Some people might tell you that the smart move is to make every MLB  baseball pick as soon as the line comes out. After all, this will give you a chance to make your pick before the line moves too much. There is some wisdom in this line of thinking. This ignores some of the realities that you will inevitably have to deal with, though. Baseball is a much different game. Because the teams play 162 games, there will be some interesting lineup moves that you will never see coming. You shouldn’t make your MLB picks unless you know have all of the information.

You also will want to know about the weather. Wind conditions make a huge difference in a baseball game. You can’t possibly know what the wind is doing until a few hours before the game. This is why it makes sense to wait as long as possible before making your picks. You should know that lineups are posted about a few hours before each game. If you will wait that long, you can see exactly who is going to be playing in the game. You shouldn’t make MLB picks until you have this information.

Don’t be afraid to wait a little while to pull the trigger on your MLB picks. The lines might move a little bit, but you will benefit from having all of the information. The best information is necessary if you want to come away with a winning baseball season.

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When you make MLB picks, you need to bring all of the difficult factors into play. The smartest MLB bettors will consider every possible angle before they make their picks. One angle that you need to take into account is the ballpark where the game is being player. A ballpark will have a special impact on the total of the game. That’s because some ballparks play very large, while other parks play very small. You will need to price this into your picks before you make them.

Which stadiums are best for pitchers? If you are going to make MLB baseball picks on the under, then you might like to know this. Right now, San Diego is probably the best park for suppressing run scoring. Tampa Bay also has an extreme pitcher’s park. Minnesota has become well known for its large park, too. At night, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers have really good stadiums for pitchers.

When you want to make MLB picks on the over, then you will likely want those parks that are better for hitters. Coors Field in Colorado is a good hitter’s park. Cincinnati also has a park that plays well for hitters. Yankee Stadium and its small dimensions are very good for left-handed hitters. Remember this as you prepare to make your MLB picks. You don’t want to get stuck making a bad pick because you failed to account for this relatively simple handicapping factor.

Posted by Wunderdog’s trusty sidekick ” Wundercat “

MLB Picks When the Total is Low

Lately Major League Baseball has been changing. In the past, the lowest total that you would see was 7. It was rare to see a game with a total that fell below that. In today’s baseball world, there are many totals that clock in at 5.5 and 6. You will routinely see multiple games with a total at or below 7 on a given day. Things have changed, so you need to adjust if you are going to continue winning in the new age.

When totals go low, you might be tempted to bet the over. After all, it is really easy to score 7 runs, right? The truth is that these low lines can be a trap. The books can look to drag you in when the line is 5.5 or 6. You have to fight the urge to bet the over in these spots. All too often, the games will end up in a serious pitcher’s duel. You will wish you had the under when the 7th inning rolls along.

This is the new normal in Major League Baseball. People making MLB picks have to recognize this shifting dynamic. Run scoring is depressed compared to a few years ago. Because of larger stadiums, more specialized pitching, and better defense, teams can be expected to score far fewer runs on a per game basis. This will have a direct impact on your betting patterns if you know what you are doing.

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So you want to make MLB picks successfully? You have probably heard that you need to have a good handle on stats if you are going to do that with any proficiency. This might scare some people. What if I am no good at stats? what if I got a “C” in my high school math class? Those are real questions, but you shouldn’t be too worried about it. You shouldn’t be worried if you are not a NASA-bound math whiz. You can still make MLB picks as long as you have a light understanding of statistical principles.

In reality, you just need to know how to read a good statistical website. You need to know which things are most important for betting. The most important thing is understanding numbers for pitchers. Pitching matchups will dictate a lot of what happens on the field. You need to analyze the advanced stats for pitchers. Understand what Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is all about. That is the number that will give you a good idea of what a pitcher can do for you.

The truth is that you don’t have to be a genius to make MLB picks. You just have to be able to find and analyze a couple of numbers. Many players will use their fancy math skills to create a model that helps them win. That is not a necessity, though. Most players can use basic knowledge of stats in order to make their MLB betting picks.

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When it comes time to make your MLB picks, you should know about one class of picks that you might not often think about. You have to know how to make MLB picks on unknown pitchers. Throughout the season, a guy will get called up from the minors to make his first start. This is a really good chance to find value on that player.

You have to start by looking at that player’s minor league numbers. Find out what he brings to the table, because most of your fellow bettors won’t take the time to look it up. You will want to look at strikeout rates and walk rates in the minor leagues. Guys who have good strikeout numbers and good walk numbers will often translate into good big-league pitchers. At the very least, these guys will give their teams a chance to win.

The best MLB picks will be in those situations when a guy comes completely out of nowhere. Most people will either avoid those games or pick against the new pitchers. If you can find the numbers on the unknown pitcher, you stand a great chance of gaining an edge. You need to simply locate the right websites for analyzing scouting reports and minor league numbers. The good news is that coverage of baseball prospects has picked up over the last five years. Finding those numbers has never been easier for people who want to get the best possible value.

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Why the New York Yankess won’t win the World Series

The New York Yankees are typically the favorite to win the World Series every single year. In most years, that is the right call. They are usually the best team in baseball. Lately, though, the Yankees have not been the best club in baseball. At the very least, they have not been the team best constructed to win in the playoffs. This is the case in 2012. Though the Yankees might be the odds-on favorite to win it all in October, they will come up short. They will end in disappointing fashion, losing out before ever making it into the World Series.

Where’s the pitching?

When you get to the playoffs in baseball, it is all about the pitching. Teams that can pitch will come out ahead, while those who struggle on the mound will have a disappointing finish. The Yankees just do not have the horses to make it happen on the mound. C.C. Sabathia remains a force at the top of the pitching staff. The Yankees can trust in him, as long as he remains healthy. The problem is that they do not have much behind him. Having to rely on Hiroki Kuroda and others will prove to be a big part of the undoing of the Yankees.

The Rangers are good

The American League has a two-time defending champion. The Texas Rangers are that team, and they do not appear to be sliding back anytime soon. That is something that you will need to consider as you think about the World Series in 2012. The Rangers have made their team better since last season. By adding Yu Darvish and seeing their young players develop even further, the Rangers have what it takes to make it to the World Series. They have stronger starting pitching and better defense than the Yankees. More than that, they have a deeper lineup with better hitters. Overall, the Rangers are simply better.

Where is Rivera?

Think about the times that the Yankees have been the best team in baseball. Who is usually closing out games at the end of the day? Mariano Rivera has been a huge part of the Yankee equation over the last few years. His knee just did not hold up this season. Can the Yankees count on closing down the end of games like they have in the past? Chances are that they will lose a couple of games late because they are missing their closer. This is something that many people are not talking about. They will be talking about it late in playoff games when the Yankees desperately need to get those final outs.

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