2012 MLB predictions, forecasts and wild guesses
Our annual predictions offering has the 2012 season covered from A (Adam Dunn's strikeout total) to Z (brace yourself, Carlos Zambrano).
Yahoo! Sports baseball writers Tim Brown, Steve Henson and Jeff Passan pick their World Series champions (teaser alert: no ticker tape in New York or Boston this year), forecast postseason awards and sprinkle a few wild guesses around the baseball landscape.
First manager fired | Clint Hurdle | Dusty Baker | |
First GM fired | Dan O'Dowd | Jack Zduriencik | Ned Colletti |
Combined home runs and stolen bases for Matt Kemp | 83 | 92 | 69 |
Date and architect of first no-hitter | April 14, Josh Johnson | May 16, Yu Darvish | April 17, Stephen Strasburg |
Date of Pittsburgh Pirates' 82nd win | 09/27/13 | 09/24/14 | 09/18/12, I mean 2112 |
Bryce Harper's call-up date and season slash line | Sept. 1. 265/.305/.420 | June 2. .248/.310/.485 | June 14. .258/.347/.501 |
Length of Yoenis Cespedes' longest home run | 465 feet | 444 feet | 472 feet |
Michael Pineda's ERA at Yankees Stadium (bonus question: Andy Pettitte win total) | 5.05 (7) | 4.83 (12) | N/A (12) |
Ryan Braun's HR/RBI totals | 26/101 | 32/108 | 31/102 |
Date of Bobby Valentine's first ejection | April 20 (vs. Yankees) | April 26 (at White Sox) | April 22 (vs. Yankees) |
Bobby V's go-to dugout disguise | Wally The Green Monster | Short-order cook making innovative wraps | Mime makeup |
Yu Darvish's won-loss record and ERA | 14-11, 3.95 | 15-9, 3.87 | 14-6, 3.41 |
More errors at third base: Miguel Cabrera vs. Hanley Ramirez | Cabrera 27-11 | Cabrera 25-17 | Cabrera 24-19 |
Biggest name traded at deadline | David Wright | ||
Date and target of Ozzie Guillen's first in-season beef | May 12, Jeffrey Loria | April 4, The leaping marlins on the home run feature at the new Miami stadium | April 27, Carlos Zambrano |
Bigger number: Ichiro hits or Adam Dunn strikeouts | Tie, 199 | Ichiro, 201-199 | Ichiro, 202-154 |
Most offensive Tweeter | Oney Guillen | Ozzie's first cousin, twice removed | Jose Canseco |
Buster Posey games played at first base | 46 | 21 | 36 |
Home run increase at Citi Field | 30 | 9 | 22 |
SEASON PREDICTIONS | |||
Rays 91-71 | Rays 95-67 | Rays 96-66 | |
Yankees 90-72 | Yankees 94-68 | Yankees 94-68 | |
Red Sox 87-75 | Red Sox 91-71 | Red Sox 91-71 | |
Blue Jays 81-81 | Blue Jays 85-77 | Blue Jays 83-79 | |
Orioles 70-92 | Orioles 60-102 | Orioles 64-98 | |
Tigers 90-72 | Tigers 94-68 | Tigers 95-67 | |
Twins 80-82 | Royals 81-81 | Royals 81-81 | |
Indians 78-84 | Indians 79-83 | Indians 79-83 | |
Royals 73-89 | White Sox 71-91 | Twins 69-93 | |
White Sox 72-90 | Twins 69-93 | White Sox 68-94 | |
Angels 90-72 | Rangers 100-62 | Rangers 94-68 | |
Rangers 90-72 | Angels 99-63 | Angels 93-69 | |
A's 70-92 | A's 69-93 | Mariners 72-90 | |
Mariners 70-92 | Mariners 58-104 | A's 68-94 | |
Phillies 90-72 | Marlins 89-73 | Phillies 92-70 | |
Marlins 88-74 | Phillies 86-76 | Nationals 91-71 | |
Braves 84-78 | Braves 86-76 | Marlins 88-74 | |
Nationals 84-78 | Nationals 86-76 | Braves 84-78 | |
Mets 74-88 | Mets 64-98 | Mets 69-93 | |
Brewers 87-75 | Reds 90-72 | Reds 87-75 | |
Cardinals 86-76 | Brewers 88-74 | Cardinals 85-77 | |
Reds 84-78 | Cardinals 86-76 | Brewers 82-80 | |
Pirates 72-90 | Pirates 75-87 | Cubs 72-90 | |
Cubs 68-94 | Cubs 71-91 | Pirates 71-91 | |
Astros 57-105 | Astros 54-108 | Astros 59-103 | |
D'backs 89-73 | D'backs 92-70 | D'backs 88-74 | |
Giants 87-75 | Giants 87-75 | Rockies 84-78 | |
Dodgers 83-79 | Rockies 83-79 | Giants 80-82 | |
Rockies 81-81 | Dodgers 83-79 | Padres 77-85 | |
Padres 74-88 | Padres 70-92 | Dodgers 74-88 | |
AL wild card | Yankees over Rangers | Angels over Yankees | Yankees over Angels |
NL wild card | Marlins over Giants | Giants over Brewers | Nationals over Marlins |
ALDS | Rays over Yankees | Angels over Rangers | Rays over Rangers |
Tigers over Angels | Tigers over Rays | Yankees over Tigers | |
NLDS | Marlins over Phillies | D'backs over Giants | Phillies over D'backs |
D'backs over Brewers | Marlins over Reds | Nationals over Reds | |
ALCS | Rays over Tigers | Angels over Tigers | Rays over Yankees |
NLCS | Marlins over D'backs | D'backs over Marlins | Nationals over Phillies |
World Series | Rays over Marlins | Angels over D'backs | Rays over Nationals |