Should the Mets’ 6-1 opening-day thrashing of St. Louis on the road serve as a sign of things to come in 2007? Absolutely! There is nothing more difficult to do than to return to the World Series in consecutive seasons. Ask the Red Birds. St. Louis made the trip in 2004 and then had an early exit in 2005 before returning to the series last season. The Mets showed opening night that they’re ready to pay the Cardinals for sending them home in last year’s NLCS. The Mets will also learn from last season. Playing in a weak division with a huge lead can make you very lethargic down the stretch when you need to get things set up for the playoffs. The Mets fell into that trap last season and surely won’t let it happen again. Three potential MVP candidates in Wright, Beltran and Reyes and a pitching staff with just the right mix of experience and youth make the 2007 Mets the team to beat in the National League. The Mets are the National League favorites to win the World Series at odds of 15/2 and an excellent pick for future bettors in my opinion.
Overall, as is almost always the case, the Yankees are the favorites to win the 2007 World Series at 7/2 followed by division rival Boston at 6/1. I don’t think we’re in the rhythm for another Subway series like we saw in 2000. Heading into the season, the Yankees’ rotation doesn’t seem to have the arms to hold out through the regular season and playoffs. If Clemens dons the pinstripes after the All-Star break, he might change my tune.
I hope you haven’t forgotten about the Chicago White Sox. Yep, these were the guys who won it all in 2005. You may have forgotten by now if you’re not a Southside fan, as Chicago failed to make the 2006 postseason despite winning 90 games. A blistering second half by the Twins and a surprise season by the Tigers didn’t give the then-defending world champions a chance to defend. For the same reason that St. Louis won’t return to the series this year, the Red Sox didn’t last year. Teams are never that hungry after winning a title, making the target on their backs even easier for the opposition to hit. The White Sox will remember how hard you have to work to make the playoffs in 2007 and will be led by one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. I’m not just talking about the starting rotation; I’m talking full staff. With Contreras, Garland, Buehrle and Vasquez in the starting five and Bobby Jenks, one of baseball’s best young closers, in the pen, the Sox are full of weapons. If you entered the Chicago White Sox at 10/1 odds to win the 2007 World Series, you must be feeling pretty good about your chances.
I love the National League because it’s a league that plays different styles of baseball and is being asked to use more strategy due to the absence of the designated hitter. Having said that, it’s a hard pill for me to swallow to say that the Chicago White Sox are my favorites to win the 2007 World Series. There are more top-tier teams in the American League right now and the American League Central is a division much stronger than the National League East. I think that’s why it was so hard for those great Atlanta Braves teams to get the job done in the ’90s. I think playing tougher competition day in and day out will get the White Sox out of the rut in October.
