2010 MLB American League Pennant Odds – Can Anyone Stop New York?

Okay MLB sports wagering enthusiasts, with annual spring training period moving closer to its close, baseball gamblers everywhere are getting prepared for what promises to be another thrilling MLB regular season.

While the New York Yankees mostly blew away their competition en route to winning the 2009 American League Pennant – and ensuing World Series Championship – several challengers looked to upgrade their respective rosters in an attempt to dethrone the American League and World Series champs in 2010.

This look at each American League ballclub AL Pennant Odds and their respective chances of winning the AL Pennant in 2010 will help pro baseball bettors in their quest to boost the annual MLB betting bankroll with a knowledgeable wager on this entertaining season-long selection.

The Cream of the Crop
New York Yankees +160
Boston Red Sox  +350
Los Angeles Angels +900

Analysis: I know I’m not telling anyone anything they don’t already know when I say the New York Yankees are the clear odds on favorite to win this year’s AL Pennant. The Yankees are absolutely loaded (again) and will be difficult to stop as they seek their second consecutive AL crown.

If there is one team that has at least, a respectable shot to take down New York as it’s seeks its second straight AL title, it is undoubtedly the Boston Red Sox.

Boston made some excellent offseason transactions in signing John Lackey and Mike Cameron to help upgrade their roster, but still may not have enough talent to take down the defending-champion Yankees whose roster resembles an all-star squad.

The Angels have the third-best odds to win the American League Pennant in 2010, but lost John Lackey, Vladimir Guerrero and speedy Chone Figgins. Despite adding Hideki Matsui, the Angels are fighting an uphill battle to beat out the Yankees or Red Sox (and probably some other AL teams as well) for the AL Pennant.

Legitimate Contenders
Minnesota Twins +1000
Tampa Bay Rays +1200

Analysis: I love both of these hard-playing, never-say-die ballclubs and their respective managers. Yes, both teams are ‘small market’ ballclubs that don’t have nearly the payroll power of New York or Boston, but I fully expect both teams to legitimately contend for the AL Pennant in 2010 simply because they play hard in each and every single game and have at least one MVP-caliber on their respective rosters.

It Could Happen
Texas Rangers +1000
Seattle Mariners +1200
Chicago White Sox +1400
Detroit Tigers +1400

Analysis:  If everything (and I do mean everything) goes right for one of these ballclubs, then any could potentially upset the AL pecking order in 2010 and win the league pennant outright. However, the more realistic sense I get about all four of these teams is that they will likely be average at the very least (Detroit, Chicago) or potentially very, very good (Seattle, Texas).

Mediocre at Best
Oakland Athletics +3000
Cleveland Indians   +4000

Analysis: If either of these ballclubs can keep its record at or above .500 by the time the 2010 regular season comes to a close, it will be a minor miracle.