2012 Baseball Predictions

Once again, here are my basic predictions for this baseball season. Should be an interesting year.

2012 Predictions

American League

East

Tampa Bay Rays - Best pitching in the AL.
New York Yankees* - I love Granderson. Pineda is a bust.
Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays are on the rise.
Boston Redsox - Pedroia, Ellsbury and Gonzalez aren't enough.
Baltimore Orioles - Division is too tough.

Central

Detroit Tigers - Starting pitching depth may be a problem.
Kansas City Royals - Good young team.
Cleveland Indians - Choo will rebound and Santana will crush the ball.
Chicago Whitesox - Ventura? I don't expect much here.
Minnesota Twins - This team has problems.

West

Texas Rangers - Joe Nathan cannot close for this team.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim* - Great starters and better offense.
Seattle Mariners - Slowly getting better.
Oakland Athletics - No identity. Pitching? Hitting? Defense?

Playoffs:

Los Angeles over New York

Detroit over Tampa Bay
Texas over Los Angeles

Detroit over Texas

Cy Young Award: Jared Weaver, LA
MVP: Miguel Cabrera, DET
Rookie of the Year: Matt Moore, TOR
Batting Champ: Miguel Cabrera, DET


National League

East

Miami Marlins - Ozzie wins and they will spend at the trade deadline.
Washington Nationals* - This team has arrived.
Philadelphia Phillies - Great pitching but too many injuries.
Atlanta Braves - They are falling apart. Chipper signs off.
New York Mets - Good young team but not good enough.

Central

St. Louis Cardinals - Without Pujols, they still can win with Beltran.
Cincinnati Reds* - Votto can't keep carrying them but they are good.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Better pitching, better hitting=more wins.
Milwaukee Brewers - Worst defense in MLB.
Houston Astros - Houston, we have a problem.
Chicago Cubs - Playing for next season.

West

Arizona Diamondbacks - Great pitching and coaching.
Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers - A new day for the Dodgers.
San Francisco Giants - Sandoval and Posey can't carry the offense.
Colorado Rockies - A good offense. It stops there.
San Diego Padres - Weak pitching, weak hitting, weak everything.

Playoffs

Cincinnati over Washington

Arizona over Miami
Cincinnati over St. Louis

Arizona over Cincinnati

Cy Young: Roy Halladay, PHI
MVP: Matt Kemp, LA
Rookie of the Year: Zack Cozart, CIN
Batting Champ: Joey Votto, CIN

World Series

Arizona over Detroit in 7

MVP: Justin Upton