Bettors backing the New York Yankees or the over on their contests are getting a relatively small discount for the loss of Derek Jeter.
The superstar shortstop, who currently ranks third in the AL with a .344 batting average, suffered a bruised right thumb when he was stuck by a Rodrigo Lopez pitch during Sunday’s 11-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He hasn’t played since and is currently listed as day-to-day.
“The Yankees prices are down about five cents… and the total’s been adjusted (downwards) by nearly half a run,” says BetWWTS.com oddsmaker Michael Pierce. “Instead of 9 ½ over -110, it’d be 9 ½ flat or even 9 ½ under -110.”
Those price adjustments are significant, but less than what players of Jeter’s caliber normally call for. The cost of a Chicago Cubs wager has been down about 10 cents since Derrek Lee hit the DL with a broken wrist, while the St. Louis Cardinals’ odds have plummeted about 20 cents since they lost Albert Pujols to a strained oblique.
Normally, the sheer talent of the Yankees star-studded roster would compensate for the loss of any one player and a small adjustment would be justified. However, with Gary Sheffield (wrist) Hideki Matsui (wrist) and a host of starting and relief pitchers already on the shelf, the loss of Jeter takes on much greater significance.
"It's laughable," manager Joe Torre told the New York Daily News. "You don't make light of (all our injuries), but every day it’s something different."
The Bombers throttled Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox 13-5 in their first game without Jeter Monday, but over bettors could have used his bat as they squeaked by David Pauley and the BoSox 2-1 Tuesday.
Torre told reporters that there’s currently no timetable for Jeter’s return. Until he does, books say public action will force them to keep the Yankees' totals and prices high.
“People will back the Yankees anyway,” Pierce says. “Most people probably don’t even realize all the injuries they have. They might pick up on that stuff during the weekend, then lose track of (sports news) during the week.”
Randy Johnson and the Yankees are scheduled to face Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox as +127 home dogs tonight. Books have the total set at 10 ½.
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