2012 MLB Predictions

With the Major League Baseball season just a few months away and spring training just around the corner, it's never too early to start picking division and award winners.

So here is the winner of every division, along with the MVP and Cy Young winner from each league.

Also, I will pick the matchups for the championship series and World Series.

AL West: Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers were a mere strike away from winning the 2011 World Series. Then, something amazing happened and the St.Louis Cardinals ended up winning the series in seven games. During the offseason, the Rangers lost pitcher C.J. Wilson to the division rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

But the Rangers still have a great starting rotation with Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and bringing in from the bullpen Neftali Feliz. The Rangers will always have a good bullpen, and it got even stronger this year with the signing of Japanese sensation Yu Darvish.

Along with the pitching staff, the Rangers still have offensive firepower. The Rangers offense last year was third in the league in runs scored, and it won't slow down this year either. With All-Stars like Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler, the Rangers will be yet again the winners of the AL West.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians

If you don't remember, the Cleveland Indians were leading the AL Central for a while in the first half of last season. Then the Detroit Tigers caught fire, and the Indians caught the injury bug. And once the Tigers and Justin Verlander got hot, nobody was going to catch them.

This year, the Indians gained valauable experience from last year to bring home the AL Central crown.

With the addition of former Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe, and bringing back a strong rotation including Fausto Carmona and Ubaldo Jimenez the Indians have the rotation to compete in the AL Central.

The injury bug hit Grady Sizemore huge last year, and Sizemore will be back to his hitting ways this year. The Indians were 16th in runs scored and 18th in batting average in the major leagues. The Indians have the hitting and pitching to compete with Detroit Tigers for the AL Central.

I predict this division will surprise many and come down to the final weeks.

AL East: Boston Red Sox

The team that had the biggest collapse in Major League Baseball history will come back stronger than ever in 2012. The Red Sox will have to deal with the swirling allegations of players eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games perhaps the entire season. This will not derail the Red Sox.

The hiring of manager Bobby Valentine will bring a new culture to the Red Sox organization. Also, consider that before the meltdown that took place, Boston was one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball.

The loss of long-time closer Jonathan Papelbon seemed to hurt the pitching staff the Red Sox acquired closer Andrew Bailey from the Oakland A's. Though they may be eating chicken and drinking beer, the Red Sox still have a darn good starting rotation in Josh Beckett, John Lackey, John Lester and Tim Wakefield.

As far as offense goes, the Red Sox will have one of the best in the American League in 2012. Last year, Boston was either first or second in all hitting categories. Look for the culture to be changed in Boston as they put the meltdown behind them and get back to their AL East winning ways.

AL Wildcard: Detroit Tigers

Though not winning the AL Central will be some disappointment to the Detroit Tigers, they will still earn the wild card. The Tigers surprised a lot of fans last year, making it to the ALCS. Then, they find out that the team couldn't ride Justin Verlander's arm all the way to the World Series.

AL MVP and AL Cy Young Winner Justin Verlander had one of the best years in Major League history. Verlander will not have the same success as he did in 2011, although it would be legendary if he did. I do see the Tigers ace as a 20-game winner.

The Tigers got a steal with mid-season acquisition Doug Fister last year. With Fister having a full offseason with the Tigers, you can look forward to him being a good No. 2 starter.

As for the offense, the Tigers are one of the best teams in the American League. With power hitters like Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Victor Martinez, the Tigers are dangerous when hot. It might be a surprise that the Tigers are in the wild card spot, but don't be surprised if the Tigers are contending for a World Series.

NL West: San Francisco Giants

There was really no other choice for this division. Unless the Diamondbacks again have yet another magical season, I don't see how it cannot go to the San Francisco Giants.

Their starting rotation has three solid starters in strikeout king and 20-game winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madson Bumgarner. These three alone can take down a division that does not have a lot of offensive firepower in it.

The Giants should be better this year offensively, with midseason addition Carlos Beltran, Pablo Sandoval, Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey. Posey was a big loss for the Giants last year, as he went down after a collision at home plate.

Just remember that just a year ago, the Giants were World Series champions. Look for the young team, to feast on a weak division and contender for the National League pennant.

NL Central: Pittsburgh Pirates

That's right, the Pirates, who have had losing record each of the last 20 years will win the NL Central. At the halfway point of the season last year, the Pirates were leading the division. Though in the second half, they totally collapsed and fell 24 games back at season's end, that experience of having some taste of first place will propel them to the division tittle.

