Good bet or not?

[James]

A few weeks ago, my friend (A White Sox fan) and I were having a conversation about the Twins and White Sox. We reminisced about a conversation we had in January of 2010. As a Twins fan, I was optimistic about the 2011 because of the strong 2010 season. He was feeling optimistic about the Sox because of their 2010 season and some off-season additions (i.e. Adam Dunn). We had a fierce debate about which team was going to win the division, and obviously it was limited to the Twins and the Sox. Obviously, we were both way off base on this conversation.

 

By contrast, we started talking about what would happen in the 2012 season. This year, we decided to place a friendly wager on our favorite teams. We bet on which team would have the better record at the end of the season. The loser has to buy the other person a nice steak.

 

My question to everyone is, would you bet a steak that the Twins have a better record than the White Sox at the end of 2012?

[Jim Crikket]

When it comes to sports betting, I have found it best to avoid betting for or against any team I have a rooting interest in. No matter how much you try not to, your emotions (whether positive or negative) toward "your team" cloud your judgment.

 

But a friendly wager of a dinner? Absolutely. Both teams are going to need a lot of things to break right for them to contend this season because things sure didn't go well last year. But while the Twins can arguably improve simply by having good players come back from injury-plagued seasons, the Sox need players who simply underperformed to perform better. In addition, both teams lost (via FA or trade) good ballplayers, but I feel pretty confident that the Twins did a better job of replacing their losses. It's a biased view, I know, but I do like the Twins' chances over the White Sox'.

[Thrylos]

I wouldn't bet a steak (because I don't eat that stuff) but I'd bet a nice thick lobster tail that the Twins will have a better record than the White Sox in 2012

[Cody Christie]

If everyone is healthy for the Twins, they should be able to finish ahead of the White Sox. Right now I would feel confident in betting a steak on it.

[mysonlikes7]

That is a tough one. Neither team will likely be over .500 in my opinion. I would take the Sox because i think they have less significant question marks than the Twins do and they also have some good young talent that will get a chance to play everyday. Keep an eye on De Aza in CF and Viciedo in RF.

[wblmayo24]

I would bet my first born son that the Twins will have a better record than the Chicago White Sox....Here's why:

 

The White Sox lost Ozzie Guillen, Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle and Juan Pierre. The best player they gained was Kosuke Fukudome. They have Jesse Crain in the pen, and their fans feel the same as we felt about him (6 Blown Saves last season). Their bullpen is worse than ours.

 

AND the Twins will be healthy-er (knock on Maple).

 

Prediction: Twins 80-82, White Sox 70-92

[glanzer]

That's a very even bet, in my estimation.

 

I am involved in a bet at my office between several co-workers who hail from various cities across the country as to whose team will be worst. Involved are me (Twins), and fans of the Pirates, Astros, Padres, and Cubs. The team with the best record of the five must buy the others dinner. I sure hope I lose that bet and buy the dinners.

[mysonlikes7]

I would bet my first born son that the Twins will have a better record than the Chicago White Sox....Here's why:

 

The White Sox lost Ozzie Guillen, Carlos Quentin, Mark Buehrle and Juan Pierre. The best player they gained was Kosuke Fukudome. They have Jesse Crain in the pen, and their fans feel the same as we felt about him (6 Blown Saves last season). Their bullpen is worse than ours.

 

AND the Twins will be healthy-er (knock on Maple).

 

Prediction: Twins 80-82, White Sox 70-92

Not so fast about the White Sox "losses". Pierre is on the downside of his career and Quentin is often injured and is a HR or K during his ABs. The guys replacing those two (De Aza and Viciendo) are young with a lot of upside and will likley have better seasons than Pierre and Quentin. Buehrle is a tough loss. While I will miss Ozzie in the division, I think he is a feast or famine type of manager in that he does well with a good roster, but struggles with a poor one. I don't think he gets the best out of lesser talent. Still think the Sox may finish slightly ahead of the Twins. For the Twins to improve over 15 games from last year I think will be a good season. Twins 78-84. Sox 81-81.

[Harrison Greeley III]

This should be a rolling thread on prop bets.

 

I bet a co-worker who hadn't heard of Josh Willingham $20 that he would hit more than 20.5 home runs this year, assuming 450 plate appearances. He's assuming the Twins will try to David Ortiz his approach. I'm assuming the fact that he hit 29 in Oakland last year makes at least 21 home runs a safe play.

[jlovren]

I'd make reservations at Peter Luger's right now if I were you. The Sox lost everyone, and replaced them with no one.

[denarded]

Be careful. Dunn & Rios are bound -to be better. Their starting pitchers are much better than ours. But a dinner. Why not?

[Nick Nelson]

I'm real low on the White Sox this year and expect them to finish in last place, whereas I'd peg the Twins around .500. So it's definitely a bet I'd make.

[James]

Well, I'm hoping that I'm right and I end up getting a nice steak out of this. It was funny to hear how both of us went from such high expectations before 2011 to "let's see who's team sucks less" in one season. I'm still holding out hope that the Twins really put something together, but that is just my extreme optimistic view. Even though I am a bit biased against the Sox, I just can't see how they're going to do anything at all this year, unless Robin Ventura turns out to be some super coach and gets the whole team into all-caliber player. I just don't see that happening though.

[powrwrap]

This is a tough bet. I would have waited until March 31st to decide. Which team can approach .500? I've got to go with the Twins, but it will be close.

[UCLA_YANKEE_COLA]

I would bet my first born son that the Twins will have a better record than the Chicago White Sox....Here's why:

I, for one, was hoping this would end with...

 

"I don't really like my son."