The rise of the underdog on satellite television

When the season is about to start, sports fans are often bombarded with predictions from all sides. The pundits’ predictions, the network’s predictions, the franchise’s predictions, the fanbase’s predictions — they all have some kind of crystal ball in which they can see all the way to the playoffs and beyond. Or at least they think they can. For Las Vegas, it’s more than a hobby, as the existence of the handicap depends on your ability to call it what it will be. Then reality sets in.

Major League Baseball is no different when it comes to prediction fashion. Everyone seems to be asking one question: Will the Yankees or the Red Sox (or maybe the Mets) be crowned kings this year? In the last nine years, they have only been right three times and the experts have been proven wrong once again. Take the Kansas City Royals, baseball’s version of the bottom feeder, for example. With a payroll among the lowest in baseball, Kansas City is out before the season begins. But don’t tell them that. Watching one of the Royals games on satellite TV, you will see the rise of a phenomenal young pitcher, Zack Greinke. Greinke jumped to a 5-0 record, meanwhile catapulting his team into first place. The Royals at first? It’s only May, but that idea would have sounded crazy a few months ago.

For more surprises, check out the legendary American League East. Home to last year’s American League champion Yankees, Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, it’s any odds-maker’s dream. Since the Yankees and Red Sox are favorites to win each of the 162 games they play, Vegas knows he’s playing with house money. However, it is the Toronto Blue Jays who have made their move early, leaving all competitors wanting. Tune in to an HD broadcast of a Jays game and watch Roy “Doc” Halladay’s killer instinct kick in. Halladay’s intense demeanor and unbeatable shooting have kept Toronto on the map for years, and it looks like he and Greinke will square off to see who is declared the 2009 Cy Young Award winner.

The surprises don’t stop there. The incredibly young and comparatively underpaid Florida Marlins soared to an 11-1 record, leaving the heavily favored Mets and Phillies wondering what happened in their division. After an equally puzzling losing streak, the Marlins aren’t gone. Add in the Atlanta Braves, who always field a competitive team regardless of payroll, and the NL East has become a real game of dice.

How do you keep up with this action? Probably the best way is the MLB Extra Innings satellite TV package. With up to 90 games each week in high definition, you’ll be able to keep up with the best teams from across the country. With MLB’s never-ending schedule, you’ll want to maximize your production at work. Baseball season, with its four-hour games and never-ending drama, is no time to take work home with you. That is, unless you’re a handicap trying to get your reputation back.