MLB 2012 Season Preview: NL East

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. Lastly, we look at the National League East. 

Atlanta Braves

Record: 89-73 (2nd in NL East)

Missed Postseason

When they fell to the Phillies 4-3 on the final day of the 2011 season, it was a bitter pill to swallow for Braves fans. The loss, along with the Cardinals' demolition of the Astros 8-0, allowed the Cardinals to win the Wildcard and forced the Braves to an earlier than expected vacation. The Braves have a lot of questions to answer. Are they well-equipped to be in the post-season, or ill-equipped for another early vacation?

Chipper Jones announced that the season will be his last, and the Braves hope that a healthy Chipper will be a huge plus for the team's offense. Jones will only hope that he'll exit with a bang rather than a whimper, if his knees will hold up. The Braves also hope that bounce-back seasons by Jason Heyward and Brian McCann will be keys to their playoff chances. Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Martin Prado and Michael Bourn will be the other main offensive weapons for the Braves.

Jair Jurrjens became a breakout star in 2011, leading the NL in wins at one point. Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy will lead the Braves rotation, while setup man and closer tandem of Jonny Venters and NL ROY Craig Kimbrel will lead the Braves bullpen. The Braves only hope that their pitching staff will be healthy and sharp in hopes of returning to the playoffs.

Miami Marlins

Record: 72-90 (5th in NL East)

Missed Postseason

New season, new ballpark, new identity, new attitude. Exactly what the Miami Marlins are looking for. They decided that spending less won't help them win games and fill stadiums. Instead, an aggressive pursuit of highly touted free agents assured the Marlins that things will be a lot more different this season and beyond.

The offense was reloaded with the addition of NL batting champion Jose Reyes, who had been a standout for the Mets the past few seasons. Along with holdovers Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison, they form a 1-2-3 punch in the Marlins lineup. It remains to be seen whether Reyes will be a good fit for new manager Ozzie Guillen in the lineup.

The Marlins' pitching remains a question mark, despite adding starter Mark Buerhle and closer Heath Bell. Josh Johnson's health remains a concern, after missing much of 2011 with an injury. Newly-added Carlos Zambrano's outbursts led to his expulsion in Chicago, but Ozzie Guillen hopes a new scenery will benefit the pitcher. However, will it bring a positive or a negative result? Among incumbent pitchers, only Ricky Nolasco shone bright last season. The Marlins are a few pieces away from contending, so fans can only hope that the rebuilding process goes right.

New York Mets

Record: 77-85 (4th in NL East)

Missed Postseason

The Mets are starting over. It's been a common theme since they last made the postseason in 2006, and there have been many negative episodes along the way, most recent of which is the Bernie Madoff scandal. The Mets only hope that the future is bright, and that any negatives will be forgotten. 

With the departure of Jose Reyes, David Wright, Jason Bay, and Ike Davis will assume the offensive load. Davis looks to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2011, after recovering from an ankle surgery. The Mets also have a young core of Josh Thole, Justin Turner, and Lucas Duda, who hope to capitalize on additional at bats. The Mets also added Andres Torres who hopes to rebound from a so-so 2011.

Among the Mets starters, Dillon Gee performed well in the absence of ace Johan Santana. The Mets only hope that Gee, who will slide down to No. 2, will avoid a sophomore slump. Other possible starters include Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey and R.A. Dickey, with the probable closers include Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch. The Mets only hope that Santana's health will be key if their rebuilding process were to head in the right direction.

Washington Nationals

Record: 80-81 (3rd in NL East)

Missed Postseason

The future appears bright in D.C. The Nats boast two up and coming superstars hoping to make an impact in the future. With that in mind, the Nats are poised to crash the postseason party with a team that is mixed with veterans and young talent looking to become contenders in the AL East.

With a little more seasoning in the minors, Bryce Harper is a future star in waiting. Perhaps AAA will help him hone his skills to start the season, but by mid-season Harper will be all prepared to help the Nats contend. The future isn't just entrusted to Harper, they had rising stars Steve Lombardozzi and Chris Marrero, who hope to mesh well with veterans such as Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, and Michael Morse.