Pitching may not be the strong suit of the Pirates, but the young talent that they have will reign over inexperience. Of the starting five, only one is over 30 years old. The rest are 27, 28 and 29 year olds. Relatively young for pitchers.

As for offensive, it's the same way, very young talent! Young talent Andrew McCutchen is one of the top youngest players in the major leagues. The Pirates were near the middle of the pack when it came to offensive performance, but look for 2012 to be a breakout year for these young players.

Winning the NL Central however will be no easy task however, having to face the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals, who both were in the NLCS last year. But how will St. Louis react to winning the World Series after losing the star in Albert Pujols?

And with Ryan Braun likely to be out for the beginning part of the season and rumors from USA Today that Prince Fielder may go to the Washington Nationals, how will Milwaukee handle everything?

This division will not be a run-away winner for the Pirates, but look for them to win in the final days of the regular season.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies last year were supposed to be in the World Series. But that was rudely interrupted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs. After the disappointment of losing in the playoffs, the Phillies re-tooled and re-tooled well.

The Phillies already had one of the best pitching staffs in the major leagues with NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. Pair that starting rotation with the addition of closer Jonathan Papelbon, and the Phillies have one of the best pitching staffs in the major leagues yet again.

Along with the pitching, the offense is coming back with many All-Stars and talent. Having players like Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victarino and Ryan Howard, the Phillies are able to score runs. The Phillies are one of the best overall teams in baseball and are well-balanced with starting, closing pitcher and offense.

Look for the Phillies to win the best division in the National League and be a favorite for the NL pennant.

NL Wild Card: Miami Marlins

I'm not much into hype but the Miami Marlins found money somewhere and were not afraid to use it in the offseason. The Marlins acquired shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Mark Buehrle. They also took care of the closer position with Heath Bell.

The Marlins have an explosive line of young talent with Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez, two of the best young players in the game. Also, the Marlins have an experienced pitching staff that includes Buehrle, Javier Vasquez, Anibal Sanchez and Bell.

The Miami Marlins could be a surprise team in the National League. After finishing dead last in the NL East in 2011, it couldn't get much worse for the Marlins. They decided to change the name and colors of the team to have a new beginning. The Marlins spent their money well and will lock up a wild card position.

NL MVP: Ryan Howard

It's looking more and more like Ryan Howard will miss the beginning part of the 2012 season due to injury, that won't stop him from getting hot and doing the thing he does best...hit home runs.

Last year, Howard racked up 33 home runs with 116 runs batted in while leading the Phillies to the best record in the National League. In the past six seasons, Howard has hit for 30 or more home runs, and I don't see that trend ending anytime soon.

AL MVP: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels

One of the greatest hitters of this generation will win another MVP, but this time it will be different. It will be in the American League. Pujols may have to face better pitching staffs like those of the Tigers, Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers. The production for Pujols will stay the same.

Last year, Pujols hit .299 with 37 home runs and 99 runs batted in. In all 11 seasons that Pujols has played, he has hit over 30 home runs. Look for the Angels not to make the playoffs, but the Angles will have the AL MVP.

NL Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

The one thing that the Washington Nationals have going for them right now is that they got some young talent. And Strasburg is one of those amazing young talents. Having fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, Strasburg is ready to rock.

Strasburg in a short season was remarkable with 24 strikeouts and a 1.50 earned run average in five starts. Look for Strasburg to be back healthy and take the National League by storm.

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Is there really anybody else in American League? 

Coming off one of the best season's in major league history, with Verlander winning the AL MVP and AL Cy Young, Verlander will be back to do it yet again.

Last year, Verlander went an astonishing 24-5 with 250 strikeouts and a 2.50 earned run average. 

Verlander may not put up the type of numbers he did last year, but look for him to have yet another incredible season for the Detroit Tigers.

ALCS: Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers

In a rematch of last year's ALCS, the result will be the same.  With both teams having great starting rotations and offenses, it will be an exciting series. 

The Rangers will three-peat as American League champions.

Rangers win the series in seven games.

NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants

It will be a rematch from the NLCS a few years ago in which the Giants won. This NLCS, however, will have a different outcome.

The Phillies starting rotation will be too much for the Giants offense and closer Jonathan Papelbon will seal the deal in all four games.

Phillies win the series in a four-game sweep.

World Series: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Texas Rangers

For the third year in a row, the Rangers will make it to the World Series.  Unfortunately, the Rangers will lose the World Series for the third year in a row.

Look for the Phillies offense to get hot and torch the Rangers bullpen.  And watch the Phillies starting pitching rotation dominate.

Phillies win series in five games.