Posted on 3/3/2008 6:14:16 PM

MLB Betting - Mets Have No More Excuses in the N.L. East

By D.S. Williamson

The New York Mets made the biggest splash during the offseason of maybe any team in all of Major League Baseball by acquiring two-time Cy Young Award Winner, Johan Santana. Lest we forget, these Mets started 2007 out on fire. They were the favorite to make the World Series before the All-Star break. Then, inexplicably, they began to lose games and suddenly found themselves out of the National League Playoffs.

Will there be a team in the National League East to challenge the Mighty Mets? Maybe. The Mets, on paper, appear to be the best team in the entire National League, but they couldn’t close the deal last year. We’ll have to wait and see if they can close the deal this year.

National League East

New York Mets - - BetUS odds – 165 - - Like I wrote above, on paper the Mets look unstoppable. But baseball games are not played on paper. The names Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez use to strike fear into the hearts of all major league batters. Of course, that was a few years ago. These days Pedro and Johan appear downright ordinary. Santana went 15 and 13 last year with a 3.33 ERA. Pedro, in only five games, went 2 and 1 with a 2.57 ERA. The problem with Martinez is that he is older then yours truly, two years in fact, which means he’s going on 37 this year. Is he washed up? Will it matter? Even though the Mets have terrific hitters, their pitching staff just isn’t as dominant as the BetUS odds indicate. Santana was blitzed last week in his first game as a Met. That could be a sign of things to come. In any case the odds are way too low on this team. But as you will read below, the N.L. East doesn’t offer much after the Mets.

Philadelphia Phillies - - BetUS odds + 280 - - The BetUS odds are much better on the Phillies who pissed off starting pitcher Cole Hamels by giving him $500,000. Are you kidding me, Becky? He’s the starting pitcher in a rotation for a team that believes it can win the National League pennant! Hamels went off to the press by saying that he “would remember” the low-blow “in the future”. Of course, if he doesn’t win any games this year, then he won’t get a chance to “remember”. If their closer, Brad Lidge comes back successfully from knee surgery and becomes the shut-down closer that he used to be, the Phillies have a shot in this division. Everybody knows how good Ryan Howard and the rest of their batting line-up is. So, it comes down to pitching. But I have to say that pissing off your starter isn’t what you want to do before the season starts. Of course, the Phillies went on to say that Brett Myers is starting opening day. Maybe there’s more to the Hamels’ slight then they’re letting on. Still, the Phillies are the pick only because I can’t get myself to put money on the Mets.

Atlanta Braves - - BetUS odds + 300 - - Both John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were born in the late 1960’s. Chipper Jones will be 36 this year and Andruw Jones - - oh wait, he doesn’t play for them any more. I don’t know what the Braves are doing. I understand about the “history” of baseball, but you have to start grooming your young bucks or at least finding some young bucks in this league or you’ll be toast before the All-Star break. These guys are too old to win this division, plain and simple. The odds are way too low on the National League’s version of the Sunshine Boys. I can’t recommend these guys at all.

Florida Marlins - - BetUS odds + 4000 - - Their starting pitcher had a 5.81 ERA last year. I won’t name him because I want to save him the embarrassment. Yes, that is how bad the Marlins are. There have been rumblings for over five years about this team leaving Florida. Christ! Just do it already, okay? Nobody gives a damn about you guys. I know it sucks, but it’s true. The Marlins went 78 and 84 last year and lost the division by 19 games. I don’t see them turning that around this year.

Washington Nationals - - BetUS odds + 4000 - - The one silver-ling is that starting pitcher, in 16 games last season, went 4 and 5 with a 3.42 ERA. The ERA is pretty good for this division. That means that Shawn might bring home some winners this year. Of course, Shawn can’t pitch all day and the rest of the rotation is horrible. John Patterson only pitched in seven games last season. He went 1 and 5 with a 7.47 ERA. Awful. I don’t get it. The Nationals play out of D.C. - - the freaking nation’s capital! Are you telling me that you can’t bone up some serious dough to get some good players onto this squad? Come on, Becky! Okay, so these guys are losers. They have no chance winning the N.L. East Division.

Go to the BetUS sportsbook today and take a swing at Major League Baseball online betting. We have the most current baseball odds and lines, as well as player, game and series props throughout the MLB baseball season. To help you bet on sports, check out the Free Picks section of the Locker Room for sports betting free picks and predictions. Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!