Rangers win in six, fade it now
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! No way the Rangers win their first World Series Championship in six games now. Giants fans, I expect a thank you card.
Adding to the excitement for baseball bettors in this year's World Series are a wide variety of proposition wagers at the various sports books. From Series MVP to the team that scores the most runs in a specific inning during the Series and everything in between, the assortment is there for serious prop players and recreational bettors alike.
I'm in the latter category, so take my picks with a full shaker of salt. Also, do your homework and your shopping regardless of which category of bettor you reside. Knowledge and preparation – having at least a clue – are key to all betting; getting the best price is just a smart thing to do whether you're wagering or buying the family groceries.
World Series MVP
TheGreek.com has over 20 names listed for this prop with the field at 12/1. Texas ace lefty Cliff Lee is the favorite at plus 500, and with his track record in the postseason that might just be a steal.
Josh Hamilton, the ALCS MVP, is second on the chart at plus 650. Lee's Game 1 counterpart for the Giants, Tim Lincecum, is plus 800, a price that ties him with his battery mate Buster Posey for tops on the San Francisco roster.
The danger with either of the Game 1 starters, Lee or Lincecum, is you're really depending on the World Series lasting at least five games and probably seven before either would get the nod.
Posey's an interesting wager to consider despite the Giants catcher being a rookie. He's hitting .282 for the postseason and proved he's capable of hitting for power with a .505 slugging mark and 18 homers in 108 regular season games.
Cody Ross, the NLCS MVP with three homers and a .350 average, is carrying 10/1 odds a day before the Series opener. The August castoff from the Marlins has definitely been the main stick in the Giants lineup and is worth a look.
My top two picks, however, are Rangers second sacker Ian Kinsler and their right fielder Nelson Cruz. Both are listed at plus 1200 and both have been solid so far in October. Cruz leads all postseason hitters with five homers and is batting .375 in Texas' first 11 playoff tilts. Kinsler tops the Rangers with nine RBIs in the postseason, slugging three out and batting .342.
Rangers sweep? Giants in seven?
Picking the exact outcome of the World Series presents a solid opportunity for those bettors with overall Series futures in place to either hedge a little or add to those double-throw down locks I read about daily on the SBR message board.
TheGreek.com currently has the following prices up for your consideration:
The very early number at TheGreek this past Sunday morning was Texas minus 120 to win; that has since jumped to Texas minus 145, and higher at other shops.
If you have one of those Texas 20/1 slips from back in February, throw a dollar on each Giants outcome now. If you got the Rangers around plus 475 when the playoffs started, throw 25¢ or so on the San Francisco outcomes.
My pick? I like Texas in six. Don't put a penny on that.
The Great Fall Classic Plate Crossing Event
If you're looking to fade me on another prop pick, help yourself. One more event at TheGreek that caught my eye was the team to score the most runs between now and the time we know who the World Series Champions are. Texas is minus 130 with the Giants even money.
Even if you like the Giants to win this Series, especially if you think it will take them six games or the full seven, you should wager on the Rangers. San Francisco got this far by scoring one more run than the Braves and Phillies in 10 games. Philadelphia actually scored 20 runs to the Giants' 19 in the NLCS.
Meanwhile Texas is clipping along plating 59 runs in 11 games and own a plus 27 scoring differential in the playoffs. This after the Rangers ranked fifth in scoring during the regular season with the Giants 17th.
Squaresville? Yes, but it's hard not to consider the decent odds that Texas is going to blow open with a rout at some point in the next 4-7 games. If Hawk Harrelson were writing this, he'd scribble, "You can put it on the boooooooooooard..." And then you'd have to wait a few days for him to finish it, "Yes!"
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! No way the Rangers win their first World Series Championship in six games now. Giants fans, I expect a thank you card.
Adding to the excitement for baseball bettors in this year's World Series are a wide variety of proposition wagers at the various sports books. From Series MVP to the team that scores the most runs in a specific inning during the Series and everything in between, the assortment is there for serious prop players and recreational bettors alike.
I'm in the latter category, so take my picks with a full shaker of salt. Also, do your homework and your shopping regardless of which category of bettor you reside. Knowledge and preparation – having at least a clue – are key to all betting; getting the best price is just a smart thing to do whether you're wagering or buying the family groceries.
World Series MVP
TheGreek.com has over 20 names listed for this prop with the field at 12/1. Texas ace lefty Cliff Lee is the favorite at plus 500, and with his track record in the postseason that might just be a steal.
Josh Hamilton, the ALCS MVP, is second on the chart at plus 650. Lee's Game 1 counterpart for the Giants, Tim Lincecum, is plus 800, a price that ties him with his battery mate Buster Posey for tops on the San Francisco roster.
The danger with either of the Game 1 starters, Lee or Lincecum, is you're really depending on the World Series lasting at least five games and probably seven before either would get the nod.
Posey's an interesting wager to consider despite the Giants catcher being a rookie. He's hitting .282 for the postseason and proved he's capable of hitting for power with a .505 slugging mark and 18 homers in 108 regular season games.
Cody Ross, the NLCS MVP with three homers and a .350 average, is carrying 10/1 odds a day before the Series opener. The August castoff from the Marlins has definitely been the main stick in the Giants lineup and is worth a look.
My top two picks, however, are Rangers second sacker Ian Kinsler and their right fielder Nelson Cruz. Both are listed at plus 1200 and both have been solid so far in October. Cruz leads all postseason hitters with five homers and is batting .375 in Texas' first 11 playoff tilts. Kinsler tops the Rangers with nine RBIs in the postseason, slugging three out and batting .342.
Rangers sweep? Giants in seven?
Picking the exact outcome of the World Series presents a solid opportunity for those bettors with overall Series futures in place to either hedge a little or add to those double-throw down locks I read about daily on the SBR message board.
TheGreek.com currently has the following prices up for your consideration:
- Rangers win 4-0, +815
- Rangers win 4-1, +475
- Rangers win 4-2, +465
- Rangers win 4-3, +425
- Giants win 4-0, +1415
- Giants win 4-1, +745
- Giants win 4-2, +525
- Giants win 4-3, +465
The very early number at TheGreek this past Sunday morning was Texas minus 120 to win; that has since jumped to Texas minus 145, and higher at other shops.
If you have one of those Texas 20/1 slips from back in February, throw a dollar on each Giants outcome now. If you got the Rangers around plus 475 when the playoffs started, throw 25¢ or so on the San Francisco outcomes.
My pick? I like Texas in six. Don't put a penny on that.
The Great Fall Classic Plate Crossing Event
If you're looking to fade me on another prop pick, help yourself. One more event at TheGreek that caught my eye was the team to score the most runs between now and the time we know who the World Series Champions are. Texas is minus 130 with the Giants even money.
Even if you like the Giants to win this Series, especially if you think it will take them six games or the full seven, you should wager on the Rangers. San Francisco got this far by scoring one more run than the Braves and Phillies in 10 games. Philadelphia actually scored 20 runs to the Giants' 19 in the NLCS.
Meanwhile Texas is clipping along plating 59 runs in 11 games and own a plus 27 scoring differential in the playoffs. This after the Rangers ranked fifth in scoring during the regular season with the Giants 17th.
Squaresville? Yes, but it's hard not to consider the decent odds that Texas is going to blow open with a rout at some point in the next 4-7 games. If Hawk Harrelson were writing this, he'd scribble, "You can put it on the boooooooooooard..." And then you'd have to wait a few days for him to finish it, "Yes!"