2012 MLB Season Predictions
American League
AL East winner – NY Yankees
AL Central winner – Detroit Tigers
AL West winner – Los Angeles Angels
AL Wild Card Teams (2) – Texas Rangers, Tampa Rays
AL MVP – Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young – Jered Weaver
AL Rookie of the Year – Matt Moore
AL Manager of the Year – John Farrell
National League
NL East winner – Phillies
NL Central winner – St Louis Cardinals
NL West winner – San Francisco Giants
NL Wild Card Teams (2) – Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins
NL MVP – Hanley Ramirez
NL Cy Young – Cole Hamels
NL Rookie of the Year – Bryce Harper (will be recalled in May)
NL Manager of the Year – Davey Johnson
World Series matchup – Phillies v Tigers
World Series champion and # of games – Phillies in 6
Phillies predictions
Total number of Phillies wins – 98
What date does Ryan Howard return to the Phillies lineup (if at all) – July 12 (post-ASB game)
Which Phillies ace has most wins and how many – Cole Hamels: 19
To follow up "Good game, let's go eat," what will be Hunter Pence's next catchphrase? - “I want to retire a Phillie.”
What date does Chase Utley return to the Phillies lineup (if at all)? : April 9
Follow-up Thoughts: The NL East is going to be one of the most competitive divisions in baseball this year. Although injury-plagued and lacking key pieces to their lineup, the Phillies possess the best rotation in all of baseball, which is why I expect them to win the division. However, the revamped Miami Marlins and a talented Washington Nationals team will make for some exciting divisional matchups, in addition to an Atlanta Braves squad that finished with 89 wins in 2011 despite an abysmal September collapse. While NL East teams are going to "beat up on each other" in the standings, they have the potential to dominate teams outside of their division. Which is why I believe both NL Wild Card teams will come from the East. In the American League, I believe the standings will play out fairly similar to 2011, with the exception of the Los Angeles Angels. The addition of Albert Pujols gives them an opportunity to take back the AL West crown.
