MLB Tue, Aug 24, 2004
MLB moneymakers: Spoiler special
Ryan Stetson
Every year a few teams start taking out their loser aggression on clubs still vying for postseason spots. Here are a couple spoiler options as the playoff races head to the backstretch. There records are based on games played before Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Detroit Tigers: 59-65, +8.20 units
Earlier this season there were some cautious whispers floating around about the possibility of a playoff run in Detroit. Naturally, that didn’t happen. The Tigers may be 11 games off the pace in the AL Central, but there's still some value in the club as their season winds down.
Detroit’s rolling on an 8-4 streak over its last 12 contests with all but two of those wins coming as the underdog. The club’s young pitching staff really looks to be rounding into form. Nate Robertson and Jason Johnson have shown signs of promise throughout the year and now it looks like Jeremy Bonderman may be ready for a breakthrough. The young right-hander tossed a complete game, 14-strikeout gem Monday night against the White Sox.
Plus, Detroit’s bats are red-hot. The lineup’s churned out at least seven runs in six of their last nine games. The Tigers head to Boston following their set with the ChiSox.
Cincinnati Reds: 59-64, +7.85 units
So Cincy’s mid-season run ran out of gas about the same time everybody concluded Ken Griffey Jr is more injury proned than Evil Kanevil. But don’t ignore the Reds just yet. Their playoff hopes have gone down the tubes, but they’re still a nice spoiler option.
Especially with the way their young arms are tossing right now.
Josh Hancock, Aaron Harang, Luke Hudson and Brandon Claussen have all been impressive as Cincy gets a glimpse into what the club could have to look forward to in the coming years. But in the meantime, you can bank on the Reds being set as dogs regularly. And that could mean some serious cash for you. The club has won three of its last four heading into a three-game series with St. Louis.
Florida Marlins: 62-60, -12.75 units
From champs to chumps? Florida is currently 7 ½ games behind Atlanta in the National League East and five games behind the Cubs and Giants for the Wild Card spot. It might be a bit premature, but if the Marlins don’t pick it up in a hurry, they could be late-season spoilers, not contenders.
And it all starts immediately, if not sooner. The Giants are in town and the Marlins need to get on a winning streak. If they don’t take at least two of three from San Fran, that might be it for the Fish. Still, in that situation Marlins backers might finally be able make a few bucks on the club after everyone writes them off. Especially with the club playing 23 of its next 30 games at home.
MLB moneymakers: Spoiler special
Ryan Stetson
Every year a few teams start taking out their loser aggression on clubs still vying for postseason spots. Here are a couple spoiler options as the playoff races head to the backstretch. There records are based on games played before Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Detroit Tigers: 59-65, +8.20 units
Earlier this season there were some cautious whispers floating around about the possibility of a playoff run in Detroit. Naturally, that didn’t happen. The Tigers may be 11 games off the pace in the AL Central, but there's still some value in the club as their season winds down.
Detroit’s rolling on an 8-4 streak over its last 12 contests with all but two of those wins coming as the underdog. The club’s young pitching staff really looks to be rounding into form. Nate Robertson and Jason Johnson have shown signs of promise throughout the year and now it looks like Jeremy Bonderman may be ready for a breakthrough. The young right-hander tossed a complete game, 14-strikeout gem Monday night against the White Sox.
Plus, Detroit’s bats are red-hot. The lineup’s churned out at least seven runs in six of their last nine games. The Tigers head to Boston following their set with the ChiSox.
Cincinnati Reds: 59-64, +7.85 units
So Cincy’s mid-season run ran out of gas about the same time everybody concluded Ken Griffey Jr is more injury proned than Evil Kanevil. But don’t ignore the Reds just yet. Their playoff hopes have gone down the tubes, but they’re still a nice spoiler option.
Especially with the way their young arms are tossing right now.
Josh Hancock, Aaron Harang, Luke Hudson and Brandon Claussen have all been impressive as Cincy gets a glimpse into what the club could have to look forward to in the coming years. But in the meantime, you can bank on the Reds being set as dogs regularly. And that could mean some serious cash for you. The club has won three of its last four heading into a three-game series with St. Louis.
Florida Marlins: 62-60, -12.75 units
From champs to chumps? Florida is currently 7 ½ games behind Atlanta in the National League East and five games behind the Cubs and Giants for the Wild Card spot. It might be a bit premature, but if the Marlins don’t pick it up in a hurry, they could be late-season spoilers, not contenders.
And it all starts immediately, if not sooner. The Giants are in town and the Marlins need to get on a winning streak. If they don’t take at least two of three from San Fran, that might be it for the Fish. Still, in that situation Marlins backers might finally be able make a few bucks on the club after everyone writes them off. Especially with the club playing 23 of its next 30 games at home.
