2012 MLB Predictions: Surprise Teams Ready to Make Playoff Push

When sports fans think of parity, they often point to the NFL because of all the mediocre teams that hover around .500. But Major League Baseball has proven that surprises can happen every year. No one had the St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series in September, but look how that turned out. 

We are still a month away from the start of spring training, and there are still a lot of big moves left to be made, but it is never too soon to look at which teams will be pleasant surprises in 2012. 

I won't go so far as to say that these teams will make the postseason, but they will stay in contention throughout the year and prove that the future is bright. 

So which teams will make playoff pushes this season?

Seattle Mariners (67-95 in 2011)

Before I start this, I should say that I think the Mariners are going to swoop in and sign Prince Fielder. That is just my prediction, but the front office knows that upgrades have to be made if this team wants to compete. 

Fielder hitting behind Dustin Ackley would be the great heart of the order, and if Justin Smoak can stay healthy, he still has the potential to be a very good player. Nick Franklin, who made quite an impression at the Arizona Fall League, should take over at shortstop some time this year. 

The Mariners are set defensively and have a great one-two punch at the top of the rotation with Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda, and it will get even better with Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton on the way. 

If they can get any kind of offense, they will win at least 81 games. Their biggest hurdle, aside from the offense, is playing in a division with Los Angeles and Texas. 

Washington Nationals (80-81)

The Nationals still have a lot of holes that they have to fill on offense, but if they are able to sign Prince Fielder and are able to bring up Bryce Harper in July, they should be at least an average National League offense. 

The rotation is going to be very good with a full season of Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman in the No. 2 role. Gio Gonzalez will be the third starter, and while I am not completely sold on him, I think he has a chance to succeed against NL lineups if he can continue to miss bats with his fastball. 

They aren't as good as Philadelphia or Atlanta in the East yet, at least not on paper, but considering how weak the Phillies lineup looks and how fragile the Braves are, particularly Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and Tommy Hanson, it's possible both clubs take a step back in 2012. 

The Nationals are headed in the right direction, and this could be the first year they contend since leaving Montreal.

San Diego Padres (71-91)

Judging by all the moves they have made this offseason, you would think that the Padres made the playoffs last year and were just a piece or two away from winning a World Series. 

The only concern that the Padres should ever have is what to do with their offense, because the size of their ballpark all but guarantees they are going to finish at or near the top of rankings in ERA.

Heath Bell saved his career and got paid a lot of money because of PETCO Park, so they don't need high-end pitching like most teams to in order to compete. 

Yasmani Grandal and Yonder Alonso, both acquired from Cincinnati in separate trades, should add some punch to an otherwise punchless lineup. If they can figure out PETCO and Cameron Maybin has another strong season, they could have a decent lineup. 

Carlos Quentin is the wild card in this whole mix. He is a terrible defensive player that will be even worse in PETCO, but when healthy he does have some power in his bat. The problem is he rarely stays on the field. 

I don't see another dominant team in the West—Arizona should regress in 2012—so it is not impossible to envision a scenario in which they are able to contend all the way through September. 

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