2012 MLB discussion thread

[Qazox]

I haven't seen a thread for the 2012 MLB season yet.. and since pitchers and catchers are reporting by now everywhere in Florida and Arizona, i figured it would be a good time to start it.

So, tell us who you think will win everything, you feelings on Albert Pujols in Anahiem, Prince Fielder in Detroit, AJ Burnett going from the Yankees to the Pirates, etc. Oh and who you think will win each division, the wild card(s) and ultimately the World Series.

In the POLL I have put the 8 teams I think will likely make the playoffs, plus my favorite team (the Red Sox) and OTHER as choices as to who will win the World Series this year. IF you do pick other, please post which team and why?


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[Blazedtown]

Chicago Cubs to win it all.

[Qazox]

My guarenteed 100% incorrect predictions!

AL EAST:
New York Yankees 97-65
Tampa Bay Rays 92-70
Boston Red Sox 85-77
Baltimore Orioles 78-84
Toronto Blue Jays 75-87

AL CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers 101-61
Cleveland Indians 83-79
Minnesota Twins 77-85
Chicago White Sox 74-88
Kansas City Royals 70-92

AL WEST
Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem 95-67
Texas Rangers 94-68
Seattle Mariners 70-92
Oakland Athletics 66-96

NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies 98-64
Miami Marlins 88-74
Atlanta Braves 86-76
Washington Nationals 72-90
New York Mets 60-102

NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals 86-76
Cincinnati Reds 84-78
Milwaukee Brewers 80-82
Chicago Cubs 76-86
Pittsburgh Pirates 72-90
Houston Astros 56-106

NL WEST:
San Franciso Giants 88-74
Arizona Diamondbacks 85-77
Colorado Rockies 83-79
Los Angeles Dodgers 81-81
San Diego Padres 74-88

PLAYOFFS
(if there is 2 wild Cards: Rangers def. Rays and Marlins def. Braves)

Rangers def. Yankees in 4
Tigers def. Angels in 5
Tigers def. Rangers in 6

Phillies def. Cardinals in 3
Marlins def. Giants in 4
Phillies def. Marlins in 6

WORLD SERIES
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES def. Detroit Tigers 4-3

[Pope Joan]

Cubs?

Since when?

Now, I did like Ernie Banks.

But you dissed Sandberg, you deserve

As for the Pirates, nothing can stop them now, with AJ!

Well, at least they have McCutcheon....

[Great Malema]

I'm rooting for the Diamondbacks.

Realistically, though the Phillies or the Yankees will win.

[Cosumar]

Hai, Qazox. I'm hoping my Texas Rangers can get a third crack at the World Series. The team is so good and has done so well, it'd be a shame if they don't finally win one soon. I hate Pujols in LA, because now Texas will have to see him more often! For my predictions, I'll copy your format, but I won't take the time to predict exact records

AL EAST
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles

AL CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals

AL WEST
Texas Rangers
Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners

NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Washington Nationals
New York Mets

NL CENTRAL
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates

NL WEST:
Colorado Rockies
San Franciso Giants
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers

PLAYOFFS

Rangers def. Rays in 5
Yankees def. Tigers in 4
Rangers def. Yankees in 6

Phillies def. Brewers in 4
Rockies def. Cardinals in 6
Phillies def. Rockies in 5

WORLD SERIES
TEXAS RANGERS def. Phillapdelpia Phillies 4-2

[Homelands our]

My guarenteed 100% incorrect predictions!

AL EAST:
New York Yankees 97-65
Tampa Bay Rays 92-70
Boston Red Sox 82-80
Baltimore Orioles 78-84
Toronto Blue Jays 75-87

AL CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers 101-61
Cleveland Indians 83-79
Minnesota Twins 80-82
Chicago White Sox 74-88
Kansas City Royals 70-92

AL WEST
Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem 95-67
Texas Rangers 94-68
Seattle Mariners 70-92
Oakland Athletics 66-96

NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies 98-64
Miami Marlins 88-74
Atlanta Braves 86-76
Washington Nationals 72-90
New York Mets 60-102

NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals 86-76
Cincinnati Reds 84-78
Milwaukee Brewers 80-82
Chicago Cubs 76-86
Pittsburgh Pirates 72-90
Houston Astros 56-106

NL WEST:
San Franciso Giants 88-74
Arizona Diamondbacks 85-77
Colorado Rockies 83-79
Los Angeles Dodgers 81-81
San Diego Padres 74-88

PLAYOFFS
(if there is 2 wild Cards: Rangers def. Rays and Marlins def. Braves)

Rangers def. Yankees in 4
Tigers def. Angels in 5
Tigers def. Rangers in 6

Phillies def. Cardinals in 3
Marlins def. Giants in 4
Phillies def. Marlins in 6

WORLD SERIES
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES def. Detroit Tigers 4-3

100 % like my predictions then!