Stephen Strasburg is finally healthy after missing most of 2011 due to Tommy John surgery. And Davey Johnson wasted little time in naming Strasburg as his opening day starter, as his breakout 2010 remains fresh in the fans' mind. Aside from Strasburg, Chien-Ming Wang, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson will be the other starters. The closer's role remains in Drew Storen's hands, and he'll be backed up by Brad Lidge in a setup role. The Nats hope that a healthy, developing roster will pay dividends as they continue to rise above the NL echelon.

Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 102-60 (NL East Champions)

Lost 3-2 to the Cardinals in the Division Series

The sight of Ryan Howard limping on the grass in pain after the Phillies lost in Game 5 of the NLDS was still in the minds of Phillies fans. After all the Phillies had a trend that's going in opposite directions: increasing regular season wins, but slumping postseason performances. If not for the Cardinals' intervention, the Phillies would've been the one who beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series. But now it's a new season and the Phillies had no choice but to move on.

Ryan Howard remains on the mend after rupturing his Achilles in the NLDS, so for now the Phillies' first base will be rotated among veterans Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome. Howard had a largely successful 2011, but the question is, can Howard be the same player that he was prior to the injury? The core of the Phillies lineup remain basically unchanged, with Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino and Chase Utley leading the way. Hunter Pence became a key offensive weapon for the Phillies upon his arrival midseason, and now hopes he can keep that up for a full season. While the Phillies offense will be as potent as ever, it is their pitching that is leading the way.

The Phillies not only have four aces in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, but their bullpen got stronger with the addition of an elite closer in Jonathan Papelbon. And with a future star pitcher in Vance Worley, the Phillies now have five good starters to lead the way, plus a closer who has over 200 saves in his career. Papelbon should be a huge upgrade for Ryan Madson, while Antonio Bastardo will now take over the setup role vacated by Brad Lidge. The Phillies' road to the World Series will depend on the health and performance of the pitching staff, which will be crucial as they look to rebound from a dismal postseason performance. 

MLB 2012 Season Preview: AL East

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. Next up, the American League East.

Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 81-81 (4th in AL East)

Missed Postseason

Manager John Farrell's first season in charge saw the Blue Jays earn 81 wins. An inconsistent season cost them a postseason berth, but the Jays believe they have finally gotten better with the addition of experienced players as they look to contend for the AL East this season. And they hope a 'new', retro logo will mean more wins. 

Jose Bautista remains the hottest bat in the Toronto lineup, leading the league with 43 homers. J.P. Arencibia's emergence was also remarkable, as he broke the team record for most homers for a catcher in a season with 23. Other bats to watch will be Yunel Escobar, Brett Lawrie, Edwin Encarnacion, and Adam Lind plus new additions Ben Francisco and Omar Vizquel.

Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow will anchor the Jays rotation, with Sergio Santos and Francisco Cordero will act as closer and setup man respectively. The rise of Romero last season keyed Toronto's resurgence, and should continue to be the focus as he enters the season as Toronto's ace. Other main rotation pitchers will be Casey Janssen and Dustin McGowan, both of whom were injured for most of last season. The Jays hope that the addition of experience will be a big key towards contention in the AL East.

Baltimore Orioles

Record: 69-93 (5th in AL East)

Missed Postseason

The cartoon bird is back on the caps, as are the orange jerseys. The question is, can the Fighting Showalters revive the Spirit of '83 to Camden Yards?

The O's, despite their mediocre record, nevertheless saw two players excel on the glove, as Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters won Gold Gloves for outfielder and catcher respectively. Both are also good at bat, but the O's need more offense despite their excellent defensive work. Even though Robert Andino, Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy played well at bat, the O's still have no other player averaging beyond .270 batting average. The loss of DH Vladimir Guerrero will hurt them offensively, though Wilson Betemit was a decent pickup.

They dumped Jeremy Guthrie and his 16 losses to the Rockies, so the O's rotation will be reshuffled this season. Possible candidates include Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, Alfredo Simon, Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and Jason Hammel. The closer spot will be a toss-up between Kevin Gregg, Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day. If the O's pitching hold up, they may have a decent chance to have at least 81 wins this season. 

Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 91-71 (2nd in AL East; Won AL Wildcard)

Lost 3-1 to the Rangers in the Division Series

On the final night of the regular season, the Rays won the AL Wildcard by beating the Yankees 8-7 in the 12th on Evan Longoria's walk-off homer. They benefited from Boston's 4-3 loss in Baltimore the same night, also a walk-off win for the O's. However their momentum was halted by the Rangers in the ALDS. So what's next for Joe Maddon and his crew?

Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Matt Joyce, Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist remain the heart of the Rays lineup, as their bats continue to produce stellar numbers. They will have a new catcher duo, as Robinson Chirinos and Jose Molina replace John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach. The return of Carlos Pena should be a huge help for the Rays, as he was a prolific two-way player.

Matt Moore emerged in Game 1 of the ALDS, but will he be worth the five years and $14M he signed on, or will he be just a one-hit wonder? Aside from Moore, other key rotation pitchers will be 2011 AL ROY Jeremy Hellickson, David Price and James Shields. Kyle Farnsworth remains stellar at closing games, and should continue to do so. The Rays have the right pieces, but will it translate to another AL East title or Wildcard slot?

Boston Red Sox

Record: 90-72 (3rd in AL East)

Missed Postseason

The Red Sox led the AL East for much of 2011, but a woeful September doomed them, capped by the Rays' comeback win over the Yankees and the Sox's devastating loss to the O's on the final day. Once the offseason began, Theo Epstein took over the Cubs, Terry Francona and Bobby Valentine were 'traded' for each other between the Red Sox and ESPN, beloved closer Jonathan Papelbon decided to close games at Citizens Bank Park, and Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek hung up their cleats. It is a new dawn for Red Sox Nation, indeed.

The core of the lineup will be Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia. All have been excellent at bat last season, and it won't be a problem this year. But Carl Crawford was far from prolific, and the Sox only hope that Crawford will regain the power than made him a star in Tampa Bay. Cody Ross was a nice addition, but is he a good fit? And who will fill Jason Varitek's shoes? Will it be Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Lavarnway or Kelly Shoppach? The offense remains strong, but is it strong enough?

The Red Sox fell from contention due to a battered bullpen. The loss of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz hurt the starting rotation, which had only two consistent starters in Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. Andrew Bailey will be a nice replacement for Papelbon, but who will be the new setup man now that Daniel Bard will be in the starting rotation? They only hope that Matt Albers and Alfredo Aceves fill the void. The Red Sox only hope that a healthy bullpen will be the key towards returning to the postseason.

New York Yankees

Record: 97-65 (AL East Champions)

Lost 3-2 to the Tigers in the Division Series

The Yankees hung tough in the AL East for much of the season, before clinching the AL East title and the AL's best record in September. However, they were no match for the Tigers' pitching staff, who eliminated them in five games of the ALDS. So has time finally caught up with the aging Bronx Bombers?

The retirement of catcher Jorge Posada left the Yankees with only two members of the Core Four: Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Even though Andy Pettitte came out of retirement, his position at the bullpen is uncertain. The Yankees' rotation will have mainstays CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, and new additions Hiroki Kuroda and  Michael Pineda, with the possible heirs to Rivera include Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, and David Robertson. They have reloaded their pitching staff, but will it be good enough?

The Yankees lineup remains formidable, but they haven't had a consistent DH since Hideki Matsui left. Is Raul Ibanez the man for the job, or will it be Andruw Jones? Robinson Cano remains a dangerous hitter, while Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner provide speedy baserunning. Russell Martin now has a chance to shine at catcher. But will the aging Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez turn back the clock, or will age finally catch up with them? Luckily Eduardo Nunez is groomed as the heir, and should stay put for a while. If the Yankees lineup continue to be strong, they may well be in the World Seriec conversation this year.

MLB 2012 Season Preview: NL Central

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. Next up, the National League Central.

Houston Astros

Record: 56-106 (6th in NL Central)

Missed Postseason

By any means, the 106 losses the Astros endured in 2011 was essentially ridiculous and uninspiring. The ownership situation, along with poor pitching, lack of run support, injuries, and trades, doomed the Astros from the start. And now with new owner Jim Crane taking over, along with the announced move to the AL West in 2013, the Astros hope to leave the NL Central after the season on a bright note.

The pitching last season was a disaster. Only Wandy Rodriguez and closer Mark Melancon managed to have a .500 season; the rest below that mark. The Astros hope that their starting rotation of J.A. Happ, Bud Norris and Jordan Lyles improve from last year's dismal numbers, newly-acquired Livan Hernandez to make an impact, and Brett Myers to fill the shoes of Melancon, traded to Boston in the offseason.

