Seattle Mariners odds - Griffey homecoming not enough to save sinking Mariners
Seattle Mariners odds don’t look bright in 2009. Good teams rely on good pitching, something Seattle is sorely lacking heading into this season. The team was horrific last season, going 61-101 and earning the worst record in the entire American League.
While one beloved, familiar face returns to Seattle, it won’t make much of a difference on the Mariners' sports betting lines—it’s going to be another long year for M’s fans.
Seattle Mariners odds: +8000 to win the World Series
- King Felix, Bedard and not much else in rotation
- Raul Ibanez’s bat will be missed
- Griffey’s return is nice, but won’t change Seattle’s fortunes
The Seattle pitching staff is solid if unspectacular. Certainly, baseball betting fans recognize Felix Hernandez is the crown jewel. “King Felix” continued his upward progress last year, producing a 3.45 ERA while striking out 175 batters. At just 23 years old the righty appears ready to turn a corner, and he’ll need to if you plan to bet on the Mariners. The only concern is the heavy workload he’s carried so far in his young career, having pitched at least 190 innings for three straight seasons.
Erik Bedard is a big question mark in the rotation. He has talent in spades but he’s also proven to be injury prone; last season, for example, he was limited to just 81 innings of work. Still, when Bedard’s on, he’s on, as evidenced by his last season in Baltimore when he posted a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts.
Offensively, Mariners betting fans will be left wanting with this crowd. The much underrated Raul Ibanez has left for Philadelphia, and with him goes three straight seasons of 20-plus homers and 100-plus RBIs. Adrian Beltre is still a good ball player, having hit at least 25 dingers over the past three years, but he’s getting up there in years and he’s not good enough to anchor an entire lineup. Worse yet, Ichiro Suzuki, the team’s best pure hitter, appears to finally be slipping into decline.
And, of course, there’s the return of Ken Griffey Jr. The nostalgia is nice, but Griffey isn’t the man he used to be. He did manage 30 homers two seasons ago, but he hit just 18 in a split season with Cincinnati and the White Sox. Mariners betting fans should enjoy watching this homecoming of sorts, but it’s not going to make a difference on MLB odds.
It was rough going if you bet on the Mariners in 2008. This season won’t be any different. A few players have left, a few players are a year longer in the tooth, and there aren’t any new additions to warrant optimism. Go ahead and chase Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard on a week-to-week basis, but be cautious otherwise.
For Mariners odds or other sports betting lines, visit the offshore sportsbook at BetOnline.com.
Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
