2012 full league predictions

Hey, Jonah Shiffman here,
     So only a few days until the day when it all begins comes to us. I can't wait, and neither can my Partner Leo Posel. We are excited to watch and experience the fun and excitement of an MLB season with you all! Before anything happens me and Leo would like to share our picks with you.

AL East:
Leo:
1st Place- Boston Red Sox 97 wins
2nd Place- New York Yankees 91 wins
3rd Place- Tampa Bay Rays 86 wins
4th Place- Toronto Blue Jays 70 wins
5th Place- Baltimore Orioles 65 wins

I think the Red Sox will take the AL East this year after not making the playoffs 2 straight seasons. I think by hiring Bobby-V they should have fire in their heart and prosper in this tough division. As for the Yankees and their new talent at the mound they should be contenders but in the end Boston takes the AL East.

Jonah:
1st Place- New York Yankees 102 wins
2nd Place- Boston Red Sox 94 wins
3rd Place- Toronto Blue Jays 89 wins
4th Place-Tampa Bay Rays 86 wins
5th Place- Baltimore Orioles 54 wins

I think the Rays line-up is missing good 7-8-9 hitters and that will hurt them down the stretch when playing for instance, a team like the Phillies, who probably have the best 7-8-9 hitters in the league. That is why I have them finishing in a disappointing 4th place. The Sox are a Wild Card team but are lagging a lot from the Yankees new, strong, pitching staff.
 
AL Central-
Leo:
1st Place- Detroit Tigers 97 wins
2nd Place- Cleveland Indians 83 wins
3rd Place- Chicago White Sox 80 wins
4th Place- Minnesota Twins 80 wins
5th place- Kansas City Royals 70 wins

Detroit is the definite favorite here in this struggling division. They almost saw a World Series appearance last year and  they will be a team to watch again this year. Cleveland and Minnesota are definitely climbing the ladder but will come a few rungs short. As for the Royals the depression out there will grow and yet again they will swing and miss.

Jonah:
1st Place- Detroit Tigers 98 wins
2nd Place- Minnesota Twins 89 wins
3rd Place- Kansas City Royals 85 wins
4th Place- Cleveland Indians 83 wins
5th Place- Chicago White Sox 68 wins

I have Detroit  here with their great starting 3. I think Minnesota will have a comeback year assuming everyone stays healthy after they return, it won't be enough to make the playoffs in my predictions but definite progress from a disappointing 2011. The Royals line-up is much to weak(only 2 players with 20+ home runs last season.) to be a competitive team. The White Sox with have a terrible year and Adam Dunn's career as a star will prove to be a fluke and his days as a powerful hitter will be gone.

Al West
Leo:
1st Place- Texas Rangers 95 wins
2nd Place- Los Angeles Angels 87 wins
3rd Place- Oakland Athletics 80 wins
4th Place- Seattle Mariners 64 wins

I see no change from last year, I believe Texas is still the front runner here, the Angles probably won't win the division with this year with their new squad consisting of Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. This seems like a 2 team race to me.

Jonah:
1st Place- Los Angeles Angles 91 wins
2nd Place- Texas Rangers 90 wins
3rd Place- Oakland Athletics 62 wins
4th Place- Seattle Mariners 51 wins

The New looking Angles have come to slay the AL West. No doubt about it. Also watch out for the Rangers....don't get me started on the A's and Mariners.

Leo Playoffs seeds
#1- Texas Rangers
#2- Boston Red Sox
#3- Detroit Tigers
Wild Card away team- Los Angles Angels
Wild Card home team- New York Yankees

Jonah's playoff seeds
#1- New York Yankees
#2- Detroit Tigers
#3- Los Angeles Angels
Wild card away team- Texas Rangers
Wild Card home team- Boston Red Sox

Playoffs:
Leo:
Wild Card Game

New York Yankees OVER Los Angles Angels

ALDS
New York Yankees OVER Texas Rangers (5 games)
Detroit Tigers OVER Boston Red Sox (4 games)

ALCS
Detroit Tigers OVER New York Yankees (7 games)
The Yankees are looking forward to a deep playoff run and they will get it but the Tigers want the same and with their pitching rotation as strong as ever, they will make a stunning world series appearance.


Jonah:
Wild Card Game

Texas Rangers OVER Boston Red Sox

ALDS
New York Yankees OVER Texas Rangers (4 games)
Detroit Tigers OVER Los Angeles Angels (3 games)

ALCS
Detroit Tigers OVER New York Yankees (5 games)
If everyone is healthy come playoff time, the Tigers will have the best 3-man playoff rotation in the league, up there wit the Phillies. The Yankees are a powerful offensive team, but the Tigers can generate runs too. A healthy Detroit team can be beat any team in the league.




NL East
Leo:
1st Place- Philadelphia Phillies 100 wins
2nd Place- Atlanta Braves 90 wins
3rd Place- Miami Marlins 88 wins
4th Place- Washington Nationals 80 wins
5th Place- New York Mets 70 wins

The Phillies are obviously the best team in this division right now. The Marlins had a big off season that I will be posting about shortly but this isn't their year i would look for a big Miami Finish in years to come. 


