Sports

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

MLB PREDICTIONS 2012

AL East Winner: Yankees
The American League East will come down to the wire in 2012, but ultimately the division title will go to the Yankees. They have enough rotation depth to make it through the season, they have an explosive offense that should improve (with a healthy Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter), and the best bullpen in the American League, with David Robertson and Mariano Rivera at the back end. In 2011, the Yankees pitching staff ranked fifth in the American League in ERA and first in strikeouts. On the offensive side, they ranked fifth in batting average and ranked third in On Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage and Stolen Bases. They ranked second in runs scored and first in Home Runs and walks. They may be baseball's most complete team.

AL Central Winner: Tigers
This one is clear. With 2011 AL Cy Young winner and MVP Justin Verlander leading and the likes of Doug Fister and Max Scherzer, the Tigers should have a scary rotation, but the offense is even scarier. After Victor Martinez was injured, taking him out for the year, the Tigers added slugging first baseman Prince Fielder to the lineup, to go with Miguel Cabrera. Not to mention the fact that All Star Catcher Alex Avila, Center fielder Austin Jackson, and power hitting left fielder Delmon Young could all have solid years in 2012.


AL West Winner: Angels
The Angels are going for it this year, as they signed both Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson to large contracts this offseason. With Pujols, Mark Trumbo, and Howard Kendrick leading the offensive charge, the Angels have the offense to compete with anyone. Their starting pitching is remarkable; they have four pitchers who could be top of the rotation starters elsewhere (Jered Weaver, CJ, Wilson, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren). The rotation will lead them past the Texas Rangers in the AL West in 2012.

AL Wild Card Winner: Rays
The Rays' rotation will help them come close in the East, but it's not enough to overtake the Yankees. Their rotation is led by 2010 Cy Young runner up David Price and 2011 second runner up James Shields, they are followed by 2011 AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson and super prospect Matt Moore. On the offensive side, third baseman Evan Longoria is primed to be an MVP candidate this coming season.

AL Wild Card Winner: Rangers
Though the lineup is stacked, the rotation is led by an unknown. In order to make a third straight World Series appearance, they will rely heavily on Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, who's never pitched in North America, and former closer Neftali Feliz to anchor the rotation. If both pitchers succeed, the Rangers could make a deep October run, but if not, they may not even make the playoffs.


AL CHAMPION: Angels 


AWARDS: 


MVP: Albert Pujols

CY YOUNG: CC Sabathia

Rookie Of The Year: Matt Moore

Comeback Player: Phil Hughes

NL East Winner: Marlins
With four potentially huge acquisitions this offseason (Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell, and Carlos Zambrano), the Marlins look primed to make a serious run this season. With a lineup led by Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton, it will all come down to pitching. The Marlins rotation is led by Josh Johnson, who missed most of last season because of an injury, and newly acquired Mark Buehrle. They have Anibal Sanchez and Carlos Zambrano to back them up. Those are all pitchers who have the talent to be at the top of a rotation.

NL Central Winner: Cardinals
Though they lost Albert Pujols this offseason, the Cardinals will be just as good this season as they were last, if not better. They won the 2011 World Series without Adam Wainwright, one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. If he comes back and pitches like he did before he got hurt, the Cardinals won't miss Pujols at all.

NL West Winner: Diamondbacks
The only pitcher in the Diamondbacks rotation who had an ERA above 4.00 in 2011 is Trevor Cahill, whose ERA was 4.16. They are led by star Center fielder Justin Upton, who could contend for the National League MVP award if he builds on last season's totals of 31 home runs and 105 runs scored. The pitching staff is led by 21 game winner Ian Kennedy and closer JJ Putz, who saved 45 games in 2011 while posting an ERA of 2.17. They are a well rounded team, but they don't look like they have what it takes to make a deep run, especially with the new playoff format.

NL Wild Card Winner: Phillies
Though the Phillies will make the playoffs in 2012, they won't have an easy time doing it, as they are a team on the decline. Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, and Shane Victorino missed a combined 119 games last season and it's looking even worse on the injury front this year as Utley and Ryan Howard will start the season on the DL. The Phillies will make it, but  only because they have a rotation with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Vance Worely.

NL Wild Card Winner: Nationals
With Stephen Strasburg at the top of the rotation and Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, and Edwin Jackson to follow, the Nationals rotation is stacked. The rotation will lead them to the postseason, but they likely won't get any further because of how young their team is. However, they will be fun to watch for years to come.

NL CHAMPION: Cardinals


Awards:


MVP: Hanley Ramirez

CY YOUNG: Cole Hamels

Rookie Of The Year: Bryce Harper

Comeback Player: Johan Santana

WORLD SERIES
LOS ANGELES ANGELS over ST. LOUIS CARDINALS



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