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Archive for February, 2012

The last two seasons have ended with two middle of the pack National League teams catching fire late & winning the World Series. 2012 will be far different. Our 2012 predictions are made with the assumption that the expanded playoff format will not occur this year.

Please enjoy our picks & analysis.

AL EAST:
Yankees 98-64 Division Winner: The Yankees were the best team in the division last year & ran away with it in the closing games of the season. And they were probably the third best team on paper in the division to the Red Sox & Rays; once again proving championships aren’t played on paper. The Yankees upgraded their weakness; their rotation in heavy fashion by trading for Michael Pineda, purchasing Mr. Kuroda & sending AJ Burnett to baseball purgatory. And the Yankees still haven’t purchased a DH yet. Oh not to mention Nick Swisher is a free agent at the end of the year so will probably hit 40 homeruns, 38 of which during blowouts.

Rays 92-70: The Rays will continue to be a force in the east. The Rays have the second best pitching staff in baseball & can do consistently what the Giants can’t; win games by outscoring the other team by one if need be. A full season of Matt Moore will keep the Rays in contention all season until Albert Pujols rigs the Angels into playoffs on final day of the season.

Blue Jays 84-78: The last time the Blue Jays were relevant in this division I think Pat Hentgen was starting for them. They will continue to have a bunch of players who hit .240 but hit 35 to 50 homeruns. The difference will be the starting pitching continuing to improve.

Red Sox 82-80: The worst clubhouse in baseball has only slightly changed; due to John Lackey’s bizarre injury after his worst season. The loss of Tim Wakefield is more detrimental than most realize. Kevin Youkilis will cause this team to implode.

Orioles 42-120: Terrible pitchers & terrible hitters; not even a godly manager can do much with this roster.

AL CENTRAL:
Tigers 94-68 Division Winner: Best pitcher in baseball? Check. Best infield in baseball history? Possible. Elite manager? Check. Underrated bullpen? You betcha. Look for Max to continue his improvement.

Royals 88-74: Some of the best young hitters in baseball suddenly play in Kansas City. If the starting pitching can contribute anything this year the team will be in wild card contention for months.

Twins 82-80: Whatever happened to Justin Morneau? The pitching staff is horrible, the bullpen is terrible because the Twins went on a money purge allowing good relievers to leave last year. And now Cuddyer & Kubel have gone on to better things. If Mauer & Morneau don’t have the best years of their careers the Twins may very well be contracted.

White Sox 78-84: Your big winter acquisition was a new manager? And one with no experience at that? God it must suck to be a fan of Chicago baseball these days. Guess you guys must root for Northwestern’s team huh?

Indians 70-92: A little more Pedro Serrano & a little less Lonnie Chisenhall could really help this team. Apparently adding Derek Lowe who at his best was mediocre is something to be impressed about?

AL WEST:
Rangers 95-67 Division Winner: Yu really think this team is going to stop winning?

Angels 93-69 Wild Card: Overspending on an average pitcher & a declining star can actually improve your team; well if you were terrible.

Athletics 70-92: Why does Billy Beane keep getting rewarding for making the playoffs like 9 years ago? Another team that should be contracted.

Mariners 62-100: If this team didn’t have Jesus they’d probably win 12 games; they have that little talent & Ichiro is in a tailspin.

NL EAST:
Phillies 90-72 Division Winner: Every team in the division got better except the Mets, but who’s dumb enough to pick against Sir Roy Halladay?

Nationals 87-75 Wild Card: God like pitcher? Check. Most underrated pitcher in baseball (Jordan Zimmerman)? Check. God like power? Check. Epic beards (Jayson Werth)? Check. Best rotation in the division? Very possible. Bryce Harper hitting 20 homers this year? A given.

Marlins 85-77: If Josh Johnson can learn how to throw the ball without getting hurt this is a potential World Series team, but we’ll assume Johnson will only pitch 15 games like always.

Braves 85-77: Young arms don’t last forever. Are these kids Smoltz, Glavine & Maddux or Avery?

Mets 33-129: When a team buys Frank Francisco & has vastly improved their bullpen that pretty much tells you how much they suck.

NL CENTRAL:
Reds 82-80 Division Winner: Frazier, Votto & Bruce = a good start; can the pitching get back to 2010 form?

Cardinals 81-81: A 500 record is assuming that Berkman has another career year. How does a team with this little talent succeed every year? Hopefully David Freese has a great season.

Brewers 70-92: Fielder gone. Braun suspended. Greinke mental. Miracles only happen so often.

Cubs 70-92: You’d think 104 years of rampant mediocrity would result in some effort; not bloody likely.

Pirates 66-96: After doing good for a while last year the management proved they don’t want to win by trading for AJ Burnett.

Astros 62-100: Remember when steroids were legal & this was one of the best teams in the National League? No wonder people want them to change their name to “Bush” at least then they have an excuse as to why they absolutely suck.

NL WEST:
Rockies 85-77 Division Winner: Carlos Gonzalez & Troy Tulowitzki take this team on their back this year.

Diamondbacks 83-79: Mr. Kennedy…………………Kennedy went 21-4 last year. And he didn’t even pitch that great late in the season.

Giants 82-80: Sorry but Buster Posey & Pedro Sandoval can’t bat for everyone else in the lineup.

Padres 81-81: Petco Park seems to make pitchers appear better than they are; look for that trend to continue.

Dodgers 75-87: Now we know why Joe Torre left; the only kids on the team who try are Matt Kemp & Clayton Kershaw. Mattingly must really be pissed the Yankees hired Girardi over him now huh?