Astros boast 12/1 odds to win 2017 World Series

In a recent trip to Vegas, my brother gathered the odds for the Astros, the presumptive 2017 World Series champions.

Let’s check out the odds as presented by The Score and see how our ‘Stros stack up with the rest of the MLB.

WestGate in Vegas gives the Astros 12/1 odds to win the Worlds Series this upcoming year. These odds reflect the off-season moves made by Jeff Lunhow and the organization to produce a championship caliber team. We all know and love the fact that this team is so young and so fun of enthusiasm. The experience acquired in the off-season ultimately provides the leadership the team needs to succeed in the postseason.

Do the odds reflect the pitching staff?

As we look at the roster, it is highly understandable to see why Vegas would apply such odds to the Astros. However, I can’t help but wonder if the pitching staff truly reflects the odds. We are very unsure if Dallas Keuchel or Lance McCullers will return to prominent form. Will we get the Collin McHugh we saw in 2015? What can we expect from Charlie Morton? Do the young guns like Musgrove and Martes truly have the ability to perform on this stage? As solid as our vision is of this team being difficult to pitch against, are we going to be able to pitch well against our opponents?

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AL West Odds

Most notably, the most significant thing to realize as you review this list of  odds, is how strong the AL west is. The Astros fight for a division title against some of the best odds in baseball. This is indicative of how tough the conference is, but how important it is to play well against your divisional opponents.

Odds against Us?

Not only do the Astros face a tough division, the conference boasts strong opponents that would oppose a championship run. What is even more prolific is the strong odds for many national league teams. The road to a title will not be easy. The Astros will have to come out of one of the best divisions and have to play against a stronger national league opponent, based on the odds.

Should we trust the odds?

Baseball is a game of numbers, of fundamentals and of precision. Like most sports, the game is played due to the intangibles players provide. These odds are indicative of what our team has done, but is it indicative of what they are capable of? Furthermore, the Astros have intangibles that can’t be quantified. This team is young, which leads to fearless play and a confidence towards any moment. They’re athletic and capable of playing the game in multiples ways to win. This year’s team is driven to do what no one else has done in this organization, win a World Series.

Forget the Odds!

All in all, we forget that the game is won and loss on the nerves and the desire the team has to win. That’s the beauty of sports. As the old saying goes, “how can you not be romantic about baseball?”, applies greatly to what we are seeing. In the end, the Astros are fully capable of winning the World Series, and it will be with their heart, determination, and their will.