and has some swing-and-miss
stuff . . . Maybe it’s because he’s fallen
short of his once-elite prospect status, but GAVIN FLOYD seems to get no respect as a quality middle-of-the-rotation arm. He was especially good after adding a cutter/slider-type pitch last year . . . JAKE PEAVY isn’t going to win another Cy Young, but unlike last year, his shoulder should be close to 100 percent. The big question will again be whether, as a flyball pitcher, he can keep the ball in the park at cozy U.S. Cellular . . . PHILIP HUMBER was a nice surprise in 2011, but don’t be fooled. It wasn’t a former top prospect finally figuring it out. It was a back-of-the-rotation arm getting some good breaks . . . CHRIS SALE will make the move to the rotation. He’ll likely be on some pitch counts, but this is an exciting development. With his stuff (he already has a solid changeup to go with his fastball/slider combo) he has monster upside.
RELIEF PITCHING
With closer Sergio Santos shipped off to Toronto, youngster ADDISON REED figures
to be the top candidate to close games. Any young closer is a risk, but Reed’s fastball/slider combo has been dominant over two pro seasons . . . Lefty MATT THORNTON might have blown his chance to claim the closer role last year. He had regained his form as a top set-up man late in the year, but if Reed falters he might be no more than a committee guy . . . JESSE CRAIN chased strikeouts more aggressively last year, but he also issued more walks. He may miss the first couple weeks of the season with an oblique injury.
CLEVELAND INDIANS
2011 record: 80-82 (.494), +1.8 Units
Odds to Win American League Central: 7/1
Odds to Win American League Pennant: 30/1
Odds to Win World Series: 60/1
Over/Under Regular Season Wins: 79
HITTING
SS ASDRUBAL CABRERA’s reinvented swing, modeled after Ben Zobrist, likely led to his power surge . . . OF GRADY SIZEMORE is back on a one-year deal, so he has plenty of financial incentive to stay healthy. But he will begin the season on the DL after back surgery . . . OF SHELLEY DUNCAN is expected to get more playing time in replacing Sizemore, but speedy OF EZEQUIEL CARRERA is also waiting for his shot . . . Injuries and off-the-field issues spoiled OF SHIN SOO-CHOO’s 2011, but there’s a good chance he bounces back . . . OF MICHAEL BRANTLEY does everything well enough to get a regular gig in center . . . C CARLOS SANTANA is developing into a middle-of-the-order run producer . . . DH TRAVIS HAFNER can’t be trusted to stay healthy or to produce power numbers . . . After another down year, 1B MATT LaPORTA will have to sit and watch CASEY KOTCHMAN start at first more often than not . . . 3B LONNIE CHISENHALL will get his chance to play every day, but dwindling production the past two years is a concern . . . 2B JASON KIPNIS will get first crack at second base. He’s got nice pop for a middle infielder.
We have every Major League futures betting option available here at Sportsbook.com, where everybody bets!!!!
STARTING PITCHING
JUSTIN MASTERSON’s strikeout rate continues to decline, and he still gets hit hard by lefties. Still, his strong groundball rate guarantees
he’s a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm at worst . . . His velocity dropped last year, and there’s no telling if UBALDO JIMENEZ will ever regain his early 2010 form. He’s the definition of high-risk, high-reward . . . DEREK LOWE was a decent middle-of-the-rotation arm in the National League, but now he must adjust to facing superior A.L. lineups . . . Healthy again, JOSH TOMLIN will remain in the rotation. He’s hittable, throwing strikes and relying on his defense . . . Former Twins hurler KEVIN SLOWEY rounds out the staff. Although he posted a 6.67 ERA last year, Slowey has exhibited pinpoint control in his career with just 84 walks in 532.2 innings, tallying a .470 K-to-BB ratio . . . JEANMAR GOMEZ is a decent minor league arm, but his ceiling is low (long term and in the immediate future) . . . CARLOS CARRASCO may not pitch in the bigs this year after Tommy John surgery.
RELIEF PITCHING
CHRIS PEREZ is entrenched as the closer, but he was a bit of a disappointment last season. His velocity dropped slightly, and his strikeout rate fell off a cliff . . . If Perez gets hurt, VINNIE PESTANO is next in line for saves. He may be undersized, but his stuff is overpowering. He’s a must-have for Perez owners . . . TONY SIPP proved he can get out righties too, but his value is as a lefty-on-lefty guy . . . Ditto for sidearmer JOE SMITH, who is deadly on righties. But it would be a surprise if he shut down lefties for a second straight year . . . RAFAEL PEREZ has been hampered by shoulder soreness in Spring Training, but the lefty should once again be serviceable in the late innings this year.
