Tag: Red Sox

2020 MLB Futures Odds: How many games will the Boston Red Sox win?

Looking at 2020 MLB futures odds for how many games the Boston Red Sox will win in the 60-game MLB season.

How many games will the Boston Red Sox win in the 60-game 2020 MLB season? We look at the Red Sox’s MLB futures odds, including their projected 2020 win total and Over/Under odds at BetMGM, and make our best bet.

Boston Red Sox’s 2019 recap

The Red Sox endured a rocky 2019 season, finishing 84-78 in Alex Cora’s last season as manager. The bats were alive, but the pitching staff failed to come close to expectations, including Chris Sale, who finished 6-11.

Boston was the second-worst MLB team vs. the run line last season, going 69-93 – only ahead of the Detroit Tigers (66-95). The Red Sox were profitable to OVER betters, however, going a 90-67-5 Over/Under record.

Against the AL East, the Red Sox finished below .500 at 35-41.

Boston Red Sox’s offseason

The Red Sox’s biggest departure of the offseason was undoubtedly Mookie Betts, who they traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a package with SP David Price. SP Rick Porcello, IF/OF Brock Holt and IF Eduardo Nuñez also left by way of free agency.

As for additions, there weren’t many notable ones made by the Red Sox. SP Martin Perez was their most expensive ($6 million one-year deal with a $6.25 million club option for 2021), while CF Kevin Pillar was also brought in to help the outfield.

Also see:

Boston Red Sox’s 2020 schedule

The schedule will be limited to 60 games: 40 against the AL East and 20 against the NL East. Tough matchups with the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Washington Nationals will make this a road to face.

Travel won’t be a concern with most of the teams in the same relative area, which was the goal for MLB with this modified schedule.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in CO, IN, NJ and WV. Bet now!

How many games will the Red Sox win in 2020?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, July 2 at 4:45 p.m. ET.

The win total projection for Boston is 31.5 games – third in the AL East – with both the Over and Under carrying -110 odds. The Red Sox have finished above .500 each of the last four years, winning the division three consecutive seasons from 2016-18 … but these aren’t those same Red Sox.

With how much the front office stripped the roster and ace Sale out for the year (Tommy John surgery), it’s hard to see the Red Sox competing for the AL East title unless they get a miraculous effort from the other starters.

I’d take the UNDER 31.5 (-110) on this bet, though it’ll be close because I expect Boston to be right around .500.

Boston Red Sox’s World Series odds

Boston is +3500 to win the World Series, behind 15 other teams. The AL is loaded with championship-caliber clubs, particularly in Boston’s own division.

Thus, the Red Sox are NOT WORTH A BET, even with the big-reward potential of a 35-to-1 payoff. There’s just too much uncertainty.

Boston Red Sox’s playoff odds

Their odds to win the AL pennant is 18-to-1 (+1800), while an AL East crown is 10-to-1 (+1000). I just don’t see it. AVOID.

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Saints’ Who Dat Nation ranked among top-5 most-passionate fan bases

Fans of the New Orleans Saints were listed among the most passionate fan bases in America’s major sports leagues by a recent Forbes ranking.

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The New Orleans Saints fan base is a group that punches above its weight class. While their television market might be one of the smaller you’ll find around the NFL, Saints fans have an unmatched appetite for football — often turning in the nation’s highest ratings for prime-time games, whether the black and gold are involved or not.

But Saints fans do more than tune in when a game is on. According to a list put together by Forbes staff writer Christian Settimi, the Who Dat Nation ranks fourth among America’s most-passionate fan bases. That puts them shoulder-to-shoulder with supporters of the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. and ahead of the leaders in other sports like the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and MLB’s Boston Red Sox.

Settimi considered factors like team value (the Saints are estimated to be worth $2.275 billion), social media following (5.4 million between Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook), and average home game attendance (with 73,082 spectators packing the Mercedes-Benz Superdome). She also noted that New Orleans throws a ton of hometown support behind its team:

A full 75% of New Orleans residents identify as Saints fans—second in the NFL to Green Bay’s 82% with the Packers—helping to make the “Who Dat” nation’s social media following four times as big as the city’s population of 1.3 million.

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Joe Buck continued his play-by-play of random videos on John Krasinski’s new YouTube show

Joe Buck’s play-by-play of a race to empty the dishwasher is so good.

In these scary and uncertain times as people are hunkered down in their homes (as much as possible) during the coronavirus pandemic, John Krasinski has been bringing some fun and heartwarming moments to the internet with his new YouTube show, Some Good News.

It’s exactly what it sounds like with The Office actor posing as a news anchor who definitely doesn’t take himself too seriously and sharing positive stories about people. In previous episodes, he hosted the cast of Hamilton for a virtual concert and chatted with Steve Carell.

And in his latest episode, legendary sports broadcaster Joe Buck — who our Andy Nesbitt previously deemed the GOAT announcer — continued his hilarious run of offering play-by-plays for everyday moments and random “sports” invented by people at home.

Krasinski’s shift to sports in this episode begins just after the 5:20 mark, while Buck joins in about two minutes later, impressively calling a woman playing a version of pop-a-shot with her laundry and some guy racing to empty his dishwasher in less than a minute.

After Buck’s delightful appearance, Kransinski went on to talk about why, in this world without sports, he misses baseball so much.

“For me, and I’m sure a lot of you, the calendar year just really doesn’t feel the same until that Opening-Day pitch is thrown out,” he explained while introducing highlights of kids playing baseball.

