White Sox Odds – Windy City’s hopes depend on aging veterans
Those betting on Chicago White Sox odds last year were taken for a thrilling ride, as Chicago needed a one-game playoff against the Twins to get into the postseason, where the team was promptly eliminated by the Rays. Not much has changed for 2009 and the White Sox's sports betting odds have them as favorites in the AL Central, but they’ll need a repeat performance from the pitching staff.
White Sox odds: +2000 odds to win the World Series
- Quentin back to make up for lost 2008 season
- Leadoff hitting is a concern
- Can the bullpen be productive?
White Sox betting fans can expect a lot of scoring; the White Sox were sixth in the majors in runs scored last year, and Carlos Quentin was on his way to the MVP award before he broke his wrist while hitting a bat in frustration. With Quentin, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko in the middle of the lineup, there’s no shortage of players who can drive in runs.
However, the onus will be on DeWayne Wise and rookie Chris Getz to make opposing pitchers work from the very top of the lineup. If the White Sox can be productivity out of their first two hitters, it would be a massive boost to their MLB odds.
If you’re going to bet on the White Sox, some improved pitching would be nice. Chicago was 14th in the majors in runs allowed in 2008, and that number won’t get any better after Javier Vasquez was allowed to flee to Atlanta, as the veteran was in the doghouse of manager Ozzie Guillen.
Chicago does have some talent and experience in the rotation, led by southpaws Mark Buehrle and John Danks. Gavin Floyd, 26, had a phenomenal 2008, and many are expecting him to break out this year. Bobby Jenks returns as the closer, despite some back problems. The White Sox also return a solid setup trio in Scott Linebrink, Octavio Dotel and Matt Thornton, but they are all between 32-35 years old, so it’s possible that a decline is inevitable.
White Sox odds should have Chicago in the thick of the American League Central race. Chicago will have its hands full as the Central was baseball’s tightest division last season. Many White Sox betting fans wonder if the team could have gone further than a loss to Tampa Bay in the ALDS if Quentin would have stayed healthy.
It’ll also be interesting to see if Dye, Konerko and Thome can still be productive despite their climbing ages. Look for Floyd to be the team’s ace by midseason, but their setup guys have to give Jenks a chance to save some games. The White Sox won’t finish lower than second in the Central, so they would be a solid MLB betting pick.
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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.
