10 Major League Teams with Something to Prove in 2012

The 2011 season came down to one final game. St. Louis defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the 2011 World Series to capture their 11th championship. It was only the fourth Game 7 since 1991—the greatest Game 7 in World Series history. Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins pitched a 10-inning, complete game effort in a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

So ends a season with many story lines. From the Phillies being the early popular favorite to win the World Series after adding Cliff Lee to an impressive starting rotation, to the collapse of the Minnesota Twins, barely escaping a 100-loss season and becoming only the second major league team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games, to the rumors where high profile free agents Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will play next season.

There have been many changes already with Ozzie Guillen moving from the White Sox to the Marlins, and the exodus of Terry Francona and Theo Epstein in Boston.

Here are 10 teams with something to prove in 2012. 

No. 10: Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians showed some life in 2011. They finished in second place in the AL Central, their best mark since winning the division in 2007 and making it to the ALCS.

Gone from that team are Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake, Jake Westbrook, C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. After several seasons of shedding veterans for prospects, Cleveland appeared ready to compete again for a division title and a playoff berth.

The Indians even made a late-season trade, acquiring Jim Thome from the Twins in hopes of making a playoff push.  

No. 9: Arizona Diamondbacks

After finishing in last place the two previous seasons the Diamondbacks won the NL West, capturing their fifth division title.

For the second time in franchise history the Arizona Diamondbacks went from last place in one season to first place the following.

The last time they accomplished this feat they were two years away from winning their first World Series.

Arizona will want to prove it was no fluke, and that they can repeat history—hopefully a little faster this time.

No. 8: Chicago Cubs

This is the year the Cubs break the curse. That has been the perennial chant of all ardent Cubs fans.

With the hiring of Theo Epstein as the Cubs president of baseball operations, there is hope yet again, that he can bring a championship to the north side of Chicago.

Epstein needed only two seasons in Boston to win the 2004 World Series—the first since 1918, breaking the curse of the Bambino. 

Cubs fans are hoping he can do the same and break the Curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago.

No. 7: Detroit Tigers

Incredibly the last time the Detroit Tigers won a division title was 1987. They had the best record in baseball, winning the AL East.

That season their World Series aspirations were derailed by the Minnesota Twins, losing the ALCS four games to one.

In the 25 years in between, the Tigers made the playoffs only one other time, losing the World Series as the AL wild card to St. Louis Cardinals in 2006—Jim Leyland's first year as the Detroit manager.

After matching the 95 wins of the 2006 team, the Tigers were defeated by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

Detroit will be out to prove that they have turned things around and it will not be another 25 years until their next division title.

No. 6: Philadelphia Phillies

When the Phillies announced the signing of Cliff Lee to join a rotation of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, the only question was what day should the Phillies have the parade.

Philadelphia finished the regular season with the best record in baseball at 102-60. They entered the playoffs hosting the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that barely made the playoffs.

The shock after losing Game 5 of the NLDS must have been devastating for Philadelphia sports fans.

Well, at least they had football to look forward to with the Eagles, Michael Vick and their dream team.

Something must be seriously wrong in the City of Brotherly Love.

No. 5: Boston Red Sox

How many fanbases in major league baseball would love to have a manager and GM that produced a team with six playoff appearances and two World Series championships over the past 10 seasons?

The Boston Red Sox have parted ways with Terry Francona, who managed the Red Sox from 2004, winning the two World Series Championships and breaking the curse of the Bambino. 

Theo Epstein has also left the organization to become the Cubs president of baseball operations.

I guess when you play in the same division as the New York Yankees, success is measured differently—even when you win more World Series championships during your tenure.  

With a new front office and field staff, the Red Sox will have to prove they made the right decision. Hopefully, this won't be the start of another curse.

No. 4: Texas Rangers

The past two seasons the Texas Rangers have come so close. Looking for their first World Series Championship since their inaugural season as the Washington Senators in 1961, the Rangers remain one of only three AL teams without a championship. 

After falling to the San Francisco Giants in five games in the 2010 World Series and losing their pitching ace, Cliff Lee, to free agency, the Rangers proved they were still the team to beat in 2011.

Finishing with the second best record in the American League, they were able to again dispatch the Tampa Bay Rays in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Detroit Tigers made sure there wouldn't be a rematch of the 2010 ALCS by defeating the Yankees, and the Rangers made sure the result was still the same.

This season the Rangers were able to extend the season as far as it could possibly go. With a 3-2 lead heading back to St. Louis, they had plenty of chances to wrap up the series.

The Rangers gave up the lead five times in Game 6, losing in 11 innings and eventually the series in seven games.

Heading into 2012 the Rangers face a similar situation with C.J. Wilson, who led the Rangers with 16 wins and a 2.94 ERA, set to become a free agent.

As close as Texas has come to winning a championship, it will only make them hungrier come 2012 as they need to take advantage before their window of opportunity closes.

No. 3: Milwaukee Brewers

This was supposed to be the year the Brewers put it all together. They led the National League in home runs and slugging percentage.

They finished the season at Miller Park with a 57-24 record, the best home record in the majors.

They had their MVP candidate, Prince Fielder, who in the last year of his contract, led the team with 38 home runs and 120 RBI.

The consensus seems to be that Fielder is done in Milwaukee. The Brewers will not be able to compete with the offers their free-agent first baseman is sure to command.

The face of the Brewers will change for 2012, and the fans hope the winning ways do not change with it.

No. 2: St. Louis Cardinals

Like the Milwuakee Bewers, the St. Louis Cardinals face a similar dilemma with their first baseman, Albert Pujols.

There are many reports that Pujols could end up in Chicago playing for the Cubs.

The Cardinals are also waiting to hear if manager Tony LaRussa decides to return for his 17th season in St. Louis.

The Cardinals two World Series Championships in six seasons were both improbable wins. In 2006 the Cardinals' 83 wins became the fewest of a World Series Champion. This season they needed 18 of a possible 19 games through the playoffs to win the World Series—pushing the NLDS and the World Series to the maximum number of games.

If the Cardinals lose both Pujols and LaRussa, it could be devastating to St. Louis and take years to recover.

No. 1: Minnesota Twins

The Twins entered the 2011 season looking to win their third straight division title, and hopefully make it past the divisional round of the playoffs.

They signed the face of the franchise, Joe Mauer, to a lucrative contract making him the highest paid catcher. With a 2011 salary of $23 million, Mauer was the fifth highest paid player in baseball for 2011.

The Twins were able to re-sign their ace from 2010, Carl Pavano, who led the team in wins and complete games.

There was also the anticipated return of Justin Morneau, who missed the second half of 2010 after suffering a concussion.

With the ninth highest payroll in baseball, along with the 20th anniversary of their last World Series Championship, the Twins were surely going to have a great 2011 season.

Instead, Mauer missed half the season with various aliments including bilateral leg weakness. Morneau experienced lingering effects of the concussion as well as needing surgery to repair a disc in his neck.

Denard Span suffered his own concussion, and the Twins placed every starter, except two, on the disabled list.

The result was the worst record since 1982, when the Twins lost 102 games.

The Twins, only two seasons from opening Target Field, go into 2012 needing to prove that 2011 was an anomaly and that they are still the team to beat in the AL Central.