2012 Season Previews & Predictions

1 – New York Yankees (96-66)

The Yankees added two quality arms in Kuroda and Pineda late in the Hot Stove Season in an effort to shore up their most glaring need in forming one of baseball’s most complete teams overall. The offense will be led by Cano and Granderson, powered by Teixeira and Rodriguez, and complemented by Gardner, Jeter, Martin, and Swisher. The designated hitter role will be a mix-and-match of Raul Ibanez/Andruw Jones and a multitude of veteran position players in an effort to keep them fresh. The defense remains to be one of the best with both strong defense up the middle of the field and at the corners as well. While the pitching staff is solid throughout and anchored by Sabathia the Yanks need Pineda to step it up and develop into a number two type of starter and be another driving force for a team seemingly destined for yet another postseason run. The Yankees also have depth in the starting department with veterans Freddy Garcia and Andy Pettitte. The bullpen features baseball’s best late game trio in Rafael Soriano, Robertson, and Rivera.

2 – Boston Red Sox (90-72) (WC)

The Red Sox are a team centered on a strong offense with “gamer” types, a top-heavy rotation, and an untested backend of the bullpen. With a lineup consisting of Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, designated hitter David Ortiz, Youkilis, a hopeful rebound season from Crawford among others the BoSox potentially have baseball’s most potent offensive attack. Defensively the Red Sox are strong and among the best at the infield corners, second base, and center field. The rotation will be led by two potential all-stars and Cy Young candidates in Lester and Beckett while relying on a healthy season from Buccholz who has the repertoire to be a frontend guy, however, the Red Sox are somewhat thin in depth concerning starting pitching and probably cannot overcome major injury in a highly competitive and vaunted division. While the backend of the bullpen arms of Bailey and Melancon have had success in other organizations they have not been tested in an environment like Boston and the AL East.

3 – Tampa Bay Rays (84-78)

The Rays continue to surprise and compete mostly based on their starting pitching, continued player development, and drafting/scouting. The rotation will once again be the strength of the ballclub with Price leading the way followed by a hopeful repeat performer in Shields, Hellickson, a rookie in Moore who could turn out to be the best of the bunch, and Davis. The Rays also have Jeff Niemann to consider for a rotation spot. The offense will be led by Longoria and Zobrist but could potentially be better with a full season from Jennings, Upton in his walk-year, and additional power from the return of Pena and newcomer/designated hitter Luke Scott. The defense is above average at the infield corners, left field, and center field and solid up the middle throughout. The bullpen anchored by Farnsworth, Peralta, and the offseason addition of Fernando Rodney will need to overachieve yet again to have a chance at competing for the division title. The addition of a second Wild Card team could benefit the Rays more so than other clubs considering the division in which they play could see potentially three teams making the postseason in 2012.

4 – Toronto Blue Jays (82-80)

The Blue Jays are a team on the rise and looking to fulfill the annual surprise team label or even move past it and become bonafide contenders. The Jays are built around offense with one of baseball’s best hitters in Bautista and a budding star in Lawrie carrying the load for a power oriented lineup while Arencibia, Escobar, Johnson, Lind, Rasmus, and a designated hitter combo of Edwin Encarnacion/Travis Snyder will play the role of supporting cast. The Jays are a potential mid-tier team defensively. The rotation is a bit top-heavy with a defacto ace in Romero and the power arm of Morrow. On the rehab and rebound front the Jays could get the proverbial shot in the arm with a positive impact from the return of McGowan in the rotation. The bullpen features quality arms with the converted infielder Santos closing games and veterans/offseason additions in Cordero and Darren Oliver bridging the gap among others. If one of the seemingly top three teams in the division have a calamity of issues then the Blue Jays could slot right in taking their place with the talent they possess throughout their roster.

5 – Baltimore Orioles (58-104)

The Orioles are seemingly a team in flux from year to year and simply do not have the starting pitching currently to compete with the rest of the pack in the division. The rotation will be led by a backend type of starter in Hunter who will be followed by an innings type pitcher in Arrieta, an unknown in Chen, and two developing southpaws in Britton and Matusz that have yet to do much positive developing. The bullpen will feature what may be their bright spot overall pitching wise in Johnson who will be given the opportunity to close games. Even without Brian Roberts who is battling lingering post-concussion issues the offense will be respectable with Jones, Hardy, Markakis, Reynolds, and Wieters with a rotating designated hitter but could use an infusion of on-base guys. The O’s will be solid defensively up the middle of the field but nothing special at the corners sans right field. Pitching, pitching, and more pitching is what is needed if the Orioles are going to compete in possibly baseball’s best division in the future.