MLB Potential Trade Deadline Players

The Mid Summer Classic is in the book as the second half of the 2015 Major League Baseball season picked up action on Friday night. While the action has been in full swing we expect the action to pick up as teams fight to climb back into the playoff picture. These next two weeks will be key for a number of teams around the game to determine whether or not to be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

As we look at the American League currently at least eight teams are in play for the playoffs with as many as ten on the doorsteps. This includes all five teams in the American League East as the Boston Red Sox recent play have pulled them within seven games of the first place New York Yankees.

MLB Trade

Over in the National League the same type of picture could play out as eight teams in contention with a few other teams knocking on the door. This includes three teams in the National League East as well as three teams in the National League Central. Depending on an early second half run the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds could play themselves back into play.

This leaves as few as 14 teams in play to be sellers with a chance that could increase. That being said here are a few players that could be traded before the July 31st trade deadline.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies recently hired Andy MacPhail to help turn this club around like he helped do in Baltimore. That being said MacPhail shipped out high priced players such as Eric Bedard and Miguel Tejada. If the Phillies can find someone to take on Hamels as well as Ryan Howards contract a deal will get done. Continue reading →

Understanding WHIP in Baseball

If you’re going to get serious about baseball betting, you’re going to have to get serious about baseball statistics. Otherwise you’re just betting form the gut. This can be fun for regular entertainment, but if you’re trying to make serious money, well…this is going to be quite the problem. You just need to make sure that you’re looking at all of the inner details.

First and foremost, there’s WHIP. It’s something that gets talked about in a lot of baseball commentary, so you really would do well to know as much about it as possible. It simply stands for walks plus hits divided by the innings actually pitched. ( W + H / I P, get it?)

WHIP in Baseball

Evaluating your pitchers on WHIP is a good thing, especially if you’re going to make a lot of bets on players.

Let’s say that your favorite pitcher has handled 200 innings during the season. Perhaps he’s done 185 hits and 65 walks. So you basically add together the walks and the hits. That’s 140 walks and hits bundled together. Then you divide by the total amount of innings.

In this case, we get 1.25 — that’s a pretty average whip for a player. You’ve got a well rounded major leaguer if they’re in this range. Of course, if you get closer to 1.50, then you start having bad whip, which means that the pitcher has control problems. The MLB will eventually weed these guys out, but until they do… it’s good betting for everyone.

Naturally, there are great players that have amazing whip numbers. You can bet on them, but the odds might not be quite in your favor like they were before. You just need to figure out what you’re going to do.

Sometimes betting just plain sucks, and bad handicapping hurts your ability to be profitable. Even if you’re not heavy into handicapping, you’re going to need to learn how. Sure, you could go with free sports picks for baseball, but that’s like cheating. You’ll feel much better in the long run when you’re making progress off of your hard work, not someone else’s. Good luck!

Why Yes, You Can Make First Inning Bets

Are you thinking about a way to jump right into betting on baseball without making things too complicated? Well, step on up because you can bet on the first inning of a baseball game. Now, how’s that for speed?

Of course, if you’re new to the scene, you’re going to want to make sure that you review some sportsbooks before you get ahead of yourself. Where you bet really does make a difference, and you’re going to want to make sure that you’re staying as focused as you possibly can. You don’t want to get sidetracked when there’s so much that you can get done with your wagers. Every sportsbook is going to have different odds that you need to check out anyway, so there’s no need to think that you can’t find the one that’s going to treat you right.

Now then, let’s get down to business. Betting on the first inning is pretty straight forward — you’re trying to figure out if there’s going to be a run …or no run at all. It doesn’t get simpler than the first inning baseball bet.

Make sure that if you’re going to play this bet, that you really watch your odds. The strength of the pitcher is what’s going to really determine whether or not this bet takes off or not. If you get a pretty lousy pitcher, it could really be hit or miss. If you get a great pitcher, then you’re going to have to hit higher odds than if you got a really crappy one.

