The 2012 baseball season is around the corner, and like a lot of people do, it’s prediction time! We did this last year and site founder John Russo won the prediction pool, which saw some sweet picks as well as some laughable busts.
This year, the American League is filled to the brim with talent, boasting five teams that could easily take the pennant. The National League doesn’t have a clear favorite either, but that’s because last year’s top teams lost some key talent and opened the doors for a few other teams to compete.
Questions asked heading into this season include:
Will Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder put their new teams over the top? Can the Phillies get by losing Ryan Howard and Chase Utley for an extended period of time? Who will win the NL Central?
So the TTB staff of got together to make their preseason picks of division winners and annual awards. A few didn’t submit theirs yet and I’ll give them a week to think before I close off the predictions. Enjoy!
Division Winners & Wild Cards*
John: TB, DET, TEX, LAA*, NYY*. PHI, STL, SF, CIN*, MIA*
Dan: NYY, DET, TEX, LAA*, TB*. PHI, STL, SF, CIN*, WAS*
Chris: TB, DET, LAA, NYY*, TEX*. PHI, STL, SF, MIA*, CIN*
Brian M: TB, DET, TEX, LAA*, NYY*. PHI, STL, ARI, LAD*, MIL*
John S: NYY, DET, LAA, BOS*, TEX*. PHI, CIN, ARI, SF*, WAS*
Pennant Winners
John: Detroit, San Francisco
Dan: Texas, Philadelphia
Chris: Detroit, Philadelphia
Brian M: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
John S: Philadelphia, LA Angels
World Champion
John: Detroit
Dan: Texas
Chris: Detroit
Brian M: Philadelphia
John S: LA Angels
MVP’s
John: Matt Kemp (LAD); Albert Pujols (LAA)
Dan: Joey Votto (CIN); Albert Pujols (LAA)
Chris: Joey Votto (CIN); Albert Pujols (LAA)
Brian M: Roy Halladay (PHI); Albert Pujols (LAA)
John S: Ryan Zimmerman (WAS); Miguel Cabrera (DET)
Cy Young’s
John: Cole Hamels (PHI); Jared Weaver (LAA)
Dan: Roy Halladay (PHI); David Price (TB)
Chris: Clayton Kershaw (LAD); Justin Verlander (DET)
Brian M: Roy Halladay (PHI); Justin Verlander (DET)
John S: Roy Halladay (PHI); James Shields (TB)
Managers of the Year
John: Ozzie Guillen (MIA); Bobby Valentine (BOS)
Dan: Charlie Manuel (PHI); Ron Washington (TEX)
Chris: Davey Johnson (WAS); Ron Washington (TEX)
Brian M: Charlie Manuel (PHI); Joe Maddon (TB)
John S: Davey Johnson (WAS); Mike Scioscia (LAA)
Comeback Players of the Year
John: Buster Posey (SF); Justin Morneau (MIN)
Dan: Buster Posey (SF); Joe Mauer (MIN)
Chris: Buster Posey (SF); Carl Crawford (BOS)
Brian M: Jamie Moyer (COL); Justin Morneau (MIN)
John S: Johan Santana (NYM); Kendry Morales (LAA)
Rookies of the Year
John: Bryce Harper (WAS); Jarrod Parker (OAK)
Dan: Zack Cozart (CIN), Yu Darvish (TEX)
Chris: Devin Mesoraco (CIN); Yoenis Cespedes (OAK)
Brian M: Freddy Galvis (PHI); Matt Moore (TB)
John S: Zack Cozart (CIN); Yu Darvish (TEX)
TTB 