2012 MLB Playoffs Preview and Post-Season Awards

Here we go!

2012 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

AL Wild Card Game
Texas Rangers over Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore was a very nice surprise this season, and I expected Texas to end up with 100 wins and the best regular season record in the MLB. Oh well. Rangers still destroy the Orioles here.

NL Wild Card Game
Atlanta Braves over St. Louis Cardinals

This is an awesome matchup. It really could go either way, and I'd be happy regardless. However, I think the Braves have the slight edge in this single game, especially if Kris Medlen is pitching. If it were a series, I think St. Louis would be the victors.

ALDS
Texas Rangers over New York Yankees, 3-2
Oakland Athletics over Detroit Tigers, 3-2

While the Rangers' pitching did not mature quite to the degree that I expected, it still can be quite dangerous. And, there surely doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the team's bats, and the Yankee pitching rotation should be easily dismantled here.

The Oakland A's are downright scary these days, and NO ONE saw that coming. Sure, this may just be a Cinderella story of a group of young, mediocre players uniting as an ultimate team for one season and then going back to their old ways, but it doesn't matter. The way they swept the Rangers to end the season is proof that our Detroit Tigers are in trouble, and their disappointing, underperforming season will come to a close in Oakland. I won't deny that if Scherzer is healthy and continues his 2012 second-half dominance, and Verlander and Fister do what they do, the Tigers could win this series. But, as inconsistent as they've been at bat and as horrific as their defense is, I don't see it happening this year.

NLDS
Washington Nationals over Atlanta Braves, 3-2
San Francisco Giants over Cincinnati Reds, 3-1

2012 is certainly the year of amazing stories, and the Washington Nationals are probably the best one. I do think they will face a lot of difficulty in winning their first playoff series ever, but they are close to really being the best team in the entire MLB. Even without Stephen Strasburg (who, if he was pitching in the post-season this year, the Nats would win the World Series with), their rotation is nasty, and their offense surprisingly really came together. The Braves, and even the Cardinals if they were to in the Wild Card game, would pose a serious threat, but I think the Nats will do it.

While I love that the Cincinnati Reds were so good, I think they'll be in a little over their heads no matter who they would face. Unfortunately, they've got the San Francisco Giants, who maybe have the most dangerous starting rotation and bullpen combination in the game at this point. That their offense was more productive than usual is a huge help as well. The Reds look to be an excellent team for the next few seasons, but 2012 will not be their year.

ALCS
Texas Rangers over Oakland Athletics, 4-3

This will be a gnarly series, and despite coming out on top, the Rangers will be completely drained by the end. The Oakland Cinderella story will end at the hands of Texas' seasoned vets.

NLCS
San Francisco Giants over Washington Nationals, 4-2

This will be a closer series than it looks, but the Giants will have experience to thank for reaching their second World Series in three years.

World Series
San Francisco Giants over Texas Rangers, 4-2

In a repeat of the 2010 World Series, the Rangers will be too tired to keep up with the SF pitching machine, and Buster Posey will single handedly destroy that Texas rotation. I think the scores in these games will be close, but obviously, close doesn't cut it. The Texas Rangers will lose their third World Series in a row.

POST-SEASON AWARDS
AL Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout, Los Angeles (OF)
NL Rookie of the Year: Wade Miley, Arizona (SP)
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit (SP)
NL Cy Young: R.A. Dickey, New York (SP)
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit (3B)
NL MVP: Buster Posey, San Francisco (C)