2012 National League Preview

This is Part 2 of my 2012 baseball preview articles. Part 1 can be found here.

It is in the air. The atmosphere seems to have improved. The sun seems to be shining better. There seems to be an aura of happiness surrounding us. There’s only one explanation for this: Its baseball season. Here we are in April 2012, about to start another insane year of baseball, attempting to follow up one of the greatest seasons of baseball we’ve ever experienced. The September leading to the playoffs was incredible, the postseason was chock full of surprises, and don’t get me started on the World Series.

And to now add a Wild Card team, give cellar franchises some actual life (Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers), and major players getting bounced around everywhere (The American League is even tougher now) and we have a highly anticipated season that can’t quite possibly have a predetermined finish line. The beauty of baseball is that anybody can beat anybody, and you can name a dozen teams that if the right pieces fall into place they can end up in the World Series and win it all.

Nonetheless, here I am with the predictions for the season. I will go division by division and start with the American League and move on from there. Alright, I know it late but here we go.

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The teams I believe that will make the postseason will have the picture next to my prediction of their season.
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NL East



1) Philadelphia Phillies
This Phillies team is a long-shot from their 2008-2009 form with the plethora of injuries, sudden lack of offense, and not as much fear-striking as before. They still have the best rotation in baseball, and as long as the pitchers stay healthy there’s no reason why this squad couldn’t win the division----again. But those 100-win seasons will do you no good if the bats don’t wake up in October.


2) Atlanta Braves
Remember the Braves had a share of injuries prior to their infamous collapse in September. Now with a full lineup, the young team gaining more experience, expect them to develop much more ground when trying to catch the Phillies as kings of the NL East like they used to be ions ago. Age is always an advantage for these long baseball seasons, and the Braves still hold a lot of promise.


3) Miami Marlins
Very rarely does a baseball team grab a bunch of great players and suddenly win it all immediately. It takes time; baseball is all about time and experience. The Marlins have potential of becoming something very special in the long run as long as the fans and the owners invest in this revamped squad. They have an excellent manager, great infield, and a rotation that should be taken seriously. The Marlins will be a strong third place team that will fight long into the night—but keep an eye on them two/three years from now.


4) Washington Nationals
The NL East has emerged as one of the nastiest divisions in all of baseball with the Braves emerging, the Marlins rocking, and the fourth-best squad still looking like a threat. Don’t look now, but the Nationals have the pieces of creating a tough young team that can wreak havoc in the division. With Steven coming back, Harper around the corner, and a good manager at the helm…..who knows?


5) New York Mets
It’s the Mets.




NL Central


1) Milwaukee Brewers
With the Cardinals losing their manager and their top player, this is the perfect opportunity for the Brewers to repeat. Even if they lost Fielder, they still have a killer offensive powerhouse, and underrated Zack Grienkie hungry for more playoff time. Remember prior to getting knocked out by St. Louis, they pretty much conquered this division. Expect them to do the same thing this year.



2) St. Louis Cardinals
The World Series Champions are still deadly, they are still a major threat, regardless of who they lost. The unsung heroes of the postseason are back, the fanbase is always hungry, and the bullpen is now among the best in baseball. To be champs means you’ve outlasted everyone else, so there’s no way losing your best player and your manager would dip you too far in the standings. The Cardinals and the Brewers will be neck-and-neck throughout the season, but I can see them both meeting again in the playoffs.


3) Cincinnati Reds
Last season was mildly respectable, but unfortunately locked in the tightest division race in the National League. Even the Pirates at one point held first place. The Reds remain below the radar because of the Champs and the Brewers. Nonetheless they have great pitching from rotation to bullpen.


4) Pittsburgh Pirates
I honestly feel bad for this team. They were a great hungry young team that got shafted in one of the worst calls in the history of baseball. All momentum died right then and there. This season however they can once again attempt to make a push to shock the division yet again with its small ball play and never-say-die attitude. Unfortunately as long as they have the same owners, they will remain a great puzzle with missing pieces.


5) Chicago Cubs
While some franchises have crappy owners, owners that don’t care, etc., the Cubbies just have a nasty string of bad luck on their side. Every acquisition turns bust, every promising star becomes fallen comet, and the lingering events from 2003, 2007, and 2008 continue to residue in Wrigley Field. I don’t see them doing much once again this year, and I strongly believe they should start all over with their new GM by focusing on prospects and rookies.


6) Houston Astros
Pretty much all the attention in Texas Baseball has been converted to the Rangers, and so has all the success. Perhaps the Astros will find new life by switching divisions and leagues. Until then, they will remain a bad joke in the National League.




NL West


1) Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks shocked the division by sweeping the division away from ex-champ San Francisco Giants. Under a great new manager and rising star Upton, this team will continue the success because of weaker competition and because of a team that has developed to mesh well with each other. A series of utility men combine to become a powerful team. Outside the Brewers and Cardinals, this is arguably the best squad in the National League.



2) San Francisco Giants
Posey came back and the momentum is no longer shot like what happened last year when he went down. The Giants have fantastic pitching day in and day out, but lack all aspects of offense—which came after Posey got hurt and they didn’t sign anyone with a good bat. In order for the Giants to have any shot at winning the West they need to start hitting more, that or rely on pitchers to consistently throw no-hitters. Despite this, the Giants have a clear shot at the Wild Card.


3) Los Angeles Dodgers
Expect this team to have a new breath of life with the new owners and the fact that they are no longer associated to the nasty divorce. Good squad that’s a few steps from grand with a baseball expert as manager, excellent pitching staff (Recurring theme of the NL West), and rising crew of offensive stars. Although I place them at third I would not be surprised if they pushed for a Wild Card spot.


4) Colorado Rockies
The Rockies should learn to win in other months not named September. This team hasn’t improved much in the offseason while the other teams received good news and good acquisitions. Barring a spectacular run in the early Fall expect the Rockies to stay put in the dweller standings.


5) San Diego Padres
Fascinating how 5 years ago, the Padres and Rockies were two tough teams fighting a one-game playoff for the division. My what time does to organizations. I have nothing more to add about this team---its just a sad state of affairs here.





Go Rays!!!!!!!!!!