The 2012 Major League Baseball season has already begun with two games in Japan featuring the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics. The first game in the states is tomorrow and I’ve got a bunch of predictions for the season.

I first list my final standings predictions and how I feel teams will perform relative to the over/under win total set by Bovada. There is a snippet on the makeup of each division too. After that I have predictions on the playoffs (I had a heck of a time picking the National League teams to make the playoffs and which ones would advance), awards, and some general feelings I have on players/teams.

Please share your thoughts/predictions for the season as well. Thanks!

*Wild Card team

FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTIONS

AMERICAN LEAGUE

American League East

1. New York Yankees

• Over/Under: 93.5 – Over

2. Tampa Bay Rays*

• Over/Under: 87.5 – Over

3. Boston Red Sox

• Over/Under: 90.5 – Under

4. Toronto Blue Jays

• Over/Under: 83 – Under

5. Baltimore Orioles

• Over/Under: 69.5 – Under

I see this as a three-team race for the division between New York, Tampa Bay, and Boston. With the new playoff format – one extra Wild Card team – I could see three teams making the playoffs from the mighty AL East. Toronto seems like the clear fourth place team, though if they’re not, they’re heading north in the standings. It would be a shock if Baltimore finished anywhere but last place.

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers

• Over/Under: 91.5 – Under

2. Kansas City Royals

• Over/Under: 78.5 – Over

3. Cleveland Indians

• Over/Under: 78.5 – Over

4. Minnesota Twins

• Over/Under: 73 – Over

5.  Chicago White Sox

• Over/Under: 75.5 – Under

There is no bigger favorite to win their division than Detroit. Having said that, I’m not so hot on this team. They should win the division but I think they’ll be the weakest AL team to make the playoffs. I could see Kansas City and/or Cleveland making it interesting but both are probably at least a year away. Minnesota is one of the most interesting teams to watch this season; I could see them finishing in last or as high as second. Chicago is a team that seems to lack direction. Detroit should finish in first, but everything else is up in the air after that.

American League West

1. Texas Rangers

• Over/Under: 91.5 – Over

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*

• Over/Under: 91.5 – Over

3. Seattle Mariners

• Over/Under: 71.5 – Under

4. Oakland Athletics

• Over/Under: 72.5 – Under

This division has clear division. Texas and Anaheim have two of the most talented rosters in baseball; Seattle and Oakland have two of the weakest. Either Texas or Anaheim could win the division. Whichever team misses out on the division should be in the thick of the Wild Card race. Seattle and Oakland will battle to stay out of last place.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

National League East

1. Atlanta Braves

• Over/Under: 86.5 – Over

2. Philadelphia Phillies*

• Over/Under: 93.5 – Under

3. Miami Marlins*

• Over/Under: 85.5 – Over

4. Washington Nationals

• Over/Under: 83.5 – Over

5. New York Mets

• Over/Under: 73.5 – Under

I could see any of four teams winning this division. Philadelphia is still a slight favorite because the lineup is just good enough to get by without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley at least for a little while. The team’s top three starting pitchers – Halladay, Lee, and Hamels – could be three of the top 12 (or so) pitchers in baseball. Atlanta brings back a team that might be better than last year if a few things go right for them. Miami should have the biggest win increase of any team in baseball. Washington has talented players and could have one of baseball’s strongest starting rotations. Any of those teams could win the division or get a Wild Card. New York is in the worst place of any team in the division because of issues in ownership, though they’re not without talent.

National League Central

1. Cincinnati Reds

• Over/Under: 87. 5 Over

2. Milwaukee Brewers

• Over/Under: 85.5 – Over

3. St. Louis Cardinals

• Over/Under: 85.5 – Over

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Over/Under: 72.5 – Under

5. Chicago Cubs

• Over/Under: 73.5 – Under

6. Houston Astros

• Over/Under: 63.5 – Under

This looks like a three team race for the division. Cincinnati, Milwaukee and St. Louis are all good enough to win it. The two teams that do not capture the division could be in decent position for one of the Wild Card spots. Pittsburgh and Chicago will battle for fourth place. Houston has the least amount of talent at the Major League level of any MLB team…and it’s not even close.

National League West

1. San Francisco Giants

• Over/Under: 87.5 – Over

2. Arizona Diamondbacks 

• Over/Under: 86.5 – Over

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Over/Under: 80.5 – Under

4. San Diego Padres

• Over/Under: 73.5 – Over

5. Colorado Rockies

• Over/Under: 81.5 – Under

The most wide open division in 2012. I really could see any team winning the division (yes, even San Diego) and almost any team finishing at the bottom. Crazy things happen in this division. San Francisco and Arizona have the most talent. Los Angeles needs several players to perform better than expected. San Diego needs something semi-unexpected to happen offensively. Colorado’s season could unfold almost any way.