DETROIT TIGERS
2011 record: 100-73 (.578), +18.3 Units
Odds to Win American League Central: 2/9
Odds to Win American League Pennant: 3/1
Odds to Win World Series: 6/1
Over/Under Regular Season Wins: 93
HITTING
OF AUSTIN JACKSON doesn’t make much contact, but manager Jim Leyland likes his speed in the leadoff spot . . . RYAN RABURN and RAMON SANTIAGO will split second base duties, with Raburn getting the majority of the starts . . . 3B MIGUEL CABRERA seems to have cleaned up his act. He’s an MVP candidate . . . So is newcomer 1B PRINCE FIELDER who will try to keep slugging in his move to a pitchers’ park. His presence was needed after DH VICTOR MARTINEZ was lost for the season with a knee injury . . . OF DELMON YOUNG is a pending free agent, and he hit well after escaping spacious Target Field. He’ll nab the starting LF job but could also DH . . .OF BRENNAN BOESCH did enough pre-injury to earn an everyday role, but he’ll again be in danger of fading over the summer . . .SS JHONNY PERALTA had a resurgence in 2011, and he’s on the right side of 30 . . . C ALEX AVILA might not hit for average, but his power is legit . . . Leyland favorite BRANDON INGE and DON KELLY will back up the All-Star corner infielders, so neither expect to get much playing time . . . Streaky OF ANDY DIRKS is a fourth outfielder . . . C GERALD LAIRD will spell Avila.
STARTING PITCHING
You can’t expect an identical stat line for JUSTIN VERLANDER; his opponent .236 batting average on balls in play suggests there was some luck involved in his MVP season. But he’s still the best pitcher in the American League by a wide margin . . . DOUG FISTER’s improved strikeout rate with the Tigers suggests he could sustain success as a quality No. 2 starter . . . MAX SCHERZER can still be outstanding when he’s on, but he was inconsistent again last year. He could figure it out in his late-20s, but time is running out . . . RICK PORCELLO still has a ways to go. His mid-season success came against some weak lineups. He’s still only 23, but he hasn’t been able to beat hitters at any level in the pros . . . The Tigers are still searching for a No. 5 starter. Top prospect JACOB TURNER is only 20, but the Tigers haven’t been shy about fast-tracking young arms. He was dominant in the minors, but torched in his first big-league stint . . . ANDY OLIVER appears to be the front-runner for this role, but DREW SMYLY is also a possibility.
RELIEF PITCHING
JOSE VALVERDE was perfect in 2011, but it was a surprising development considering his sliding K/BB ratio. For Tigers fans, he carries more risk than 49-for-49 would suggest . . . One of baseball’s better set-up men, JOAQUIN BENOIT is an eighth-inning-only guy. He’d take over if Valverde got hurt . . . OCTAVIO DOTEL is another elite set-up man who will step up as the seventh-inning guy . . . As good as AL ALBURQUERQUE was in the regular season (one extra-base hit—a double—allowed in 43.1 innings!), he’s out until at least the All-Star break after offseason elbow surgery . . . Lefty DANIEL SCHLERETH has a chance to be the closer of the future, but first he’ll need to cut down on the walks.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
2011 record: 71-91 (.438), -6.4 Units
Odds to Win American League Central: 7/1
Odds to Win American League Pennant: 30/1
Odds to Win World Series: 60/1
Over/Under Regular Season Wins: 80
HITTING
With Melky Cabrera gone, OF LORENZO CAIN will get first crack at leadoff and centerfield. If he falters, speedster JASON BOURGEOIS, vet MITCH MAIER and prospect WIL MYERS are waiting . . . Former Brewer YUNIESKY BETANCOURT will start at 2B and has good life in his bat for a middle infielder . . . OF ALEX GORDON may not hit for average, but his approach and power are there . . . DH BILLY BUTLER is rock solid, but it’s fair to wonder whether his power will ever progress . . . 1B ERIC HOSMER has MVP-type upside, and he’s on the verge of figuring out MLB pitching . . . OF JEFF FRANCOEUR still chases too many bad pitches, but the organization likes him and he still has some pop and speed . . . 3B MIKE MOUSTAKAS is too good for the minors, but he still hasn’t caught up to major-league pitching. There’s a good chance he finds his groove this year . . . C HUMBERTO QUINTERO will be the main backstop with BRAYAN PENA backing him up . . . Speedy SS ALCIDES ESCOBAR’s bat hasn’t caught up to his glove.
