The Giants' pitching and farm system have gotten the team a little more respect in important baseball circles. In updated World Series wagering odds, the Giants were this week upgraded from a 60-to-1 longshot to win the World Series to a 32-to-1 longshot.
See? You should have bought low.
Online sportsbook theSpread.com has just updated their World Series odds to begin the baseball season, now listing the Giants as 32-to-1longshots to win it all. Back when the initial batch of 2009 World Series odds were released, which was immediately following the 2008 World Series, the Giants were way back at 60-to-1.
To no one's surprise, that evil empire otherwise known as the New York Yankees are favorites to win the World Series at 5-to-2 odds. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs follow just behind at 7-to-1, then the Boston Red Sox at 15-to-2. Last year's pennant winners, the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Rays, are ranked slightly behind them.
In terms of winning the NL Pennant this year, the Giants' odds are actually pretty reasonable. They're 18-to-1 longshots. Not at all likely, but pretty reasonable.
Obviously, these kind of longshot wagers don't make sense as an investment. They bdon't even make sesnse as longshot wagers. But if the gambling community is laying wagers that the Giants are a slightly improved team, then odds are that it's true.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who is rolling dice and muttering something about a new pair of shoes.
