Each year it seems as if the MLB odds action falls farther behind the likes of the NFL, or NBA, and in some cases even the action of the NHL. Our country’s national pastime and one time beloved sporting league has been plotting a downward course on the popularity charts of the national conscience for decades. But anyone who caught even an inning or two of the 2010 MLB playoff baseball odds action this season would tell you that the post season action this year has been the best advertisement for MLB in a long, long time.
This has been the best post season in recent memory hands down. For too long baseball’s flawed decision of not instituting a salary cap has all but ensured that the biggest spenders in the league are the teams that generally win the playoff series. Sure, there have been exceptions, but most of the MLB odds champions over the past decade or two have had sizeable payrolls and that really hasn’t changed this year.
But what has changed is the fact that we’ve got two fresh new teams in the 2010 World Series (the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants). The Giants haven’t been in the World Series action since 2002 and the Rangers…they’ve never been in the Fall Classic.
What have been even more impressive than the infusion of fresh blood (i.e. no Yankees!) in the World Series MLB odds action are the battles that these two teams had to fight to get here.
How about the Rangers epic 5-game battle with the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays and clinching the series on the road behind a pitching gem by Cliff Lee?
Then how about the Giants beating the Phillies in the NLCS in a battle of near perfect pitching?
Speaking of perfect how about Phillies ace Roy Halladay pitching just the second no-hitter in MLB odds playoff history.
Throughout the 2010 MLB playoffs we’ve seen masterful performances both on the mound and at the plate by individuals and teams alike. And the best part is there’s plenty of action that lies ahead.