posted June 18, 2008 at 13:59 in MLB Free Picks

The MLB All-Star Game is about a month away. That means that we are once again at the midway point of another MLB betting season. For baseball betting fans, it’s time for us to take a look at some of the hot and cold teams in baseball this season.

Now, it’s important to define the terms hot and cold. For baseball betting enthusiasts, a hot team is one that pads our bankrolls on a weekly or even daily basis. A cold team is one that could destroy our bankrolls - - put us into the poor house without us even knowing it. That’s the danger of playing a cold team in baseball. Why? Because in baseball when teams get hot, they usually stay hot. That’s the nature of the game. It’s not like the NFL where teams are up one week and down the next. In baseball if a team is hot, it usually stays hot. Just think back to the end of last year when the Colorado Rockies went on one of the greatest streaks in the history of baseball.

Speaking of last year, the team that the Rockies climbed over in order to make the post-season, the New York Mets, went through a huge change just the other day when they decided to let super skipper Willie Randolph go. They didn’t exactly let him go. They actually fired him, but that’s beside the point.

The point is to predict how Randolph’s exit will affect the Mets - - if it will at all - - and whether or not the Mets could become a surprise team after the All-Star Game. I’m not sure if they can. This next month should give us more insight.

Okay, let’s get to it! Here are the hot and cold teams in the first half of this MLB season.

Keep An Eye On…

Chicago Cubs - - the Cubs are the class of the National League. Any online sportsbook bettor should keep in mind what a great manager Lou Pinella is and what a great hitting team this is. The Cubs have everything going for them right now. Zambrano is the pitcher that everybody knows can bring home online wagering victories, but it doesn’t matter because the Cubs hit so well every single pitcher that takes the mound for them has a chance on the BetUS run-line. I really like the Cubs in the second half of the season to separate themselves from the rest of the National League.

Los Angeles Angels - - Besides the Boston Red Sox, this is the class of the American League. They have enough good pitchers to keep them competitive against the other good teams in the American League and they hit well. They aren’t overpowering, but that’s okay. All that means is that online betting fans get better odds on this team then they would on the Boston Red Sox.

Boston Red Sox - - Speaking of the champs, they make this list because they win so many games. This is a very good team and there’s no doubt that, on any given day, they could beat any other team in baseball by at least five runs. I love the overs on this team, but I also like the fact that they can shut-down opposing batters with Dice-K and Josh Beckett. This is a solid franchise and one that could always help bettors pad their bankrolls.

St. Louis Cardinals - - The Cardinals are always a tough team to play. They’ve been under the radar so far this season, but their record speaks for itself. They also will get Albert Pujols back which means this team is going to be very dangerous. Who knew that the best teams in the majors this year would come from the National League? I’d take the Cardinals and Cubs over anybody in the American League at this point.

Stay Away From…

Arizona Diamondbacks - - They were hot early, but they haven’t been hot lately. The problem with the Diamondbacks is that when Webb or Haren pitches, this team is unstoppable, but those guys can’t pitch every day. This team hasn’t been hitting the ball as well. BetUS online sportsbook bettors should take note that without run support Haren and Webb will eventually start losing more then they win. I’d stay away for a while.

Los Angeles Dodgers - - They hit okay, but they don’t have a shut-down pitcher. Brad Penney, their ace, has been terrible this year. Hiroki Kuroda is very good but he’s thirty-five years old. This team just isn’t as good as advertised. They’re only a few games behind the Diamondbacks because the N.L. West has suddenly reverted to form. The Dodgers are a play against right now because they’re just not very good.

New York Yankees - - Yes, they are in the hunt, but this team has no pitching and their ace, Chen Ming-Wang, will be out until September. Uh, that’s not good. Sure, they can hit up and down their line-up but if you’re giving up over ten runs a game, then you aren’t going to win that many. I might be wrong, but I’m not feeling the Yanks this year. I’m staying away as an MLB betting fan.

Detroit Tigers - - Horrible pitching, overrated hitting - - even I have to question the genius of Jim Leyland. My pick to make it to the World Series this year is just an awful team. There’s no other way to describe it. Luckily, they play in the A.L. Central Division and are only 6.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place, but let’s get serious here. They have no chance of challenging either the Angels or the Red Sox for the American League Pennant. Zero.

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