MLB Predictions 2012: 10 Teams That Can Win the Fall Classic

Last year, a team that we counted out of the playoffs in early September found a way to win the World Series.

This year, however, it seems we can narrow the list of favorites down to ten teams.

The offseason is over. Teams made their moves, added and subtracted players, calculated paychecks during trades and put together a roster that each manager thinks is capable of winning the World Series.

However, only one team can win it all.

Last year, most expected the Phillies, the Yankees or the Rangers to win the World Series, but the Cardinals won. In 2010, the Rays, Phillies and Yankees were predicted by many to walk away with the trophy. Instead, the Giants won.

St. Louis and San Francisco may have come home with the trophy the last two years, but the Phillies, Yankees and especially the Rangers are hungry for a title. Plus, new teams have come on as potential preseason favorites.

Albert Pujols, the Cardinals' star, departed the Gateway Arch's home for Mickey Mouse's home, and he is now a Los Angeles Angel. C.J. Wilson followed Pujols to Anaheim, and he now dons the Angel red.

That means the Cardinals will have a tough time this year, and so will the NL runner-up, Milwaukee. Prince Fielder, their home-run hitting star, will now be in Motown with the Detroit Tigers. So, if you throw in the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers, you have the five AL teams that will compete for the World Series title.

Now, the National League.

Philadelphia is a lock for World Series competition, since they have come so close for the past three years. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and the rest of the Phillies will lead the Phils back to the Classic or to the playoffs.

San Francisco won the title in 2010 and had a shot in 2011, but Freddy Sanchez and Buster Posey succumbed to injuries, and the Giants missed the playoffs. But the April 2012 team is much better than the September 2011 team, and the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Cardinals may be topped by the Giants.

The Diamondbacks came very close to the NLCS last year, but they lost a heartbreaking series to the Bash Brothers in Milwaukee. This year, however, not many people see the Diamondbacks hoisting the trophy come Fall.

So, with the Phillies and Giants locked up, we need an exciting team that made moves over the winter, and a team that came very close but couldn't make their way into the playoffs in 2011.

How about the Marlins and Braves?

Miami will now play in a new ballpark featuring an aquarium that fans sitting behind home plate can admire, and a new team for fans everywhere to admire.

Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison and Josh Johnson (although he was injured) return from a 2011 team that didn't do damage but hit homers, but that's not all. Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell and Carlos Zambrano are here to entertain the fans and win games for the Marlins.

And the Braves? Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Michael Bourn, Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and more talented players return from a talented 2011 team that fell just short of a playoff bid.

Throw in the Cardinals, who return most of the 2011 team that won the World Series, and you have five National League teams capable of competing.

The field is basically set. The ten teams that should make the playoffs and compete are ready to show what they're made of.

All these teams have the talent, but only one can win.

Only 162 games plus the playoffs can answer that.