With the midseason trades of Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, and Carlos Lee's bat becoming more of a liability, the Astros need some offensive help from newly-acquired Jed Lowrie, future star Jose Altuve, and holdovers Chris Johnson, Brett Wallace and J.D. Martinez. However the rest of the Astros' lineup remains unproven, so let's see if the young bats will develop during the season.

Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 96-66 (NL Central Champions)

Lost 4-2 to the Cardinals in the Championship Series

Last season felt like 1982 all over again. The Brewers won the Central division and the division series, but they couldn't overcome NLCS MVP David Freese's homers in Game 6. Worse, they witnessed Prince Fielder move to Detroit and NL MVP Ryan Braun test positive for a banned drug. Fortunately Braun was spared from a 50-game suspension. Now the Brewers are hard-pressed to defend their NL Central title after Fielder decided to slam homers in Comerica Park instead of Miller Park.

The Brewers' offense remains potent, with Braun, Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks the main power sources. Small ball hitting and baserunning will remain a forte for Nyjer Morgan, Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy. It remains to be seen whether newly-acquired Aramis Ramirez will be a good fit for the homer-happy Brewers.

The pitching department has also improved from last season, as Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf provided quality starts between them. Francisco Rodriguez played well as a setup man after being traded mid-season, while John Axford emerged as an elite closer, with 43 straight converted saves. The Brewers hope the trend will continue this season, provided they stay healthy, they may help in the team's search for a repeat NL Central title.

St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 90-72 (2nd in NL Central; Won NL Wildcard)

2011 World Series Champions

The Cardinals' wild ride to the World Series title began on the last day, when Atlanta lost at Philadelphia. Then Chris Carpenter shut down the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLDS, after which David Freese buried both the Brewers and the Rangers in impressive fashion, winning both NLCS and World Series MVP, and led the Cards to the World Series title. It was a fitting retirement gift for manager Tony La Russa, who departed a winner.

Unfortunately, the ride wouldn't last long, as the team's heart and soul in Albert Pujols decided to move to the Angels. This was a huge loss for the Cardinals, who will now have to defend their trophy without their long-time icon.

David Freese emerged as a postseason hero, and is now tasked to carry that momentum into the new season. Lance Berkman had a comeback to remember last season, and now looks to build upon that success. The Cardinals' bats will remain formidable, with Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, Rafael Furcal and Allen Craig leading the corps. Newly-acquired Carlos Beltran won't essentially replace Pujols, but will have his moments.

Chris Carpenter may not start the season with neck problems, but when healthy, he provides impressive quality starts. Same goes to Adam Wainwright, who was out last year, but will likewise return in full health midseason. Other reliable arms will be Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia, setup man Fernando Salas, and closer Jason Motte. Health and performance will play a huge role in the Cardinals' title defense, so watch out.

Chicago Cubs

Record: 71-91 (5th in NL Central)

Missed Postseason

Theo Epstein moves on. After bringing an 86-year title drought to an end in Boston, he now looks to end a much longer drought: 103 years and counting for the Cubs. Not an easy task for the youthful GM.

Dale Sveum will patrol the dugout this season, inheriting a seemingly intact roster trying to end a long, dry spell. With Aramis Ramirez gone, All-Star Starlin Castro will now be tasked to lead the Cubs offense. Also leading the offense will be the ever-reliable bats of Marlon Byrd, Reed Johnson, and newly-acquired David DeJesus.

Matt Garza remains the lead pitcher for the Cubs, despite a less-than stellar 2011. However, the Cubs need more from fellow starters Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, and newly-acquired Paul Maholm and Travis Wood, if they were to contend for a postseason berth. Carlos Marmol was a reliable closer last season, and hopes to stay that way in 2012. The Cubs only hope that Epstein's blueprint will pay dividends in the years to come.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 72-90 (4th in NL Central)

Missed Postseason

The Pirates were on top of the NL Central on some occasions in 2011, but failed to sustain that momentum, and for the 19th consecutive year, they finished with a losing record.

