Baseball over/under win totals

Offshore early birds apparently have already bagged their limit of worms when it comes to wagering on baseball over/under win totals. The Palms Casino in Las Vegas became the first local venue to post numbers on season win totals, lagging far behind one offshore outfit that has offered this proposition since the first of February.

It's interesting to compare the early win totals posted by Palms bet boss Richie Baccellieri to the opening numbers offered at Pinnacle.

The New York Yankees topped the offshore list at 100 1/2 victories. However, that number shrunk to 97 by the time the number hit the board in Las Vegas. The defending American League East champs were just one of many teams across the betting board that enticed 'under' bettors.

Washington and Florida experienced the biggest fluctuations. The Nationals were in the NL-East title chase for most of 2005 in their first season in the nation's capital en route to an 81-81 finish. Pinnacle, expecting more of the same from the Nationals in 2006, posted their win total at 81. The Palms countered by putting up a 75.
Florida, financially strapped because of an unstable stadium situation, pared down its payroll after winning 83 games last season. Offshore bookmakers thought 70 1/2 was an appropriate adjustment, but by the time number surfaced locally it was down to 65.

The New York Mets and Toronto were arguably the most active teams in the trade market during the offseason. The Mets improved by 12 games from 2004 to 2005 when they won 83 times. The addition of Carlos Delgado and Paul LoDuca has fans in the Big Apple dreaming about unseating Atlanta atop the NL-East. New York's projected win total opened at 91 1/2 offshore and hit the board in Las Vegas at 90.

There are more than a few baseball pundits who think the Toronto Blue Jays can compete with the Yankees and Boston in the AL-East. Toronto ownership opened its purse strings, giving general manager J.P. Ricciardi some spending cash. A.J. Burnett steps in as the No. 2 starter behind Roy Halladay. Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay add punch to the offense.

The Jays were one of the few teams on the board that attracted 'over' activity, opening at 85 1/2 offshore and 87 at the Palms.

The defending champion Chicago White Sox, winners of 99 games in 2005, are once again among the favorites to win the American League crown. Yet, the win total for the Pale Hose is a relatively modest 91.

Houston still has Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt at the top of its starting rotation, but questions concerning the future of Roger Clemens and an anemic offense haven't excited oddsmakers. The Astros won 89 games last season to earn a wild-card berth. Expectations are lower in 2006, with their win total set at 83.

Fans in Colorado and Kansas City didn't have much to cheer about last season and apparently their optimism would be misplaced in 2006. The Rockies cashed 67 times last season and their number this year was offered at 68. The Royals’ many offseason moves, plus the Marlins' demise, give them a chance to avoid finishing with the worst record in baseball. Kansas City, which won 63 games last year, opened this season at 61 offshore and 63 at the Palms.

Complete over/under win totals appear below.

TEAM 2005 WINS 2006 PINN 2006 PALMS


ARIZONA 77 77 74

ATLANTA 90 90 88 ½

BALTIMORE 74 75 1/2 75

BOSTON 95 92 90 ½

CHI CUBS 79 84 85 ½

WHITE SOX 99 92 91

CINCINNATI 73 74 73

CLEVELAND 93 89 1/2 89 ½

COLORADO 67 68 68

DETROIT 71 76 1/2 77 ½

FLORIDA 83 70 1/2 65

HOUSTON 89 83 1/2 83

KANSAS CITY 56 61 63

LA ANGELS 95 89 89 ½

LA DODGERS 71 84 1/2 84 ½

MILWAUKEE 81 77 80 ½

MINNESOTA 83 79 1/2 82 ½

NY METS 83 91 1/2 90

NY YANKEES 95 100 1/2 97

OAKLAND 88 87 88 ½

PHILADELPHIA 88 82 82 ½

PITTSBURGH 67 74 1/2 75 ½

SAN DIEGO 82 77 1/2 78

SAN FRAN 75 79 1/2 82 ½

SEATTLE 69 73 1/2 75

ST LOUIS 100 95 93 ½

TAMPA BAY 67 68 67

TEXAS 79 78 81

TORONTO 80 85 1/2 87

WASHINGTON 81 81 75