[Alien Space Bats]

Detroit Tiger owner Mike Ilitch is my father's age - 83 - and his health is beginning to wane. When a man with a net worth of $1.7 billion dollars decides that he'd like to see his baseball team win the World Series before he dies, that's a wish that should be taken seriously.

There are no salary caps in Major Leagues Baseball; Ilitch can open his wallet and drop a few hundred million for the sake of giving the City of Detroit - which has been so very good to him over all these years - one final gift before he passes away; and if, in the process, he gives himself a little pleasure, who can begrudge him?

I can't guarantee that Ilitch will be able to buy himself a World Series. But the feeling here outside the Motor City is that he's about to try. To be sure, an owner's willingness to pay whatever it takes to secure the talent required to win is what sportswriters call an "intangible".

But in my mind, it's one Hell of an intangible.

EDIT: Besides, God seems to give Detroit a series victory whenever things are so bad that life would be unbearable without something for the city to cheer about (in 1968, right after the awful riots of 1967; in 1984, after the dreadful recession on 1980-81). Given what the city has been through - and what it's about to go through at the hands of a State-appointed Emergency Financial Manager, it's time.

Oh, yeah: And it always seems to happen in an election year.

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Lineup:
Aybar
Kendrick
Pujols
Morales
Hunter
Trumbo
Wells
Iannetta
Bourjos

Rotation
Weaver
Haren
Wilson
Santana
Williams

The 'pen looks iffy - we've got Downs, and to some extent, Waldo - but...

If Morales and Trumbo can stay healthy (I managed to be at the game where Kendrys hit the cart-off grand slam), the Angels are going to be phenomenal. Four pitchers with #1/#2-type stuff, and a #5 starter that had a pretty good comeback year last year in Jerome Williams. They're still stacked in the outfield - that lineup doesn't even mention All Star prospect Mike Trout or Bobby Abreu - and they've got three first basemen trying to take two slots in the batting order.

Aside from Pujols (holy shit, it's only a 30 minute drive to watch him play now! ), Trumbo and Morales, it's going to be interesting to see how Kendrick hits in front of a guy like Pujols. It's a given that Scoscia's going to write him in in front of Pujols, so he's going to be seeing a lot more a)fastballs, and b)strikes. He's been an above-average hitter so far, but he hasn't quite reached the batting title people said he'd be able to get.

Also, FUCK YEAH PUJOLS!

[Coffee Cakes]

I'd love to see another Yankees-Phillies World Series.

That said, I don't think it's gonna happen.
Something tells me it's gonna be Rangers-Braves.
I don't know why either.

[Qazox]

As I said in the OP, I'm a Red Sox fan.

And this year's gpoing to be horrible.

Lester and Beckett still good for 16-20 wins each and Buchholtz is good for 14-17 wins. After that?

Lackey's washed up
Dice-K could go 20-4 or 4-20.
Daniel Bard.. still don't know what they're going to do with him.
Bailey as closer... only if he comes in with 2 outs in the 9th and the Sox have a 3 run lead will I think the lead's somewhat safe.

Who's the Shortstop?
Saltie and Shoppach are decent enough behind the plate.
Will Crawford return to normal? (doubtful)
Will Youk turn back the clock to 3 years ago? (no)
Ross/Kalish- which one plays more in right?

not to mention they have Bobby V as coach.... yeah The 2012 Red Sox are already eliminated from the playoffs. They'll still get 85-90 wins, but at least we won't collapse like last year, 'cause we'll never be ahead of the Yanks or Rays after the All-star Game.

[Ceannairceach]

The Yankees, 'natch.
[/isnotaMLBfanandthuspicksthemostpopularteamforhisfamily]

[Coffee Cakes]

As I said in the OP, I'm a Red Sox fan.

And this year's gpoing to be horrible.

Lester and Beckett still good for 16-20 wins each and Buchholtz is good for 14-17 wins. After that?

Lackey's washed up
Dice-K could go 20-4 or 4-20.
Daniel Bard.. still don't know what they're going to do with him.
Bailey as closer... only if he comes in with 2 outs in the 9th and the Sox have a 3 run lead will I think the lead's somewhat safe.