Andrew McCutchen broke out in 2011, earning an All-Star nod while helping the Pirates contend for a short while. They also reloaded with the addition of Casey McGehee, Clint Barmes, Nate McLouth, and Rod Barajas, while hoping to maximize the talents of Neil Walker and Jose Tabata. Their offense seems to be clicking last year, if not for that late-season tailspin. Clint Hurdle hopes to have a consistent year from his lineup.

In the pitching front, the arrivals of A.J. Burnett and Erik Bedard should shore up the Pirates' bullpen dilemmas. Both hope to redeem themselves from last year's lackluster performance. With a starting rotation of Burnett, Bedard, Jeff Karstens, Kevin Correia and Charlie Morton, and closer Joel Hanrahan, the Pirates have a strong bullpen hoping to rebound from last year's collapse. If Clint Hurdle's squad makes some consistent noise, they may have a chance to end a 19-year losing record streak. 

Cincinnati Reds

Record: 79-83 (3rd in NL Central)

Missed Postseason

The Reds failed to live to expectations in 2011, finishing third in the NL Central after winning the division the year before. Though Joey Votto continued to be consistent, and Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips emerged, poor defense and pitching doomed the Reds. Now in Year 3 of the Dusty Baker era, the Reds look to return to form.

Votto, Bruce and Phillips will provide the three-headed monster at bat with their hitting prowess. The Reds' other reliables at bat will be Miguel Cairo, Ryan Hanigan, Scott Rolen, Drew Stubbs, Chris Heisey, and newly-acquired Wilson Valdez and Ryan Ludwick. The Reds offense will remain as potent as it can be, and they hope they can use it as an advantage. 

Sadly, reliable new closer Ryan Madson will be out for the year due to Tommy John surgery, so the Reds need to audition a temporary closer. As for the starters, they will have holdovers Bronson Arroyo, Mike Leake and Johnny Cueto plus new addition Mat Latos to lead the rotation. Dusty Baker hopes to bring the best out of their starting rotation, which failed to provide support for their prolific offense last season. 

MLB 2012 Season Preview: AL Central

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. Next up, the American League Central.

Cleveland Indians

Record: 80-82 (2nd in AL Central)

Missed Postseason

Manager Manny Acta and his crew were on top of the AL Central at the All-Star break but then lost steam in the end. Still, 80 wins was a decent achievement after winning 69 the year before. This year, the Indians look to improve on last year's performance.

All they needed was a healthy Shin-Soo Choo, who had an injury-riddled 2011. They also need a vastly improved bat and glove of Asdrubal Cabrera, a Silver Slugger winner at shortstop. If Grady Sizemore stays healthy, he too may help. A good, if not great season is needed for sluggers Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, last year's rookie surprise Jason Kipnis, and newly-acquired Casey Kotchman to give opposing defenses headaches.

In the pitching front, Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, newly-acquired Derek Lowe, and closer Chris Perez will anchor the Indians' defense. The question is, will Roberto Hernandez (formerly Fausto Carmona) move on from a disastrous 2011 followed by an offseason identity crisis? And will Carlos Carrasco stay healthy? Cleveland's arms will be the key if they were to contend in the AL Central.

Kansas City Royals

Record: 71-91 (4th in AL Central)

Missed Postseason

Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium will host this year's All-Star Game. Which means a lot of added pressure for Ned Yost and company, who look to rebound from a 71-win season in 2011. The Royals last made the postseason in 1985, the year they won the World Series, and last had a winning season in 2003, adding even more pressure to succeed.

Alex Gordon's emergence in 2011 raised higher expectations in KC. Gordon earned a Gold Glove for his solid defense at left field, but needs to be solid at bat as well. The returning Yuniesky Betancourt, fresh from an impressive postseason with the Brewers, will be asked again for his slugging. Other important batters will be the much-improved Billy Butler, rookie Mike Moustakas, Jeff Francoeur, and Alcides Escobar.

Sadly, Joakim Soria won't be in the mix after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Which means newly-acquired Jonathan Broxton gets the nod at closer, with Aaron Crow as the setup man. Broxton struggled with injuries last season, so the Royals hope he return to form that made him an All-Star two years ago. Luckily, they won't see another miserable performance from Vin Mazzaro, as their rotation appears reliable with newly-acquired Jonathan Sanchez and holdovers Bruce Chen and Danny Duffy. The Royals are still rebuilding at this point, but a .500 season may help their cause.

