2012 MLB Predictions: Division Winners, Award Winners, and World Champs

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Now that I have analyzed every roster over  past month I am ready to make my 2012 predictions. In the past  I have been pretty good a picking 5-or-6 playoffs teams with always two horrendous missteps. If I could get anything right it would be my World Series winner, but I know a July trade or significant injury will shape the season in a way that I cannot calculate at this point.

2012 MLB Predicted Standings (playoff teams in red)

AL East (predicted win total)
Yankees (98-64)
Red Sox (92-70)
Rays (89-73)
Blue Jays (84-78)
Orioles (72-90)

Does Prince Fielder put Motown over the top?

AL Central
Tigers (94-68)
Twins (81-81)
Royals (80-82)
White Sox (76-86)
Indians (73-89)

AL West
Angels (96-66)
Rangers (94-68)
Mariners (69-93)
Athletics (66-96)

NL West
Giants (91-71)

Diamondbacks (87-75)
Rockies (74-88)
Dodgers (73-89)
Padres (69-93)

Could Wainwright be a Cy Young canidate?

NL Central
Reds (94-68)
Brewers (85-77)
Cardinals (82-80)
Pirates (80-82)
Cubs (74-88)
Astros (67-95)

NL East
Braves (93-69)
Phillies (90-72)
Marlins (88-74)
Nationals (79-83)
Mets (75-87)

2012 MLB Playoff Predictions

NLWC: Phillies over Marlins
NLDS: Reds over Phillies
NLDS: Giants over Braves
ALWC: Rangers over Red Sox
ALDS: Yankees over Rangers
ALDS: Angels over Tigers
NLCS: Reds over Giants
ALCS: Angels over Yankees

World Series: Reds over Angels

2012 Award Winners Predictions

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
NL MVP: Justin Upton (Diamondbacks)

AL Cy Young: C.C. Sabathia (Yankees)
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum (Giants)

AL Rookie of the Year: Addison Reed (White Sox)
NL Rookie of the Year: Trevor Bauer (Diamonbacks)

AL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi (Yankees)
NL Manager of the Year: Dusty Baker (Reds)

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Dunn (White Sox)
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)

Countdown to Opening Day 2012: #1 Philadelphia Phillies

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Jimmy Rollins
3B Placido Polanco
CF Shane Victorino
RF Hunter Pence
1B Ty Wiggington
LF John Mayberry Jr.
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Freddy Galvis
P Roy Halladay
**Chase Utley (out indefinitely)
**Ryan Howard (out indefinitely)


PROJECTED ROTATION
Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Cole Hamels
Vance Worley
Joe Blanton

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Jonathan Papelbon
Set-up - Antonio Bastardo

Top Prospect - Trevor May (RHP)

Breakout
Dominic Brown - The high expectations did not help Brown in Philadelphia after getting off to a slow start in his major league career. Philadelphia is already to write him off, but I am not. Sure he needs to improve, but that's why he is in Triple-A to start the season. I expect him to get off to hot start and make his way back to the city of Brotherly Love by mid-May. He will be no worse than Raul Ibanez's 2011 numbers (.245 20 HR 83 RBIs) and has the chance to be a lot better. He's only 24 years old.


Bust

Vance Worley- Much like they write off struggling youngsters people also like to get attached to a player off to a hot start. It happen with Kyle Kendrick winning 10 games in his rookie season, Jay Happ almost being held onto when the right move was flipping him for Roy Oswalt, and now Vance Worley. The Vanimal is most likely better than Kendrick and Happ, but don't even consider him a part of the terrific trio. Worley is a solid fifth starter but nothing more. If you set your expectations for the righty too high you will surely disappointed.

X-FACTOR
Chase Utley - There was not much offense to speak of in 2011 and they still won 102 games, but this year they are starting out the season with no Ryan Howard or Chase Utley in the middle of the order. With Howard most expect him to come back in a month or two and be the player that is capable of carrying a team. For Utley, Scoobey Doo couldn't solve this mystery. Utley has worn down so much so quickly that he has not idea what his body is capable of anymore. Phillies should hope for the best, but expect the worst. At this point anything is better than nothing at all.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 102-60

Phillies pitching got even stronger with the addition of Jonathan Papelbon

PROJECTED FINISH: 2nd in the National League East

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for my 2012 Predictions

Countdown to Opening Day 2012: #2 Cincinnati Reds

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Brandon Phillips
SS Zack Cozart
1B Joey Votto
3B Scott Rolen
RF Jay Bruce
CF Drew Stubbs
LF Chris Heisey
C Ryan Hanigan
P Johnny Cueto


PROJECTED ROTATION
Johnny Cueto
Mat Latos

Bronson Arroyo
Mike Leake
Homer Bailey

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Sean Marshall
Set-up - Nick Masset
**Ryan Madson (out for the season)

Top Prospect - Devin Mesoraco (C)

Breakout
Jay Bruce - He has increased his home run total in every season yet we still have not seen the best of Bruce. The biggest stat to jump off the page is the increase in walks from 33 in his rookie season to 71 a year ago. That should help the average approach .290 and with 35 homers and 110 RBIs he could be in the MVP conversation in 2012.


