With SEA making significant improvements, and LAA moving back a little, there's a logjam a the top of the season totals.
LAA/TEX 84'
SEA 83'
OAK 78
The first thing that jumps out at me is the OAK number. Looking at the last seven years, the WORST team in the AL West has won 61-78 games:
75
61
75
78
69
63
71
That's an average of 71 wins with no single season eclipsing the 78 win mark. If OAK is clearly at the bottom of the list, can't we expect them to fall (significantly) short of this mark? OAK = UNDER 78
How much worse is LAA this year? Not that much worse - Lackey's departure obviously being the single biggest factor. Remember that the team was decimated with injuries last year at the start of the season, had a guy killed and still rallied to win 97 games. 97 is A LOT more than 84'. Texas has a lot of trouble in their rotation and SEA isn't THAT much better. Maybe it's a sucker bet, but I like LAA OVER 84'.
The last seven years for the Angels:
97
100
94
89
95
92
LAA/TEX 84'
SEA 83'
OAK 78
The first thing that jumps out at me is the OAK number. Looking at the last seven years, the WORST team in the AL West has won 61-78 games:
75
61
75
78
69
63
71
That's an average of 71 wins with no single season eclipsing the 78 win mark. If OAK is clearly at the bottom of the list, can't we expect them to fall (significantly) short of this mark? OAK = UNDER 78
How much worse is LAA this year? Not that much worse - Lackey's departure obviously being the single biggest factor. Remember that the team was decimated with injuries last year at the start of the season, had a guy killed and still rallied to win 97 games. 97 is A LOT more than 84'. Texas has a lot of trouble in their rotation and SEA isn't THAT much better. Maybe it's a sucker bet, but I like LAA OVER 84'.
The last seven years for the Angels:
97
100
94
89
95
92