Detroit Tigers

Record: 95-67 (AL Central Champions)

Lost 4-2 to the Rangers in the Championship Series

Welcome to the Prince of Motown. As in Prince Fielder.

The Tigers, after falling two games short of the World Series last season, made its biggest acquisition yet, adding Fielder to an already star-studded team led by AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, and holdovers Miguel Cabrera, Alex Avila, Austin Jackson, Jose Valverde and Delmon Young. Now the Tigers have a legitimate shot of winning the World Series with this gift.

Great pitching begins with Verlander, and ends with Valverde. Verlander had a breakout 2011, running away with the AL MVP and Cy Young diadems in the process, while Valverde swaggered through 51 straight converted saves and an end-game dance that was popular with Tigers fans. The Tigers also boast a deep bullpen led by other starters Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Doug Fister, and setup man Joaquin Benoit.

Fielder takes over first base formerly occupied by Cabrera, who will now take over third base. Both show that they can be powerful at the bat, as evidenced by the sluggers' .344 and .299 batting averages respectively, the former winning the AL batting title. Fielder's addition was a necessity after losing DH Victor Martinez to an ACL injury. In addition, Alex Avila was a revelation at catcher, providing both defense and power, while Delmon Young and Austin Jackson are more than reliable to supply both bat and glove instincts. The Tigers are now contenders, and may remain so in the next few years.

Minnesota Twins

Record: 63-99 (5th in AL Central)

Missed Postseason

The Twins were a wreck from start to finish, going from AL Central champions two years before to bottom feeders the year after. A lot had to do with injuries, especially to superstars Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano and Joe Mauer, or the departures of Jim Thome and Delmon Young, which severely crippled their power supply. The Twins hope a fresh start is on the horizon. 

Arguably it begins with Morneau and Mauer, their two big stars. If they stay healthy throughout, the Twins may contend for at least a Wildcard. They may have lost Michael Cuddyer to the Rockies, but they added some reliable bats such as Josh Willingham and Jamey Carroll. The Twins also hope that 2011 breakout star Ben Revere show marked improvement at bat, though his defense has been incredible.

Ace pitcher Francisco Liriano didn't finish 2011 with an injury, and if the Twins were to contend, they also need Liriano's arms to stay healthy during the season. Carl Pavano stepped up in Liriano's absence, and should continue to be reliable on the mound. The Twins parted ways with Joe Nathan, which means Matt Capps will take over closing duties. Other reliable starters will be Brian Duensing and newly-acquired Jason Marquis. The Twins will face tough competition, though, especially now that other teams have also reloaded.

Chicago White Sox

Record: 79-83 (3rd in AL Central)

Missed Postseason

The South Side Sluggers are starting over. Despite making a late push, the White Sox finished with 79 wins, good for 3rd in the AL Central. However, the White Sox decided it was time to start over, beginning with Robin Ventura replacing Ozzie Guillen as manager.

Also gone were ace pitcher Mark Buerhle (MIA), outfielders Juan Pierre (PHI) and Carlos Quentin (SD), shortstop Omar Vizquel (TOR), and closer Sergio Santos (TOR). The only two holdovers left from the 2005 World Series team in A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko, remain. 

The team added former Cub Kosuke Fukudome, who hopes to rebound from a dismal 2011, and speaking of dismal, Adam Dunn needs to redeem himself from last season's disaster, otherwise he's a trade chip waiting to be dealt. Other important bats will be Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez, and Alejandro De Aza.

With Buerhle gone, they need excellent pitching from Jake Peavy, John Danks and Gavin Floyd if Chicago were to win consistently. As of now, the closer spot left by Santos is still up for grabs, so Robin Ventura will have his work cut out for him in selecting a new closer. This will be a rebuilding season for the White Sox, according to GM Kenny Williams, so don't expect some surprises for the team.

MLB 2012 Season Preview: NL West

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. Next up, the National League West. 

Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 94-68 (NL West Champions)

Lost 3-2 to the Brewers in the Division Series

From last place to first in the division, it was quite a turnaround for the D-Backs. Strong starting pitching aided the D-Backs 'rags-to-riches' story, giving them their first NL West title since '07. Even though they fell to the Brewers in five games of the NLDS, the future looks bright for Kirk Gibson's crew.

