Toronto Blue Jays 2012 Preview

Will this be the year the Jays can finally overtake New York and Boston in the AL East?  The team will need all its big name players to have big years.  Jose Bautista who has been the teams best player the past few years, should again put up good power numbers and be an All Star.  Toronto will need Ricky Romero to improve on his 11 loss season to lead to the staff that is full of young promising arms.  Colby Rasmus and Kelly Johnson will look to have bounce back years after both struggling and being shipped away from contending teams.  Second year Manager John Farrell will have a solid squad to send out everyday and a deep organization to lean on if needed.  Let's take a look at what the Jays will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Romero will be the Opening Day starter and will lead the pitching staff, if he can avoid missing by inches, see MLB.com for video, he should easily eclipse 15 wins again.  Brandon Morrow should be an innings eater and be the #2 man for the rotation.  Brett Cecil will look to return to his 2010 form and hopefully get more than 20 starts.  Henderson Alvarez and Kyle Drabek will round out the rotation and in their first full big league seasons should do big things.
Bullpen- Newly acquired closers Sergio Santos and Francisco Cordero will both compete for the 9th inning job, whoever loses the battle will be the 8th inning setup man.  Another new face, Darren Oliver, will serve as the lefty specialist and a possible setup man role as well.  Casey Janssen will look to duplicate his post All Star game performance.  Veteran Jason Frasor is back in Toronto and will a quality fit in the 'pen.
Catcher- The Jays are stacked at catcher this season, with J.P Arencibia, Jeff Mathis and youngster Travis d'Arnaud.  Arencibia looks to be the starter but will definitely get some competition from Mathis. d'Arnaud will probably start the season in AAA but they are very high on him and should be called up sometime during the season.
Infield- Up the middle the Jays will have to solid veterans in Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson, Escobar will look to build on a good first season in Toronto.  Third base will go to youngster Brett Lawrie, who impressed many in his short stint with the team last year.  Adam Lind will be at first and should provide plenty of power and protection in the lineup.  Look for veteran Edwin Encarnacion to be the infield utility man.
Outfield- This group will be lead by power hitting Jose Bautista, who not only hits the ball well but also plays a good right field.  Rasmus will be center and hope to show the promise he showed in St. Louis in 2010.  Left field will go to Eric Thames but he will have plenty of competition in Spring Training from Rajai Davis and Ben Francisco.
Lineup-
1. Colby Rasmus- Back to 2010 form?
2. Kelly Johnson- Should hit .300+.
3. Yunel Escobar- Not much pop but a good on base guy.
4. Jose Bautista- Another HR Crown will be a tough task.
5. Adam Lind- 30 HR season easy with Joey Bats in front of him.
6. Brett Lawrie- Youngster with lots of pop.
7. Travis Snider- At DH will see lots of pitches to hit.
8. J.P Arencibia- Needs to put up big numbers or will be on the pine.
9. Eric Thames- Nice bottom of the order spark plug.

The Jays are starting to come around in the AL East but look to be a few years away from taking out Boston and New York, heck even Tampa Bay.  Look for them to fall in behind these teams, but with a good young core of guys they will not make it easy.  Expect around the same win total of last year, 80+.  Blue Jay fans have a lot to look forward to, with the rest of the division getting older they are young and will be on top in a few years.  Good luck in 2012 Blue Jay Fans!

-Buddy

Ryan Braun

Well with the news that Ryan Braun's failed drug test was not upheld now out in the air, baseball's PED testing is now in question.  Clearly from the reports we heard the test results said they were off the charts and clearly Braun was on the "sauce."  But he takes MLB to a hearing and they rule in his favor and now you have him back in the game with no suspension.  Is this good for baseball? No, because they just proved that even if you get caught for PED's, there is a way around it all and you can avoid missing any time on the field.  The game is really hurting themselves on this one, now anyone that gets popped is going to do exactly what Braun did and fight it.  From our perspective the entire thing is now a joke and clearly has its loop holes and will forever be a flawed system.  Let us know what you think of this.

Manny Ramirez

First reaction of the Manny Ramirez signing was a shocker, but more shocking about the team that signed him.  The Oakland A's seemed to be heading into a rebuilding state and now they have to big moves in the past two weeks that may help them out.  Now no one knows how Ramirez will perform on the field once he serves his 50 game PED suspension, but one thing Oakland knows is that ManRam is a fan favorite and should boost attendance.  At 40 years old Ramirez should have some left in the tank and with him serving as the DH should make his production increase.  Does this move make Oakland a contender? No but it does give them a well known bat that can provide some offense to a team that struggled to score runs last year.  Should be very interesting to see what is left in the tank for Manny, what do you guys think of the move?

A.J Burnett Trade

With the trade of Burnett to the Pirates almost complete, awaiting the approval of the Commissioner's office, it's time to take a look at who are the winners of this deal are.  First off the Yankees get to free up some cap space that Burnett was taking up and Burnett didn't live up to all the money they dropped on getting him to New York.  The freed up cap space that they now have will allow them to go after the extra bat they have been trying to acquire, look for them to pursue Raul Ibanez and former Yankees Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui.  All three of the potential DH guys they will pursue are all aging and showing signs of a decline in offensive production.  The Pirates on the other hand of the deal will get a front of the staff pitcher that will add some veteran experience to a young roster.  The Pirates only hope they are getting the Burnett that pitched in Toronto and not the one we have seen struggled the past few years.  The Pirates are sending two minor league prospects to the Yankees and this is a move that could help them attract more big names to Pittsburgh and bring back winning baseball.  The real winners of this deal is going to have to be the Yankees, only because they are getting rid of a guy that came over highly touted and has not lived up to the mark one bit.  Hopefully for Burnett a return to the National League will spark a career resurgence. 

-Buddy

St. Louis Cardinals 2012 Preview

Coming out of nowhere last year and bringing their 11th World Series Crown back to St. Louis was a huge accomplishment.  But the Cardinals will be a totally new team come Opening Day, Tony La Russa stepped down after the World Series and Albert Pujols is now in Anaheim.  Besides Pujols the Cards did a good job of retaining a majority of last years roster and added Carlos Beltran to play right and move Lance Berkman to first.  So the replacing of Pujols will not be as bad on the offense as we all thought, but the production won't be nearly as good.  The pitching staff will get a nice boost in Tommy John returnee Adam Wainwright.  New manager Mike Matheny takes over a good ball club and should have no problem finding w's.  Let's take a look at how the Cardinals will look come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Chris Carpenter pitched phenominal last year down the stretch and will get the ball to start the year.  Wainwright will slide into the #2 spot of the rotation but expect Matheny to keep a close eye on him. Lefty Jaime Garcia will be sent out every third day and if he throws like last year will have a good year.  Veterans Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook will round out the rotation, a lot of trade rumors have surrounded Westbrook and it will interesting if they decide to move him in Spring Training.
Bullpen- La Russa used a closer by committee theme last year and down the stretch Jason Motte emerged as the man to put out late game fires.  Motte will be the closer come Opening Day but if he struggles look for Fernando Salas to step in nicely.  Mitchell Boggs and Kyle McClellan will be the other setup men and will get help from lefty's Mark Rzepczynski and J.C Romero.  Lance Lynn will also see some bullpen appearances.
Catcher- Gold Glover Yadier Molina will again be the back stop for this team and will provide leadership both on and off the field.  Tony Cruz will be the man that gives Molina his days off though he rarely takes them.
Infield- Berkman will fill in nicely for the void left by Pujols, expect the same caliber of defensive play but a little loss in the offensive production.  Rafael Furcal will get to play his first full season with the team and the speedster still finds a way to get it done.  WS MVP David Freese will be at third and will look to build on a solid second half.  Scrappy second baseman Skip Schumaker and can fill in nicely in plenty of other positions.  Daniel Descalso and Tyler Greene will serve as the utility men for the infield.
Outfield- Matt Holliday will be in left and will look to lead the outfield and help provide a spark to the lineup.  New addition Beltran will be in right and if he can stay on the field full time, could have a good year.  Jon Jay will be the man in center after impressing everyone last year and taking Colby Rasmus' job.  Allen Craig will serve as a quality backup to these guys.
Lineup-
1. Rafael Furcal- Great leadoff man!
2. Carlos Beltran- Power is down but still a doubles machine.
3. Matt Holliday- Should get 25+ HR's.
4. Lance Berkman- Another 30 and 90 year easy.
5. David Freese- Will he be the hero we same in October?
6. Yadier Molina- One of the better hitting catchers around.
7. Jon Jay- Speedster with some pop.
8. Skip Schumaker- Good contact hitter.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Mike Matheny takes over a very solid club and should find success very easily but they will not win the division.  Even though the NL Central is very wide open, replacing Pujols will be to big of a task for this team and they will end up with about 85 wins and finish second in the division but could make another Wild Card run.  This team has been known to prove people wrong with strong second half performances so stay on your toes fans.  Good luck in 2012 Cardinals Fans!

