My Love Affair

The love affair started when I got the 2008 edition of Baseball Prospectus. When I was reading team by team I noticed that they had a higher number of win for the newly named Tampa Bay Rays. So high they actually had them going above .500. For most teams this would not be that high of an accomplishment, but when we're talking about the Rays who have never finished above .500 in the franchise history this was a semi big deal.

The interest peaked when the odds to win the World Series came out and some books had the Rays as high as 250-1. At the time, it was right in the middle of March Madness and I already had a large future tied up in Kansas winning it all, thank you Mario, and didn't want to have any more of the bankroll tied up in futures.

Then March Madness ended and there was suddenly available funds for futures. Although I wish I could've got there highest, I can't complain too much thanks to Kansas, but on April 24 I placed my first Tampa futures bet at 100-1.

The love affair has continued.

April 24- To Win World Series 100-1
May 30- To Win AL East 4-1
May 31- To Win AL East 3.5-1
June 1- To Win AL East 3.5-1
June 3- To Win World Series 12-1
June 5- To Win World Series 17-1
June 16- To Win World Series 12-1
June 19- To Win World Series 16.5-1
June 23- To Win World Series 12-1
June 30-To Win World Series 16-1
July 22- To Win World Series 8-1
July 28- To Win World Series 9-1
July 28- To Win AL 5-1

If Tampa Bay wins the AL East and World Series, I win 218.5 Units. This will equal a very nice party for all my friends.

So unlike all the bandwagon jumpers, I can truly say I've been rooting for the Rays all season. This came at a good time because the Padres are unwatchable. Can Madden lead a bunch of young inexperienced players into the playoffs and win it all? Sure. Likely? Not really, but they give me a team to cheer for and a huge hedge coming.

I just didn't think that Tampa Bay would be my first sugar momma.