2012 Predictions: Part One
This is the time of year when everyone starts making predictions about the upcoming baseball season. Full disclosure: like most baseball outlets, we're laughably bad at picking winners (in last year's prediction post, none of us had the Cardinals even making the playoffs). But making predictions is sort of a rite of passage for baseball bloggers. Yes, we're bad, but being able to look back at our choices and laugh is one of the rewarding things about keeping up with this blog. So without further adieu, here are our "expert" predictions.
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NL EAST
Phils
(*WC) Marlins
Braves
Nationals
Mets
For the Phillies to repeat as NL East champs, injuries will have to be at a minimum. That's the only thing that will derail this team. They still sport the best 1-2-3 pitching rotation with Joe Blanton and Vance Worley proving to be serviceable 4 and 5 respectively. The Marlins, especially under rallying manager Ozzie Guillen, have the potential to be with the Phils all year. They have speed with Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonafacio, and power with Hanley and Giancarlo Stanton (fka Mike Stanton). Perhaps Ozzie can transform Carlos Zambrano into his former self. Add in a healthy Josh Johnson and newly acquired Mark Beuhrle, and they could make waves. A lot of people have the Nationals as the 2nd team in the league, but I think all cylinders have to fire for that to happen. Bryce Harper will have great pressure to perform right away. Stephen Strasburg will have similar pressure to show he's healthy and capable of pre-Tommy John velocity and control. Jordan Zimmerman is coming off injury as well, and Jayson Werth has to prove he isn't an albatross of a contract. The Braves will be a contender for most of the year as well, but just don't have the depth of the other teams. Sadly, the Mets will be basement dwellers for most if not all of the year.
NL CENTRAL
Cardinals
Reds
Brewers
Cubs
Pirates
Astros
The Cardinals lost their overwhelming best player in Albert Pujols. However, adding Carlos Beltran, who I think has some life still, can help to lighten that loss. If they can get another rejuvenating year out of Lance Berkman, they may have enough pop to keep the division. Adam Wainwright will be back to again bolster the pitching staff. The Brewers would have been dead in the water had Braun's suspension been upheld. The loss of Fielder will be tough to overcome, although they did add Aramis Ramirez in the mix. The Reds have some good young hitters and pitchers, but similar to Washington, I don't think it will come together this year. The Cubs, Pirates, and Astros will most likely swap positions in the bottom half of the division.
NL WEST
Diamondbacks
(*WC) Giants
Rockies
Dodgers
Padres
The Diamondbacks appear to be the most well rounded team in the West. They have a solid young three on the mound, and they have some power with Justin Upton and Chris Young. The Rockies have bats, but the pitching could be problematic over the course of the season. Although the Dodgers have the reigning MVP and Cy Young winners, they're not enough to carry the division.
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles
The Yankees did more in the offseason to bolster pitching than the Red Sox. The Yankees are deeper in rotation and bullpen, the still boast the best infield of the past several decades, and have a solid outfield of power and speed as well. The Red Sox will clearly have the potent lineup, but avoiding injuries will be important. The Rays will be relevant throughout, but I don't see them cracking the Yanks or Sox.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
Royals
Twins
White Sox
It's really the Tigers and then everyone else in the AL Central. This could be the weakest division in baseball, and I don't see either wild card coming out of this division. The Tigers should cruise to the division title.
AL WEST
Angels
(*WC) Rangers
Athletics
Mariners
This division could be exciting between the Angels and Rangers. The Rangers added Yu Darvish, who could be very prominent this year. They have some good young pitchers that have a chance to blossom this year. The Angels, however, rival the Phillies for best staff in baseball. Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, and Dan Haren should all have great years, and of course, the addition of Albert Pujols instantly makes everyone else in the lineup better. The division will be closer than the 10 game lead the Rangers had last year. The A's and Mariners are still rebuilding, and the gimmicky tactics of the A's with Manny Ramirez and Yoenis Cespedes probably won't amount to much this year.
NL Pennant - Phillies
AL Pennant - Angels
WS Winner - Angels
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles
The Yankees did more in the offseason to bolster pitching than the Red Sox. The Yankees are deeper in rotation and bullpen, the still boast the best infield of the past several decades, and have a solid outfield of power and speed as well. The Red Sox will clearly have the potent lineup, but avoiding injuries will be important. The Rays will be relevant throughout, but I don't see them cracking the Yanks or Sox.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
Royals
Twins
White Sox
It's really the Tigers and then everyone else in the AL Central. This could be the weakest division in baseball, and I don't see either wild card coming out of this division. The Tigers should cruise to the division title.
