2012 World Series Odds
(The Spread) – The Cardinals may be the defending World Series champs but they’re not favored to repeat in 2012.
Oddsmakers have released the opening odds for the 2012 World Series and despite their incredible run in 2011, the Cardinals do not find themselves favored to win next season. Here are some noteworthy odds as they pertain to next year’s Fall Classic odds.
Despite their first round exit in 2011, the Phillies are once again favored to win the World Series. They were favored in 2011 after adding Cliff Lee to a stacked rotation that already featured Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, and they’re favored again in 2012. That said, the Fightin’ Phils have a couple of questions heading into the winter meetings, including whether or not to bring back shortstop Jimmy Rollins. But a full year of Hunter Pence in right field will help and the rest of their lineup is still dangerous when they’re on. (Again, when they’re on.)
The Bronx Bombers have the next best odds to win the 2012 World Series despite losing to the Tigers in the first round of the playoffs last season. Once again they have questions surrounding their pitching staff and their lineup continues to age. That said, the new regime featuring Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson offers new hope to a Yankee team that always spends to win. It’ll be interesting to see if CC Sabathia returns for another season after the Yankees offered him a renegotiated contract, and we’ll see if the club can add a solid No. 2 behind him.
View Latest 2012 World Series Odds
The Red Sox actually have the next best odds at 8/1 but the Rangers are obviously worth mentioning seeing as how they’ve won the American League Pennant each of the last two seasons. If the Rangers can’t re-sign C.J. Wilson then they’ll have a giant hole atop their starting rotation and it remains to be seen whether or not Nolan Ryan can, or will spend to acquire another ace. But Texas’ lineup remains dangerous when guys like Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz are healthy. You look at the offense from No. 1 to No. 9 and you can’t help but be impressed. That said, they need to keep their pitching intact, if not improve it before April.
Nobody gave the Cardinals a chance in spring training after they lost Adam Wainwright (Tommy John surgery) for the year. Then nobody gave them a chance when they were 10.5 games back of the Braves with just over a month to play in the regular season and nobody gave them a chance when they faced the Phillies in the postseason. Yet there the Cardinals were, celebrating yet another World Series title in October. It’ll be interesting to see whom the club hires as their next manager now that Tony La Russa has retired. The Cards also have a massive decision on their hands when it comes to trying to sign Albert Pujols. Of course, there isn’t much of a decision to be made, right? They have to break the bank to re-sign their star.
Below is a complete list of opening odds to win the 2012 World Series.
Philadelphia Phillies 4/1
New York Yankees 13/2
Boston Red Sox 8/1
Texas Rangers 12/1
Detroit Tigers 14/1
St. Louis Cardinals 14/1
San Francisco Giants 16/1
Atlanta Braves 18/1
Tampa Bay Rays 18/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 20/1
Los Angeles Angels 22/1
Milwaukee Brewers 22/1
Chicago Cubs 25/1
Cincinnati Reds 25/1
Colorado Rockies 25/1
Chicago White Sox 30/1
Florida Marlins 30/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 30/1
Washington Nationals 30/1
Minnesota Twins 35/1
New York Mets 35/1
Oakland Athletics 35/1
Toronto Blue Jays 35/1
Cleveland Indians 50/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 60/1
Seattle Mariners 60/1
Baltimore Orioles 75/1
Kansas City Royals 75/1
San Diego Padres 75/1
Houston Astros 100/1
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