-Buddy

Pittsburgh Pirates 2012 Preview

If contending for half a season got you to the playoffs the Pirates would have been lock in 2011, but unfortunately for them a baseball season is 162 games.  Last year they went out and made some moves that should have put them over the top but that didn't work out.  Now those 2 month rentals are gone the team will again have to rely on its great young core to compete.  Andrew McCutchen will look to build on his All Star year and lead this team.  The pitching staff did have some good surprises last year in Charlie Morton and James McDonald both had very good years.  They did add some veteran help this year and this should at least make them a player in the NL Central.  Let's take a look at how the Pirates will look come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Morton and McDonald both have the stuff to be the ace of the staff, but expect to see new addition Erik Bedard also to get some attention here.  Jeff Karstens and Kevin Correia will round out the rotation, and if the four returners pitch like they did last year the team should have a shot to win a lot of ball games.  Bedard is an interesting pitcher and the Pirates hope they get the guy that showed a lot of promise before struggling in Seattle.
Bullpen- All Star Joel Hanrahan will be the closer and the way he put out fires last year should be back in the Mid Summer Classic again.  Daniel McCutchen and Evan Meek will be a pair of the guys who will help the set the table for Hanrahan.  Chris Resop, Jason Grilli and Tony Watson will round out the rest of the 'pen, with Grilli possibly seeing some long relief appearances.
Catcher- Newly signed Rod Barajas will be the starter behind the dish and will add some offense to the lineup.  Jose Morales will be the guy that sees the field when Barajas needs a day off.
Infield- Pirate fans are still waiting for Pedro Alvarez to show all his promise and hopefully that year will be now, if not look for Casey McGehee to play at third.  Garrett Jones will be at first and if he produces like last year will be a solid fit.  Neil Walker coming off a season in which he only missed 3 games, will be the second baseman and look to build on a solid year.  Shortstop will go to Clint Barmes who looks to have a great first year in Pittsburgh.  Look for Chase d'Arnaud to be a utility man and for McGehee to also see some time at first base.
Outfield- Andrew McCutchen will be in CF and will continue to be the leader this team needs.  Left field should go to Pirate returner Nate McLouth but could get some competition from youngster Alex Presley, no not Elvis.  Right fielder Jose Tabata will look to hit the field full time this year and could do big things.
Lineup-
1. Nate McLouth- Should provide a good spark.
2. Neil Walker- Will be in the lineup as much as possible.
3. Andrew McCutchen- Another All Star year, guarantee it!
4. Rod Barajas- Plenty of pop still left in his belt.
5. Garrett Jones- Could get to 20 HR's.
6. Pedro Alvarez- Will he show us why he was a #1 pick?
7. Jose Tabata- Typical contact hitter.
8. Clint Barmes- Veteran who could slide up in the lineup.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Clint Hurdle has his work cut out for him this year yet again but with the division being more wide open then it has been in the past, this could be his year.  We think that they are still a couple years away from the top of the Central, but they will be relevant for the whole season and should get to .500.  Hopefully for the fans this will be the year they end the 19 year streak of losing season.  Best of luck in 2012 Pirates Fans!


-Buddy

Cincinnati Reds 2012 Preview

After winning the division in 2010 the Reds had a disappointing season and finished 2011 in third place behind the Brewers and the eventual World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.  Now that both teams lost their superstars, the Reds look to return back to the top of the division.  The team will look very similar to last year but did make a swap for a front line starter, Mat Latos.  The offense will be lead by Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, who will look to get back to his MVP ways.  Cincinnati also added closer Ryan Madson, in a move that was shocking to the baseball world, but the Reds aren't going to be complaining with the way Madson can close the door.  Let's take a look at what the Reds will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- The staff will be lead by Latos and Johnny Cueto, who will look to rebound from an injury filled season, and if he notches enough starts could win the ERA crown.  Youngster Mike Leake will also be in the rotation and will look to avoid the off the field distractions and focus on pitching.  Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey will round out the rotation.  All three of the back end guys will be innings eaters which help out in the long run and make life on Dusty Baker easier.
Bullpen- The 'pen will be lead by new closer Ryan Madson, who comes off a great year with the Phillies and will try and build on that and get the Reds in the playoffs.  Flame throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman will look to maintain his control throughout the season.  Nick Masset and Bill Bray will also be table setters, giving Baker a nice lefty/righty combo to go to depending on the situation.  Sean Marshall will serve as a long relief option and good get some starts if needed.
Catcher- Youngster Devin Mesoraco, who the organization is very high on, will compete with Ryan Hanigan for the starting job.  But look for Hanigan's experience to land him the job, and look for Mesoraco to eventually get the job sometime in the season.
Infield- The infield will be lead by the always entertaining Brandon Phillips at second base.  One of the focuses for Phillips will be if the Reds get him the contract extension he has rightfully earned.  Teaming up with Phillips up the middle will probably be youngster Zack Cozart, who is coming off Tommy John on his non throwing arm.  If Cozart isn't back at 100% look for Paul Janish to get some starts until Cozart is back at full strength.  The corner infield spots will be held down by Scott Rolen and Joey Votto.  Rolen provides the club with a great veteran presence and Votto continues to be an All Star caliber first baseman. Wilson Valdez will serve as the utility man for the infield and will get some spot starts every now and then.
Outfield- Right fielder Jay Bruce will look to build on a great season and should easily get some votes come All Star Game time.  Speedster Drew Stubbs will be the man in CF and will look to cut down on the punch outs and have a good year.  Left field looks to be a competition between veteran slugger Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey.  Heisey has the leg up going into the season, in that he played in a lot of games last year for the club and should win the job in Spring Training.
Lineup-
1. Drew Stubbs- Will excite if he can go under 200 k's.
2. Jay Bruce- Can he repeat the 30 HR season of 2011?
3. Brandon Phillips- Plenty of pop from a position known more for d.
4. Joey Votto- Will be back to MVP form!
5. Scott Rolen- After all these years still puts up great numbers.
6. Zack Cozart- First full year should be a good one.
7. Chris Heisey- Could hit 20+ dingers.
8. Ryan Hanigan- Known more for his defense.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

The Reds will be back in the form that got them the division title in 2010 and will again reign atop the NL Central.  Expect them to get close to 90 wins and finish well ahead of the rest of the division with so many question marks.  2012 will be a very good year to be Reds fan, best of luck Reds Fans!

-Buddy

Look who is ready for 2012!

Hanley Ramirez will go into 2012 with a new look team around him and he is ready to prove everyone wrong and will probably put up an MVP type season.  People have said Ramirez is lazy, after his benching by Fredii Gonzalez a few years ago for being "lazy."  But anyone that has ever stepped into a batters box and fouled a ball of their shin knows the pain that Ramirez was in during that incident, and he wanted to stay in the game and couldn't even run at 100% when Gonzalez benched him.  With that in the past and a new manager who will gel well with Hanley and is already letting us know that he supports him, Ramirez is poised to have a huge year in Miami.  Moving over to third base will be easy for him and he will be the starting 3b in the All Star game and help carry the Miami offense all year! What do you guys think of Ramirez's determination for 2012?

Milwaukee Brewers 2012 Preview

After having such a great season in 2011, the Brewers went into the off season knowing that it would most likely never have Prince Fielder playing first base again, sure enough he signed with Detroit.  The one thing that threw a wrench into their 2012 hopes was unexpected and that was MVP Ryan Braun getting suspended 50 games for his failed PED test.  The results from his appeal aren't expected till at least next week, and without him the Brewers lose a lot of fire power.  The team does bring back a solid pitching staff and added some lineup help to fill the voids left from their two stars.  With Braun expected to miss 50 games expect Ron Roenicke to be really tested in getting his team to respond to this adversity.  Let's take a look at how the Brew Crew will look come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Zach Grienke and Yovani Gallardo will both compete for the "ace" role in Spring Training and both have the stuff to be front end starters.  Look for Shaun Marcum to be the third guy sent out and he even has the stuff to be a potential ace.  Veteran Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson will round out the rotation.  With a big majority of last years run producers missing from the lineup the rotation will have its work cut out in holding teams to low run totals and hoping the offense can come through.
Bullpen- Closer John Axford and his mustache were very impressive last year and look to build on that going into this season.  Resigning K-Rod was a big move for this team and gives them a solid 8th inning guy who can also close games.  Kameron Loe will fill in as the other setup guy and if he performs as he did down the stretch last year will set the table nicely for Axford.  Marco Estrada and Frankie De La Cruz will fill in the other bullpen roles.
Catcher- Jonathan Lucroy will look to build on a great season and maybe add some more power to the offense.  George Kottaras will serve as Lucroy's backup and see some late game pinch hitting opportunity's.
Infield- Newly signed Aramis Ramirez will be the third baseman and hopefully will provide some of the power vacated by Prince.  All Star Rickie Weeks will be at second and if he can stay healthy should have a great year.  Another new addition Alex Gonzalez will bring his veteran presence to shortstop and can provide some offense as well.  First base will go to youngster Mat Gamel and will have a lot of pressure in his first year in the big's, especially from the fans as they expect big things from their first baseman.  Taylor Green will serve as the infield utility man and can play all four positions.
Outfield- Speedster Carlos Gomez is a great CF when he is healthy and if he can stay on the field will provide a great spark for this ball club.  Gomez could move over the LF with Japaneese signee Norichika Aoki possibly earning the job in center.  Right field will go to Corey Hart and should have another great year, if he hits the field everyday look for big things.  Left field is going to be a question mark until they find out what is going to happen with Ryan Braun but the team does have three solid options to plug in here.  Nyjer Morgan and his big mouth could get some starts here and whoever loses the battle for CF between Gomez and Aoki will also see some time in left until Braun returns.
Lineup-
1. Carlos Gomez- Should easily hit 50+ steals.
2. Corey Hart- Potential at a 30+ HR season.
3. Rickie Weeks- Could flip flop with Hart, but will put up a near .300 clip.
4. Aramis Ramirez- Not much lineup protection, expect a lot of IBB's.
5. Alex Gonzalez- Veteran bat who should hit around 15 dingers.
6. Mat Gamel- Has a lot to prove in his first year.
7. Norichika Aoki- Known for an "Ichiro" hitting style.
8. Jonathan Lucroy- Will provide some offense and possible 20 HRs.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt! Unless you're Marcum and hit Grand Slams!

