MLB Preview 2012

The random numbers above the division, like AL East 1, are my rankings of the AL and NL divisions combined.  So I think that the AL East is the toughest division in baseball, while the NL Central is the easiest.

American League

AL East 1     

Yankees    96-66   Manager Girardi and the Yankees win the division.   

Red Sox     95-67   Less beer, and they make the playoffs…  Coincidence?

Blue Jays  83-79    They play meaningful games in August.

Rays          82-80   In a lesser division they probably make the playoffs, but all the Rays get in the AL East is 4^th place.

Orioles      63-99    The Orioles get rolled in the toughest division in baseball.

 

AL Central 5           

Kansas City 86-76   With a payroll ½ the size of Detroit’s, KC makes the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

Detroit         84-78   Detroit suffers some injuries and finishes just outside playoff contention.

Cleveland   81-81    Masterson and the Indians remain competitive.

Minnesota  76-86    Minnesota improves slightly from last year, but it looks like they should have kept their old stadium.

Chicago      75-87   No Ozzie Guillen improves the Sox slightly, but not enough to even get out of last place.

AL West 3        

Angels           96-66       Pujols and Weaver lead the Angels to the best record in the AL.         

Rangers         90-72      The Rangers don't control the division this year, but they still make the playoffs.  

Seattle           73-89      Jesus Montero plays very well and Seattle doesn’t lose 90.

Oakland         72-98      Oakland underachieves slightly and almost lose a hundred. 

National League

NL East 2   

Philadelphia 97-65     The Phillies great pitching staff rolls through the NL.

Marlins         89-93     The Marlins huge payroll partially pays off, and they reach the playoffs.

Atlanta          88-74     No late season collapse this time for the Braves.

Washington  80-82     Strasburg and the nationals almost make .500.  

New York     72-90     The Mets try to pay off some of their debts.  Oh and they finish with 90 losses.

NL Central 6       

Cincinnati     87-75      The Reds pitching leads them to their 2^nd division title in 3 years.    

Milwaukee   85-77      Milwaukee is left just a couple games out the playoffs.      

St. Louis       84-78      St. Louis remains a fine team, but they are unable to defend their title.  

Pittsburgh     81-81      Pittsburgh has their first non losing season in 17 years.    

Chicago        73-89      Well, same old Cubs.. For this year anyways.

Houston        53-109    Houston leaves the NL as somewhat of a laughing stock.  

NL West 4             

San Francisco  90-72    No offense once again, but their first rate pitching leads them to the division title.

Arizona            85-77   They compete for the division, but fall short come September.

LA Dodgers      80-82   The ‘other’ LA team remains competitive, but falls just short of .500.         

Colorado          78-84   The offense improves from last year, but it can practically only go up considering last season.

San Diego        73-89   SD is not a bad team, but I think the other teams in their division are superior.    

AL Championship: - Angels over Yankees

NL Championship: - Phillies over Giants

World Series: - I am probably buying too much into Albert Pujols and Jered Weaver, but I have the Angels over the Phillies in the WS.