AL WEST
Angels
(*WC) Rangers
Athletics
Mariners
This division could be exciting between the Angels and Rangers. The Rangers added Yu Darvish, who could be very prominent this year. They have some good young pitchers that have a chance to blossom this year. The Angels, however, rival the Phillies for best staff in baseball. Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, and Dan Haren should all have great years, and of course, the addition of Albert Pujols instantly makes everyone else in the lineup better. The division will be closer than the 10 game lead the Rangers had last year. The A's and Mariners are still rebuilding, and the gimmicky tactics of the A's with Manny Ramirez and Yoenis Cespedes probably won't amount to much this year.
NL Pennant - Phillies
AL Pennant - Angels
WS Winner - Angels
Hersh
NL EAST
Phillies
(*WC) Nationals
(*WC) Braves
Marlins
Mets
The only thing that can keep the Phils from repeating is an injury to one of the big three. If Jonathan Papelbon is a bust, they still have Antonio Bastardo. I think the Nats will be the surprise team this year. I also think the Marlins, with all of their personalities, will blow up at some point. Ozzie Guillen is a no-nonsense guy and I see flare ups with Carlos Zambrano, Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez.
NL CENTRAL
Reds
Cardinals
Brewers
Pirates
Cubs
Astros
The Reds pitching improved enough to take this division with all their offense. The Brewers were lucky to keep Braun for the whole season but not enough to win. The Pirates will improve.
NL WEST
Diamondbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres
Arizona is the best of a weak group unless the Giants pitching goes nuts like it did two years ago and Posey responds with a big year. The Dodgers need more than Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
The Yankees have both the pitching and the offense and will be the team to beat. The Red Sox have to overcome last year's debacle and it doesn't seem like their pitching is up to the Yanks standards. Orioles will be improved, but not enough to challenge
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
White Sox
Royals
Twins
The Tigers appear to be the cream of the crop in this division. Everyone else is second rate with the Twins at the bottom of the barrel in the AL.
AL WEST
Rangers
(*WC) Angels
Mariners
A's
The Angels will be improved with Albert, but not enough to overcome the Rangers. They will, however, take one of the WC spots.
NL Champs - Phillies
AL Champs - Tigers
WS Champs - Phillies
OCP
NL EAST
Phillies
(*WC) Nationals
Marlins
Braves
Mets
Pitching still wins this division, and the Phillies have plenty of pitching, but the Nationals are emerging as serious contenders. Wilson Ramos has emerged into a solid backstop, Ryan Zimmerman is one of the most underrated players in baseball and Mike Morse had a breakout year in 2011. Wouldn't surprise me if the Nationals earned a wild card berth in 2012.
NL CENTRAL
Reds
(*WC) Brewers
Cardinals
Cubs
Pirates
Astros
The Reds could be the dark horse in the NL. They boast a top heavy rotation (their back end starters leave much to be desired) but their bullpen is strong and the addition of Mat Latos means that they have a bona fide ace to go along with a very good lineup. A disappointing finish in 2011 should make them hungry. Without Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa, I'm not sure that the Cardinals will have enough tricks up their sleeves to make it back to the postseason.
NL WEST
Diamondbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres
This is an ugly division but the Diamondbacks have quietly put together a really nice team and Kirk Gibson has them believing that they belong in the postseason. Their rotation got better with the addition of Trevor Cahill (not too many #3's out there with his potential) and you'd be hard pressed to find a hole in their lineup.
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
Adding Pineda should help the Yankees remain atop the AL East but this division will once again be up for grabs and it's safe to say that everyone will be keeping tabs on the AL East as the season wears on. Despite their offensive prowess, the Red Sox have major issues with their rotation. They are most definitely playing with fire, making the decision to move Daniel Bard into the rotation. That decision could pan out or it could backfire and leave them with huge holes in their rotation AND their bullpen (and on paper, their bullpen appears to be very weak). I think that the Rays boast the most exciting rotation on paper in all of Major League Baseball with David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Jeff Niemann and Boy Wonder, Matt Moore but it remains to be seen whether those young arms can hold up for an entire season.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
Twins
White Sox
Royals
It's the Tigers and then everyone else in the AL Central. The Indians tasted success last year and have an intriguing team on paper. Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis and Shin Soo Choo give them a formidable trio to go along with an underrated pitching staff headlined by the man with the most interesting name in baseball, Ubaldo Jimenez.