Once the final results to Braun's hearing come in everyone in baseball will have a better feel for this team, but as it sits now and with him probably missing the first 50 games of the season, don't expect much.  The team still has some offensive potential, but losing the guys that would give the other hitters better pitches, look for opposing pitchers to attack this lineup, until the are proven wrong.  This will not be a repeat year for them in the division and they will probably finish around .500 and in the middle of the pack of the division.  But with the NL Central having such a different landscape than last year, this could go to anyone that wants it the most.  Good Luck in 2012 Brewers Fans!

-Buddy

Houston Astros 2012 Preview

There were few bright spots for the Astros in 2011 but one of them definitely has to be that the organization and the fans got a good look at the future stars for this team.  The same will be said this season as all those kids who played a majority of the second half last year will get a full season in the big's.  The team does possess a couple of veterans but trade rumors have been surrounding them for the last couple years.  Wandy Rodriguez, the ace of the staff, will likely be moved this year at the trade deadline and Carlos Lee will probably be pursued by many clubs seeking a big bat.  So this season will be filled with its bumps but all these future stars will get to showcase their talents.  Let's take a look at what the young Astros will look like come Opening Day.

Staring Rotation- Wandy Rodriguez will be the front line starter for them, the only question is for how long, after many teams made a Trade Deadline push for him.  Veteran Brett Myers will be the number 2 man in the rotation and he could be moved at the Deadline.  The final three rotation spots will be filled by guys that will be future of Houston's plans.  Henry Sosa who impressed in his few starts last year will definitely get a rotation spot.  Bud Norris and J.A Happ will fill out the other rotation spots, both have a lot of potential.  Look for the young arm of Jordan Lyles to get some starts also, especially once someone is traded.  

Bullpen- The bullpen will be very similar to rotation, both will be filled with very young arms.  Brandon Lyon will be the closer again this year.  The rest of the bullpen will be made of guys that are all under 27 and should be very effective.  Look for Enerio Del Rosario, Wilton Lopez, Fernando Rodriguez and Sergio Escalona to fill in the setup roles of the 'pen.  David Carpenter will give Lyon some competition for the closer job come Spring Training.

Catcher- Chris Snyder will be the starting catcher but will have two young guys that are hungry for playing time trying to win the job.  Humberto Quintero and Jason Castro will both look to prove that they are worthy of the job, especially Castro who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Infield- Carlos Lee will be the veteran leader of the infield at first base, but if he gets moved sometime during the season look for youngster Brett Wallace to take the job.  Newly acquired Jed Lowrie will be at shortstop after having some success in Boston.  Spark plug Jose Altuve will be at second base and will be the guy that provides a lot of energy to this team.  Youngster Jimmy Paredes will be at third base after having a good second half will look to build on that in his first season in the big's.  Jack Cust could also see some time at first base. 

Outfield- J.D Martinez impressed everyone with his skills at the plate and will be the starting left fielder.  CF will have a competition come Spring Training with Jason Bourgeois and Jordan Schafer, but we will give the job to Schafer.  But he has a lot to live it to given how highly the Braves thought of him before moving him last year for Michael Bourn.  Right field will go to another great hitting youngster in Brain Bogusevic, who should hit near .300 with a full season ahead of him.  

Lineup-

1. Jordan Schafer- Hopefully can reach his potential.

2. Jose Altuve- Will help set the table for the RBI guys.

3. J.D Martinez- Should easily get 25 HR with the short porch in left.

4. Carlos Lee- Veteran can still swing it.

5. Chris Snyder- Should drive in plenty.

6. Jed Lowrie- Could see time at the top of the order.

7. Brian Bogusevic- Could hit near .300.

8. Jimmy Paredes- Young bat should move up in the order.

9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Given the way that 2011 went with only 56 wins and a last place finish in the NL Central, the Astros look to be headed in the same direction.  Expect to see more wins from this young hungry bunch of hustlers, but they will most likely finish last in the NL Central again.  The move to the AL West will be a good one for this club and could help them with their future plans.  Good luck in 2012 Astros Fans! And remember the future is very bright!

-Buddy

2012 NL East Prediction

With all the NL East team previews out there, we will now let y'all know who we think will win the division.  This will be no easy one to run away with and outside the Mets every team here looks to be poised at making a run for it.  The Phillies will be the favorites for a lot of the "experts" but with injuries and age stacking up quickly on the them, it looks like their run has come to end.  The Nationals and the Marlins both made plenty of noise this off season and look like they are ready to start winning, but their run at the division crown is still a couple years out.  The Mets have a lot of issues off the field that need to be handled before they can contend again and that will most likely turn them into sellers throughout the season.  The Braves bring back a lot of talent from last years club that just missed the playoffs and with plenty of leadership should take this division home.  This is going to be a division that is going to come to the wire and could require a one game playoff to decide the winner.  The top four teams will probably finish with 10 games of each other and the Wild Card and if we get the two Wild Card spots this year, both could come from this division.  The NL East will be very exciting to watch this year.

Predicted Final Standings
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Washington Nationals
4. Miami Marlins
5. New York Mets

Reaction to Cespedes signing with Oakland.

Well the first thing that came to mind over here was no way he signed with them, all the news we had heard leading up to this was that a bigger market team was going to land him.  Billy Beane found a way to work his magic again and land one of the bigger available guys out there.  This was a very odd signing for Oakland after they traded a majority of the rotation for younger guys and looked to heading into rebuilding mode.  And with all the issues that surround the team getting a new stadium a lot of the marquee free agents in the past have shied away from signing with Oakland.  The team will now have to figure out who is going to be the everyday CF, Coco Crisp or Cespedes.  Both possess the talent to start in CF and are very capable of moving to a corner spot.  This AL West will now have some of the biggest names from this off season and if all the players live up to their potential should be a very great season out West!  What do you guys think of the signing?

Washington Nationals 2012 Preview

Coming off a near .500 season the Nationals made some big moves this off season to attempt to bring their first division title to D.C.  The team added some great pitching to improve an already young rotation.  Some of the youngsters in the rotation have already battled the injury bug so we will see how they will handle a full season in the big's and if their arms can handle it.  It will be very interesting to see if the Nationals decide to put Bryce Harper in right field to start the year, even if they don't expect to see him sometime in the season.  The Nats will have their work cut out for them if they do intend on making a serious run for the NL East crown, they will have to go through veteran clubs who have already been through it all.  But some of the recent additions might help them finally get out of the cellar of the division.  Let's take a look at what the Nationals will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- The rotation will be lead by newly acquired arms Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson, both who have a lot of experience under their belts.  Gonzalez should be the guy who gets the nod come Opening Day, given his All Star track record should do just fine.  Jackson looks to be more of back end of the rotation guy, but has plenty of October baseball experience and will help out a lot.  Youngsters Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman will be tasked with the two and three spots in the rotation.  The organization is very high on both guys but both guys are coming off Tommy John within the past two years and will be monitored for fatigue and what not very closely.  Chien-Ming Wang will look to secure the fifth rotation spot and return to the form he once had in New York.  Look for John Lannan to compete for a rotation spot as well, if he is not traded sometime in Spring Training.
Bullpen-  Drew Storen who did a quality job as the closer last year will again have the job but will have a couple other arms to help him out this year.  New additions Ryan Perry and Brad Lidge can also come in a shut the door late in games.  Tyler Clippard who surprised a lot of people last year and has the stuff to be a future closer.  Henry Rodriguez, Sean Burnett and Ryan Mattheus will also fill in some of the setup roles for the 'pen and look for Tom Gorzelanny to be the long relief option.
Catcher- Recently kidnapped Wilson Ramos will be the starting backstop after impressing everyone with a strong Rookie year.  Youngster Jesus Flores will also seem some starts but look for Ramos to get the majority of the looks.
Infield- Ryan Zimmerman will again lead the infield and should put All Star numbers.  Danny Espinosa turned a lot of heads in his Rookie campaign and will look to build on that at second base.  Shortstop Ian Desmond continues to improve both in the field and at the plate.  Adam LaRoche will be at first base and provide some leadership, look for LF Michael Morse to see some action here too.  Off season signee Mark DeRosa will get a lot of action and could possibly get some starts if anyone goes down to injury.
Outfield- Michael Morse who had a great 2011, especially at the plate, will be in left field.  Look for 19 year old Bryce Harper to make the club in Spring Training and be the everyday right fielder.  Bringing Harper up will have them move Jayson Werth to CF were he has seen some action.  Roger Bernadina will be the utility man and if Harper isn't on the club out of Spring Training could be a starter.  IF they move John Lannan during Spring Training it probably will be for OF help since they are very thin here.
Lineup-
1. Ian Desmond- Continues to get better at the plate.
2. Danny Espinosa- Can he avoid the sophomore slump?
3. Jayson Werth- Should drive in 100 easily.
4. Ryan Zimmerman- If he stays healthy should be an All Star.
5. Michael Morse- Power for days.
6. Adam LaRoche- Still can hit for some power, especially with a short porch in right.
7. Wilson Ramos- Impressed his first year, look for more.
8. Bryce Harper- Great potential will see some speed bumps but its just the beginning.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

The Nationals are on a mission to start winning and make D.C a baseball place and they have all the right pieces in place.  One thing that everyone that loves baseball is ready for is for Teddy to finally win a race in the Nationals Racing Legends, given all the change that has come to the organization maybe this will be his year.  Once they get all their great young talent in the big's this will be a contending team for years to come.  With the rest of the NL East having such seasoned veterans this will not be the year that the Nats take home the division crown, but will easily finish over .500 and could even contend for the Wild Card.  It will be a very exciting year for the Nationals and especially for the fans. Good Luck in 2012 Nationals Fans!