STARTING PITCHING
K.C. once again hopes this is the year LUKE HOCHEVAR puts it all together. His velocity picked up late last year, allowing him to be more than a groundball guy . . . Lefty BRUCE CHEN’s late-career renaissance continues. He’ll be a reliable veteran arm in the middle of K.C.’s rotation again . . . FELIPE PAULINO has the biggest upside in this rotation. He’s always had one of MLB’s best fastballs. His problem was that, when he missed (which has been often), it was usually belt-high and over the middle of the plate. If he hits his spots as he did late last year, he’s got potential. But Paulino will start the season on the DL with a sore elbow . . . The Royals hope to solve JONATHAN SANCHEZ’s command issues. The lefty is a risk, but has legitimate No. 3 potential . . . Top prospect DANNY DUFFY will get every chance to pitch his way into the Opening Day rotation.
RELIEF PITCHING
JOAKIM SORIA is out for the season with Tommy John surgery, leaving GREG HOLLAND to pick up closer duties. Holland was the Royals’ best bullpen arm in 2011 and his stuff has always been nearly unhittable. It’s just a matter of whether last year’s vastly improved walk rate was for real . . . JONATHAN BROXTON was a disaster last season, but he’ll be given every chance to become the No. 2 guy in this bullpen because of his experience in Los Angeles . . . AARON CROW was a first-round pick (twice) for his college career as a starter, but wore down late last year, and walked too many batters.
MINNESOTA TWINS
2011 record: 63-99 (.389), -24.9 Units
Odds to Win American League Central: 15/1
Odds to Win American League Pennant: 50/1
Odds to Win World Series: 100/1
Over/Under Regular Season Wins: 72.5
HITTING
OF BEN REVERE’s slap-and-run style fits well in spacious Target Field. He will compete with lefty Chris Parmelee for the starting RF job . . . OF DENARD SPAN should be over his concussion problems. He works the count well as a steady presence near the top of the order . . . C JOE MAUER will see more time at first in an attempt to keep him healthy. Offensively, he’ll be limited by a pitcher-friendly home park and no support in the lineup . . . RYAN DOUMIT has a chance to play regularly and stay healthy as a full-time DH and/or backing up Mauer behind the dish . . . 1B JUSTIN MORNEAU’s concussion symptoms came back late last year. It’s a bad omen . . . OF JOSH WILLINGHAM is being relied on to produce runs, but he’s going from one pitcher-friendly home park (Oakland) to another . . . 3B DANNY VALENCIA showed enough power in 2011 to secure an everyday job heading into 2012 . . . Newly signed SS JAMEY CARROLL has done a nice job off the bench, but hasn’t been tested in an everyday role . . . If hamstring problems are still holding him back, 2B ALEXI CASILLA will have to battle disappointing import TSUYOSHI NISHIOKA, who will start the year in the minors.
STARTING PITCHING
Who would have thought CARL PAVANO would emerge as the picture of consistency and durability? While he’s far from a star, the veteran continues to be a rock for Minnesota, throwing strikes and eating innings . . . SCOTT BAKER got hurt again last year. If he could ever stay healthy, he’s the prototype for success at Target Field—lots of strikeouts, few walks, lots of flyouts . . . The FRANCISCO LIRIANO rollercoaster nosedived again last year. The Twins have gotten so desperate to keep him healthy that they actually let him pitch more over the offseason. He’s obviously a huge risk again . . . BRIAN DUENSING, NICK BLACKBURN and JASON MARQUIS are all the definition of fifth starter. They serve it up, give up a lot of hard-hit balls, and hope they get hit right at their defenders . . . If Duensing and Blackburn falter, ANTHONY SWARZAK probably pitched well enough last year to get a shot in the rotation. LIAM HENDRICKS, one of the organization’s better prospects, would be a slightly more exciting option.
RELIEF PITCHING
Despite his underwhelming performance last year, MATT CAPPS will pitch the ninth inning again because of his “closer’s experience.” He figures to be on an undeservedly long leash . . . GLEN PERKINS certainly proved he deserves to close. He was Minnesota’s best reliever in his first full season in the ‘pen. His velocity was up as a short reliever, and the lefty was truly overpowering. If things go sour for the Twins again this season (and it seems likely they will), perhaps they’ll get serious about Perkins later this year.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
