2012 MLB Predictions

2012 MLB PREDICTIONS

Ahh baseball is back! Thank God! I cant bear to watch another boring basketball game and now that march madness is over baseball couldn't start any sooner. A ground breaking off season has lead to a lot of new looks around the league. Division by division, when it's all said and done this is how I think the 2012 MLB season is going to end up.

AL EAST
YANKEES 99-63
RED SOX 94-68
RAYS 90-72
BLUE JAYS 78-84
ORIOLES 69-83

AL CENTRAL
TIGERS 96-66
TWINS 85-77
ROYALS 73-89
INDIANS 72-90
WHITE SOX 65-97

AL WEST
ANGELS 94-68
RANGERS 92-70
MARINERS 69-93
ATHLETICS 59-103

American League Analysis- Well as everyone knows you have your six giants in the American League. Too bad there's only fix playoff spots. I just don't see any team that'll sneak past the big six or at least can't predict it. It would just have to be something that plays out but on paper which is what you can only really go by, I don't see a sleeper. If I would pick one team that has any chance to upset the field, it would be the Twins. I understand that they were worst in the central last year but I believe they have the pitching to contend, the potential of Mauer and Morneau and the great mind of Ron Gardenhire will have this team playing meaningful games into September. And as for that big six team that would miss the playoffs; I just don't think the Rays have enough offense to keep up with the other teams.

NL EAST
PHILLIES 97-65
BRAVES 84-78
MARLINS 78-84
NATIONALS 76-86
METS 73-89

NL CENTRAL
BREWERS 93-69
REDS 91-71
CARDINALS 87-75
CUBS 71-91
PIRATES 70-92
ASTROS 54-108

NL WEST
GIANTS 93-69
DODGERS 83-79
D'BACKS 79-83
ROCKIES 75-87
PADRES 63-99

National League Analysis- The National League is a ton harder to predict than the American. A ton of tams here can contend especially since the usual powerhouses are either hurt starting the season or have severe weaknesses. My division winners all have starting pitching depth which is what makes me put them at the top. Everyone's sleeper team is Miami however I don't think they are there just yet. I think the Braves are still better then them and were injuries away from reaching the postseason last year which would have changed the whole outcome. I think the Diamondbacks are the one and done team (One good year and done) because I don't think their pitching is going to be anywhere as good as last year. I think the central is the deepest division in the league with three teams making the postseason. Don't sleep on the Cardinals despite Pujols and La Russa leaving. The Nationals re too young and are 2-3 years away from contending and the Astros will hope the end of the year comes as quickly as possible and head to the AL where i cant see things get much better for them. The Dodgers are my sleeper team and I think Kershaw and Kemp can carry them possibly into the postseason in a vulnerable league.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
AL MVP- Adrian Gonzalez
AL CY YOUNG- CC Sabathia
AL ROOKIE OF YEAR- Jesus Montero
AL MANAGER- Ron Gardenhire

NL MVP- Joey Votto
NL CY YOUNG- Roy Halladay
NL ROOKIE OF YEAR- Bryce Harper
NL MANAGER- Bruce Bochy

AL WILD CARD
RANGERS over RED SOX - Rangers have too much offense for the Red Sox and despite the lack of pitching depth, they are able to win 1 game which is all that's needed here.

NL WILD CARD
REDS over CARDINALS- I'm not too certain the Cardinals pitching is too far up in the air and may have problems scheduling and ace which they potentially have 2 however they are both questionabe with injuries and i dont think their offense can win them a big game despite carrying them this season.

ALDS
YANKEES over RANGERS- The lack of pitching depth hurts Texas and there isn't a Cliff Lee to contain the Yankees.

ANGELS over TIGERS- Great series but the pitching depth of the Angels proves to greater than Detroit's.

NLDS
PHILLIES over REDS- Phillies are too powerful and the Reds pitching is not deep enough to contend.

GIANTS over BREWERS- The pitching of San Francisco overwhelms Brewers and the absence of Fielder is costly.

ALCS
YANKEES over ANGELS- The lack of the Angels hitting is overwhelmed by Yankees offense and the Yankee bullpen shuts down Pujols in crew. CC Sabathia is ALCS MVP.

NLCS
PHILLIES over GIANTS- Epic series however the Giants and rely on someone like Cody Ross to lift them this time and the Philadelphia pitching proves to be too much in seven games. Roy Halladay is NLCS MVP

WORLD SERIES
YANKEES over PHILLIES- Yankees finally solve Cliff Lee and his decline starts to begin and the Phillies offense gets ice cold due to its lack of depth and not enough for number 28 to come and Rivera to retire as a winner with number 6. Robinson Cano is World Series MVP.