Sportsbook observers have seen many interesting developments so far this MLB sports book season. There have been the surprising performances by teams and players in the sportsbook lines, both good and bad. Roy Halladay’s dominating performance against sportsbook competition has not been a surprise, though the Blue Jay’s interest in trading in has been.
Sports book experts would almost unanimously rank Hallady among the top five pitchers in the MLB sports book competition –if not higher. He is the rare pitcher that not only possesses a dominant arm, but also knows how to pitch. As his sportsbook career stretches out he finds himself beating opponents not with his arm but with his head and that’s what’s made him such an effective pitcher in the sportsbook competition.
This year he’s been arguably the best pitcher in the sportsbook lines. With an 11-3 record and an ERA of 2.73 and 107 Ks in 132 innings pitched there isn’t a single team in MLB sportsbook action who wouldn’t sell their mother for a shot at Halladay. However, the race for Roy is a very limited one as only a few teams in the MLB sportsbook action have the resources available for a pitcher of his stature.
Inevitably the name that pops to the top of the list of likely sportsbook winners in the Halladay sweepstakes is the New York Yankees. The richest team in sports these vultures seem to buy mercenaries at will. And if there is anything the AL East leading Yanks need to come out on top in the sportsbook lines, it’s starting pitching.
But the Blue Jays probably aren’t all that keen to trade away one of the best pitchers in the MLB to a division rival. That would also probably rule out the Red Sox if they were in the hunt for more starting pitching. But as most sportsbook fans know, the Red Sox are perhaps the only team in the world that might have too much starting pitching.
This means that the most likely team in the sportsbook lines to pull off a trade for the pitcher is the Phillies. The defending world champs aren’t a division rival, not even in the same league. They also desperately need another quality starter to make them a legitimate contender again this year. It would seem like a perfect fit, and the deal will probably get done.
If Halladay does go to the Phillies the sports book odds are very good that the Phillies get back to the World Series. They’ve already jumped out to a 7-game lead in the NL East and look like a lock to make the post season. But if they can add Halladay to an already decent staff their chances of repeating as world champs would get a huge boost.