AL WEST
Angels
(*WC) Rangers
A's
Mariners
This division could come down to the wire. The Rangers have a tremendous lineup and a lot of young arms but I think the Angels have the makeup of a champion. Their pitching will be great and their lineup has the potential to be downright scary. The additions of Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson makes them a half dozen wins better on paper but their influence in the clubhouse and the experience that they bring to the table could elevate the play of those around them and should help them make up a ten game deficit that they ended up with in 2011 (taking the ace of Rangers also hurts Texas so they should be right there).
NL Champs - Phillies
AL Champs - Angels
WS Champs - Phillies (leap year...)
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
The Yankees have both the pitching and the offense and will be the team to beat. The Red Sox have to overcome last year's debacle and it doesn't seem like their pitching is up to the Yanks standards. Orioles will be improved, but not enough to challenge
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
White Sox
Royals
Twins
The Tigers appear to be the cream of the crop in this division. Everyone else is second rate with the Twins at the bottom of the barrel in the AL.
AL WEST
Rangers
(*WC) Angels
Mariners
A's
The Angels will be improved with Albert, but not enough to overcome the Rangers. They will, however, take one of the WC spots.
NL Champs - Phillies
AL Champs - Tigers
WS Champs - Phillies
OCP
NL EAST
Phillies
(*WC) Nationals
Marlins
Braves
Mets
Pitching still wins this division, and the Phillies have plenty of pitching, but the Nationals are emerging as serious contenders. Wilson Ramos has emerged into a solid backstop, Ryan Zimmerman is one of the most underrated players in baseball and Mike Morse had a breakout year in 2011. Wouldn't surprise me if the Nationals earned a wild card berth in 2012.
NL CENTRAL
Reds
(*WC) Brewers
Cardinals
Cubs
Pirates
Astros
The Reds could be the dark horse in the NL. They boast a top heavy rotation (their back end starters leave much to be desired) but their bullpen is strong and the addition of Mat Latos means that they have a bona fide ace to go along with a very good lineup. A disappointing finish in 2011 should make them hungry. Without Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa, I'm not sure that the Cardinals will have enough tricks up their sleeves to make it back to the postseason.
NL WEST
Diamondbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres
This is an ugly division but the Diamondbacks have quietly put together a really nice team and Kirk Gibson has them believing that they belong in the postseason. Their rotation got better with the addition of Trevor Cahill (not too many #3's out there with his potential) and you'd be hard pressed to find a hole in their lineup.
AL EAST
Yankees
(*WC) Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
Adding Pineda should help the Yankees remain atop the AL East but this division will once again be up for grabs and it's safe to say that everyone will be keeping tabs on the AL East as the season wears on. Despite their offensive prowess, the Red Sox have major issues with their rotation. They are most definitely playing with fire, making the decision to move Daniel Bard into the rotation. That decision could pan out or it could backfire and leave them with huge holes in their rotation AND their bullpen (and on paper, their bullpen appears to be very weak). I think that the Rays boast the most exciting rotation on paper in all of Major League Baseball with David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Jeff Niemann and Boy Wonder, Matt Moore but it remains to be seen whether those young arms can hold up for an entire season.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers
Indians
Twins
White Sox
Royals
It's the Tigers and then everyone else in the AL Central. The Indians tasted success last year and have an intriguing team on paper. Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis and Shin Soo Choo give them a formidable trio to go along with an underrated pitching staff headlined by the man with the most interesting name in baseball, Ubaldo Jimenez.
AL WEST
Angels
(*WC) Rangers
A's
Mariners
This division could come down to the wire. The Rangers have a tremendous lineup and a lot of young arms but I think the Angels have the makeup of a champion. Their pitching will be great and their lineup has the potential to be downright scary. The additions of Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson makes them a half dozen wins better on paper but their influence in the clubhouse and the experience that they bring to the table could elevate the play of those around them and should help them make up a ten game deficit that they ended up with in 2011 (taking the ace of Rangers also hurts Texas so they should be right there).
NL Champs - Phillies
AL Champs - Angels
WS Champs - Phillies (leap year...)
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