Overview:
-What an Off Season it was for Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals fresh off their 11th World Series in Club History. Only a few months later "The Machine"Albert Pujols left in Free Agency for the Halos in Los Angeles. He wasn't the only big time Free Agent to leave as C.J Wilson left the Texas Rangers to join Pujols in Los Angeles, and Prince Fielder left the Brew City to join Miguel Cabrera in Motor City. With all the big additions and subtractions made across the MLB this year, we will be in for another lively year of baseball.
Legends in Heaven:
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| Bob Forsch (1950-2011) |
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| Andy Musser (1937-2012) |
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| Gary Carter (1954-2012) |
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| Matty Alou (1938-2011) |
NL West:
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| If the Giants want to get back to the World Series, they will have to hope Buster Posey can come back and make an impact |
2011 Record: (86-76) 2nd in NL West
Team Preview:
-The 2010 World Series Champions struggled in 2011 both with injuries and on offense. The 2010 Rookie of the Year Buster Posey broke his leg in a plate collision early in the season that left a controversy among everyone in baseball. Their slugger from last year Aubrey Huff fell flat as did the rest of the Giants Offense. As a result of the
putrid offense, many fantastic performances by Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarner were wasted. Now in 2012 the Giants will have a healthy Buster Posey, a top hitting 3B in Pablo Sandoval, and new additions in the OF with Melky Cabrera (.305 BA, 18 HR's 87 RBI's in 2011) and Angel Pagan can provide a serviceable offense. If the Giants offense can manage to rank in the middle of the pack in the National League, they could be contenders for the NL.
*2.) Arizona Diamondbacks: (90-72)
2011 Record: (94-68) 1st in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Diamondbacks were the surprise team in the National League in 2011. Led by Cy Young finalist Ian Kennedy and All Star OF Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks rolled through the NL West in route to a 94 win season and their first playoff trip since 2007. Many things went right for the Diamondbacks, including their bullpen stepping up and the front of their rotation having big years. As the Diamondbacks prepare for the 2012 season there will be a larger target on their backs, and it will be on the rotation to repeat their performance from last year. One thing is for sure, the Diamondbacks will once again be in contention for the National League.
3.) Los Angeles Dodgers: (84-78)
2011 Record: (82-79) 3rd in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Dodgers were for the longest time always near the top of the NL West and making the Giants-Dodgers Rivalry ever so greater as both teams competed for the NL West Crown. However in the past few years there coming in at the bottom of the division and not competing. In 2011 the storyline was the McCourts, and the dynamic duo of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. Matt Kemp had a career year hitting 39 HR's while driving in 126 RBI's, and Ace Clayton Kershaw walked away with the NL Cy Young Award. As the Dodgers enter Spring Training they will be looking for a return to the promise land. Even though I don't think they are close enough yet, they are finally putting the pieces back in place.
4.) Colorado Rockies: (80-82)
2011 Record: (73-89) 4th in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Rockies entered the 2011 season looking as a legitimate threat to compete for the NL West. Ubaldo Jimenez was coming off an impressive year and they had high hopes for Jorge De La Rosa. Unfortunately for the Rockies, very few things went right. De La Rosa had Tommy John Surgery early in the year, Ubaldo fell short of expectations and was shipped to Cleveland for top prospects. The Rockies spent the off season adding more bats across the lineup. The additions of Michael Cuddyer and Marco Scutaro will help solid the Rockies hitting. How well the Rockies will do, comes down to how De La Rosa, Chacin and the rest of the rotation fare.5.) San Diego Padres (67-95)
2011 Season: (71-91) 5th in NL West
Team Preview:
-The Padres were the biggest surprise in 2010. They came 1 game behind the World Series Champion Giants, and they were still a very young squad. However when they traded Adrian Gonzalez their team took a big hit. Their offense lacked any punch last year and because of it they only reached 71 Wins, and that was after they traded Heath Bell and Mike Adams. Now as the Padres head into 2012 they traded their Staff Ace Mat Latos for more prospects and up and comers. Needless to say it is going be a rebuilding year for the Padres, and they would be lucky to crack 70 Wins.
