Previewing MLB 2012

Believe it or not Opening Day is here!

Technically it already occurred in Japan, but it is about to take place (again).

With Opening Day in baseball coming up Wednesday night from Miami, let’s take the time to look into our crystal ball and see how the 2012 season will finish up.

In no particular order, we start in the Junior circuit as the West is once again top-heavy with the Angels signing, arguably the greatest baseball player to ever play the game, Albert Pujols, to a monster deal as well as signing CJ Wilson away from division rival Texas.  Don’t over look the secondary pieces the Angels made with signings of veteran pitchers to fill out their bullpen and the likes of Chris Iannetta for another bat in the order.

With all those moves made by the Halos, it goes without saying they are likely to end up playing for the World Series.

Texas tries to make a third trip to the Fall Classic, but won’t be easy.  I like both teams to make the now 5 team playoff picture, the Rangers as a Wild Card out West.

In the American League Central the Detroit Tigers added a big bat this off-season, literally.

Prince Fielder heads to the place his daddy called home not all that long ago.  The Tigers bring along with Fielder a dominant pitching staff, anchored by the reigning Cy Young and Most Valuable Player in 2011, Justin Verlander to diamond on a nightly basis.

Combine this with potential MVP candidate, Miguel Cabrera and a more mature lineup as well.  The Tigers should have no problem putting the Central division away by the All Star break and look to contend for the American League pennant.

Out East, the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and even the Toronto Blue Jays should have a compelling race for the division and the second Wild Card slot.

The Jays may still be a year away from really competing for the division, but don’t let the Canadian club fool anyone, they can rake.  The Red Sox under first year manager, Bobby Valentine (in Bean Town) have a lot to overcome after last seasons disaster finish in missing the playoffs all together.  The Sox don’t have a great rotation or pen, that looks to cost them a trip to the playoffs, again.

That leaves the Rays and Yanks to fight for the division.  The Yanks can out hit the Rays, but the Rays have an advantage with younger arms that if they stay healthy and consistent could win them the AL East.  Either way, the Yanks get the division by a game or two, but the Rays take the second Wild Card spot.

The postseason will shape up with the Rays defeating the Rangers in the one-and-done Wild Card round to advance to play the Angels.  The Angels advance to the American League Championship Series where they will take on the Tigers, after they knock off the Yankees and finally the Angels win a great seven game series over Detroit to advance to the World Series.

Before heading over to the Senior Circuit, the AL MVP will go to Albert Pujols (not jumping out on any limbs here).  Verlander repeats as the Cy Young Award winner, and the biggest surprise of the 2012 season looks to be how awful the Central is after the Tigers.

Taking a glance at the National League.

The Philadelphia Phillies, the perennial favorite the last few years may finally take a step backward with the injuries to Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to start the season.  They still have the pitching that is capable of winning a World Series in Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, but offensively they will be challenged a bit.

With that being said, look for the Atlanta Braves to rebound from last years debacle on the final day of the regular season to win the NL East.  Philadelphia will make the postseason with a Wild Card spot.

The Miami Marlins, much to the grin of Pat Reilly in the prior offseason, made some of the biggest splashes of the free agency period with Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle coming into the new ball park, may be a few pieces away from contending, while the Washington Nationals are expected to compete for the playoffs, but like Miami, may be a season from making some noise.

In the NL Central division, get ready for a wild 2012.  The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series last year but, lost their manager, Tony La Russa, MVP first baseman, Albert Pujols, and not for certain what they will get from Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter for innings after their injuries (Wainwright did not pitch in 2011).

David Freese, a bright spot and playoff superhero, looks to continue to grow and produce and may be a dark horse for the MVP in the NL.

Don’t look for the red birds to get into the playoffs because of Milwaukee and Cincinnati.  The past two division champs may have the upper hand heading into the 2012 season, as the Brewers did lose Prince Fielder, but return all five starting pitchers, their top two relievers for the eighth and ninth innings and brought in Aramis Ramirez and Alex Gonzalez to improve their left side of the infield.

I like the Brewers to get a Wild Card birth, as the Reds, with the 2011 MVP Joey Votto carrying the Reds with some help from Jay Bruce, who made a big improvement in his impact on the Reds lineup a season ago.

The Chicago Cubs, will again not win the World Series, and will struggle to get consistent pitching and hitting after swinging and missing on big name free agents, Pujols and Fielder.

Finally out West, always interesting, look for the Colorado Rockies to win the division and reach the postseason, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Fransisco Giants to contend throughout the season, but run out of gas down the stretch.  Don’t count out the Arizona Diamondbacks, but don’t see the consistent pitching that they had a season ago that took them into the playoffs.

So to conclude the NL.  The Brewers fall to Philadelphia in the Wild Card round.

Philly knocks off top-seeded Atlanta, while Colorado takes care of Cincinnati in the Divisional round before the National League Championship Series from Denver sees not Tebow-magic, but Troy Tulowitzki have a big series and lead the Rockies to the World Series for an offensive Fall Classic.

There, the Angels take care of the Rockies in six games.

The National League MVP goes to Troy Tulowitzki.  Cy Young Award belongs to Cliff Lee and the biggest surprise in the National League in 2012, 49-year-old Jamie Moyer picks up 10-plus wins for the Rockies.

Get your grills, charcoal and brats ready to start-up and twist off a long-neck of your choice, Opening Day is coming up shortly.

Enjoy the season everyone!