2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

Here we go again. 16 teams, 16 victories to capture Lord Stanley's Cup. The Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us. 

Before the opening faceoff gets underway, we preview the eight first-round matchups, each with a story to tell.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season: Ottawa won 3-1

The Senators slipped to No. 8 on the final day of the regular season, which was a blessing in disguise considering they were 1-5 against their supposed playoff opponents from Boston. Now they figure in a favorable playoff matchup against the Rangers, whom they defeated three of four times. But this is the playoffs, and the Rangers know all too well that it's a different puck game. 

The Senators thrive on offense and speed, while the Rangers play well with a gritty, physical defense. The Senators have their major offensive weapons in Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson. While the Rangers have Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin leading the forward lines, it is their No.1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist who leads the defense corps. This year, however, Lundqvist has his best offensive cast in his NHL career, a deficient end during his previous four playoff trips. Meanwhile, the Senators need to address their goaltending, which was shuffled between Craig Anderson, Alex Auld and Ben Bishop, neither of whom have the numbers worthy of No. 1 status. In the regular season, the Senators took advantage of Ranger miscues en route to a 3-1 season series win. However, can they pull off the upset, or can the Rangers unleash their dominant form in the best time of the year?

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals

Regular Season: Washington won 3-1

The Washington Capitals clinched a playoff berth on the penultimate game against Florida, and then defeated the Rangers on the final day to take the seventh seed, ensuring a playoff matchup with the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins. The Capitals have a history of regular season success followed by playoff failures. This year, however, the Capitals are the underdogs, and can they relish it? And can Boston finally dominate after spending last season's run playing from behind?

It's Alex Ovechkin against the Bruins. After all, Ovi is the main attraction and the Capitals' anchor. However, he had a poor regular season, and as a result, the Capitals struggled.  Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom won't be 100% entering the playoffs. The goalie situation will also be an issue for Dale Hunter, as both Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth were both hurt and Braden Holtby is unproven. Meanwhile, the Bruins overcame a rough October, then lackluster play throughout February and March to post another division title and the second seed, and they rely more than just one moving piece. From Tyler Seguin to Patrice Bergeron to Brad Marchand to David Krejci, the Bruins have virtually everyone contributing. And Tim Thomas continues to be a human brick wall behind the pipes. Their big concern is Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid's health, while Tuukka Rask is getting closer to returning from a groin injury. However, the Capitals won three of four from Boston this year despite odds thrown against them. It'll be a clash between Boston's experience against Washington's determination as they face off in the playoffs.

(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Old faces meet again. Peter DeBoer took over the Devils after being fired by the Panthers at the end of the 2011 season. John Madden won two Stanley Cups with the Devils, and Scott Clemmensen was Martin Brodeur's backup for several years. And the Panthers' last appearance in the playoffs was bittersweet, getting swept by Brodeur and the Devils en route to their 2000 Stanley Cup title. Now the Panthers are back in the playoffs after 12 years, but can they write a different script this time?

The Panthers are led by Tomas Fleischmann, Stephen Weiss and Kris Versteeg, their three top scorers. The midseason addition of Mikael Samuelsson gave them an additional scoring threat, while Sean Bergenheim, who flourished in last season's playoffs with Tampa Bay, will be relied upon as an insurance policy in case any of his teammates struggled. Both Clemmensen and Jose Theodore played decently behind the net, but they'll face a proven playoff performer in Brodeur, who at 39 may just about to write a final chapter in his NHL career. Among the skaters for the Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk will be the one to watch for, as he looks to rebound from his poor playoff debut in 2007. The Devils will also be led by Patrik Elias, Zach Parise, David Clarkson, Adam Henrique, Dainius Zubrus, and Petr Sykora. The Panthers have the youth, but the Devils have playoff wisdom, and a possible playoff repeat.

(4) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular Season: Philadelphia won 4-2

Scott Hartnell described this series as a 'bloodbath', and six games of the 2011-12 season wasn't enough. So here they go again, the Battle of Pennsylvania begins anew in a bigger stage that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. There will be bodies flying, coaches trash-talking, and even intense jarring from both fans. Indeed the Flyers and Penguins hate each other. 

