http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2015/02/14/sports/mlb/862105.txt
Yanks staring at losing season, says Vegas
By Erik Matuszewski
Bloomberg
<!-- rastory2015 --><!-- YOUR PREMIUM CONTENT STARTS HERE --><!-- Open Article: By Erik MatuszewskiBloomberg --> The New York Yankees are headed for their first losing season since Andy Stankiewicz was the team's top shortstop 23 years ago, according to oddsmakers in Nevada.
The Yankees are projected to win 80 of their 162 games, according to the Atlantis Casino Resorts sports book in Reno, which for the ninth straight year has issued Nevada's first win-total projections for MLB.
The New York Mets are among 19 of the 30 MLB teams with higher projected win totals than the Yankees, who have missed the playoffs the past two years and for the first time since 1996 enter a season without Derek Jeter at shortstop. The record 27-time World Series champions last finished with a losing record during the 1992 season, when they went 76-86 and Melido Perez was the ace of the pitching staff.
"It doesn't mean they can't go out and win their division, but there's just a lot of question marks when you look at this Yankees team," Atlantis Sports Book Director Steve Mikkelson said. "I started with them at 81-81, but I'm not even sure they're .500. I went to 80, but I couldn't go lower. This is still the Yankees."
The Washington Nationals have the highest projected win total at 93, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 91. The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels are both at 87 1/2 wins, and the Detroit Tigers are at 86 1/2.
Age concerns: The Boston Red Sox are favored to win the AL East, with an over/under line of 86 wins. The Baltimore Orioles (84 1/2) and Toronto Blue Jays (83 1/2) are also ahead of the Yanks.
The Mets, who have had six straight losing seasons, have a projected record of 81-81 at the Atlantis. The defending World Series-champion San Francisco Giants are listed at 85 wins.
With the Yankees, bettors at the Atlantis would have to wager $110 to win $100 on whether they'll finish with more or less than the over/under of 80 regular-season victories. The Yankees are coming off an 84-78 season and this year will start Didi Gregorius at shortstop in place of the retired Jeter.
Mikkelson said he also has concerns about the production the Yankees will get from aging players such as Carlos Beltran (37), Mark Teixeira (34) and Alex Rodriguez (39), as well as the health of starting pitchers such as CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Masahiro Tanaka.
"If those guys can stay healthy, this Yankee team could put up a lot of wins, but man it's a lot of question marks," Mikkelson said. "And it's a tough division."
Yanks staring at losing season, says Vegas
By Erik Matuszewski
Bloomberg
<!-- rastory2015 --><!-- YOUR PREMIUM CONTENT STARTS HERE --><!-- Open Article: By Erik MatuszewskiBloomberg --> The New York Yankees are headed for their first losing season since Andy Stankiewicz was the team's top shortstop 23 years ago, according to oddsmakers in Nevada.
The Yankees are projected to win 80 of their 162 games, according to the Atlantis Casino Resorts sports book in Reno, which for the ninth straight year has issued Nevada's first win-total projections for MLB.
The New York Mets are among 19 of the 30 MLB teams with higher projected win totals than the Yankees, who have missed the playoffs the past two years and for the first time since 1996 enter a season without Derek Jeter at shortstop. The record 27-time World Series champions last finished with a losing record during the 1992 season, when they went 76-86 and Melido Perez was the ace of the pitching staff.
"It doesn't mean they can't go out and win their division, but there's just a lot of question marks when you look at this Yankees team," Atlantis Sports Book Director Steve Mikkelson said. "I started with them at 81-81, but I'm not even sure they're .500. I went to 80, but I couldn't go lower. This is still the Yankees."
The Washington Nationals have the highest projected win total at 93, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 91. The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels are both at 87 1/2 wins, and the Detroit Tigers are at 86 1/2.
Age concerns: The Boston Red Sox are favored to win the AL East, with an over/under line of 86 wins. The Baltimore Orioles (84 1/2) and Toronto Blue Jays (83 1/2) are also ahead of the Yanks.
The Mets, who have had six straight losing seasons, have a projected record of 81-81 at the Atlantis. The defending World Series-champion San Francisco Giants are listed at 85 wins.
With the Yankees, bettors at the Atlantis would have to wager $110 to win $100 on whether they'll finish with more or less than the over/under of 80 regular-season victories. The Yankees are coming off an 84-78 season and this year will start Didi Gregorius at shortstop in place of the retired Jeter.
Mikkelson said he also has concerns about the production the Yankees will get from aging players such as Carlos Beltran (37), Mark Teixeira (34) and Alex Rodriguez (39), as well as the health of starting pitchers such as CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Masahiro Tanaka.
"If those guys can stay healthy, this Yankee team could put up a lot of wins, but man it's a lot of question marks," Mikkelson said. "And it's a tough division."