The first inning bet is great for socializing with other baseball freaks because they will definitely want to make sure that you’re looking into the game more than the actual bets. Don’t expect to win a lot of money off this bet. That’s not what it’s there for at all. It’s just a little fun bet that something’s going to happen. If it doesn’t happen, don’t sweat it — it’s not a major bet.

Now, if you’re betting on the first inning during a World Series game…things get a little hotter than normal. But for the most part, this is just to have a little fun. As long as you keep things in perspective, there’s nothing that says that you can’t have fun with the first inning bet. Good luck!

Unibet Is Truly Your Best Place for Premier League Betting

Okay, we’re going to go easy on the newbies in this guide. After all, we’re talking about football — the real kind, with the white ball instead of the almond shaped brown ball the Americans seem to be in love with — and that’s always cause for celebration. Football is a great sport, and it has plenty of fans all around the world. But if you are tired of just watching the game, you might want to figure out what you’re going to have to do to make the game much more interactive. That’s where we come in — you can always pursue online betting.

There’s nothing that says that you can’t look at online betting with a careful eye. It just means that you’re going to be in a different world for a while where you’re going to have to learn very quickly. Betting is something that can indeed put good money in your pocket, but you have to know what to do. This guide tells you how to do just that.

First and foremost, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re playing at a good sportsbook. Think about a sportsbook as being like your friendly neighborhood pub, except that you get to actually place bets that count. This is done in a very streamlined manner thanks to technology. So you’re not wasting your time at any point — you’re just going to get better and better from here.

The best sportsbook going right now is Unibet, for a lot of different reasons. They actually let you watch the games live through your account as long as you’re a remember, which means that you don’t even have to have a separate cable account in real time if you don’t want to do that.

You’ll get the rush of hanging out with people that honestly want to talk about the big games with you. You aren’t going to feel left out, the way you might with your offline friends. They probably don’t want to hear you wax on and on about the greatness of the big games, or to talk about sports nonstop But if you’re truly a big sports fan, how can you not get in on the sports betting cycles before each match? It really does make a difference!

Baseball for the Younger Generation

20/20 cricket has introduced a new format to an archaic game that lost touch with a youthful audience. The shortened form of the game not only encouraged reckless abandon with its play but allowed for the shorter attention span of the modern consumer. It is imperative that for baseball to grow and push into new territory something similar must be done.

Being from Australia I can count the amount of baseball games I have watched on one hand. I love playing the sport and as a cricket playing nation Australians generally have a bit of an affinity for bat and ball sports, but the viewing spectacle that is 9 innings baseball can fall pretty flat at times.


20/20 cricket was trialed in a low interest environment away from the critical eye. Those in the know observed it with keen interest and on viewing the success of it as a contest expanded it and now it is the dominant commercial cricket format in the world. All the money is in the Indian Premier League and with other 20/20 leagues blowing up around the world it is proof that for a long form game like cricket to be successful in this generation it needs to evolve with it. Baseball needs to do the same.

I’m not an expert on baseball, but as a connoisseur of a lot of sports I would like to be and that is my point. The fact that someone like me, who sits on the Fox Sports News Channel basically all day (when there isn’t a sport to be watched) doesn’t know enough about the sport to actually explain how this could be done, is an indictment of a sport with such a rich history. The administration of the sport need to do something about it before it is left behind.

This article is on behalf of Australia’s premier site onlinebetting.com.au.

Types of MLB Betting

When you first get into MLB betting, it can be very confusing. There are all kinds of terms and words that you are probably hearing for the first time, and you can become overwhelmed very easily. If you want to bet on MLB baseball but feel too confused to move forward, this article is for you. Here are some basic types of MLB betting formats as well as what you need to know to understand them:

MLB Betting Types – Money Line Betting

When it comes to MLB betting, money line betting is just about as easy as it gets. You have two teams you are betting on, and one is favored to win over the other. With money line betting, you simply pick the team you think will win the game. Period. Keep in mind that teams that are favored to win will not pay nearly as good as picking the underdog, but you will win a larger amount of your wagers by going with the favorite. You have to pick your underdogs carefully.