Jonah:
1st Place- Philadelphia Phillies 99 wins
2nd Place- Miami Marlins 91 wins
3rd Place- Atlanta Braves 86 wins
4th Place-  Washington Nationals 79 wins
5th Place- New York Mets 68 wins

The Marlins had a huge off season that I think will prove very helpful. I think Reyes could hit .305 with 25 homers and 95 RBI. I think it's possible. If my prediction of 91 wins proves to be right it would be a .117 increase in win percentage from last season, yes a very big jump but a very possible one too. The Phillies good all around game gives them first place. As for the Braves, I don't think it will be a season to remember for them.


NL Central

Leo:
1st Place- Milwaukee Brewers 97 wins
2nd Place- St. Louis Cardinals 95 wins
3rd Place- Pittsburgh Pirates 75 wins
4th Place- Cincinnati Reds 70 wins
5th Place- Chicago Cubs 65 wins
6th Place- Houston Astros 55 wins

The Brew Crew and the Cards are shaping up to be dominant forces in the NL. This will be another 2 team division race for me. The Cubbies and 'stros will most likely disappoint their agitated fans, yet again.

Jonah:
1st Place-Cincinnati Reds 93 wins
2nd Place-Milwaukee Brewers 92 wins
3rd Place- Pittsburgh Pirates 82 wins
4th Place- St. Louis Cardinals 77 wins
5th Place- Houston Astros 66 wins

I have a close 2 team race here, while the Brewers pitching out does the Reds, I believe the Reds can generate runs quickly with one swing off the bat and that might be what gives them the extra edge. The Cardinals losing Pujols is really huge and i think it will really  hurt them, as you can see.
Leo:
1st Place- Arizona Diamondbacks 90 wins
2nd Place- SF Giants 87 wins
3rd Place- LA Dodgers 82 wins
4th Place- Colorado Rockies 77 wins
5th Place- San Diego Padres 65 wins

The D-Backs made a rare playoff run last year and with returning ace Daniel Hudson and star outfielder Justin Upton, Arizona will see the playoffs once more. The Giants are a probable wild card winner and Melky Cabrera is there to see it happen. As for the rest of the west, they might make a run in years to come but for now, their standings appear to be set in stone.

Jonah:
1st Place-  SF Giants 87 wins
2nd Place-  Colorado Rockies 81 wins
3rd Place-  Arizona Diamond Backs 80 wins
4th Place-  LA Dodgers 76 wins
5th Place- San Diego Padres 74 wins

Yet again, I choose the Rockies to be a sleeper squad! As for the rest, this is a lacking division and the Giants will take it easily.

Leo playoff seeds
#1 Philadelphia Phillies
#2 Milwaukee Brewers
#3 Arizona Diamondbacks
Wild Card away team- St. Louis Cardinals
Wild Card home team- SF Giants

Jonah:
#1- Philadelphia Phillies
#2- Cincinnati Reds
#3- SF Giants
Wild Card away team- Miami Marlins
Wild Card home team- Milwaukee Brewers
Playoffs:
Leo:
Wild Card Game

SF Giants OVER St. Louis Cardinals

NLDS
Philadelphia Phillies OVER SF Giants (4 games)
Milwaukee  Brewers OVER Arizona Diamondbacks (5 games)

NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies OVER Milwaukee Brewers (7 games)
The crew has seen a lot over the past few years but the Phillies will be ready and waiting after what for them was a disappointing finish last year. Philly is hungry for another world series appearance and they will get it.

Jonah:
Wild Card Game
Milwaukee Brewers OVER Miami Marlins

NLDS
Milwaukee Brewers OVER Philadelphia Phillies (5 games)
Cincinnati Reds OVER SF Giants (3 games)

NLCS
Milwaukee Brewers OVER Cincinnati Reds (4 games)
In the end pitching wins championships but lets not get ahead of ourselves...for me it wins the Brew Crew a National league championship.


WORLD SERIES
Leo:
Philadelphia Phillies OVER Detroit Tigers (6 games)
Game 1: 4-2 Detroit
Game 2: 5-1 Phillies
Game 3: 7-6 Phillies
Game 4: 8-2 Detroit
Game 5: 3-1 Phillies
Game 6: 7-4 Phillies

The Tigers are all set to make a hell of a run in the playoffs but the Phillies power and pitching combined will be too much for Detroit. Overall it will be a great series but in the end Philly will take home the trophy.

Jonah:
Detroit Tigers OVER Milwaukee Brewers (4 games)
Game 1: 2-1 Tigers
Game 2: 9-4 Tigers
Game 3: 11-6 Tigers
Game 4: 3-0 Tigers

Pitching is everything and that is what the Tigers have. The Brewers will be missing Prince in this series for sure.
Tigers in 4!



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