Baseball's 2012 Dark Horse Teams to Watch in Each Division

Baseball isn't a game of inches. It's a game of centimeters and millimeters. Which may explain how we've had a good variety of World Series champions and playoff contenders over the past decade.

While teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are consistently contenders, there are always a couple of surprises. Like last year's Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves. Not to mention the Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals performing on a relevant level for a good portion of the season before faltering.

With the 2012 season upon us, it's time to take an early look at each division's most probable candidate to have a breakout season, or at least pester those used to sitting comfortably at the top.

AL East: Toronto Blue Jays

First of all, the Toronto Blue Jays' new "throwback" uniforms should appease the baseball gods right away. Perhaps bringing back the old look will bring back the glory days of the late '80s and early '90s.

With a lineup built around All-Star Jose Bautista, the Blue Jays have quietly assembled a team that could mean serious business with another season under its belt. Some notable players are Yunel Escobar at shortstop, Kelly Johnson at second base, Adam Lind at first and Colby Rasmus in the outfield. It's a solid combination that should score an above-average amount of runs.

The pitching staff is where the question mark is. It features ace Ricky Romero, and then it's quite a mystery to casual baseball fans. Brandon Marrow is the only other recognizable name. The bullpen is around average or just above.

It all adds up to a team built to be competitive in most games, and one that could pester the heck out of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the division. If one of those three should have a down year, the young Jays may catch a hot enough spark to challenge for a wild-card spot.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians

The combination of good young hitting, a nothing-to-lose attitude and a few lucky bounces could propel the Cleveland Indians into a battle for second place in the AL Central in 2012. It's a ball club in rebuilding mode with a goal to reach its full potential over the next three seasons.

Their lineup only features a couple of known names in Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner. The rest of the guys are a mystery to casual fans, and the Indians are fine with that.

The team is hoping half of them become known names by 2014. Should they emerge, they could give the Tigers and Twins fits.

The downer about the Indians is the pitching staff. Ubaldo Jimenez is the clear ace, with four other guys who are either of unknown quality or past their prime. The bullpen features former Cardinals prospect Chris Perez and a handful of average pitchers.

What makes the Indians' season hopeful is their division. The Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox are barely competitive, the Twins are coming off a down year, and the Tigers are very good, but not a sure thing.

Should the Indians play above .600 ball in the Central and hover near .500 against the rest of the competition, they could be hanging around playoff talk come September.

AL West: None of the Above

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Texas Rangers will own this division.

The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners, along with their fans, are well-aware that they are only along for the ride in 2012.

NL East: Washington Nationals

What makes this Washington Nationals team so intriguing are two names: Davey Johnson and Stephen Strasburg. Johnson is a manager with a long track record of getting the most out of his club. If his methods still work on today's generation of young players, this could be the start of something good.

Strasburg is a potential star pitcher, should he stay healthy. With the recent addition of Edwin Jackson alongside a solid bullpen, it's a team primed to start making noise.

Defensively, nothing should get by these guys, and they definitely have some speed around the bases.

The uphill battle they face is dealing with the star-studded Philadelphia Phillies, up-and-coming Miami Marlins and the always solid Atlanta Braves. The New York Mets, once again, are a team of "maybe they'll be good, maybe they'll be bad."

The Nationals proved last season that they can put together some winning streaks. With the re-addition of Strasburg to the rotation, they could add 10-15 more wins to their total, flirting with a 90-win season.

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have hung around the past few seasons, but they haven't yet put it all together. It's hard to even remember their short-lived three-game playoff series in 2010 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2012, they still have the talent and leadership to hang around again, and this time, maybe take that next step.

In their favor, they have GM Walt Jocketty, who is known for assembling successful clubs with plug n' play guys who may not have the biggest names in the game, but who perform their duties well.

For example, they now have the solid-hitting Ryan Ludwick in right field, completing an elite trio that includes Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce. The infield is just as solid with Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Paul Janish and veteran Scott Rolen.

The pitching staff is strong with Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos and Johnny Cueto leading the charge. After picking up closer Ryan Madson and with fire-throwing Aroldis Chapman, the bullpen is primed to shut teams down in the eighth and ninth––an essential quality in a playoff-caliber team.

Within the division, the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates are set to battle for the basement, meaning they can rack up some cheap wins, while the Milwaukee Brewers appear to be headed toward a down season. The St. Louis Cardinals should be very competitive, but with a new manager and a Pujols-less lineup, they're a bit of a wild card.

Of all the dark horse teams, the Reds appear to be the most talented and realistic choice to make a run for and a splash in the playoffs.

NL West: Colorado Rockies

The main reason: Every time we count this Colorado Rockies team out, they come up big. On top of that, it seems every time we count out a team in the NL West, like the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and the San Francisco Giants two years ago, they also come up big.

Their most notable move this offseason was the trade for former Baltimore Orioles ace Jeremie Guthrie. Besides that, the team has remained quiet and somewhat obscure. 

Led by aging Todd Helton and their biggest star Troy Tulowitzki, it's difficult to imagine the Rockies challenging the Giants all season long –– but then again, the rest of the division should be a feast for any good team. The San Diego Padres don't look good at all, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Diamondbacks are unreliable. 

I don't know how to explain it, but this could be yet another year we see the "where did they come from?" Rockies surprise the league with a playoff appearance.