MLB Betting Types – Run Line Betting

This is a bit more complicated but it is still rather easy to get with some time. Basically you are given two teams. One baseball team is favored to win so they are given a “spread” that they have to cover. In other words, they not only have to win the game, but they have to win by a certain amount. The most common run line is 1.5 runs. This means that they need to win by that much or more to cover the spread. This occasionally means that a team can lose the game but still pay off for you if you bet on them. It takes some getting used to, but it is not a hard concept once you get the hang of it.

MLB Betting Types – Over Under Betting

This is a fun way to bet because both teams are involved and you don’t have to pick one in particular. The basic premise here is that you bet on the total number of runs scored in the game. The sportsbook will set the line (the number of total runs expected) and you will bet for the number of runs to be more or less than that. This is a fun way to wager without it being complicated in the least.

MLB Betting Types – Prop (proposition) Betting

Prop betting is basically the same thing as side betting. Anything that is not dependent on the final score of the game can be considered a prop bet. These are more popular in football than in baseball, but baseball certainly has folks that do it. There are unlimited numbers of prop bets out there, and the most common are usually connected to the MLB playoffs.
These bets are not the only ones that are out there, but they are the most common. If you can learn these basics, then you will be at home in any sportsbook in the world.

The Baseball Bat – What is It Made of?

There is a really common misconception that all baseball bats are made out of wood. This is not true. It was true in the past, when this was the only material type that was used but nowadays there are many different materials that are going to be utilized. However, wood baseball bats are still popular and they will be used by many different professionals and sometimes even in amateur leagues. Every single batter will know the name Louisville Slugger as it is one of the most popular bat creators that use wood in the world.

When referring to wood baseball bats there are two wood types that are usually utilized: maple and ash. Ash stands out as being the most popular. However, maple bats are starting to gain a lot of popularity lately. This is due to the fact that they are always harder. Unfortunately this also brings in a little problem. Sometimes maple bats will splinter. The good news is that this is a rare problem and more professionals weekly are starting to use them.

Another material that is possible is bamboo. Lately we have noticed many that are using them, mainly due to the fact that they are lighter while also being durable. The exact same thing can be said about the birch bat, which will be easier to bend when compared with maple and a lot more durable when compared with ash.

In 1969 we saw the appearance of the first ever aluminum bat and this ended up becoming really popular when referring to amateur baseball. The metal bats will be light and can increase distance when compared to a wooden bat. Due to this, amateurs will most likely use them since they can score more runs. There is also the composite bat that might be used, but there is a lot of controversy that surrounds it because of different possible problems.

In conclusion, we can say that professionals will most likely use wood bats while the amateurs will stick to aluminum bats. No matter what bat type is being used, what is important is that the quality is really high so that no problems can appear. A baseball bat can really hurt someone when there are different problems that are noticed and nobody wants to see that. Make sure that you choose the bat that you are using wisely in the event that you want to play some baseball.

Runline Betting Tips in Baseball

One of the major differences between the MLB and other seasons is the fact that it is much longer. If you want to bet on this sport, it is highly important to understand that it is normal to notice slumps and streaks. You are going to have a successful betting season in the event that you can find value in odds. The runline bet is rather new in the sport but professional bettors are going to use it. The traditional runlines that are usually available are – and + 1.5.

Statistics show that around 25% of the games in the last years finished with a difference of just one run. It is important that you will always pay close attention when betting -1.5 runline on a home team. This is a bet that is only going to be successful in around 7% of the games if the score is tied after 9 innings passed.

It is highly important that you will look at the pitcher’s stats because some of these players are going to be reliable and extremely predictable. When faced with a pitcher that has a higher chance of being replaced or shut out, a -1.5 runline bet can be suitable. Most professionals will bet against rookie pitchers as they will quite often give up the big inning.

There are different teams that will be popular in every season. This basically means that there will be many beginner bettors that will play a -1.5 runline on the favorite. Due to this, the +1.5 runline bet will be attractive when closer in time to the first pitch. The only problem is that you need to be careful, watch the odds at all times and pick the right time to bet money.