Krasinski also celebrated the people in healthcare who are tirelessly working during the COVID-19 outbreak. And he even brought in David Ortiz, the Red Sox and people around Massachusetts for a surprise during a trip to Fenway Park.

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Remembering Ed Farmer’s Love for Notre Dame

I was fortunate to hit it off with Ed Farmer years ago because of an interest we shared together: Notre Dame football. My Farmio stories…

If I were to ask you the three or four people you know who are either the biggest Notre Dame fans or love Notre Dame the most chances are you would be able to fill up that list quickly.  Family members, friends from childhood or perhaps college, neighbors you met later on in life or perhaps a co-worker of yours fill your list I’m sure.

One person easily on my list is Ed Farmer, the former Major League pitcher and radio voice of the Chicago White Sox. Ed passed away Wednesday after long battle with various health issues.  When I was first starting my radio career at 670 The Score in Chicago I began as a part-time producer responsible for either board-operating or cutting highlights for our White Sox broadcasts.  I was (and still am) a nobody, but Ed Farmer never treated me that way in the years I worked with him.

He’ll be remembered for being a great guy (I echo that sentiment), a hometown, St. Rita kid who made it to the big leagues and was once an All-Star for his favorite team, the Chicago White Sox. He’d then join the Sox as a broadcaster all while being an incredible advocate for organ donation.

When I think of Ed Farmer though I’ll always think of Notre Dame football.

I know it’s a weird thing to say or associate with a baseball player but understand this – Ed Farmer LOVED Notre Dame.  He wasn’t a passive “oh I liked them as a kid and sometimes watch them here or there” type of fan, he was a passionate Notre Dame fan.

My first job in radio was as a part-time producer at 670 The Score, then the radio home of the Chicago White Sox.  I’d spend endless hours running the board or usually cutting highlights for White Sox games and would talk to Ed “down the line” from back in the studio.

The first time I actually met Ed in person was during Sox Fest in what had to be 2008 or 2009.  Dayne Crist was fairly new on the scene and although Jimmy Clausen had already played a year or two, Ed was excited to talk up Crist to me.

I literally began the conversation after the introductions by asking him “Ed, how are the Irish going to be this year?” because he’d bring up Notre Dame in various ways during broadcasts.

“Shemp,” he said (he always called me Shemp despite everyone else calling me Shep) “This Dayne Crist.  He’s going to make you forget about Jimmy Clausen real fast.  Kid’s the real deal, Shemp.”

Now I didn’t say he was right about everything always but Farmio always had thoughts on the Fighting Irish.  Every time I’d see him he’d share thoughts on new recruits, underachieving defenses and coaching decisions he didn’t agree with.

One year attending a Notre Dame/Michigan game for fun with a friend we saw Ed Farmer walking with the band to the stadium, shaking hands and giving high fives along the way – then a few hours later we get in the car to head home and there was Farmio coming through our speakers, announcing the White Sox game.

What was Ed doing literally marching with the band?  And I guess he didn’t get to stay for the game but wanted to be there for the parts of game-day that he could be.

Fast forward a few more years and I’m at a White Sox game with a few work buddies on a spring Saturday night.  The Red Sox were in town and we were all in our twenties looking to do what most 20-somethings are looking to do.  First though we decided to stop up and go see Ed before first pitch, something we were fortunate to be able to do pretty regularly.

Know this – Ed Farmer didn’t care if it was a radio producer who made 60 bucks a day or the Pope, I only ever saw the man treat everyone the exact same way – great.  I could share stories for hours but will hold it to this final one.

“Shemp” he says to me as we get done catching up and are about to head our seats, “Come back here in the top of the sixth inning, I have someone you need to meet”

Alright Ed, you tell me to jump and I’ll ask how high.  I’ll see you and whoever this is in the sixth inning…

And that’s how Ed Farmer introduced me to Brian Kelly (not pictured is the painting Ed kept in the booth of the Golden Dome).  He was a man that was always more than happy to look out for others.

Rest easy, Farmio, you’ll be missed by many and Sox games on the radio won’t be the same.

And Go Irish.

Mookie Betts trade on hold as Red Sox review medical records

According to a report from The Athletic, the medical records for Brusdar Graterol – a pitcher with a history of injuries, including Tommy John – have the Red Sox projecting him as a reliever, not a starter, therefore changing his value in the blockbuster trade.

According to a report from The Athletic, the medical records for Brusdar Graterol – a pitcher with a history of injuries, including Tommy John – have the Red Sox projecting him as a reliever, not a starter, therefore changing his value in the blockbuster trade.

Jalen Ramsey welcomes Mookie Betts to L.A. after blockbuster trade

The Dodgers agreed to acquire Mookie Betts from the Red Sox and Jalen Ramsey is pumped.

The Los Angeles sports scene added yet another star on Tuesday night with the Dodgers agreeing to acquire Mookie Betts in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox. Just in the last year, Los Angeles has added Jalen Ramsey, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Anthony Davis – and now Betts.

Ramsey, one of the newest arrivals in Hollywood, welcomed Betts to the city on Twitter after the trade was reported, but admitted he won’t be able to show him much since he just got there, too.

The Dodgers already looked like one of the favorites to win the World Series this season, but those odds just got even better with the arrival of Betts. They have the second-best odds to win it all at (+350), only behind the New York Yankees (+300).

Not long ago, the Rams were the talk of the town after making the Super Bowl, but since then, the Lakers, Clippers and now Dodgers have garnered the attention as of late.