Las Vegas makes Blue Jays the World Series favorites for 2013

It's been nearly 20 years since anyone could say, with a straight face, that the Toronto Blue Jays were favorites to win the World Series. Not since Joe Carter, Paul Molitor, Rickey Henderson and Roberto Alomar. But after a series of sexy moves made by GM Alex Anthopoulos, the Jays have become the best bet to win it all — so says that bastion of gambling enlightenment, Fabulous Las Vegas, Nev.

The Jays, who added the likes of R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Melky Cabrera this offseason, have been posted as 15-2 favorites to take the Commissioner's Trophy back to Ontario next October by the Bovada Sportsbook.

It should be noted that, not long after the 2012 World Series ended, Bovada.lv listed the Jays at 35-1 to win it all. That's a lot of ground made up in less than two months.

Canada's team isn't the clear-cut favorite by any means (and all of this is subject to change). The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels are next at 17-2. Freeway Series. Oh, boy. The Washington Nationals come next at 9-1 and the Detroit Tigers are 10-1. The Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers (despite their miserable offseason) are next at 12-1. The Yankees are 14-1 and the San Francisco Giants are a relative longshot at 16-1 to repeat as champs. People still don't believe in the Giants, no matter how much they win, and no matter what Tim Lincecum does with his hair.

(Speaking of nonbelievers, the Baltimore Orioles are listed as the long shot to win the AL East. No respect for Dan Duquette.)

The longer long shots include the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins at 100-1. The Fish were kind of the Blue Jays of the previous offseason, weren't they? The AL's newest tenant, the Houston Astros, bring up the rear at 200-1. It's probably generous.

If I were to wager, I'd go with the Nats as the favorites, with the Tigers the second choice. But gambling is wrong! Don't do it.

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