Bust

Scott Rolen - I guess when you are trying to win now you want to play the proven player, but in the Reds case I think they have hurt some youngsters by sticking with Rolen at the hot corner. I thought Juan Francisco had a chance to be an impact hitter, but he never got the chance and is still expected to come off the bench. Rolen is a day-to-day player all season battling injuries and only time will tell is he can be a run producer in his 17th major league season.

X-FACTOR
Sean Marshall - The news that closer Ryan Madson needs Tommy John Surgery really sent shock waves through Cincy. Not only did it mean Marshall, who has seven career saves will be the closer, it also meant everyone's role slightly alters. Mid-relievers are now seventh and eighth inning guys and so on. Aroldis Chapman was being molded to start, but with the news that Madson is out could shift those plans. It is Marshall's job to lose now.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 79-83

How will Mat Latos handle the move east?

PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the National League Central

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Philadelphia Phillies

Countdown to Opening Day 2012: #3 Los Angeles Angels

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Erick Aybar
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Albert Pujols
DH Kendrys Morales
RF Torii Hunter
LF Vernon Wells
C Chris Iannetta
3B Alberto Callaspo
CF Peter Bourjos

PROJECTED ROTATION
Jered Weaver
Dan Haren
C.J. Wilson
Ervin Santana
Garrett Richards

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Jordan Walden
Set-up - Scott Downs

Top Prospect - Mike Trout (OF)

Breakout
Howie Kendrick - With the signing of Albert Pujols and the imminent return on Kendrys Morales the Angels just added two 100 RBI guys to their lineup and no one will benefit more than the two-hole hitter and second basemen. Kendrick should reach base enough this year to score 115 runs and he could even get into the long ball act and hit 20 dingers this season.

Bust

Vernon Wells - Luckily the Angels have a handful of players fighting for playing time because it is only a matter of time until Wells sees the number of his at-bats shrink.With five major league outfielders in the organization Wells does have time to slump. His giant contract is not going to save his this year. They will have to put his wallet on the bench.

X-FACTOR
Jordan Walden - The 10 blown saves he committed in 2011 is not going to cut it this season. Goals are way to high to let back end of the bullpen hold them back. He still has the potential to be elite and the Angels need him to be. Or else they will be buying a ninth inning guy at the trade deadline.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 86-76

Albert Pujols heads west

PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the American League West

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Cincinnati Reds

Countdown to Opening Day 2012: #4 Atlanta Braves

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Michael Bourn
LF Martin Prado
C Brian McCann
2B Dan Uggla
3B Chipper Jones
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Jason Heyward
SS Tyler Pastornicky
P Tommy Hanson

PROJECTED ROTATION

Tommy Hanson

Jair Jurrjens

Brandon Beachy

Mike Minor

Randall Delgado

**Tim Hudson (out until May after back surgery)

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Craig Kimbrel
Set-up - Jonny Venters

Top Prospect - Julio Teheran (RHP)

Breakout
Jason Heyward - He has bulked up and slimmed down. He has tried to cut his swing down and become more selective. Heyward is still a work in progress and there is no telling when he will figure it out, but I am positive he will. It may be May or August, but sometime this season the 22 year-old will put it all together and become one of more feared hitters in baseball like we all thought he would be.

Bust

Brandon Beachy - Beachy was pretty impressive in his 25 starts last year striking out 169 batters and finishing with a 7-3 record. But now that the National League has tape of the 25 year-old rightie I can see him regressing a little bit in his second full season. Maybe not enough to get pulled from the rotation but his ERA of 3.68 from a season good most likely is headed north.

X-FACTOR
Jason Heyward - Even with Tim Hudson out for a month Atlanta has enough pitching depth to sustain success. However, the offense is not so lucky. The Braves still lack run producers and should still be middle in the pack in runs scored. Unless Jason Heyward figures out how to get his swing back. If Heyward is hitting third by June because he figured out his looping left handed swing, the Braves could become very dangerous.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 89-73

2012 is the farewell tour for Chipper Jones

PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the National League East

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Los Angeles Angels