MLB Betting: Second-Half Predictions

We make some predictions before MLB's second half begins

July 17, 2008

By Carlisle Richards
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

With the 2008 All-Star festivities finally wrapping up somewhere between Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Last Call with Carson Daly, it's time to look ahead to the final 11 weeks of baseball.

Can Josh Hamilton finish his dream season with an MVP? Can the Tampa Bay Rays regain their league-leading form and make the postseason? Will Grady Sizemore join the 40/40 club?

We whip out our crystal ball and make some second-half predictions.

The Minnesota Twins will make it interesting but ultimately fall short in the AL Central.

When you immediately look at the Chicago White Sox, there's not much that says "division leader." They sit on top of the AL Central. However, some of their higher profile bats like Jim Thome, Joe Crede and Paul Konerko are all swimming below .260 in batting average.

Meanwhile, the Twins are top 10 in offense and have used their young bats and young legs to rattle off 19 wins in their last 25 games and sit just 1.5 games back of the veteran White Sox.

That said, the Twins' pitching and schedule will eventually be their undoing.

John Danks leads a solid White Sox rotation. (AP Images)

Although they've played well of late, they rank 20th in ERA (giving up 4.34 runs per game) and have a 14-game road trip beginning at a crucial time (late August). When teams get closer to October, pitching will become more prominent, and the White Sox trump them in that category. They rank second in the majors in ERA behind young gunners John Danks (7-4, 2.67 ERA) and Gavin Floyd (10-5, 3.63 ERA).

Unless Francisco Liriano can come back with the same heat he's had while rehabbing in the minors, the Twins could make a run. If not, the White Sox's pitching will play them into October.

The Tampa Bay Rays will not win the AL East but will still make the playoffs.

The Rays have proven that you don't need a fat checkbook to become a contender in the AL East. For most of the first half, they sat ahead of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the division.

However, we may be learning that you need consistency and experience.

After a storybook first 87 games, the Rays imploded before the break. They dropped seven in a row, averaging only 1.86 runs despite averaging 4.61 overall while giving up 6.43 despite averaging 3.74 overall.

Will the bleeding continue? Probably not, as the Rays have the young talent to compete. However, the Red Sox have seem to hit their stride - winning seven of their last 10 – and with David Ortiz returning, should have enough to keep the young Rays at bay.

Don't feel too bad for Tampa; they should still grab one of the two wild-card spots.

Out of the contenders in the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals will falter.

Somehow, despite the lack of talent that surrounds Albert Pujols, the Cardinals always seem to be in contention to grab the NL Central.

Sorry, but there are just too many unknowns to see them getting in this year.

Albert Pujols has been getting help, but will it last? (AP Images)

The Cardinals have gotten a considerable boost from the bat of outfielder Ryan Ludwick. The right-handed hitter has surprisingly been the offensive powerhouse of the team with 65 RBIs and 21 home runs. Also, Rick Ankiel, another young player, has displayed his power with 20 HRs. However, how long will they be able to put up Pujols' numbers? Neither have played a full season.

Plus, they've been surviving on a patchwork pitching staff that includes Kevin Lohse (has a career 4.69 ERA), Todd Wellemeyer (4.04 ERA), Bradon Looper (4.25 ERA) and interim closer - until Jason Isringhausen can find his form - Ryan Franklin (12 saves, 3.43 ERA). They do have one ace, Adam Wainwright (6-3, 3.14 ERA), but he's been on the disabled list since early June.

Their competition, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, have a lot more going for them.

The Cubs have been powerhouse on offense (rank second with 5.34 runs scored) and just improved their rotation by trading for ace Rich Harden (5-1, 2.19 ERA). The Brewers improved their rotation as well, adding C.C. Sabathia (8-8, 3.67 ERA) and are sure to get an offensive boost from Prince Fielder as he's just too talented to not put up close to 40 HRs.

Josh Hamilton will run away with the AL MVP award.

I'll make this one short because it's pretty much a no-brainer.

Josh Hamilton has a league-leading 95 RBIs at the half, a full 25 RBIs ahead of his closest competition in the AL. He also boasts a .310 batting average with 21 HRs. If he avoids injury and keeps his BA in the .300s, the voting will be unanimous.

In fact, it wouldn't be crazy to give him the MVP right now. The kid gave up drugs and found a new addiction, putting fear into opposing pitchers.

Grady Sizemore will join the 40/40 club.

For those that don't know, I'm not talking about the Jay-Z hotspot. I'm talking 40 HRs and 40 stolen bases. Having that much power and that much speed is rare in baseball, as only Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano are a part of this club.

Sizemore is 17 HRs and 18 SBs from the 40/40 club. (AP Images)

It will be close, but Sizemore's consistency will get him in. He's put up 23 HRs with 22 SBs already, and he's done it by grabbing at least six SBs in the first three months of the season while increasing his hitting numbers every month.

He's currently on pace to hit 40/40 on the dot, and if he stays consistent, he should get there.

Francisco Rodriguez will break Bobby Thigpen's saves record.

Anyone who watches baseball knew that Rodriguez would be an elite closer the first time they saw that nasty slider. Now, he's poised to approach "legendary" status.

Thigpen holds the record for most saves with 57. Rodriguez already has 38 in just 42 innings pitched. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a moderate offensive team who rely on small balls to manufacture runs, making for more one-run wins than most in the majors. If the Angels maintain that philosophy, Rodriguez should smash Thigpen's record.

TOP PHOTO: Rookie Evan Longoria has been a huge part of the Tampa Bay Rays' success. (AP Images)