Who's the Shortstop?
Saltie and Shoppach are decent enough behind the plate.
Will Crawford return to normal? (doubtful)
Will Youk turn back the clock to 3 years ago? (no)
Ross/Kalish- which one plays more in right?

not to mention they have Bobby V as coach.... yeah The 2012 Red Sox are already eliminated from the playoffs. They'll still get 85-90 wins, but at least we won't collapse like last year, 'cause we'll never be ahead of the Yanks or Rays after the All-star Game.

I'm a Yankees fan, so I almost enjoy that outlook.
Almost.
I'm seeing the Red Sox twice at Fenway this year (Not when the Yankees, Phillies, or Braves come to town thankfully) so I'm almost hoping they get the Wild Card.

[Anti-Obamaland]

Detroit Tiger owner Mike Ilitch is my father's age - 83 - and his health is beginning to wane. When a man with a net worth of $1.7 billion dollars decides that he'd like to see his baseball team win the World Series before he dies, that's a wish that should be taken seriously.

There are no salary caps in Major Leagues Baseball; Ilitch can open his wallet and drop a few hundred million for the sake of giving the City of Detroit - which has been so very good to him over all these years - one final gift before he passes away; and if, in the process, he gives himself a little pleasure, who can begrudge him?

I can't guarantee that Ilitch will be able to buy himself a World Series. But the feeling here outside the Motor City is that he's about to try. To be sure, an owner's willingness to pay whatever it takes to secure the talent required to win is what sportswriters call an "intangible".

But in my mind, it's one Hell of an intangible.

EDIT: Besides, God seems to give Detroit a series victory whenever things are so bad that life would be unbearable without something for the city to cheer about (in 1968, right after the awful riots of 1967; in 1984, after the dreadful recession on 1980-81). Given what the city has been through - and what it's about to go through at the hands of a State-appointed Emergency Financial Manager, it's time.

Oh, yeah: And it always seems to happen in an election year.

I only wish Ted Turner had spent on the Braves what he gave to the United Nations (100 million per year for 10 years=1 BILLION) and instead of being the Buffalo Bills of baseball, the Braves could have probably had a ring for each finger during their 14 year run of division titles.

[Enormous Gentiles]

Cleveland Indians - #WINNING since...um...well...what was the questions again?

The only problem is that we've still got Fausto Carmona Roberto Hernandez in the rotation.
Wait, they won't let him in the country?
#CHAMPIONSHIP

[Anti-Obamaland]

Chicago Cubs to win it all.

[Welsh Cowboy]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

[Anti-Obamaland]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

Phillies=Chokers

[Coffee Cakes]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

Phillies=Chokers

And who's your team?
The Phillies do nothing but win divisions, which is still a good accomplishment.
And they won the 08 World Series.

Please, God, let him be a Rangers fan...

[Welsh Cowboy]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

Phillies=Chokers

They're constantly in the playoffs, and won the WS 4 years ago.

You cant win it all every year. They're the best team.

[Philidor]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

I honestly do not see what the Angels are doing with Pujols. They are paying him for ten years, but he will only be good for another three or four. A shitty move by Los Angeles because Pujols will not be worth over 200 million dollars by 2015.

[Welsh Cowboy]

Despite being a Cubs fan, I believe the Phillies will probably win it.

Roy Halladay- NL Cy Young
?- NL MVP (Ryan Howard? Jose Reyes?)

Justin Verlander- AL Cy Young
Albert Pujols- AL MVP

I honestly do not see what the big fucking deal is about Pujols. He had a few very good seasons with the Cardinals, but he has started to die out; nowadays, it is either a 800-foot homer or a swinging strikeout with him. I guarantee he does absolute shit this year with the Angels due to the injuries he always endures. He will play about 65 games, hit for a batting average of .260, hit about 16 homeruns, drive in somewhere between 40 and 45 RBIs and lead the National League (if not the Major League) in strikeouts for a batter.

Well, but he could also hit 50 home runs, and strike out a lot. I agree that he is declining, but I think last year was a fluke, and he can hit .300, and have 40+ HRs again.

[Bacopa]

Yankees all the way

Thank God they finally got rid of Burnett, they should have done it 2 years ago

[Welsh Cowboy]

Yankees all the way

Thank God they finally got rid of Burnett, they should have done it 2 years ago

He was such a waste of money.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Chicago Cubs to win it all.

Go, Cubbies, go!

They have no chance this year, but I'm curious what Ricketts is going to do with the team over the next few years.