-Buddy

Philadelphia Phillies 2012 Preview

Coming off another NL East title the Phillies will be poised for big success in 2012 again.  The pitching staff is going to be a very solid bunch for Charlie Manuel to send out there and the offense does not lack any fire power.  The only question for this team is how long will Ryan Howard be out for as he recovers from his Achilles injury, if Howard has to miss a lot of time it will take its toll on this club.  The team did a great job in acquiring Jonathan Papelbon to be the closer, after having so much success in Boston, Papelbon will look to secure a lot of wins for this team.  Everyone knows about the three aces the staff has in Halladay, Lee and Hamels but the pitching off the four and five guys will be important to this team.  This team is getting up there in age so if they are going to make a run at another World Series, the time is now.  Let's take a look at how the Phillies will look come Opening Day.
Staring Rotation- Not very many managers have the option of picking between three aces for a front of the rotation guy, but Charlie Manuel has that here, look for him to go with Roy Halladay.  Halladay should easily get to 20 wins and another possible CY Young year.  The number two man will be lefty Cliff Lee, who surprised everyone by going back to Philly and will look to build on a good first year there.  Cole Hamels will be the number 3 man, and since he is the youngest of the three horses, the Phillies will need to find a way to keep him from hitting the free agent market after the season.  Youngster Vance Worley, who had a great Rookie year will be the fourth guy on the staff.  Joe Blanton should be the number five, but there have been a lot of rumors that the team will try to move him for another starter, so this spot is still a question mark.
Bullpen- Losing Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge would be very difficult for most teams to recover from, but Philly acted fast and landed Papelbon to replace Madson.  Veteran Chad Qualls could be the 8th inning setup man, but given his inconsistency in the past could give way to youngster Michael Stutes.  Antonio Bastardo will also be a setup man for this team.  Kyle Kendrick and Jose Contreras will be long relief options for the 'pen.  Given how deep in the game these starters go, this bullpen unit will have plenty of time to sit around and play cards.
Catcher- Veteran Carlos Ruiz will be behind the dish come Opening Day and will try and play in as many games as possible.  On the few off days Ruiz does take look for journeyman Brian Schneider to fill in and should be great with this staff.
Infield- Chase Utley will be at second and will look to finally get back on the field for a full season, if Utley can stay healthy the team will benefit greatly.  Shortstop will go to veteran Jimmy Rollins, who can still play great even with his age rising.  Third base will go to veteran Placido Polanco, who has had some great success throughout his career.  The question for this infield will be if Jim Thome and Ty Wigginton can shoulder the load vacated by Ryan Howard.  Once Howard returns to the field, probably in June sometime, the infield will be one of the best in the game.  Utility man Michael Martinez will get some looks up the middle and at third when someone needs a day off or goes on the DL.
Outfield- Shane Victorino will be in CF and will look to be a catalyst for this team, but he is another guy that needs to avoid the injury bug.  Hunter Pence will get to experience his first full season playing for a contender and should have great success.  Left field will be a Spring Training battle of who wants the job more between Domonic Brown and John Mayberry.  Both have a great amount of potential and versatility so look for both of them to see the field a lot.
Lineup-
1. Shane Victorino- Great spark plug for this team.
2. Jimmy Rollins- If he stays healthy should hit around .300.
3. Chase Utley- If at full strength, potential MVP.
4. Jim Thome- Veteran who will needed to provide a lot of power.
5. Hunter Pence- Funky swing, but will notch around 200 hits.
6. John Mayberry- If he plays to his potential, look out.
7. Placido Polanco- Been around the block a bit, could slide up a few spots.
8. Carlos Ruiz- One of the better hitting catchers in the game.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Going into the season a lot of the "experts" are going to pick this team to win the NL East yet again.  But they are aging very fast and can't seem to keep all their guys on the field at the same time.  Injuries will be the thing that prevents this team from winning, but with the staff that they possess they should easily get to around 90 wins.  With health being there Achilles tendon, sorry Ryan Howard fans, this team will not repeat as division champs, but should compete for the Wild Card.  One of the big questions for this team will be what happens after 2012?  With so many guys getting up there in age and injuries taking a toll, this team will need to start focusing on the future.  Best of luck in 2012 Phillie Fans!

-Buddy

Miami Marlins 2012 Preview

The theme this year for the Marlins is new! New stadium, new uniforms, new coach and a completely new team!  The expectations in Miami and around the baseball world will be very high for the Marlins, after the way they went and spent at the Winter meetings.  First year manager Ozzie Guillen will look to lead this team to a worst to first turnaround.  New additions Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell will prove they were worth every penny spent on them.  The team brings back a solid core of players from last years last place 72 win season.  Mike Stanton and his light tower power should compete for the league lead in homers.  Getting Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez back healthy will be key for them if they want to compete in the NL East.  Let's take a look at what Miami will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation-  Josh Johnson will be the ace of the staff if he is healthy, if he has any Spring Training setbacks look for the fresh face of Mark Buehrle to tow the rubber come Opening Day.  Look for Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez to compete for middle of the rotation spots, both guys have the stuff to be front of the rotation guys so they should be okay here.  Carlos Zambrano should be the fifth starter if he can control himself, a change of scenery was probably the best thing to happen to him and having Guillen as his skipper will help him out a lot.
Bullpen- New closer Heath Bell will be their man to secure a lot of wins for them and with his All Star talent should do a great job.  The reliever formally known as Leo Nunez, Juan Carlos Oviedo, will be the 8th inning setup man after being the closer last year.  Randy Choate, Edward Mujica, Michael Dunn and Ryan Webb will be the other setup men and specialists in the 'pen.  Look for Wade LeBlanc to be the long reliever, and could even compete for a rotation spot.
Catcher- John Buck looks to build on a good first year in Miami and possibly produce a little more at the plate.  Look for youngster Brett Hayes to back him up.
Infield- Jose Reyes will be a shortstop, a move that Hanley Ramirez wasn't too happy with, but Ramirez will slide over to third base.  This has the makings of being one of the most exciting sides of the infield in all of baseball.  Veteran Omar Infante will be at second base, if he plays like he did in the second half will only help this team.  Youngster Gaby Sanchez will be at first base, Sanchez is one of the more exciting players to watch in baseball and will continue to impress.  Veteran Greg Dobbs will be a utility man for them along with outfielder Emilio Bonifacio.
Outfield- Power hitting youngster Mike Stanton will be in right field and will keep turning heads.  Speedster Emilio Bonifacio will be the starting CF, but look for Chris Coghlan to give him some competition for the job.  Logan Morrison will be in left and will look to build off a productive 2011.  Scott Cousins will see some time also when guys need a breather.
Lineup-
1. Jose Reyes- 2011 Batting Champ, .330 clip with 50+ Steals.
2. Emilio Bonifacio- He is like another lead off man, should excite when he gets on.
3. Hanley Ramirez- One of the best hitting shortstops, oh I mean third basemen.
4. Mike Stanton- Should easily eclipse 30 &100.
5. Gaby Sanchez- Another powerful bat.
6. Logan Morrison- Will easily hit close to .300
7. John Buck- Good hitting catcher.
8. Omar Infante- Could move up to #2 if Bonifacio struggles.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Just looking at the teams layout for the upcoming campaign most people are going to put them in the playoffs, but they are in the toughest division in baseball.  One thing Marlin fans will know is that this team will not finish in last place, if they do, can we say BUST! We see them at about 85 wins this season, but in their division every win will be earned.  All these predictions could change so much if the ever so hyped Yoennis Cespedes signs with Miami.  In Guillen's first year they probably will not make the playoffs and are probably a year out from making a deep run.  Best of luck in 2012 Marlin Fans and enjoy all the new additions!

