2009 Tampa Bay Rays Odds & Predictions

If you did any MLB betting on the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, you likely made a pretty penny as the Rays were the most profitable team in baseball, banking dime bettors $27,960. That’s quite a step up considering that the 2007 Rays would have put dimers in the hole $13,000. Besides the very lucrative betting season, the Rays took baseball fans on quite the ride, going from worst to first in the tough AL East and winning the AL Pennant to boot. Will we see more magic from Tampa in 2009 or will the Rays come back down to earth? Jimmy Boyd explains in this MLB odds and predictions article. The Tampa Bay Rays are listed at +1400 to win the 2009 World Series.

Pitching
The Rays have assembled a nice little starting rotation with righthander James Shields most likely to get the ball on Opening Day. He has great control and will off-speed you to death. He was 14-8 last season with a 3.56 ERA. Southpaw Scott Kazmir is already a two-time All-Star at just age 24. Kaz was 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA. What a deal bringing in Matt Garza from the Twins proved to be. Or should I say ALCS MVP Matt Garza. He’s the youngest pitcher ever voted ALCS MVP at age 24 and to beat Boston in a Game 7 is quite a feat for anyone. The Rays are huge on USA Today Minor League Player of the Year David Price who began his professional career with 20 scoreless innings. He looks like a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. Andy Sonnanstine rounds out the starting five. The Rays won 20 of his starts in 2009. They only won more with Shields on the mound last season (22).

The pen was a strength in the postseason when David Price held hitters to 2-for-20, but with him in the starter role, it could struggle some. The Rays did win 34 of the 35 games that Troy Percival entered in a save situation, and he figures to handle that role most often this year. Manager Joe Maddon is a master at managing the pen and could make this weakness, on paper, work.

Lineup
There is young talent for days on the Rays roster and it all starts with slugger Evan Longoria. In 2008, the third baseman became just the sixth player in history to play in the All-Star game, World Series, and win Rookie of the Year in the same season. Left fielder Carl Crawford is one of my favorite players as he helps you win with speed. Since 1911, Crawford is the only player to reach 300 steals and 75 triples before turning 27 years old. First baseman Carlos Pena was the Sultan of Swat for Tampa Bay in 2008, leading the club with 31 jacks and 102 RBIs. Most importantly, he produced in late innings when the Rays needed runs the most. He led the league in homeruns, with 8, and RBIs, with 25, in late-inning pressure situations. DH Pat Burrell has been the definition of consistency as one of only three players with 20 or more homeruns and 70 or more walks each year since 2001. Second baseman Akinori Iwamura is not your typical lead off man. In fact, he hit a sizzling .424 when swinging at the first pitch. Center fielder B.J. Upton led all AL center fielders in on base percentage and outfield assists. He’s another one of my favorite young players. Right fielder Matt Joyce, shortstop Jason Bartlett, and catcher Dioner Navarro round out the starting lineup.

Prediction: 3rd AL East
I don’t expect the Rays to drop off much, but life will be much tougher now that they are wearing the target. Now everyone that plays them will be looking to knock of a piece of it off. I expect motivated Red Sox and Yankees teams to leap frog the Rays in a tight AL East race. The Tampa Bay Rays are listed at +350 to win the AL East.

Beat the MLB odds this season by playing World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd’s baseball picks from Opening Day through the World Series.

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2010 Tampa Bay Rays Odds & Predictions
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• Rays White Sox Free MLB Pick for July 21, 2009
• Rays Orioles Free MLB Pick for September 14, 2009

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