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Home  Sports News MLB Baseball News MLB Betting Odds: The Big Unit is Back in Arizona |
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MLB Betting Odds: The Big Unit is Back in Arizona |
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Written by Jimmy Boyd
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Wednesday, 28 March 2007 |
 The biggest news in Arizona was its new colors (red and black) until Randy Johnson was signed and back on board. The Diamondbacks are hoping that the Big Unit will get them back in the playoff picture, and if not him, I'm sure they won't refuse some help from their new uniforms. Bodog.com has the Arizona Diamondbacks at 50 to 1 (Bet $1.00 to win $50.00) to win the 2007 World Series Championship.
When Johnson was with the Diamondbacks, he earned four NL Cy Young Awards, a World Series ring, and World Series co-MVP honors from 1999-2004 Johnson is hoping that returning to the NL and the warm Arizona weather will return him to form. Johnson wasn't alone in Arizona as he and Curt Schilling were quite the one-two punch. Now he will take on the role of the number two starter as 2006 Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb will almost assuredly get the ball on opening day.
Livan Hernandez and Doug Davis are also guys who don't like to give the ball up. All four of these pitchers are 200-inning machines who the D-Backs will look to ride as much as possible. This will take some of the pressure off a Jekyll and Hyde bullpen led by the ring leader Jose Valverde. This guys looks like Mariano Rivera in his prime when he's on and a rookie-leaguer trying to make it when he's off.
The batting order looks like a Triple-A All-Star game lineup as the talent is there, but the names aren't very recognizable. Eric Byrnes showed good power numbers in the lead off spot last season with 26 homeruns and 79 RBI's. He also stole 25 bases making him just one of three guys in the NL to hit 25 homeruns and steal 25 bases. He crushed righties with a .323 average but his 232 average after July was enough to make Arizona sick. If he doesn't consistently try swinging for the fence his average will remain solid and his homeruns will still come.
The rest of the lineup is made up of unproven stars with tons of potential. The Diamondbacks biggest long ball threat in Luis Gonzalez is gone so these youngsters will have added pressure to step it up. First Baseman Conor Jackson could be primed for a breakout year.
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The Diamondbacks are building for 2008, but their solid starting five will have them in good shape sooner than most expect. It doesn't hurt that the NL West is a relatively weak division. Arizona's young position players will continue to show signs of greatness followed by slumps as growing pains are inevitable. However, if these young guns can get it going after the All-Star break, the D-Backs could come in ahead of the curve and challenge out west. I don't see it likely happening, but I'm just saying not to be surprised if it does.
We are expecting to profit on the D-backs this season, especially at home as I foresee Arizona improving 10 games in their home park. Betting baseball is all about the pitchers and the D-backs have four good ones for us to back in the right spots.
Point-Spreads.com contributing sports expert Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith Sports is the most consistent handicapper across all sports that the industry has to offer. A consistent winner and profit maker in the NFL, NBA, college football, NCAA basketball, baseball and golf for the last eight years who provides in depth analysis with all of his selections so clients know the effort he has gone to in coming up with his selections.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 50/1 Atlanta Braves: 30/1 Baltimore Orioles: 90/1 Boston Red Sox: 9/1 Chicago Cubs: 9/1 Chicago White Sox: 90/1 Cincinnati Reds: 45/1 Cleveland Indians: 20/1 Colorado Rockies: 100/1 Detroit Tigers: 5/1 Florida Marlins: 35/1 Houston Astros: 35/1 Kansas City Royals: 85/1 Los Angeles Angels: 10/1 Los Angeles Dodgers: 15/1 Milwaukee Brewers: 45/1 Minnesota Twins: 22/1 New York Mets: 9/1 New York Yankees: 7/2 Oakland Athletics: 20/1 Philadelphia Phillies: 15/1 Pittsburgh Pirates: 100/1 San Diego Padres: 30/1 San Francisco Giants: 10/1 Seattle Mariners: 100/1 St Louis Cardinals: 9/1 Tampa Bay Devil Rays: 200/1 Texas Rangers: 40/1 Toronto Blue Jays: 15/1 Washington Nationals: 150/1 |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 March 2007 )
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