2012 MLB Preview

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is right around the corner, and I could not be more excited. Here are my predictions for the coming year. Please do not judge. Or, judge if it brings forth meaningful baseball conversation.

AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

I'm not a huge hater of the Yankees, but I still want Tampa Bay or even Boston to overcome them. This may be the last year the Yanks are at the top of this division, as it should be historically incredible closer Mariano Rivera's final season, and Derek Jeter can't be good for much longer, right? Regardless, their hitting is sick, and the rotation got a huge facelift this off-season, so atop of the division they go again. The Rays were a pleasant surprise last year in spite of the quality players they lost, and with the return of Carlos Pena (even if he can't hit for average) and Matt Moore being a huge part of the rotation, they should be even better. As stacked as they are on offense, the Red Sox will be too distracted by drama to reach the playoffs. If the Blue Jays were in a different division, they'd probably compete for a post-season spot. Jose Bautista is looking like the real deal, though, and this could be the year Ricky Romero becomes a true ace. Offensively, the Orioles are young and on the up and up. Their pitching is laughable.

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

The Tigers surprised everyone with how dominant they were down the stretch, but unfortunately, it is doubtful that Verlander will ever repeat his MVP season. That being said, the huge gain of Prince Fielder greatly overturns the loss of Victor Martinez, and the Tigers will easily run away with this division. There are still a few unanswered pitching questions, but at the same time, their rotation and bullpen have the talent to give the Tigers a championship. I don't think 2012 is the year, but when V-Mart is back in 2013, LOOK OUT. The Indians were a nice story last year, and they really are the second best team in the Central now, but the chasm between Detroit and everyone else is huge. The Royals need a lot of work at pitching, but the quality hitting that comes from their position players rivals that of the Texas Rangers. Look for them to compete in the coming years. The Twins are old and injury prone, and I think we've seen the last of them giving Detroit hell, at least for a while. The White Sox are in real bad shape, in spite of the ageless Paul Konerko.

AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

After two years in a row of reaching the World Series only to lose, I firmly believe that 2012 is the year the Rangers finally win a championship. Their hitting is RIDICULOUS, probably the best in the MLB, and their starting rotation is young and terrifying and the bullpen is the reason they made it all the way to the World Series. Losing C.J. Wilson to the Angels doesn't even matter. Obviously, the Angels also won the Albert Pujols sweepstakes, and he has set them up to compete for a title, but not to win it (they have about a three year window to do it). Jered Weaver, Dan Heren and Wilson make for a killer 1-2-3 punch in the rotation (only the Phillies' Halladay, Lee and Hamels are a better combo), but the Rangers are better in every other way. The Mariners have some up-and-coming studs, and one of the best aces in the game in Felix Hernandez, but they are a long way off. Who knows how long the A's are going to be terrible. I'd wager very long.

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Miami Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets

I worry that the Philadelphia Phillies have missed out on their window of opportunity with Roy Halladay, thanks to their disastrous hitting. I'm being dramatic, but it really is that starting rotation that makes this team so good. Having Hunter Pence for a whole year is a big help, and if Chase Utley can remain healthy, they're back in business. If not, this team needs some hitting fast. The Braves collapsed in September last year when they pretty much were the second best team in the NL until that point. They're lineup is not overwhelming, but is solid through and through, and their starting rotation is deceivingly good. In addition, that bullpen is intimidating as hell. I believe this Braves team to maintain that second best in the NL status for 2012 in its entirety. With the additions of Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, and Mark Buerhle, the Miami Marlins should be a formidable contender in the NL. The team is now solid in every way, it's just that the Phillies and Braves are better, and believe it or not, the Washington Nationals are just barely behind. That Nats made some brilliant moves this off-season, and now they're solid at the band and have one of the better rotations and bullpens around. I am so stoked to see Stephen Strasburg embarrass every team he faces, even if his innings will be capped at 150. There is nothing in regards to the New York Mets worth mentioning.

NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros

Now that the potential scare of losing Ryan Braun for 50 games is not happening, the Brewers are still the best team in the Central despite the loss of Prince Fielder. Adding Aramis Ramirez at third base offsets most of that, and if K-Rod is happy as John Axford's set-up man and Zach Greinke continues his post-2011 All-Star game dominance, everyone in the NL should fear this team immensely. The Cincinnati Reds should have been better than they were last year, as they are set at the bat. Adding Matt Latos to the rotation is a huge bonus, as he has been quite brilliant for a bad San Diego Padres team the past two seasons. If they don't make the playoffs this year, they won't be far off. Of course losing Albert Pujols is a huge deal, but the Cardinals will most definitely still compete. The return of Adam Wainwright will be seamless, and who knows, maybe he'll finally win a Cy Young? As good as the team still looks, I see them falling just short of the post-season. The Chicago Cubs will be better, though not by a ton. I'm excited to see where Starlin Castro's career goes. The nice first half that the Pittsburgh Pirates last year was a farce. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, even if Andrew McCutchen turns into a super star. The Houston Astros are in a terrible rebuilding stage, and they will be terrible next year when they move to the AL West.

NL West
1. San Francisco Giants
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

I cannot imagine the San Francisco Giants imploding again like they did last year. Their hitting may have too many questions and, believe it or not, is probably even worse off than Philadelphia's, but their pitching rotation will carry them back to the top of the NL West. The overall performance of the teams in this division wavers vastly from year to year, but it seems like the Diamondbacks are set up for continued success. Solid if not totally good rotation and bullpen, and everybody is referring to Justin Upton as the next huge super star. Rightfully so, Matt Kemp is the Dodgers' knight in shining armor, and while he is incredible, it's hard to imagine him being better than he was last year and single handedly saving this team. They and the Rockies have a lot of work ahead of them, even if the latter has two of the brightest young stars in the major leagues in Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. It's depressing just thinking about the state the Padres are in, though they have some nice prospects to work with from that Adrian Gonzalez trade last year.

AL Wild Card Game
Tampa Bay Rays over Los Angeles Angels

NL Wild Card Game
Atlanta Braves over Cincinnati Reds

ALDS
Detroit Tigers over Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2
Texas Rangers over New York Yankees, 3-1

NLDS
Philadelphia Phillies over Atlanta Braves, 3-2
San Francisco Giants over Milwaukee Brewers, 3-1

ALCS
Texas Rangers over Detroit Tigers, 4-2

NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies over San Francisco Giants, 4-3

World Series
Texas Rangers over Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2

AL Rookie of the Year - Matt Moore, Tampa Bay
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Carl Crawford, Boston
AL Cy Young - David Price, Tampa Bay
AL MVP - Albert Pujols, Los Angeles

NL Rookie of the Year - Drew Pomeranz, Colorado
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Josh Johnson, Miami
NL Cy Young - Cliff Lee, Philadelphia
NL MVP - Ryan Braun, Milwaukee