2012 MLB Preview: Standings/Awards/Predictions

Greetings all... now that we've gone through all 30 teams (mercifully), here's a quick wrap of what I expect...

STANDINGS

AL East

1. NY Yankees 97-65
2. Boston 90-72
3. Tampa Bay 89-73
4. Toronto 83-79
5. Baltimore 67-95

AL Central

1. Detroit 90-72
2. Chicago White Sox 82-80
3. Cleveland 77-85
4. Minnesota 76-86
5. Kansas City 74-88

AL West

1. Texas 95-67
2. LA Angels 93-69
3. Seattle 69-93
4. Oakland 66-96

NL East

1. Philadelphia 91-71
2. Atlanta 90-72
3. Miami 85-77
4. Washington 83-79
5. NY Mets 75-87

NL Central

1. St. Louis 87-75
2. Cincinnati 86-76
3. Milwaukee 82-80
4. Pittsburgh 77-85
5. Chicago Cubs 75-87
6. Houston 59-103

NL West

1. San Francisco 88-74
2. Colorado 82-80
3. Arizona 80-82
4. LA Dodgers 77-85
5. San Diego 75-87

Now that that is out of the way....

To the Awards!

• NL MVP - Joey Votto, 1B Cincinnati
  
• AL MVP - Albert Pujols, 1B LA Angels
• NL Rookie of the Year - Zack Cozart, SS Cincinnati (There are at least 5 guys in the AL I'd rather pick FWIW)
  
• AL Rookie of the Year - Matt Moore, SP Tampa Bay
  
• NL Cy Young - Zack Greinke, Milwaukee
  
• AL Cy Young - Dan Haren, LA Angels
• NL Break-out Pitcher - Madison Bumgarner, SP San Francisco
• NL Break-out Hitter - Jason Heyward, OF Atlanta (not a homer pick, I promise)
• AL Break-out Pitcher - Derek Holland, SP Texas
  
• AL Break-out Hitter - Eric Hosmer, 1B Kansas City
• NL Fantasy Sleeper (High-end) - Hanley Ramirez (big bounce-back year)
• NL Fantasy Sleeper (Deeper) - Mike Minor
• AL Fantasy Sleeper (High-end) - Kevin Youkilis
• AL Fantasy Sleeper (Deeper) - Danny Duffy (KC Pitcher)

5 Predictions sure to go wrong...

1. Jason Heyward will hit 30 home runs, post an OBP of .400, and an OPS of .900.
2. Matt Moore and Stephen Strasburg will lead their respective leagues in strikeouts per inning (for Starting Pitchers).
3. The Astros won't employ a single "average"-or-better major league player by the end of 2012.
4. Andy Pettitte will make more starts for the Yankees than Phil Hughes will.
5. Someone from the AL West will win the World Series.

Quick playoff picks...

• AL Wild Card Play-in - LA Angels over Boston
• NL Wild Card Play-in - Atlanta over Cincy
• ALDS - Angels over Yankees, Rangers over Tigers
• NLDS - Phillies over Cardinals, Giants over Braves
  
• ALCS - Angels over Rangers
• NLCS - Phillies over Giants
• World Series - Angels over Phillies
  

Enjoy it everyone... Hope springs eternal!