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Wild Card Game

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Tampa Bay Rays

Miami Marlins over Philadelphia Phillies

Wild Card Round

New York Yankees over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 5 games

Texas Rangers over Detroit Tigers in 4 games

Cincinnati Reds over Miami Marlins in 5 games

Atlanta Braves over San Francisco Giants in 4 games

League Championship Series

Texas Rangers over New York Yankees in 7 games

Cincinnati Reds over Atlanta Braves 6 games

World Series

TEXAS RANGERS OVER CINCINNATI REDS IN 5 GAMES

AWARDS

American League MVP

1. Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers

2. Evan Longoria – Tampa Bay Rays

3. Albert Pujols – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

4. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox

5. Adrian Gonzalez – Boston Red Sox

I’m going out on a limb here, I know. I could see a huge season from Beltre as he’ll be hitting in the middle of one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball (and he’s a great defender). Longoria seems to be a trendy pick this year. Pujols is here for obvious reasons. I expect big seasons from Pedroia and Gonzalez. Others I gave strong consideration to include Robinson Cano (NYY), Miguel Cabrera (DET), and Jose Bautista (TOR).

National League MVP

1. Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds

2. Justin Upton – Arizona Diamondbacks

3. Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers

4. Matt Kemp – Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates

I believe Joey Votto is one of the top five offensive players in baseball. I expect a huge season on the heels of his huge new contract. Justin Upton was a close second for me. I have three more outfielders on my list. Braun shouldn’t have much of a drop off from last season. Kemp is a bit of a wild card because he had never come close to playing at last season’s level before, but all the potential is there. McCutchen is sort of my sleeper pick. Others I gave strong consideration to include Jose Reyes (MIA) and Troy Tulowitzki (COL).

American League Cy Young

1. CC Sabathia – New York Yankees

2. Dan Haren – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

3. Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers

4. Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners

5. David Price – Tampa Bay Rays

Sabathia should have gotten a little more consideration for this award last season. He’s been able to withstand the heaviest workload of any pitcher in baseball over the past five seasons. Not only that, he’s great. Haren may be the most underrated pitcher in baseball. I expect Verlander’s numbers to come down across the board, but he should still be one of the best in baseball this season. Hernandez and Price should again be very good. Others I gave strong consideration to include Jon Lester (BOS) and Jered Weaver (LAA).

National League Cy Young

1. Roy Halladay – Philadelphia Phillies

2. Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers

3. Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies

4. Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants

5. Cliff Lee – Philadelphia Phillies

The National League is loaded with pitching. Any one of these pitchers could win the award this season. I’m just going with the guy I think is the best of the bunch. Others I gave strong consideration to include Josh Johnson (MIA), Jordan Zimmerman (WAS), Yovani Gallardo (MIL), Tim Lincecum (SF), and Matt Cain (SF).

American League Rookie of the Year

1. Matt Moore – Tampa Bay Rays

2. Jesus Montero – Seattle Mariners

3. Yu Darvish – Texas Rangers

There were a few others that could have easily made the list. I’m going with Moore because I think he’s remarkably talented. Montero and Darvish should also have fine seasons.

National League Rookie of the Year

1. Devin Mesoraco – Cincinnati Reds

2. Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals

3. Zach Cozart – Cincinnati Reds

I see this as wide open. There are probably another three-to-five players not listed on my AL prediction that would top this list. For Mesoraco and Harper it seems to be about playing time. I could easily see a player coming out of nowhere to win this award.

PLAYER/TEAM PREDICTIONS

5 Comeback Players

1. Hanley Ramirez – Miami Marlins

2. Shin-Soo Choo – Cleveland Indians

3. Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals

4. Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants

5. Josh Johnson – Miami Marlins

3 “Step Up” Players

1. Jordan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals

2. Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs

3. Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants

3 “Step Down” Players

1. Asdrubal Cabrera – Cleveland Indians

2. Ryan Roberts – Arizona Diamondbacks

3. Doug Fister – Detroit Tigers

Sleeper Team (could come out of nowhere to make playoffs)

American League: Kansas City Royals

National League: San Diego Padres

3 Teams I’m Bullish on

1. Washington Nationals

2. Texas Rangers

3. Cincinnati Reds

3 Teams I’m Bearish on

1. Detroit Tigers

2. Colorado Rockies

3. Chicago White Sox

That’s that. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. I appreciate you taking the time to read.