American League East Baseball Betting

The Yankees spent big and won big last year and those baseball betting fans who went along for the ride also prospered as New York was a solid wager in most individual betting categories in 2009. The Red Sox continued to be a good bet at home in 2009 but the Rays, who were darlings of many wagering wonks a year earlier, burned up a lot of cash. You had to be very fortunate to make any money on either the Orioles or Blue Jays last season, a trend which might continue this year.

Let's see if we can't find some clues for the upcoming season in last year's betting numbers.

AT THE WINDOWS:

NEW YORK YANKEES (2009 Finish: 114-63, Won World Series)

Future Book Odds for 2010: World Series 7/2, Pennant 3/2, Division 11/13

By the Numbers:

Favorite: 103-49, Underdog: 11-14

Home: 64-25, Away: 50-38

Day: 36-24, Night: 78-39

Vs. Left: 41-20, Vs. Right: 73-43

Over/Under: 83-85-9

One-Run Games: 24-18

Sportsbook Buster: If you bet the Yankees in every game they played last year, you earned a profit of 6.2 percent.

Sports Betting Angle: New York had an ROI (Return On Investment) of +12.7 percent under the lights last year.

BOSTON RED SOX (2009 Finish: 95-70, Wild Card)

Future Book Odds for 2010: World Series 7/1, Pennant 7/2, Division 9/4

By the Numbers:

Favorite: 79-48, Underdog: 16-22

Home: 56-26, Away: 39-44

Day: 25-23, Night: 70-47

Vs. Left: 30-26, Vs. Right: 65-44

Over/Under: 76-79-10

One-Run Games: 22-18

Sportsbook Buster: The Red Sox again were outstanding at home, notching an ROI of +11.3 percent at Fenway Park last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Boston had an ROI of -7.2 percent in the role of an underdog last year.

TAMPA BAY RAYS (2009 Finish: 84-78)

Future Book Odds for 2010: World Series 12/1, Pennant 11/2, Division 7/2

By the Numbers:

Favorite: 67-56, Underdog: 17-22

Home: 52-29, Away: 32-49

Day: 24-24, Night: 60-54

Vs. Left: 30-30, Vs. Right: 54-48

Over/Under: 71-86-6

One-Run Games: 20-25

Sportsbook Buster: The Rays had an ROI of -20.6 percent on the road last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Tampa Bay posted a dismal ROI of -26.8 percent in games played on natural surfaces last year.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (2009 Finish: 64-98)

Future Book Odds for 2010: World Series 125/1, Pennant 66/1, Division 80/1

By the Numbers:

Favorite: 23-19, Underdog: 41-79

Home: 39-42, Away: 25-56

Day: 16-27, Night: 48-71

Vs. Left: 24-37, Vs. Right: 40-61

Over/Under: 78-79-5

One-Run Games: 17-22

Sportsbook Buster: The Orioles had an ROI of -18.4 percent within the division last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Baltimore had an ROI of -21.2 percent as an underdog of +200 or more (5-16) last year.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (2009 Finish: 75-87)

Future Book Odds for 2010: World Series 150/1, Pennant 80/1, Division 125/1

By the Numbers:

Favorite: 46-38, Underdog: 29-49

Home: 44-37, Away: 31-50

Day: 31-30, Night: 44-57

Vs. Left: 20-23, Vs. Right: 66-53

Over/Under: 79-75-8

One-Run Games: 22-28

Sportsbook Buster: The Blue Jays had an ROI of +18.9 percent against teams from the AL Central last season.

Sports Betting Angle: Toronto had an ROI of -15.9 percent on the road last year.

ON THE FIELD: The addition of starting pitchers CC Sabathia and A,J. Burnett, as well as switch hitting slugger Mark Teixeira at first base, helped the Yankees win their 27th world championship last year but New York has not rested on its laurels, dispensing aging Johnny Damon and Hidecki Matsui in exchange for Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson. Javier Vasquez plugs a hole in the rotation. The Red Sox lost slugger Jason Bay but freshly minted Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron will help the offense while the pitching staff got even stronger with John Lackey joining the best starting rotation in baseball. The Rays are just one season removed from winning the World Series and if the pitching holds up and they remain healthy, could be a surprise contender in this rugged neighborhood. The Orioles add Kevin Millwood to the rotation and return Miguel Tejada, which should be enough for them to avoid the AL East cellar. The Blue Jays traded ace Roy Halladay to the Phillies for prospects so they'll be rebuilding this year.

Next: Baseball Betting 2010: Inside the AL Central Division