Specifying Pitchers

[sportshobby]

This subject got buried in another thread, and I thought it was worthy of its own subject.

Starting pitchers in baseball are so important that most handicappers want to have them specified, and sportsbooks are only willing to guarantee odds if the scheduled starters actually to start.

But some sportsbooks don't seem to want to accomodate this, and I can't figure out why. Could it be software complications? Could it be the drive to keep all "action" and not have any wagers cancelled? Could it be to avoid sharp action (assuming that any serious wager would want to specify pitchers)?

I just noticed on the SBG website - all baseball wagers are "action" only (I wonder about totals). Other books seem to have digressed, at least on their internet wagering, to not allowing the player to specify both pitchers (Premiere League, Post-Time, maybe many others).

What is going on?

[sportshobby]

OK, so I'm the only player here left standing and still betting baseball?

[Boomer]

Football's closing in on us, can you really blame us.

[AussieVamp2]

Yeah, we can.

Baseball is easier.

[mikren]

In my opinion, they're doing it to mess with scalpers.

[walleyek]

I've been betting baseball for a long time. This year, more than most, starting pitchers have been way overrated. I pay little attention to them, instead focusing on which teams are hitting the ball. Teams that have been hitting seem to beat any pitcher. Just the otyher night both Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown got beat. The bullpens in MLB are so bad this year, you cannot count on a good starting effort to win the game. Case in point, Tapani throws a gem yesterday only to see the pen give up 6 in top of the 8th. If we zeroed in on starting pitching we'd all be in the poor house this year. It means very little right now. Certainly more important in the playoffs...

[sportshobby]

Boomer, there's a theory that this is the best time to win at baseball because the linesmakers are distracted by football.

[thechin]

and with all due respect, if you believe that the oddsmakers are too distracted w/pre-season football that they can't put up solid baseball numbers, then you should be calling jimmy the fixer's pick line ........ that's one of the most popular lines the touts use .... pure nonsense ...... i'm not doubting that there are opportunities daily in baseball, but don't attribute them to the anticipation of football .....

[This message has been edited by thechin (edited 08-12-2000).]

[sportshobby]

That's what I like about this forum - people that aren't too shy to disagree when they have a good reason. You're probably right.

What about moving the numbers during the day? Do you think that the distraction of football will make the line moves slower?

[sportshobby]

But how can these online books NOT allow a player to specify listed pitchers for a wager? It doesn't seem like an unreasonable request.

[thechin]

w/respect to the line moves, at the books that move off of air, i think you can always catch them napping .... but don't be fooled, when "they" come in on a game, if a book is bet (and they know who is betting them), you probably won't get it (the original number) at any of the "on screen" books .... that's not to say you can't beat the originator in, but it's not easy .... getting back to your point, i don't think that it is an unreasonable request to be able to list pitchers in a sport, that for wagering purposes at least, are an important factor

[sportshobby]

I still think there must be something I'm missing on why this option isn't there (specifying pitchers).

I know that next baseball season I will only be using sportsbooks that allow specifying pitchers.