-Buddy

New York Mets 2012 Preview

Playing in the toughest division in baseball, NL East, the Mets will have their work cut out for them Terry Collins' second year.  After seeing 2011 Batting Champ Jose Reyes depart to free agency, the Mets seem to be in the rebuilding phase.  Look for them to try to move some of their higher salary guys at the Trade Deadline if they aren't in contention.  They will need to get Johan Santana back healthy if they want to have any success this year.  Another big contract guy they will expect a lot out of is Jason Bay, getting him on the field for a full season will be key.  This team does have some bright stars to continue to look forward to sending out to the diamond everyday, David Wright continues to impress everyone but could be moved this season.  Ike Davis will look to rebound from a season cut short to injury.  Let's take a look at what the Mets will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- If Santana comes out of Spring Training in one piece he will be the ace of a staff searching for someone to win ball games.  Mike Pelfrey will look to get back to his 2010 ways in the number 2 spot of the staff.  Lefty Jon Niese will be sent out every third day and will try to eclipse the .500 mark in wins.  Knuckle baller R.A Dickey and youngster Dillon Gee, who impressed last year, will compete for the final two roster spots.  This staff will be tasked with keeping them in ball games and hopefully handing over the lead to the bullpen.
Bullpen-  Frank Francisco will get the closer job, though his numbers last season were not impressive, the Mets hope they will get the Francisco that pitched after the All Star Break.  Big Jon Rauch will be the 8th inning table setter for Francisco, and if he can keep his jersey on http://youtu.be/nWq8XJKkGMc, will do a solid job.  Ramon Ramirez, Bobby Parnell, Tim Byrdak and Manny Acosta will be some of the other bullpen guys.  Look for D.J Carrasco to be the long relief option, and could even get a rotation shot if needed.
Catcher- Josh Thole will be the Opening Day starter and being that he is in a contract year, hopefully he can have a solid season.  Mike Nickeas will be the back up catcher and may see more starts if Thole struggles at the plate.
Infield- All the attention in the infield will now shift to All Star David Wright, if he can play in a lot of ball games should be very exciting to watch.  First base will go to Ike Davis and hopefully he is fully recovered from his ankle injury, because he is one of the few bright spots here.  Youngsters Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejeda will be up the middle and will give Mets fans a look at the future.  Look for Justin Turner and veteran Ronny Cedeno to serve as the utility men.
Outfield- Jason Bay will be in left field come Opening Day, but if the Mets are not happy look for them to try move him come Trade Deadline time.  Newly acquired Andres Torres will be in CF and with how spacious Citi Field is will have a lot of ground to cover.  Lucas Duda, one of the bright spots from last year, will be in right field.  If anyone is struggling look for veteran Scott Hairston to fill in nicely.
Lineup-
1. Ruben Tejeda- Can he replace Jose Reyes?
2. Daniel Murphy- Should set the table nicely.
3. Jason Bay- If he hits like he did in Boston, look out.
4. David Wright- If he plays in a lot games, should be very productive.
5. Ike Davis- Hopefully back to his rookie form.
6. Lucas Duda- Can he repeat what he did last year?
7. Andres Torres- Could be lead off but needs to earn it.
8. Josh Thole- Known more for his defense.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

The Mets are clearly in a rebuilding era, and with ownership issues are not capable of making moves to turn this team into a win now one.  Once the ownership issues are figured out look for them to be right back in contention for the NL East, but that will a few years.  Look for them to finish last in the talented East with about 70 wins.  Not the news Mets fans want to see, but unless they can borrow Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning this team will not be playing October baseball.  The bright side of things for Mets fans is that they will get to a good luck at the future of the organization and how much they have to look forward to.  Good luck Mets Fans!!

-Buddy

Who will win the NL West in 2012?

Now that all our National League West team previews are out there, it is now time to show you guys who we think will win the West this season.  Just based on what we know and what is on paper the Diamondbacks are going to be the favorite to win the division.  The Dodgers will give them a run for their money though, but look for the Dodgers to contend for the Wild Card.  The Giants have the pitching to win any division but just not enough offense.  The Rockies and Padres will round out the bottom of the division as they look more towards the future instead of 2012.


Predicted Final Standings 
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies 2012 Preview

After having such high expectations for the 2011 season the Rockies seem to be in what looks like a rebuilding mode.  Trading away then ace Ubaldo Jimenez was one of the key signs that the team wants to build up with young talent.  A year ago people were saying that this team was the favorite to win the NL West but a 73 win season under Jim Tracy proved otherwise, now the Rockies will be sending out young pitchers on a daily basis to gain experience.  The offense looks to be solid again with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez leading the charge.  Both guys have the capability of putting up MVP numbers if they can both avoid the injury bug and play in a lot of games.  They did add some veteran presence to the team for this season with Michael Cuddyer and Marco Scutaro, both have plenty of experience in the playoffs and could help lead this team.  Let's take a look at what the team will look come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- The rotation will be loaded with young talent and until Jorge De La Rosa comes back from Tommy John surgery won't have much experience.  Jhoulys Chacin and recently acquired Jeremy Guthrie have the most experience and could make bids for the Opening Day nod on the mound.  Look for Drew Pomeranz, the big piece in the Jimenez trade, to get his first full big league season in the rotation.  Other young arms like Josh Outman, Esmil Rogers and Alex White will also compete for rotation spots in Spring Training.  This staff will take some lumps along the season but in a few years has the right pieces to be a top rotation.
Bullpen- With Huston Street now in San Diego the closer job will be Rafael Betancourt's, and with the way he filled in when Street was injured last year, the Rockies should be okay here.  The rest of the bullpen will be made up of a few journeyman arms and some youngsters as well.  Matt Belisle will be one of the veterans teaming up with youngsters Matt Reynolds, Rex Brothers and Edgmer Escalona to round out the bullpen.
Catcher- Ramon Hernandez will be a nice addition to this ball club, a proven backstop who can also provide some offense.  Jordan Pacheco looks to be the back up catcher after getting some looks last year.
Infield- The infield will be lead by Rockie lifer Todd Helton, who still plays a solid first base and still can swing it some.  Casey Blake will bring his experience to third base, and if he is the Blake we saw a few years ago, should fit nicely.  Marco Scutaro who played mostly shortstop throughout his career will move over to second base, with playoff and a lot of experience will help this team nicely.  Tulo will be at shortstop, not like anyone was going to put someone else there, and has the potential to put up an MVP caliber season.  Jason Giambi can provide some spark off the bench along with Eric Young Jr and Jonathan Herrera.
Outfield- Carlos Gonzalez will continue to impress with his play in the field and at the plate, look for him to be in left to start the year but if CF Dexter Fowler struggles again this year, Gonzalez could slide over to CF.  New addition Michael Cuddyer will be in right, but also has some versatility to play in the infield if needed.  Coming off the bench for these guys will be youngster Tyler Colvin and utility man Eric Young Jr.
Lineup-
1. Dexter Fowler- If he gets on, look out. 50 steals is not out of the question.
2. Marco Scutaro- Veteran hitter should set the table nicely.
3. Carlos Gonzalez- If he returns to the 2010 CarGo look out.
4. Troy Tulowitzki- 30 homers should be easy for him at Coors.
5. Todd Helton- The old guy can still hit around .300.
6. Michael Cuddyer- Veteran bat that will benefit from the thin air.
7. Ramon Hernandez- Solid hitter, known more for his defense.
8. Casey Blake- Which Blake will show up in 2012?
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

With the lineup this team will send out on a daily basis, contending in the NL West shouldn't be a problem but the pitching doesn't jump off the page at you and will hinder this ball club as they learn.  This team should finish the season around .500 and in the middle of the pack in the West.  But Rockie fans have a lot to look forward to in the future, the only issue is will be if Jim Tracy can hold onto his job after a couple rough years.  Good luck in 2012 Rockie Fans!!