When the oddmaker will set a runline, it will analyze the money amount that is placed on the game and the moneyline. Most bettors think that a +1.5 runline bet on a game that does not have a high bet pool is advantageous but this is not always the case. It is quite often to notice a moneyline that has a better value when compared with -1.5 when faced with a professional pitching against rookies.

Always remember the fact that the runline bet in baseball is not as easy as you might be tempted to believe. You need to make sure that you pick the right time to place a bet in order to have a higher chance of winning. Sometimes, if you are not confident in getting a high chance of success, it is much better to simply not make the bet.

The Most Important Statistics to Analyze in MLB Handicapping Betting

The truth is that baseball stands out as the perfect sport for any person that loves statistics. MLB betting is impossible without a proper analysis of the stats and if you are a handicapper better, using statistics is something that you need to always do in order to have a chance of success.

MLB games are going to start and end with pitching. It is highly important to see who starts a game as this will have an impact on total lines. Most of the handicapping bets are going to be made based on a proper analysis of the pitching. The past performance of any pitcher will have an impact on the game but never put too much of a base on the past season. It is much more important to look at the current form in order to try and predict how he will do in the next match. Never neglect pitcher injuries!

It is highly important that you look at the pitcher’s ERA (earned run average) and at the team’s ability in scoring runs. You might end up having a team that is not ranked high at batting but that has a very good run scoring stat. There are examples where a team won the American League while finishing really low in batting average. With this in mind, make sure that you also take a look at the balls per game statistics, which will show you the ability of the team to put a man on a base.

Whenever betting on MLB handicapping, take a look at a home plate umpire stat. This can have an impact on the game on the basis of strike zone size. Any umpire will have habits and tighter strike zones basically mean that most of the games are going over the total. To put it really simple, most of the games in this case are going to end up being pitching duels. It is clear to understand that in this case you need to base your bet on pitcher stats.

Always remember that it is highly important to look at as many stats as possible, although the ones mentioned above are crucial in betting on handicap. Look at the form of the team, the weather forecast and the ball parks where the games are held. Combine all this to obtain a good foundation and practice so that you can see exactly how to have success when betting on MLB handicap.

Useful Baseball Betting Tips

Baseball betting is quite popular among professional sports betters as it is one of the easier sports to learn and get acquainted with pretty quickly. Even though football betting is more common that baseball betting, the latter is slowly gaining momentum in the betting circuit due to the better odds that it offers and the multiple choices it presents due to the many games that take place on a daily basis during the season. If you are ready to try your luck in baseball betting, it will be a good idea to keep the understated tips in mind.

The first thing to keep in mind while betting on baseball is staying put during the early season. This is the time to observe the game strategy and assess the performance of various teams rather than placing bets on them. This is because there is a greater chance of weather playing a spoilsport during the games that take place prior to the month of June. In addition to that, many team coaches and captains experiment with their line-ups in the early games to figure out the best possible combination. Furthermore, it is a known fact that many good pitchers warm up slowly in the early games of the season and reach their full form only in subsequent games.

One of the most common mistakes that amateur sports betters make is betting with their heart rather than their head. Placing a bet on a particular team because it is your favorite or because its game is on TV is not a sound betting strategy in any way. In fact, most professional sports betters would tell you that you could really make a fortune in baseball betting by placing your wager on the underdog. This way you risk losing far less and have the opportunity to win a large sum. Even the finest baseball team in the country loses as many as sixty games in a year.

You need to study more than just the winning figures of a particular team before betting on it. Assess when a particular team is on a winning or a losing streak and bet accordingly. Ideally, you should not place a bet on a team that has won three games in a row. In the same way, it may pay off to wager on a team that is on a three-game losing streak. Track the performance of the pitcher of a particular team you intend to bet on and compare the team strengths and weaknesses before placing a bet. It is also important to consider the park in which the game is being played and if it offers home field advantage to one of the teams.