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2012 MLB Preview
Finally, the 2012 MLB season is upon us! Excited for this upcoming year with the interesting free agent acquisitions, new rule changes, and MORE! Planning to post as much as possible this year! Below are my previews for the outlook of the 2012 MLB season.
American League
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox (~95 Wins)
This projection may be a little biased (my favorite team) but I am loving the changes happening in BeanTown, philosophy, etc. Just wished John Farrell was our manager instead of Valentine. With the parity in baseball, the AL East especially, I just cannot see any team getting anymore more than 95 wins this year in the AL East. Players to Watch: Josh Beckett/Jon Lester
2. New York Yankees (~93 Wins)
Really liking the pickup of Kuroda. However, on the other hand, I am NOT seeing the value of the Pineda-Montero trade for the Yankees. Pineda had one good season with the Mariners beating up batters in the weak AL West. Coming from a small market to a big market team is going to present challenges for this young pitcher. In addition, his velocity has been way down all Spring, which is very concerning. Yankees HAD the top MLB prospect at catcher in Montero (ridiculous power). I find it significantly harder to come across such a talented catcher in Montero, then a pitcher like Pineda. Who knows for all I know Pineda might have a solid year. The middle of the Yankees rotation scares me: Pineda and Nova. I think Hughes should get bumped up to the 3rd spot. From the competition Hughes faced this Spring Training to earn a spot in the rotation, I believe it helped him greatly. Offensively, I have no clue what to expect from this aging team (like the Celtics in the NBA). Seeing a decline offensively for the OFs, however, Granderson and Swisher will be becoming free agents next year (they might produce but I am not seeing it). Players to Watch: Hiroki Kuroda/Phil Hughes
3. Tampa Bay Rays (~90 Wins)
I absolutely love the management of this team from the top-down! For a small market team, the Rays management is laying the "blueprint" for staying competitive, especially playing the AL East. Although, I acknowledge the fact that they had the top pick in the MLB Draft for many years- they still had to develop the talent. Its obvious that the Rays pitching staff is going to keep this team going. Offensively, I feel like if guys like Joyce, Zobrist, and Rodriguez stay healthy and can produce consistently (no steep decline in their production from last year) this team should be solid. Player to Watch: Matt Joyce
4. Toronto Blue Jays (~85 Wins)
The best coaching staff in baseball. I absolutely wished the Red Sox had kept John Farrell. Lawrie is being touted as the next big thing in Toronto (awesome Spring) but I think you might need to give him one more year. No doubt he is going to produce but the numbers people are expecting from him might be a little too high. For me, I am loving the new acquisition flying under the radar, Mr. Colby Rasmus. Entering his prime years with a new improved batting stance and with power for days, I believe he is going to be one of the ultimate sleepers this season. I still did not even mention Bautista or Santos yet. As I am writing this, I am thinking to myself "has a MLB division been this deep ever?" It is ridiculous to even put this into perspective. Players to Watch: Colby Rasmus/Sergio Santos
5. Baltimore Orioles (~68 Wins)
You have to feel for this team, even in a little way if you dislike them. If I was apart of the Orioles management, I would try to explore ways to try and get out of this division (not sure if its even possible) but hey what's the harm! I am absolutely not envisioning the Orioles being competitive in this division in the near future. With players like Reynolds, Davis, Jones, and Reimold (all hit-or-miss), its going to be really challenging for them. In my opinion, they need to find more consistent hitters. In addition, I am not a fan of Weiters (highly-overrated). Player to Watch: Brian Matusz
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Central's probably the Tigers for the taking, but your second place choice, the Royals have to prove they can beat the Tribe, something they've struggled with home and away, before I'm willing to give them second. Two other Indians to watch for are Astrubal Cabrerra and Jason Kipnis. They're also not done with the outfield yet as reports have them looking to sign a couple other outfielders, most notably, Bobby Abreu. They're also in the Dominican scouting Vlad for his possible comeback. Finally healthy to start the season, Travis Hafner and Shin Hoo Choo will add some pop to the line up as well as Carlos Santana. All three had off years last season, due to injuries. Arguably the best pen in the Central comes back intact, with their starting pitching not great, but good enough to give them the 5 or 6 innings, limit opponents, and then to hand it over to the pen.
in the season ahead, and again thanks for all the good work. 
and if A-Rod still has anything left
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