-Buddy

Arizona Diamondbacks 2012 Preview

Kirk Gibson's first full season as the skipper in the desert will definitely be chalked up as a success, making the worst to first jump.  The D-Backs made some aggressive moves this off season to bolster a already strong ball club.  Adding pitching depth will pay big dividends for this team as they try to repeat as NL West Champs.  One of the question marks going into the season will be if the offense will be able to repeat a "surprise" season, with Ryan Roberts having a career year and Justin Upton emerging as an MVP candidate.  Roberts produces when he is in the lineup and he showed that last year, expect another solid season from him.  Will Paul Goldschmidt continue to wow us with his monster homers after a late season call up?  Goldschmidt got to taste a lot of the nice parts to being in the big leagues, and with a full season in 2012 this kid could emerge as one of the top power hitters in baseball.  The pitching looks to be even better than it was last year with addition Trevor Cahill to the rotation, who they acquired at somewhat of a bargain.  The bullpen which was the Achilles heal for this team for so many years, looks to be in for another great year.  Let's take a look at what the Diamondbacks will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation-  Ian Kennedy emerged as the staff ace last year and coming off 21 wins proved a lot, look for another big year from him.  Daniel Hudson was great as the #2 and could have approached 20 wins as well if it weren't for some tough luck.  New addition Trevor Cahill will go from being the ace in Oakland to the #3 guy in Arizona, and coming off a tough year the sinker baller will look to show us the stuff he did in 2010.  Veteran Joe Saunders will bring his crafty stuff to the mound every fourth day, and he was a "bulldog" for the team last year.  The fifth rotation spot should go to second year tomahawker Josh Collmenter, who came out of nowhere to help this team win the division.  Look for youngsters Trevor Bauer, Wade Miley and Barry Enright also to make a push for a rotation spot in Spring Training, but all three will likely be headed to AAA.
Bullpen- J.J Putz will be the closer for them and after notching 45 saves last year will do a great job with ending ball games.  Fire baller David Hernandez will again be the 8th inning man, another guy who came out of nowhere to wow us last year, could also see time as the closer on days Putz is unavailable.  Brad Ziegler and his funky delivery will also see some bullpen time along with lefty's Craig Breslow and Joe Paterson.   Bryan Shaw and newly acquired Takashi Saito will compete for the other 'pen spot, and Saito's experience could land him the job.
Catcher- Coming off another great year Miguel Montero will look to continue his success and his improving defensive skills.  Veteran Henry Blanco will get some looks on Montero's off days, even though Montero hates taking them.
Infield- Ryan Roberts looks to add another solid season after his breakout 2011 and will get the third base job.  Last year's key second half addition Aaron Hill stayed in the desert and gives the D-Backs an excellent second baseman.  First base goes to Paul Goldschmidt and the rookie has earned the job as he has climbed through the organization.  Who will be the Opening Day starter is a question this team will have to face at the end of Spring Training, Stephen Drew should be fully recovered from his leg injury but you can't sleep on spark plug Willie Bloomquist, who filled in nicely in Drew's absence last year.  Our money is on Drew to take his job back and have a breakout season.  Geoff Blum, John McDonald and Lyle Overbay will provide plenty of veteran experience off the bench.
Outfield-  Perennial MVP Justin Upton continues to improve his defense in right field and will again lead the team.  Gold Glove winner Gerardo Parra looks to continue to impress everyone in left, but newly acquired Jason Kubel will be breathing down his neck for the job.  Chris Young will be the starter in CF to start the season, but if he struggles look for Parra to slide over to CF and Young will be used off the bench more.  Kubel adds outfield depth for a team that had both Young and Upton play in over 150 games, and Kirk Gibson would like to avoid fatigue caused slumps.
Lineup-
1. Ryan Roberts- TatMan will spark this team!
2. Aaron Hill- Will hit .300+.
3. Justin Upton- 30+ HR and 100+ RBI.
4. Paul Goldschmidt- Let's see how he does in a full season.
5. Miguel Montero- Great hitting catcher.
6. Chris Young- Needs a rebound year at the plate.
7. Stephen Drew- Coming off injury, could slide up a few spots.
8. Gerardo Parra- Great hitter to pencil in here, could be a lead off man.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Coming off their surprise 94 win season the Diamondbacks look to be heading back to the top of the NL West.  With an already solid lineup in place, any mid season moves seem out of the question.  Look for another 90+ win season and another NL West crown.   This team is still young and after their playoff loss may want to get that taste out their mouth and make a deep run into the playoffs.  You can call it a bold prediction but this team will take the World Series crown back to the desert.  Should be a very exciting season for Diamondbacks fans!

-Buddy

San Francisco Giants 2012 Preview

The 2010 World Champions were quickly knocked back into reality last year and fingers can be pointed in many directions.  The offense didn't put up enough runs to support a great pitching staff and some of the front office moves were questionable to say the least.  The biggest question going into 2012 will be if this team can put up enough runs to support the staff, and the weight of that is going to be shouldered by Buster Posey.  After Posey went down with his season ending leg injury, http://youtu.be/sxWrGrGd0j8, the offense seemed to go away with him for the season.  If Posey can come back at 100% then this team has a chance to compete again for the NL West, if he not it is going to be a long season by the Bay.  The one thing for sure with this team is that the pitching staff is strong, probably one of the best in all of baseball.  From the starters to the bullpen a lot of these guys have All Star talent, even with some of their silly antics, i.e Brian Wilson.  After seeing most of their additions to last years roster depart, the team went with a different approach this off season.  They added journeyman like Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera, both players have plenty of experience to help this club out.
Let's take a look at what they will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation-  Avoiding salary arbitration with the ace Tim Lincecum was a huge deal for this team and its fans.  For the next two years Giants fans know that he will be on the bump come Opening Day.  Matt Cain who is coming off a down season in terms of wins, will be the #2 man.  Ryan Vogelsong came out of nowhere last year to put up All Star numbers, the question for him is if he can do in back to back years, or will he be the same guy we didn't hear about before.  Youngster Madison Bumgarner is coming off his first full season in the big's and he didn't disappoint, Bruce Bochy will pencil him in as his fourth starter.  The $126 million arm of Barry Zito will get another chance to prove to Giants fans why they invested so much in him, if he is not ready to answer the bell as the fifth starter look for youngster Eric Surkamp to emerge in the role.
Bullpen- Backing up the solid rotation is an excellent bullpen, full of hard throwers who know how to put out late game fires.  Closing ball games will be the job of Brian Wilson, if The Beard can rebound from his late season elbow issues, the Giants should have no worries when leading late.  Bruce Bochy seems to use a bullpen by committee system, where no one outside the closer has a specific job.  Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla all are capable of coming in whenever to get the job done.  Guillermo Mota will be another 'pen option, but will he be effective as he pushes up the age meter.  This bullpen will help this team win plenty of ball games.
Catcher- If Buster Posey can come back at full strength, then the Giants have no problems behind the plate.  If Posey's health is an issue they will have to lean on Eli Whiteside again.  Whiteside can't put up the offensive numbers of Posey but he can handle the staff just as well.
Infield-  Third baseman Pablo Sandoval will anchor the infield and coming off one of his best seasons, looks to be a perennial All Star.  Freddy Sanchez, also trying to come back from a season ending injury, should be the starting 2b.  Playing up the middle with Sanchez is going to come down to who wants the shortstop job more, youngster Brandon Crawford and veterans Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot will compete for the job in Spring Training.  The Giants are very high on Crawford but look for Theriot to emerge as the starter.  First base looks to go to the ageless Aubrey Huff, off a down year look for him to rebound.  If Huff struggles like last year look for youngster Brandon Belt to step in and show us why the organization loves him so much.
Outfield- Nate Shierholtz is the only returning outfielder for them and looks to land the right field job.  Newly acquired Angel Pagan will man CF and coming off a good 2011 looks forward to another solid year.  Melky Cabrera will be the starting LF, but if we see some of the inconsistency that we have seen from him the past look for backup first baseman Brandon Belt to get some looks.
Lineup-
1. Angel Pagan- Could see a lot of triples!
2. Freddy Sanchez- Can he return to his Batting Champ form?
3. Pablo Sandoval- When Panda swings at strikes he is one of the best.
4. Buster Posey- If he is healthy, a potential MVP candidate.
5. Aubrey Huff- Should drive in a lot from this spot.
6. Ryan Theriot- Solid hitter, should eclipse .290.
7. Nate Shierholtz- Good hitter, should slide up a few spots.
8. Melky Cabrera- Back to back .300+ seasons?
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

Coming off 86 wins last year and bringing back a strong pitching staff will help this club contend again for the NL West crown.  But the question is going to be the offense, and what they have right now doesn't seem to be enough to overtake the Diamondbacks.  The West will be a tough division to take this year and without much run support, another 80ish win season is on the horizon, with a finish in the middle of the division.  But with Bruce Bochy at the helm you never know, if he can keep them in contention at the All Star break, look for them to add a bat that can produce some runs and not just be a 2 month rental. Good luck in 2012 Giants fans!

-Buddy

San Diego Padres 2012 Preview

Coming off an awful 2011 season where the Padres finished dead last in the NL West with 91 loses, the team is looking for a bounce back year.  What it really looks to be though is a rebuilding year, where they load up the farm system and seek success in a few years.  The Padres that will run out for Opening Day are loaded with a lot of young talent, but with very little Major League experience.  They played the role of sellers in off season, trading away young talent to help make one of the stronger farm systems in baseball.  Aside from acquiring Carlos Quentin, the majority of their moves were done with the idea of taking their lumps now and hoping for success in a few years.  Playing in Petco Park is somewhat of disadvantage for the hitters but the new look pitching staff will love the place.  Let's take a look at how they will look come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Trading Mat Latos to Cincinatti for Edinson Volquez was a trade of swapping perennial aces.  Look for Volquez to get Bud Black's nod to start the year, this kid is coming off a rough couple of years but if he shows the stuff he had back in 2008 then the Padres will be okay at the front end of the rotation.  Look for Tim Stauffer to be the #2 man, coming off a year in which he lead the team ERA, he will be a solid fit there.  The next three rotation spots look to be a competition between Clayton Richard, Dustin Moseley and Cory Leubke.  Richard and Moseley are coming off seasons that were cut short by injury so we will see how they both bounce back.  Leubke split 2011 between the bullpen and the starting rotation, but it should be interesting to see how a full season in the rotation goes for him.
Bullpen- Huston Street will take over the closer job vacated by Heath Bell, and he has some big shoes to fill in, but with a handful of years of closing experience under his belt, he should do fine.  Anthony Bass saw some time in the rotation last year but the plan for him looks like he will end up in the 'pen.  Veterans Luke Gregerson, Micah Owings and Joe Thatcher all have plenty of big league experience to help this team and guide youngster Andrew Cashner.  Owings will be a nice fit in a long relieve role and could even crack the starting rotation.
Catcher- Nick Hundley owns the job heading to Spring Training, but if he proves otherwise look for John Baker to take the job.  Hundley is looking to take the job and be the everyday catcher so expect big things from the Arizona product.
Infield- The infield will be anchored by the veteran play of Orlando Hudson, the "O-Dog" doesn't seem to be losing any of skills and will provide Gold Glove defense and leadership at second base.  Shortstop Jason Bartlett looks to build on a great first season in San Diego.  Third base will go to Chase Headley, who has proved he is very worthy of the job since the team got rid of Kevin Kouzmanoff.  First base will go to the newly acquired Yonder Alonso, the Reds were very high on him but knew he wouldn't get a crack with Joey Votto there, so now Alonso gets his shot in San Diego and has the potential to be an All Star.  Look for Evereth Cabrera to be the utility man here.
Outfield- Speedster Cameron Maybin will man CF, and will again wow us with his outstanding defensive play.  Newly acquired Carlos Quentin will be in left and bring his veteran presence to a young outfield.  Right field looks to be Will Venable's job, but he will have a couple guys breathing down his back for the job.  Chris Denorfia, Mark Kotsay and Kyle Blanks will compete for the RF job come Spring Training.
Lineup-
1. Cameron Maybin- If he gets on, look out! 40+ Steals easy!
2. Orlando Hudson- Will hit near .300.
3. Jason Bartlett- Not your typical 3hole but he can fill the void.
4. Carlos Quentin- Can he power through the ocean breeze?
5. Yonder Alonso- Young and with a great bat.
6. Chase Headley- Should hit close to .290.
7. Will Venable- Has some pop, could slide up a few spots.
8. Nick Hundley- Good hitting catcher, should slide up.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

