The Greek Sportsbook recently released future book odds for baseball's postseason awards. Online sports bettors will find some intriguing opportunities in the Cy Young, Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards.
Odds have been released to cover all the awards in both the American and National League.
David Ortiz is listed as the $175 favorite in the AL Most Valuable Player race. Since Ortiz leads the AL in home runs and runs batted in, he is a deserving favorite. The knock on him is that he is a designated hitter. Some voters will insist that a pure DH is not deserving of the award.
This might open the door for Derek Jeter, who is listed at plus $800. The Yankees are making a serious move in the AL East. If they overtake the Red Sox and get to the playoffs, it will be on Jeter's shoulders.
Albert Pujols is the overwhelming favorite for the NL MVP. The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman is having a huge year and has a legitimate chance at winning the Triple Crown.
The 'field' bet at plus $1200 may be an interesting long shot because Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals and Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies are included. Soriano, who still may be traded to a playoff contending team, could certainly make an interesting case for the award. Someone other than Pujols winning the award would be a big surprise.
The Cy Young races in both leagues are very competitive and wide open. Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins would appear to have a legitimate shot at a juicy plus $600. The drawback is that Francisco Liriano, (plus $500) Minnesota's other ace, is having an incredible year and carries a very salty 1.94 ERA.
Many are calling for Liriano to lose steam in the last half of the year, which would open the door for Santana. With two good pitchers on the Minnesota staff, the possibility of Santana and Liriano splitting votes is very good.
That would probably mean that one of the co-favorites for the award would either be Boston Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon (plus $300) or Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (plus $300).
The NL Cy Young race probably comes down to Arizona's Brandon Webb and Tom Glavine of the Mets.
Webb, who has had incredible stuff all year, is 11-3 with an ERA under 3.00. He is currently the plus $175 favorite and may merit a play.
Glavine (plus $600) also has 11 wins. If you believe the New York Mets are the team to beat in the NL, he could have a great record for them and may be able to take the award away from Webb.
The AL Rookie of the Year is also a two player race. Liriano and Papelbon are having exceptional years and are part of the Cy Young discussion in their rookie year. Papelbon is the minus $300 favorite and is in position to add to his impressive numbers. Liriano, as the plus $250 second choice, will have pitched more innings than Papelbon by season's end.
Liriano got off to a slower start than Papelbon. However, since entering the rotation in the middle of May, not many pitchers have been more impressive.
The 'field' is the favorite at minus $300 for NL Rookie of the Year honors. This may create an opportunity for Ryan Zimmerman at plus $250 to earn the honor. Zimmerman is the rookie third basemen for the Washington Nationals who is on pace to have more than 100 RBIs this year.
If the astute baseball bettor has a handle on which teams are set for playoff runs, he could hold the ultimate key in deciding the MVP and Cy Young awards.