Ian Kennedy, Joe Saunders and Daniel Hudson will remain the arms to watch, but they solidified the rotation by adding former A's pitcher Trevor Cahill. J.J. Putz's closing arm will remain huge in save situations.

On offense, they will again rely on Justin Upton, Chris Young, Gerardo Parra, Willie Bloomquist, Miguel Montero and Aaron Hill to produce some runs. The health of Stephen Drew, who failed to finish the season because of a fractured ankle mid-season, will be another key for the D-Backs defending the NL West title.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 82-79 (3rd in NL West)

Missed Postseason

The moment former owner Frank McCourt decided to sell the Dodgers and the controversial events that followed, Dodgertown was embroiled in a soap opera that threatened the Dodgers' season. After a slow first half, the Dodgers rebounded to post a winning record, though a game at Nationals Park was left unfinished due to weather. And the good news: Magic Johnson and co. are closing in on purchasing the Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw ran away with the NL MVP and Cy Young diadems, leading in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. Still 23, Kershaw will be a key figure in the Dodgers' future. The other dependable arms will be Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano, who will take Hiroki Kuroda's spot.

Matt Kemp finished behind Kershaw for NL MVP, and led the NL in homers, RBIs, and runs. That's impressive news. The question is, how will Kemp keep up that performance?The Dodgers also need the bats of Andre Ethier, Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn Jr. and a healthy A.J. Ellis to step up, if their want to return to the postseason.

San Francisco Giants

Record: 86-76 (2nd in NL West)

Missed Postseason

The Giants led the NL West for half a season, but 2010 NL ROY Buster Posey's season-ending injury and lack of run support doomed them in the end. Now the Giants find themselves with little pressure whatsoever, as they look to reclaim the division, if not the World Series.

Buster Posey looked to have regained his pre-injury form  in spring training, and it should help the Giants defensively and offensively. Aubrey Huff looked lost last season, and needs to be more focused at the plate Freddy Sanchez should be healthy once the season starts after dislocating his shoulder midway last season. Pablo Sandoval was consistent last season, and should continue that way. New additions Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera should be a huge help for their lack of run support.

The pitching arms remain strong, with former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and bearded closer Brian Wilson the defensive keys for the Giants. 

San Diego Padres

Record: 71-91 (5th in NL West)

Missed Postseason

Maybe they should have returned to the classic gold and brown motif of Tony Gwynn's rookie year. The Padres were a mess throughout the season, as the hits and homers were few and far between. After the near-success of 2010, 2011 was a disaster for manager Bud Black. The loss of Adrian Gonzalez to Boston hurt them the most, as they failed to find a slugger of Gonzalez's caliber to offset his departure. The losses didn't end though.

Even after the season ended, they saw dependable closer Heath Bell defect to Miami, Aaron Harang leave for the rival Dodgers, and Mat Latos traded to the Reds. The rotation will be led by new pitcher Edinson Volquez, and mainstays Tim Stauffer and Clayton Richard, while Huston Street will be the likely replacement for Bell at closer.

Carlos Quentin's acquisition should be a huge help for the Padres' run support, as the former Silver Slugger has proved with the White Sox that he can hit for power well with the best of them. Cameron Maybin was a surprise on defense last season, while Chris Denorfia and Jason Bartlett need to be more productive. It'll be another rebuilding season for the Padres, as far as their fans are concerned.

Colorado Rockies

Record: 73-89 (4th in NL West)

Missed Postseason

Year III of the 'Cargo and Tulo' era saw another step back performance for the Rockies. After earning the NL Wildcard in 2009 and 83 wins the next, 2011 was a disappointment for Rockies fans, as they won only 73 games and far from the form they had the previous two. A lot had to do with pitching, which didn't support the offensive prowess of Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, hence their downfall.

They acquired Jeremy Guthrie and Guillermo Moscoso to support ace Jhoulys Chacin, but it remains to be seen whether they fit well within the rotation. As for 49-year-old Jamie Moyer, well let's see if his arm remains reliable for the season. 

The only big noise the Rockies made was acquiring former Twin Michael Cuddyer, who made the All-Star team last year. They also added Marco Scutaro away from the Red Sox, whose bat had been dependable throughout. However, they will continue to depend on the bats of Tulowitzki, Gonzalez, and franchise mainstay Todd Helton, to produce those runs. 