The Padres will have a good mix of veterans and youngsters on this ball club but this is not the one that Padre fans would like to see on the field.  With the departure of most of their top talent in the past few years, fans will have to cope with this rough patch.  But the future does look very bright for this organization.  This year looks to be another cellar year for them and approaching 90 loses again doesn't look to be out of question.  But in the NL West you never know what will happen, so Padre fans don't put your heads down, just take this rough patch with a grain of salt and look ahead to the future.

-Buddy

Is Bryce Harper MLB ready?

Bryce Harper is the future of the Washington Nationals, but with only one full season of professional baseball under his belt, he just might be ready to make the move to Big League's.  Harper is only 19, so it is not necessary to rush the process any, but if the team has any intention of contending someday, getting Harper to the Show needs to happen.  Some people are going to question his maturity after his ONE incident last year, but if most of us had the talent this kid has that incident shouldn't even be of any concern.  Instead of talking about that, talk about the insane offensive numbers he puts up and his ability to play multiple positions on the field.  With all the off season moves this team made, the smartest move they could make going forward will be getting him on the roster and starting him in RF everyday.  I had the opportunity to go to a Nationals game and not only was the place maybe half full, but the majority of the fans there were wearing jerseys from the other team.  Bringing Harper up now makes sense in so many ways for the Nationals, it will boost attendance, it will boost sales of merchandise, and it will make you a contender.  Seeing fans in Nationals Park wearing #34 Harper jerseys is a lot better than seeing the majority of the attendance in your opponents jersey.  People are going to question if putting him in right field will be the smart thing to do since Jayson Werth would move to CF, but an outfield with Michael Morse in left, Werth in center and Harper in right will be one of the most powerful trio's in the league.  This team doesn't have a legit everyday starting CF on the roster and moving Werth there will solve this problem, he plays solid defense now in right and it is not like the Nationals are saying we are bringing Harper up and putting Adam LaRoche in CF, Werth has the experience.  But back to Harper, the kid can flat out hit, no he has not played in AAA or even AA for that matter, but at only 19 to put up numbers like he did in his first pro season and in the Arizona Fall League, you have to be sit and say to yourself why not bring him up now.  The future is now in Washington and if this ball club is serious about winning, by the off season moves the answer is yes, then the time is now to bring Harper into the mix.  There have been many times when teams have brought up there top prospect when most said it was too early, look at the Diamondbacks and Justin Upton, came into the league at 19 and now he is a perennial MVP.  Then you have a team that waits too long to bring up their top prospect and they peak in AAA, i.e Michael Taylor in Oakland.  So the answer for the Nationals is bring up Harper now, yes his first year in the league is going to have its ups and downs, but with the potential he possess they can't wait.  Here is to hoping the Nationals do the right thing and let baseball fans see one of the top talents around!

-Buddy

Atlanta Braves 2012 Preview

Coming off their first season without Bobby Cox at the helm the Braves put together a pretty impressive 2011 campaign, with 89 wins, though it was not enough to overtake the Phillies in the East or garner the Wild Card.  There is a lot to be excited about if you are a Braves fan, the pitching is young and the 9 guys that will be sent out daily by Fredi Gonzalez will hit the ball for power and score plenty of runs.  Atlanta didn't make any big off season moves, but with the core of the team being so young and promising the need to make any moves really wasn't an issue at hand, the only key cog they lost was Derek Lowe, put he was getting a little long in the tooth and the Braves have plenty of young arms to replace him.  Having two guys finish 1-2 in the NL Rookie of the Year standings shows the real upside this club has, and Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman will most likely have another solid year.  The team does have it's share of veterans as well, most notably Chipper Jones, the future Hall of Famer is the face of the team and should have a solid year if he can stay healthy.  Dan Uggla started 2011 poorly but rejuvenated his season with his 31 game hitting streak, if he can play like he did in the second half this lineup will be very potent.  Let's take a look at what Atlanta will look like come Opening Day.
Starting Rotation- Tim Hudson will be the Opening Day starter, with all his experience a role he has very much earned.  The sinker baller is coming off a 16 win season and looks to still have plenty of life in his arm.  After Hudson look for Jair Jurrjens to land in the #2 spot, even though there were some rumors that he was going to be moved in the off season he is still in Atlanta, and if he can pitch the way he did in the first half last year, look out.  If Tommy Hanson is healthy, rumor has it the shoulder is back at 100%, he could get the nod at the #2 spot, but from our view point he slides nicely into the 3 spot.  Hanson has a ton of potential and coming up on only his fourth year in the league the ceiling is very high for him.  Randall Delgado, Brandon Beachy and Julio Teheran will compete for spots in the back end of the rotation, Teheran only got a sample of big league life last year and did phenomenal, Delgado also only had a cup of tea in the big's, Beachy lead the team in strikeouts last year and should be in the rotation come Opening Day.  Mike Minor does have some experience in the rotation but he seems to be the odd man out here, and will either wind up in the 'pen or as trade bait.  With a veteran leader and a lot of young talent this is going to be a solid rotation.
Bullpen-  The closer job is locked up and goes to 2011 NL ROY Craig Kimbrel, he set the rookie record for saves with 46 and despite a his late season struggles looks to have another solid 2012.  Setting up Kimbrel will be key for Atlanta, Jonny Venters was solid in 2011 and is a nice fit as the 8th inning guy.  Kris Medlen, Eric O'flaherty and Arodys Vizcaino will fill out the rest of the bullpen.
Catcher- Brian McCann was an All Star again in 2011 and does a great job behind the plate.  David Ross looks to be the backup for McCann, but with the production McCann gives, it is hard not to pencil him everyday.

Infield-  Chipper will be back at 3b and if he is healthy will be very productive at the plate and in the field.  Dan Uggla is in at 2b, if he plays like he did in the second half last year, he should be a lock for the All Star Game.  Rookie of the Year runner-up Freddie Freeman will be at first and he has so much potential that he should be a key stone to this team for years to come.  Shortstop is only question mark I see with this team, as of right now the job is youngster Tyler Pastornicky's to lose.  The Braves are very high on him, and he will should be  a good fit.  Jack Wilson will be the backup at short in case Pastornicky can't click it up.  This infield could boast 3 All Star's if they can all play at the level we are used to seeing them at.

Outfield-  Martin Prado will man left field, ever since moving to left Prado has not only continued to produce at the plat but also in the field.  Speedster Michael Bourn will be in center, the kid can fly and now that he gets a full season to play with a contender, good things should be coming.  Right field will be Jason Heyward's spot, the kid wowed us his Rookie year but last year he was bit by the injury bug a bit.  After some criticism from Chipper last year the focus looks to be back on for Heyward, he should come into camp in great shape and put up some nice numbers.  Eric Hinske and Matt Diaz will get some looks in the outfield, and hopefully Hinske can bring his postseason magic to Atlanta.
Lineup
1. Michael Bourn- Will get on a lot and steal a lot, very exciting!
2. Martin Prado- Should hit well over .300, nice fit for the RBI guys.
3. Chipper Jones- It's Chipper, no explanation needed.
4. Dan Uggla- Easily will put up 30 HR and should drive in close to 100.
5. Freddie Freeman- Young with lots of pop.
6. Brian McCann- Could slide up a few spots with the way he swings it.
7. Jason Heyward- Rebound year!
8. Tyler Pastornicky- Should hit for a high average.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

The Braves should contend for the NL East crown in 2012, knocking off the Phillies and the high spending Marlins won't be easy but this club has the pitching and the offense to do it, with a nice mix of veterans and young players it should be a very exciting year.  Let's pencil them in for a 90+ win season and at least take home the Wild Card.  And the new retro uniforms are going to be a nice fit here too!  What do you guys think the Braves will do this season?

