The Washington Nationals already seem like a club that will improve versus the MLB odds.

Now that they’ll have number one draft pick Bryce Harper, they look even better now. He could be affecting MLB lines within a few years, and he’s practically as hyped as Stephen Strasburg.

MLB odds still don’t like the Nationals very much but that is beginning to change. Strasburg is a big part of the Nationals future versus the MLB odds as he was the number 1 pick last year. Now the Nationals have added Harper to the mix. He’s considered among the best players to arrive from high school in a long time. He is only 17 years old but practically anyone is forecasting big things for the Nationals number one pick. Since 1980 there were 6 players who’ve been drafted as an outfielder at 18 years or even younger. Harper contributes his name to an extraordinary list. The New York Mets took Darryl Strawberry in 1980 and Shawn Abner in 1984. The Mariners took Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987 and the Rays took Josh Hamilton in 1999 and Delmon Young in 2003.

The Nationals are already considering Harper as a number three hitter with exceptional power and a formidable outfield arm. Harper hit .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBIs in his initial college season. He was behind the plate in college but the Nationals are relocating him the outfield where he can influence MLB odds. Harper competed in the College of Southern Nevada which is a Junior College. He’s now the biggest draft pick ever from a junior college.

The 2nd pick in the draft went to the Pirates and they decided on Texas high school right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon. He was deemed the most impressive pitcher in the draft. The franchise has not had a Cy Young Award-winner since Doug Drabek, another Texas native. They can hope that they’ll have the another one in Taillon, 18. The Baltimore Orioles picked 3rd and took Florida high school shortstop Manny Machado. Machado has the opportunity to become the next superb shortstop in Baltimore, and be the next among a lineage that includes Miguel Tejada and, of course, Cal Ripken Jr. The Royals picked 4th and took Cal State Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon and he could be the most Major League ready player who could influence MLB lines first. The Kansas City Royals intend for him and two previous first-round picks – high school 3rd baseman Mike Moustakas and high school first baseman Eric Hosmer – to all arrive about the same time and create the infield that will help turn the long-suffering franchise around. Cleveland was next and they took Mississippi left-hander Drew Pomeranz. With any luck Pomeranz’ encounter with Cleveland will be nicer than Stephen Head’s.

The Nationals would like to put Harper in the field quickly but it may not be that simple. His manager is supposed to be Scott Boras and that may mean problems if the Nationals don’t want to pay big money. Boras got Strasburg a four-year, $15.1 million deal last year. Harper has stated he would like to play but he is not against heading back to Southern Nevada if required.


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2 intense opponents in the American League East who get plenty of action versus the baseball lines are handling injuries.

The New York Yankees only started their centerfielder, Curtis Granderson, while the Red Sox put outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury back again on the disabled list. The Red Sox have competed significantly better recently plus they are a factor once again versus the baseball odds.

Granderson has competed for the Yankees since December of last year, when he was traded from the Detroit Tigers in trade for Phil Coke and Austin Jackson. He competed in the 2009 All Star Game.

The Yankees and the Red Sox are regularly favored in baseball lines. Boston was in sad shape a couple of weeks ago but they have competed significantly better of late even with their trauma issues. Ellsbury has played in only 9 games this season. Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox star second baseman, has competed through his trauma. He twisted his right knee on May 15th and since that time he has not hit well. Before the trauma he was hitting almost .300. Ever since he got hurt he is hitting below .200.

Pedroia has gained numerous awards, including AL Rookie of the Year for 2007, and he has been voted into the AL All-Star squad.

The Yankees have had injury issues of their own that have affected their baseball odds. New York got centerfielder Curtis Granderson back recently and he should certainly help their lineup. He had been out since early May with a groin injury. With his return, Brett Gardner can move back to left lineup and Nick Swisher to DH. Nick Johnson, the Yankees’ normal DH, went on the DL and it has been a rotating situation at designated hitter ever since.

The Yankees are still very good offensively as they rank #1 in the league. As Granderson is a player who can get on base, steal bases and hit for average, getting him back into the lineup will help. He is similar in some respects to Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury who is out. The Red Sox have missed Ellsbury in their order this season. Boston has picked it up lately offensively but they still need Ellsbury in their lineup as he does many of the same things that Granderson does for the Yankees.

Ellsbury has been out almost totally since April 11, wound up with hairline fractures to four of his ribs when he crashed into Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre. He came back on May 22 but was put back on leave on May 28 when a doctor decided that his ribs needed more time to heal.

During the prolonged baseball season, injuries are always a concern for teams. While the Yankees and Red Sox have survived without important players it is certainly more tough. {New York and Boston were expected to battle all season for the American League East championship but thus far this season it has been Tampa Bay who has stolen the show.|Thus far this season it has been Tampa Bay who has stolen the show, although New York and Boston were expected to battle all season for the American League East title.


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