Making it more intense are two Flyers who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins: Max Talbot and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr will undoubtedly receive the most ire from Penguins fans, after spurning them for the Flyers in the offseason. Despite his age, he can still score with the best of them, flourishing alongside Hartnell and Claude Giroux in the Flyers' top line. The Penguins will counter with Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin. Marc-Andre Fleury has been stellar on goal for Pittsburgh, while Philly's Ilya Bryzgalov overcame a slow start to post stellar numbers in March. Both teams seem to be even on paper, which makes for an exciting and brutal series between the two teams.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Regular Season: Series tied 2-2

Like the Rangers-Senators series, the Canucks-Kings series will feature a contrast of styles. The difference, however, is that top-seeded Vancouver can score goals in bunches, while Los Angeles relies on a defense-first mentality to win games, anchored by goalie Jonathan Quick.  Vancouver is off to yet another President's Trophy-winning season, but can they write a joyful playoff ending?

With Daniel Sedin still recovering from Duncan Keith's sucker-punch, twin brother Henrik will have to be relied upon to score, a role Daniel usually fulfills. Aside from the Sedins, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows will be the primary goal-scorers for the Canucks. The only issue will be goaltending, as coach Alain Vigneault is still undecided on whether he would start breakout star Cory Schneider or veteran Roberto Luongo, who faltered down the stretch in last year's playoffs. Aside from Quick's stellar play on goal, the offense for the Kings remains its biggest concern, despite the addition of Mike Richards. His former Flyers teammate Jeff Carter has yet to make an impact, after missing the latter part of the season with an injury. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams remain the leading goal-scorers for the Kings, but if they failed to score regularly against either Luongo or Schneider, whoever will be the main starter, then it will be another 'Quick' exit for the Kings.

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks

Regular Season: St. Louis won 4-0

Once again, good job Ken Hitchcock, turning a sad-sack team to a playoff contender, with a seemingly unstoppable goalie duo and a suffocating defense that throw opponents off their games. The St. Louis Blues are now an NHL power, enjoying their best season in over a decade. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks underachieved, and even though they made the playoffs in the penultimate playdate, they knew it was a disappointing season for them. However, they have a chance to redeem themselves in the playoffs, against a Blues team that is still green.

The Blues' Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak will anchor the Blues' defense, which led the NHL in GAA. Elliott did his Tim Thomas impression in breaking his single-season save percentage record with .940. On offense, it'll be David Backes, Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and T.J. Oshie leading the way. However, the Sharks' advantage will be experience, as the main line of Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have had tremendous playoff experience. Another major weapon for the Sharks is Logan Couture, who made the 2011-12 season his breakout party. And Antti Niemi is a playoff warrior, having played in more playoff games than Elliott and Halak combined. The Sharks are a battle-tested unit, but can they overcome the odds against St. Louis's goaltending duo?

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks

Season Series: Phoenix won 3-1

The Phoenix Coyotes won the Pacific Division title on the final day of the season, thus making the playoffs as the third seed. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks overcame a tough February to finish sixth. The Coyotes are in the best position to make it to the second round, and they look at Chicago as a springboard to their breakthrough season.

Indeed, the Coyotes gambled on Mike Smith to replace the ineffective Ilya Bryzgalov, and he has been stellar. Smith finished at the top 10 in GAA, and rose to become one of the NHL's best goalies. The Coyotes only hope that Smith won't wilt like Bryzgalov did the past two trips. The aging duo of Ray Whitney and Shane Doan will again lead the Coyotes offense, and providing much-needed support will be Radim Vrbata, Raffi Torres, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lauri Korpikoski. Chicago's main issues will be the health of Jonathan Toews, who missed the final two months of the season due to a concussion, as well as their inconsistent goalie duo of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, who has shown Jekyll and Hyde tendencies. The Blackhawks will rely on their high-scoring forwards Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Viktor Stalberg, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa, as well as veteran defenseman Johnny Oduya. All eyes will be on the Coyotes as they look to win a playoff series for the first time since moving to Phoenix in 1996. 

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

Regular Season: Series tied 3-3

For the first time ever, the Nashville Predators finished ahead of the Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division. More importantly, they earned the home-ice advantage for this series. The Predators are still learning, but they are maturing. Now what to do for an encore after winning a playoff series last year, a franchise first?

