Yikes: You are betting what?

It’s an expression people in Baltimore are sick of hearing – “poor Orioles fans.”

They hear it from national TV analysts, they hear it from friends and they hear it from – worst of all – Red Sox and Yankees fans. But as bad as the Birds from Charm City have been, and they have been horrible, their backers would literally be poor if they were also betting on their team. Baltimore finished minus-476 in the money last year. Think of it like this – if you bet $100 on each Orioles game, that’s how much you would have finished in the red for the 162-game season.

Yikes.

But what about futures bets? It’s been a long time since a player wearing the Orange and Black brought home an individual award, let along the team claim a spot in the postseason. And oddsmakers don’t believe 2012 will be the Year of the Bird, either. Let’s take a look at what the sportsbook at Betus.com says about the Orioles.

Baltimore is picked to finish last in the AL, going off at 75/1 to win the pennant, with the Yankees the favorite at 3/1. And the American League East Division? Even more unlikely for the Orioles to walk away with a crown. Oddsmakers actually make the Birds even more of a longshot at 100/1 to finish in front of the Yankees (1/1.7), Red Sox (3.5/1),Tampa Bay Rays (5.5/1) and Toronto Blue Jays ( 6.5/1).

And don’t expect the wins to roll in this year, either. Baltimore finished a meager 69-93 in the cellar of the AL East last year and oddsmakers put this year’s over/under for wins at 69.5. That’s not exactly instilling confidence for a better product on Eutaw Street. For a point of reference the Yankees are tops in the AL with an over/under of 93.5 wins.

Apparently people think the Bronx Bombers are going to be good this season.

Well, Camden Yards is a hitters’ park, so maybe there are a few individual honors on-tap. Um, not so much. To lead Major League Baseball in home runs this year, infielder Mark Reynolds is going off at 30/1 while outfielder Adam Jones is listed at 150/1. The favorites include Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (8/1) and Florida Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (8/1).

This season might end up again with you being a “poor Orioles fan.” Just don’t let it happen to your wallet.

(Photo by Chris Ammann)