-Buddy

Chicago Cubs 2012 Preview

Coming off a 2011 which we saw the "curse" continue for the Cubs, they went out and had a solid off season, bringing in a GM and new President of Baseball Operations, Jim Hendry and Theo Epstein.  Everyone knows what Epstein did in Boston, ending that curse and bringing in two World Series titles in his tenure there, and Cub fans are hoping he will do the same for them.  On the field the Cubs lost some players, notably Aramis Ramirez, and added a few, though most the additions were to the pitching staff.  This is a young team in the field but they do have veteran arms, and with Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder being out of the division the time to make the move towards winning the NL Central seems to be now.  With Mike Quade out as a manager, a very good move in my mind, they brought in Dale Sveum, who had some success in his only opportunity to manage for the Brewers.  This is a new look Cubs team, one that seems that they will not deal with mediocre play and make the moves to bring a winner back to the North Side of Chicago.  Here is our break down of how they will look in 2012.
Starting Rotation-  Avoiding arbitration with Matt Garza pretty much pencils him in as the staff ace, the guy throws the ball hard and has plenty of experience to lead the club.  After Garza the rotation roles can switched out but that all depends on how guys perform in Spring Training.  Ryan Dempster would be a solid option as the #2, and with the solid years he has put up in Chicago he deserves it.  Chris Volstad, Paul Maholm and Travis Wood, all acquired this off season will compete for the final three rotation spots along with Randy Wells and veteran Rodrigo Lopez.  The two of the five that do not crack the rotation are most likely headed to the bullpen as long relief options.
Bullpen-  The closer job looks to go to the shaky Carlos Marmol, but with Kerry Wood and Manuel Corpas both having closing experience, any sign of struggles from Marmol could launch one of these two into the closer role.  Jeff Samardzija will be one of the set up men, he throws hard but needs to avoid leaving it up in the zone. Marcos Mateo is another option in the pen for them, only 27 and he doesn't give up too much on the mound, he will be a good mid reliever for them.  Some managers don't believe in having a lefty "specialist" so we will see how Dale Sveum handles that.
Infield-  Going into Opening Day the only guy who looks to have his spot locked up is Starlin Castro at short, the kid can hit and his defense keeps getting better every year.  Darwin Barney got a lot of the starts last year at 2b, and he was solid on defense and had his moments at the plate.  If he can avoid the Sophomore slump the job is his, if not look for Jeff Baker to get some looks.  Baker will be used as the utility guy, with plenty of experience under his belt.  Third base looks to be a toss up between Blake DeWitt and Ian Stewart, both guys are young and came into the league with a lot of expectations and hopefully 2012 will be the season we get to see them.  First base looks to be going to Bryan Lahair, but don't be surprised if young Anthony Rizzo gives him a good push for the starting job.  Rizzo has plenty of upside and if he can find his home in Chicago after being traded twice already in his young career, the first base job could be his, but my money is on LaHair being penciled in come Opening Day.
Outfield-  Left field the Cubs will go with Alfonso Soriano, who is known more for his offensive production then his play in the field.  Center field is Marlon Byrd's home for 2012, unless the Cubs go out and land Yoennis Cespedes, then we may see Byrd move to right field.  With no Cespedes in Chicago the right field job looks to go to David DeJesus, coming off a down 2011 in Oakland, DeJesus is looking to rebound with a strong year.  Reed Johnson and Tony Campana will be the utility guys.
Catcher-  The catching job goes to Geovany Soto, he is the one with the most experience and knows how to handle a staff.  Jason Jaramillo should be that guy that will be used whenever Soto needs an off day.
Lineup
1. Darwin Barney- Will hit for a solid average.
2. David DeJesus- Can he rebound from a down 2011?
3. Starlin Castro- Will drive guys in, as long as their on base.
4. Alfonso Soriano- Plenty of pop left in his bat, look out Waveland Ave!
5. Geovany Soto- Solid hitter, with some power.
6. Bryan LaHair- Let's see what he can do with a full season.
7. Marlon Byrd- Good hitter with some power, could slide into the 2 hole.
8. Ian Stewart/Blake DeWitt- Both will hit for a good average.
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just Bunt!

2012 looks to be a solid year for the Cubs, they should easily improve on the 71 wins they had last year.  With the NL Central being so wide open, they could possibly contend, with a new GM they could be buyers at the trade deadline as opposed to being sellers like they have been the last few years.  I'm penciling them in at finishing a few games above .500, if they are in contention come the break maybe we will see a block buster deal to win the Central.

Josh Hamilton

What do you guys think about his recent "relapse," is it as big of deal as the media is making it or is it just a guy having a few drinks?  In his press conference he made it clear that he didn't do any drugs, and he isn't banned from drinking by the Texas Rangers or MLB.  I do understand that the guy has had a tough time with his substance abuse and having a few drinks again could lead to him doing something more, but is it that bad to have 3 or 4 drinks?  The press conference was one of the more real and heart felt ones ever done, unlike when Alex Rodriguez did his about steroids and had his script ready, Hamilton went in to the room with no note cards, no advisor next to him, he just went up there and spoke from the heart, showing he was legitimately sorry.  The guy is an excellent story and fantastic ball player, I just see this as a bump in the road on his road to recovery.  Let me know what you guys think of this situation.

2012 Dodgers Preview

Amid all the ownership issues that continue to surround the team, the Dodgers put together an impressive 2011 season.  Putting 82 wins on the mark, having the CY Young winner, Clayton Kershaw, and doing all of this under first year manager Don Mattingly.  Once the ownership deal gets settled, hopefully before opening day, the 2012 Dodgers and their fans have a lot to look forward to.  The lineup is solid, the starting rotation is young and seasoned with winners, and the bullpen is full of hard throwers who are difficult to pick up.  Here is our break down of what the Dodgers will look like for 2012.
Starting Rotation- The ace is clearly Clayton Kershaw, coming off a season that he won the pitching triple crown: wins, E.R.A, & strikeouts.  Oh yeah, the kid also took home the CY Young, at only 23 he is already in the upper tier of National League starters.  At the #2 spot of the rotation you can pencil in Chad Billingsley, another solid young arm with plenty of upside.  After the top 2 in the rotation I see a big battle coming in Spring Training for the final 3 rotation spots.  Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano look to be the top three to fill those slots, but you never know what will happen.  Once Rubby De La Rosa comes back from Tommy John surgery I think the others in the rotation will have to make way for the hard throwing right hander.
Infield-  2011 was a down year for big James Loney, but I could see him rebounding and having another big year, he will definitely be the Opening Day starter at first.  Dee Gordon will most likely be the starting shortstop, the kid plays solid defense and if he gets on the bases, look out!  Third base and second base are two positions that have a lot of players competing for, with Mark Ellis, Juan Uribe, Adam Kennedy & Jerry Hairston.  All four of the guys have been in the league for a while and will provide some veteran leadership to the clubhouse.
Outfield-  Well with MVP runner-up Matt Kemp roaming in center field, the Dodgers outfield will be solid in 2012.  Kemp is a five-tool player and if he can put up numbers even close to what he did last year, he could take the MVP award this time around.  Right fielder Andre Ethier, who had a great start to the season but had to cut the campaign short due to a knee injury, is another possible MVP candidate, if he is healthy.  Left field will probably go to Juan Rivera, but he is a circus defensively so expect Tony Gwynn Jr. & youngster Jerry Sands to get quite a few looks out there as well.
Catcher-  The job is A.J Ellis' to lose, so unless he has a horrible Spring he will be the everyday man.  Look for veteran Matt Treanor to spell Ellis for a day off and provide some leadership.
Bullpen-  The bullpen is loaded with hard throwing youngsters and it seems that every single one of the guys that come out the 'pen is a monster.  Kenly Jansen should be the 8th inning guy to set up Javy Guerra to close out ball games.  Mike MacDougal, Ramon Troncoso and Matt Guerrier will all fill into the other roles of the pen nicely.  The entire pitching staff only has four lefty's, and three of them are potential starters, so the lefty specialist role will fall on the arm of  Scott Elbert. 
Potential Lineup
1. Dee Gordon- Speed for days, the lead off man all teams want!
2. Andre Ethier- Solid hitter with some pop too.
3. Matt Kemp- Gordon and Ethier get on, Kemp drives 'em in. Pretty Simple.
4. Juan Rivera- Veteran with plenty of pop left in the tank.
5. James Loney- Hits for a solid average, may flip with Ethier at the 2 hole.
6. A.J Ellis- Should be interesting to see how he produces.
7. Whoever starts at 2b, all guys will hit for average and get on base.
8. Whoever starts at 3b, see #7
9. Pitcher's Spot- Just bunt!

If the ownership issues are solved and the team is in contention come the trade deadline, they probably will make some moves for another bat and maybe a back end starter.  Not being able to make any types of moves last year, hurt the team down the stretch.  The Dodgers should compete in the National League West, I see at least 85 wins and a 2nd place finish, and possibly the Wild Card spot.  What do you guys think will be in store for the Dodgers?