The Predators have leaned upon their main guns David Legwand, Martin Erat, Shea Weber, Mike Fisher, Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn, but the addition of Sergei's brother Andrei and the return of Alexander Radulov from the KHL proved to be crucial as the Predators locked up the fourth seed. Pekka Rinne has become a reliable force behind the pipes, and he proved that after signing the largest contract in the team's history by winning 43 games. The Red Wings are showing their age, however, and despite the NHL's longest home winning streak of 23 games, their below average road play will be tested in the early going. The aging core of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom will again be the key for the Red Wings, while Jimmy Howard will be relied upon behind the pipes. If the top line failed, backup skaters Johan Franzen, Valeri Filppula, Niklas Kronwall, Jiri Hudler and Todd Bertuzzi will be leaned upon for added scoring. The Predators have never beaten the Red Wings in a playoff series, so will this year be a breakthrough for Barry Trotz's troops?

MLB Opening Day

It's that time of the year again. Major League Baseball opens another new season full of drama, tension, excitement and pure adrenaline. This season looks to be as exciting as ever, as well-renowned free agents change teams, a team was renamed, new managers were hired, and highly touted rookies look to make an immediate impact.

Perhaps the pressure is on the St. Louis Cardinals to defend their World Series title. However, their title defense won't involve Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, as Pujols moved to the Los Angeles Angels, while La Russa retired. After losing two straight World Series, the Texas Rangers now look to make it three in a row and hope to go all the way, as they added young Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish to fill CJ Wilson's void. Their road to the AL West title won't be easy, as the Angels acquired Pujols and Wilson in a serious bid to reclaim the division.

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, teams whose impressive regular seasons went for naught in the post-season, now try to maintain their stranglehold in the NL and AL East respectively, even as the Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays have reloaded in hopes of toppling the Phillies and Yankees. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox are seeking redemption after blowing post-season aspirations on the last day of 2011. 

Prince Fielder takes his big bat to Comerica Park in hopes of leading the Detroit Tigers to another AL Central title. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers look to defend their NL Central title with Ryan Braun now the lead offensive star. However, the Cincinnati Reds pose a big challenge with Joey Votto on board. Chicago's Cubs and White Sox usher in a new era with Dale Sveum and Robin Ventura taking over the dugout. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles search for answers in ending their lengthy postseason droughts. And there's no way to go but up for rebuilding teams in Kansas City, Houston, Seattle, Oakland and Cleveland.

In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best pitcher in the NL in Clayton Kershaw, and the prolific star hitter Matt Kemp, but is it enough to claim the NL West title? The Arizona Diamondbacks overachieved last season, now what to do for an encore? The San Francisco Giants look poised to return to the postseason and reclaim the World Series title with strong pitching from Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but will the offense deliver? Is the Colorado Rockies' duo of Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki enough to tow them to the postseason? And what role will the San Diego Padres play in the season, spoiler or contender?

The first pitch gets underway tonight as the defending World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals visit Marlins Park and the Miami Marlins at 7:10 EDT.

Meanwhile, PopCornTure will take a brief break in observance of Holy Week. We'll return on Easter Sunday as we wrap up the NHL season and begin the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Brawl to End It All (Or Sort Of)

The battle lines were indeed drawn in the state of Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, held at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center, a heated exchange between Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and Penguins assistant Tony Granato, standing in for head coach Dan Bylsma, highlighted the end-game war. 


Though the Flyers won 6-4, the intensity of this possible first-round series even got to a head. First it was Joe Vitale leveling Danny Briere, which led to a bench-clearing brawl. Then at the bench area separated by two layers of Plexiglas and NBC commentator Pierre McGuire, Laviolette and Granato began shouting at each other, with Laviolette going as far as demanding a piece of Bylsma in the exchange. At the Flyers bench, a Hulk Hogan look-alike even taunted Scott Hartnell. Finally, Brayden Schenn cross-checked Sidney Crosby, concluding a wild and frantic final minute.

The Flyers have so far dominated the Penguins all season, leading in the season series 4-1, in large part to two ex-Penguins, both of whom were Stanley Cup winners: Max Talbot (2009) and Jaromir Jagr (1991, 1992). That experience factor helped the Flyers remain in contention, even as their wild mood swings endured during some stretches. As for the Penguins, a dominant March pulled them into contention, but will it be enough to at least claim fourth place and home ice?


The game on April 1 was only the beginning of an even more intense war between two teams with proud traditions. The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh on April 7, the final day of the season, but for many, the playoffs between the two have already begun. 

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.