MLB 2012 Season Preview: AL West

The Major League Baseball season gets underway on April 4. But before all the fireworks, the seventh-inning stretches, the awe-strucking homers, the captivating steals, hustle plays, and pitching performances commence, we preview all 30 teams by division. First up, the American League West. 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Record: 86-76 (2nd in AL West)
Missed Postseason

Mike Scioscia has a World Series ring (2002) in over a decade of managing the Angels, but hasn't seen the postseason light since 2009. Twice the Angels fought tooth and nail with the Texas Rangers for the AL West title, but fell short each time. This season however the Angels may have a legitimate reason to reclaim the division throne, as they plucked away the Rangers' ace pitcher C.J. Wilson to their camp. However, the Angels weren't done yet.

Signing former St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols proved to be the biggest news coming out of the Angels camp. Pujols, a career .300 batter, has been one of the most powerful hitters today, and his arrival may hint at a power shift from the NL to the AL. The question is, will Pujols' be the Angels' most dependable hitter this season?

The Angels now boast a three-headed monster of starting pitchers in Wilson, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, as well as the bats of Pujols, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, and last year's rookie surprise Mark Trumbo, which may cause headaches for opposing rotations and starting lineups. If this team starts strong, watch out.

Oakland Athletics

Record: 74-88 (3rd in AL West)

Missed Postseason

In the film Moneyball, A's general manager Billy Beane used sabremetrics to assemble a competitive team despite its lack of revenue. Beane's approach have drawn mixed results, and after initial success, the A's have never been competitive since, missing the playoffs five straight seasons since 2007. This year, the A's look to a highly-touted Cuban to bring back the glory days.

Yoenis Cespedes has been on the wish list of many GMs, but decided to join the A's for four years and $36M. The A's needed some offensive firepower, hence the addition of Cespedes. Other dependable bats will come from last year's rookie sensation Jemile Weeks, Coco Crisp, Brandon Allen, Jonny Gomes, and Kurt Suzuki. 

With Gio Gonzalez going to Washington, Brandon McCarthy has established himself as the team's best pitcher in spring training and it's no surprise they'll start him as the ace pitcher. However, the starting rotation is still unsettled, as they await the return of Brett Anderson and 2010 perfect-game pitcher Dallas Braden to return to pre-injury form and several pitchers were unproven commodities. Look for manager Bob Melvin to tinker with the rotation throughout the season.

Seattle Mariners

Record: 67-95 (4th in AL West)

Missed Postseason

Last season was not what Ichiro Suzuki wanted to see. He batted .272 and recorded only 184 hits, uncharacteristic for a man who was used to record over 200 hits and bat .300 a season. As a result, he wasn't selected for the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. But Ichiro wasn't the only problem; the offense was.

The M's attempted to rectify the situation by adding Jesus Montero, who came out of nowhere late last season as the substitute DH/catcher for the Yankees. Now Montero was tasked to play even more, whether as a catcher or a DH and proved that last year' surprise was no fluke. Also a surprise last season was Dustin Ackley, who will now become the full-time starting 2B. However, the Mariners' fortunes will still depend on Ichiro's health and bat, which is becoming a concern as he nears 40.

The M's pitching success remains in the hands of Felix Hernandez, but with the loss of surprising starter Michael Pineda to the Yankees, they'll be hard-pressed to replace Pineda with an equally-dependable arm. Brandon League remains their best closer; however, he may be moved to the starting rotation when necessary. The M's are still in rebuilding mode, so expect them to stay patient for the next few years.

Texas Rangers

Record: 96-66 (AL West Champions)

Lost 4-3 to the Cardinals in the World Series

If not for David Freese's heroics, the Rangers' may have won the World Series. This year, they'll be hard-pressed to defend the AL West title for the third consecutive year, as their rivals from Anaheim have reloaded and the A's and Mariners made significant progress.

With C.J. Wilson defecting to the Angels, the Rangers countered by paying $111M to acquire highly-touted Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish is expected to be the team's ace, and will be supported by Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and former closer Neftali Feliz in the rotation.

Offensively the emergence of Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli in the postseason should help the runs coming, as are the dependable bats of Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre. However Josh Hamilton was a question mark prior to the season after an alcohol relapse. The Rangers hope Hamilton stays clean, otherwise any distraction may hurt their postseason chances.