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Home - Baseball Betting
2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Predictions
Is this
the year hope springs eternal in our 2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays
predictions? The
Devil Rays are the definition of a perennial bottom feeder,
averaging just 65 victories a season over the past 7 years. Because of
their terrible record, many bettors consistently go against them. I
would advise against that practice however, as the Devil Rays were 81-80
at home the past 2 seasons for a positive 15 units. Their pathetic road
play overshadows the fact that they’ve managed a winning record at home
over the past 2 seasons so bettors continue to go against them even when
they are back in Florida. I would suggest picking your spots and backing
these Devil Rays at home, but mostly against non-division teams.
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Most would think that the Devil Rays would finish at the bottom of every
division in baseball. I’m going to have to say that just wouldn’t be the
case. Over the past 2 seasons, Tampa Bay is 47-40 at home against ball
clubs outside the elite AL East. More than anything they don’t have the
pitching staff to contend with the big bats in the Northeast, and with
Toronto bringing in extra power in Glaus and Overbay, it figures to push
Tampa Bay back even more. The Rays do have the prospects of being an
exciting team with the capabilities of putting lots of runs on the
board. They will take chances on the base paths because they have to win
games. Bad teams are inconsistent, so it will be important to pick your
spots on the 2006 Devil Rays. But don’t get caught up in always going
against them or it could cost you. Look for the Rays at home, especially
against teams outside their division, to do some damage.
The
pitching staff does has a gem in the making with Scott Kazmir. This guy
has a great fastball and the ability to blaze through opposing lineups.
He is still young and inconsistent, but there will be times during the
season where you will see just how good this kid can be. Overall the
pitching staff was the 2nd worst in the American League last
year and had the most blown saves in the majors with 26. The bullpen
was further weakened when the team lost closer Danny Baez to the
Dodgers, so don’ t expect this team to hold onto to many late leads.
Like the
rest of the American League East though, this team will be able to put
some runs on the board in a hurry if they get hot. They are loaded with
young guns like Jorge Cantu, Aubrey Huff, and Jonny Gomes providing the
threat of the long ball and Julio Lugo and Carl Crawford setting the
table with their consistent play at the top of the lineup. The team
will also get Rocco Baldelli back, who missed the entire 2005 season due
to injury.
The
division will keep the Tampa Bay Devil Rays down, but don’t mistake this
team as one that is as bad as the Seattle Mariners or the Kansas City
Royals. They simply can’t compete in the division they are in with the
payrolls of the Yankees, Bluejays, Orioles, and Red Sox. This team will
be a perennial bottom dweller and this season should be no different.
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