In looking at the standings this morning
2007-07-17
In looking at the standings this morning, most of teams near the top came into the season with expectations of being where they are. Sure the Yankees have failed to this point and some have played a little better than expected, but one team stands above the crowd. Seattle is 52-38, just two and one half games behind one of the best teams in the American League in the Los Angeles Angels and is the best bet in major league baseball betting at a salivating +19.2 units.
The Mariners have beguiled everyone in the AL, blending together many different working parts. At the top of the line-up and the face of the franchise is All-Star MVP Ichiro Suzuki. A strong case could be made for years now that he is the most complete player in the game. Superior fielder with a great throwing arm, a magician with the bat, who could hit 20 home runs or more if he so choose and well above average speed. Plus, he possesses an uncanny attention to detail that his manager’s and teammates appreciate.
Seattle’s offense crosses home plate an average of five times per game, which puts them at seventh in baseball betting in runs scored. The Mariners as a team bat .282, which is third in the American League, with a strong contingent of batters. DH Jose Vidro seems more at peace in coffee town; Raul Inbanez and Jose Guillen are the top RBI men and catcher Kenji Johjima and 3B Adrian Beltre are putting up numbers that contribute in some manner almost nightly. Even the latter day version of Rob Deer, Richie Sexson, has 15 home runs to help offset his Mendoza-like batting average of .203.
What has transformed this unlikely collection of big league players is the pitching. The names are not going to invoke much fear from opposing hitters save one, yet a big ballpark and preventing big innings, with big time closer has worked for the M’s. Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, Horacio Ramirez and Jeff Weaver have all been around the block more than once as starting pitchers, yet somehow some way it has worked in Seattle. The impresario is Felix Hernandez (6-4, 3.66) who pitches tonight. At the tender age of 21, he really is the leader of the staff with jaw dropping stuff most nights. With hard throwing J.J. Putz as the closer, it’s no wonder Sportsbook.com has Seattle as -155 favorite against Baltimore. The Mariners have taken a procrustean approach as a money line home favorite of -125 to -175 this season with a 15-3 record.
Baltimore is .500 at home, unfortunately there undoing comes on the road with 19-29 record (-6.5 units). They will try and change their luck with Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.07 ERA), who is off his worst outing of the season. Guthrie at 28 has bounced around in the Cleveland organization and seems to have found a home on the Orioles staff. He’ll face a stern test against a loaded Mariners line-up that is 18-6 against the ML vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits a start this season.
Seattle is 15-6 with a hot bullpen whose WHIP is under 1.250 the last 15 games and Baltimore is sickly as a road underdog of +100 to +150 over the last two seasons.
This encounter can be heard on XM178 or seen on MLB.TV starting at 10:05 sharp in the Eastern Time zone. Utilize the Betting Trends page extensively today with a full slate of action in Major League baseball betting.
StatFox Power Line – Baltimore -119
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