2012 MLB Predictions

AL East

1- Tampa Bay Rays 96-66

     With an improved offense and a deep and deadly pitching staff, Tampa Bay looks poised to have a consistent season that results in a playoff berth and AL East Championship. 

2- New York Yankees 94-68

     The pitching staff is deeper this year and as long as the Yankees remain relatively healthy throughout the year, they should be a definitive playoff team. 

3- Boston Red Sox 88-74

     Lack of depth and pop in the bottom half of the order will inhibit the Red Sox. They could definitely make the playoffs if their pitching staff steps up like they were supposed to last year, but I just don't see a number four pitcher emerging for the Sox to get back in the playoffs. 

4- Toronto Blue Jays 86-76

     With a talented group of young players, the Blue Jays will hang around through September as long as they continue to hit the ball and pitch the ball well enough. 

5- Baltimore Orioles 69-93

     The Orioles still don't have the pitching staff that can keep them hanging around in the tough AL East. It would help if guys like Matt Wieters and Adam Jones really took their games to the next level. 

AL Central

1- Detroit Tigers 92-70

     With the addition of Prince Fielder to the lineup, it looks to be a long shot to see another team represent the AL Central in the playoffs this season. 

2- Cleveland Indians 88-74

     One of the pleasant surprises last year, Cleveland looks to improve and they will because of a deeper pitching staff and more pop to their lineup. 

3- Minnesota Twins 79-83

     A lot of things went wrong for the Twins last year, but if they can get healthy, they should have a bounce back year that results in them briefly hanging around past the all-star break this year. 

4- Kansas City Royals 75-87

     The future is in place, now it is all about when the results kick in. But this year, they simply don't have a quality enough pitching staff to hang around. 

5- Chicago White Sox 66-96

     I don't expect the White Sox to score enough runs that can support a pitching staff that routinely gives up a good amount of runs. 

AL West

1- Los Angeles Angels 105-57

     With the best pitching staff in the American League and the best hitter in the American League, the Angels will dominate in 2012. 

2- Texas Rangers 93-69

     The two time defending AL champs will be good once again, but I expect the pitching staff to not be quite as good with the loss of C.J. Wilson. 

3- Seattle Mariners 73-89

     Seattle takes a step in the right direction as their offensive looks better than any other Mariner team since the early 2000's. 

4- Oakland Athletics 68-94

     Another poor year is in store for the A's in 2012. 

NL East

1- Philadelphia Phillies 92-70
     Their pitching staff is too good and too deep for the Phillies hitting to lead to them missing the playoffs. 
2- Miami Marlins 88-74
     More depth and more explosiveness will keep the Marlins hanging around through September. 
3- Washington Nationals 87-75
     The Nationals should take another step towards making the playoffs this year as they are in the hunt at the start of September. 
4- Atlanta Braves 84-78
     The Braves pitching staff is the big question because if they can perform like they are capable of, then they certainly can be a playoff team. 

5- New York Mets 64-98

     The Mets will be the ones beaten up on by each of the four teams in the NL East due to their lack of strength in all facets of the game. 

NL Central

1- Cincinnati Reds 89-73
     The Reds should capitalize on the regression of the better teams in their division to head back to the playoffs.
2- Milwaukee Brewers 86-76
     The loss of Prince Fielder will be the difference in making and missing the playoffs this year. 

3- St. Louis Cardinals 82-80

     The loss of Albert Pujols and manager Tony LaRussa will hurt the Cardinals this year as they can't rekindle the same magic of last year. 

4- Chicago Cubs 78-84

     The Cubs show no signs of either breaking through or regressing big time as they seem destined for another mediocre season. 

5- Pittsburgh Pirates 75-87

    The Pirates are getting their, but still don't get the production they need from guys like Pedro Alvarez. 

6- Houston Astros 55-107

     The Astros are on a par with a good AAA team, which means that this will be another long year for Houston. 

NL West

1- San Francisco Giants 93-69

     With as good of a pitching staff as anyone, the Giants will head back to the playoffs on the backs of Tim Lincecum and Buster Posey. 

2- Arizona Diamondbacks 91-71
     The surprise team of 2011 should be good once again in 2012 behind a deep rotation and a good offense led by Justin Upton. 

3- Los Angeles Dodgers 89-73
     The Dodgers will surprise the NL this year by having the lead of the NL West in September, only a rotation that isn't very impressive behind Clayton Kershaw will lead to the demise of the Dodgers. 

4- Colorado Rockies 77-85
     The rotation is weak, so the Rockies will rely heavily on big bats like Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. 

5- San Diego Padres 74-88
     With a good young core in place, the Padres are moving in the right direction, only they do not have enough firepower to contend this year. 


AL Playoff Teams
1 Los Angeles Angels
2 Tampa Bay Rays
3 Detroit Tigers 
4 New York Yankees 
5 Texas Rangers


NL Playoff Teams
1 San Francisco Giants
2 Philadelphia Phillies
3 Cincinnati Reds
4 Arizona Diamondbacks 
5 Los Angeles Dodgers


Wild Card Play In Games (*Indicates Home Team)
New York* over Texas 
Los Angeles over Arizona*


ALDS
Los Angeles over New York 3-2
Detroit over Tampa Bay 3-1


NLDS
Philadelphia over Los Angeles 3-0
San Francisco over Cincinnati 3-2


ALCS
Los Angeles over Detroit 4-3


NLCS
Philadelphia over San Francisco 4-2


World Series
Los Angeles Angels over Philadelphia Phillies 4-2


Awards
AL MVP: Evan Longoria, 3B Tampa Bay Rays
NL MVP: Matt Kemp, OF Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
AL Rookie of Year: Matt Moore, P Tampa Bay Rays
NL Rookie of Year: Yonder Alonso, 1B San Diego Padres
AL Manager of Year: Mike Scoscia, Los Angeles Angels 
NL Manager of Year: Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers