Arizona Sports 620’s MLB Predictions
Apr 6, 2012, 9:10 PM | Updated: 9:10 pm
The 2012 MLB season is here! Well, technically it was
here last week when the A’s and Mariners opened up
America’s Favorite Pastime in Tokyo, but we, as steadfast
traditionalists and unabashed patriots, chose not to
acknowledge that.
Members of Arizona Sports 620’s staff (and a few
outside the staff) were asked to give their predictions on
what will transpire between now and early November on
baseball diamonds all over the country.
So here they are, the bold (and in some cases, outlandish)
baseball predictions of the staff of Arizona Sports 620.
And when it’s all said and done, we’ll take a look back
and, well, laugh hysterically at each other.
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks: 13 votes
San Francisco Giants: 1 vote
Who exactly are you calling a homer? Not Doug Franz,
the only member of our esteemed panel not to pick the
hometown team to repeat as division champions.
National League Central
Cincinnati Reds: 10 votes
Milwaukee Brewers: 3 votes
St. Louis Cardinals: 1 vote
It’s pretty apparent that most feel the loss of Albert
Pujols and the retirement of manager Tony LaRussa will be
too much for the defending World Champion Cardinals to
overcome. And the masses also feel the same way about the
Milwaukee Brewers replacing slugger Prince Fielder at
first base with Mat Gamel. Question: will D-backs fans
boo Gamel for no reason by default when the Brew Crew come
to town?
National League East
Philadelphia Phillies: 9 votes
Miami Marlins: 2 votes
Atlanta Braves: 2 vote
Washington Nationals: 1 vote
The Phillies are still the sexy pick here, even though
Ryan Howard and Chase Utley will miss the beginning of the
season and will be replaced with Ty Wigginton and Freddy
Galvis. The new-look (and new name) Miami Marlins and the
Atlanta Braves each got two votes, while Arizona Sports
620’s Dave Burns is picking the Washington Nationals, a
team with exactly one playoff appearance in 44 years of
existence, to win the crown.
National League Wild Cards
San Francisco Giants: 7 votes
Miami Marlins: 5 votes
Atlanta Braves: 4 votes
Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 votes
Philadelphia Phillies: 2 votes
St. Louis Cardinals: 2 votes
Arizona Diamondbacks: 1 vote
Cincinnati Reds: 1 vote
Colorado Rockies: 1 vote
Milwaukee Brewers: 1 vote
Washington Nationals: 1 vote
Quite the array of teams, but let’s remember Bud Selig
has unveiled his “expanded” playoff format, which means
one Wild Card team will get to play one whole extra game.
The boldest Wild Card pick belongs
to KTAR.com writer Carter Nacke, who has the Nationals. By
the way, the teams that nobody thinks are
playoff-bound? The Mets, Astros, Cubs, Pirates and
Padres.
National League Pennant Winner
Arizona Diamondbacks: 5 votes
Philadelphia Phillies: 5 votes
Atlanta Braves: 1 vote
Miami Marlins: 1 vote
Milwaukee Brewers: 1 vote
San Francisco Giants: 1 vote
The Diamondbacks’ additions of Jason Kubel and Trevor
Cahill without losing any key position players from last
year’s NL West champion team was enough to sway five
voters into thinking the Fall Classic will return to
downtown Phoenix.
National League MVP
Justin Upton, Arizona: 6 votes
Hanley Ramirez, Miami: 2 votes
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado: 2 votes
Joey Votto, Cincinnati: 2 votes
Matt Kemp, Los Angeles: 1 vote
Hunter Pence, Philadelphia: 1 vote
So this is the year for Justin Upton according to six
of
our voters. Here’s a scary thought: Upton is only 24-
years-old and is entering his 6th big league season. It’s
also interesting that nobody picked Ryan Braun to repeat
as MVP. Hmmm.
National League Cy Young Award
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles: 5 votes
Roy Halladay, Philadelphia: 3 votes
Cliff Lee, Philadelphia: 3 votes
Zack Greinke, Milwaukee: 1 vote
Josh Johnson, Miami: 1 vote
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco: 1 vote
Kershaw is the favorite among our panel, but we found
it interesting that all but one of our panelists picked a
previous Cy Young winner. Only ArizonaSports.com’s Adam
Green went with a first-timer, Josh Johnson of Miami.
National League Rookie of the Year
Yonder Alonso, San Diego: 4 votes
Julio Teheran, Atlanta: 2 votes
Zack Cozart, Cincinnati: 2 votes
Bryce Harper, Washington: 2 votes
Trevor Bauer, Arizona: 1 vote
Shelby Miller, St. Louis: 1 vote
Tyler Pastornicky, Atlanta: 1 vote
Drew Pomerantz, Colorado: 1 vote
Alonso is no longer blocked behind Joey Votto at first
base in Cincinnati, and should have a chance to flourish
with a young San Diego ball club, although it’s
interesting to note the Padres haven’t had a Rookie of the
Year since Benito Santiago won the award in 1987. And even
though he didn’t make the Opening Day roster, KTAR.com
writer Clayton Klapper believes Trevor Bauer will win the
senior circuit’s rookie hardware.
National League Manager of the Year
Dusty Baker, Cincinnati: 3 votes
Kirk Gibson, Arizona: 3 votes
Ozzie Guillen, Miami: 3 votes
Don Mattingly, Los Angeles: 3 votes
Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee: 1 vote
Jim Tracy, Colorado: 1 vote
Even voting for the defending skipper of the year in
Gibson, and Guillen who’s saddled with the pressure of
guiding the young, talented and suddenly free-spending
Marlins back to NL prominence. Oh, and Dusty and his
toothpicks got 3 votes as well.
American League West
Los Angeles Angels: 9 votes
Texas Rangers: 5 votes
This promises to be one of, if not the most intriguing
division race in baseball. And by the looks of our
results, the A’s and Mariners are playing
for third place.
American League Central
Detroit Tigers: 14 votes
This promises to be the least intriguing race in
baseball. The Tigers ran away with this division a year
ago and then went out and added Prince Fielder via free
agency in the offseason. Does Detroit have a magic number
already?
American League East
New York Yankees: 8 votes
Tampa Bay Rays: 4 votes
Boston Red Sox: 1 vote
Toronto Blue Jays: 1 vote
Doug Franz of Doug and
Wolf on Arizona Sports 620 is taking the Blue Jays, while
Charlie Feinerman, author of “Touch ‘Em All” on
ArizonaSports.com, likes the Red Sox to bounce back from
their chicken-and-beer-fueled collapse from a year ago.
American League Wild Cards
Tampa Bay Rays: 7 votes
Texas Rangers: 7 votes
New York Yankees: 6 votes
Los Angels Angels: 4 votes
Boston Red Sox: 3 votes
Minnesota Twins: 1 vote
With their 6 Wild Card votes, every panel member
believes the Yankees are headed to the postseason for the
17th time in the last 18 seasons. Only Doug & Wolf
producer Jeremy Foster strayed from the flock and picked
the Minnesota Twins to claim a Wild Card.
American League Pennant Winner
Los Angeles Angels: 5 votes
New York Yankees: 4 votes
Detroit Tigers: 3 votes
Boston Red Sox: 1 vote
Tampa Bay Rays: 1 vote
More balanced voting here, but nobody thinks the Texas
Rangers, who have been hard-luck bridesmaids the last two
years, can make it three trips to the Series in a row.
American League MVP
Albert Pujols, Los Angeles: 5 votes
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit: 4 votes
Robinson Cano, NY Yankees: 4 votes
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay: 1 vote
Can Albert Pujols join Frank Robinson and become only
the second player in baseball history to win the Most
Valuable Player Award in both leagues? Five of our panel
members: Dave Burns, Charlie Feinerman, Doug Franz,
Clayton Klapper and
Jules Tompkins,
our 2012 Big League Dream Job winner, all believe he can.
Incidentally, Robinson turned the feat in his first year
in the American League, 1966.
American League Cy Young
Justin Verlander, Detroit: 5 votes
Jered Weaver, Los Angeles: 4 votes
Felix Hernandez, Seattle: 2 votes
CC Sabathia, NY Yankees: 2 votes
David Price, Tampa Bay: 1 vote
It’s hard to argue with Verlander, who looked nearly
unhittable in 2011, posting a 24-5 record with 250
strikeouts and a 2.49 ERA — which all topped the American
League. The boldest pick belongs again to Adam Green, who
thinks this is David Price’s year to have his name etched
on the Cy.
American League Rookie of the Year
Yu Darvish, Texas: 6 votes
Jesus Montero, Seattle: 4 votes
Matt Moore, Tampa Bay: 3 votes
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: 1 vote
It looks like a three-horse race for this award
according to our panel. Darvish is looking to join Ichiro
Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Hideo Nomo as the only
Japanese-born players to win the award, while Moore is
looking to make it two Tampa Bay pitchers in a row.
Jeremy Hellickson won the hardware in 2011.
American League Manager of the Year
Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay: 5 votes
Joe Girardi, NY Yankees: 2 votes
John Farrell, Toronto: 2 votes
Jim Leyland, Detroit: 1 vote
Bobby Valentine, Boston: 1 vote
Ron Washington, Texas: 1 vote
Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels: 1 vote
Eric Wedge, Seattle: 1 vote
Maddon, Leyland and Wedge all have at least one of
these awards on their mantle. And interesting to note:
Dave Burns has the Angels sweeping all four major AL
awards (Pujols, Weaver, Trout, Scioscia). Arte Moreno
says the check is in the mail, Dave.
Breakout Player
Tyler Bassett, KTAR.com Editor: Giancarlo Stanton,
Miami
Dave Burns, Co-host of Burns & Gambo: Mike Trout,
Los Angeles Angels
Jarrett Carlen, Arizona Sports 620 Technical
Director: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona
Daria Del Colliano, ArizonaSports.com Editor: Julio
Teheran, Atlanta
Charlie Feinerman, Arizona Sports 620
producer/reporter: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta
Jeremy Foster, Producer of Doug & Wolf: J.D.
Martinez, Houston
Doug Franz, Co-host of Doug & Wolf: Brandon Belt,
San Francisco
John Gambadoro, Co-host of Burns & Gambo: Eric
Hosmer, Kansas City
Bryan Gibberman, Arizona Sports 620 producer: Elvis
Andrus, Texas
Adam Green, ArizonaSports.com Writer: Brennan
Boesch, Detroit
Clayton Klapper, KTAR.com Writer: Stephen
Strasburg, Washington
Vince Marotta, ArizonaSports.com Editor: Jemile
Weeks, Oakland
Carter Nacke, KTAR.com Writer: Yu Darvish, Texas
Jules Tompkins, Arizona Sports special contributor:
Dustin Ackley, Seattle
First Manager Fired in 2012
Manny Acta, Cleveland: 4 votes
Ozzie Guillen, Miami: 2 votes
Bud Black, San Diego: 1 vote
Terry Collins, NY Mets: 1 vote
Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota: 1 vote
Fredi Gonzalez, Atlanta : 1 vote
Brad Mills, Houston: 1 vote
Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee: 1 vote
Jim Tracy, Colorado: 1 vote
Eric Wedge, Seattle: 1 vote
Interesting that two panelists (Del Colliano, Nacke)
had Guillen, the biggest hiring acquisition of the
offseason, as the first skipper to be shown the door. And
four managers (Guillen, Roenicke, Tracy, Wedge) show up on
both
Manager of the Year lists and this one.
Most Home Runs in the Majors
Jose Bautista, Toronto: 2 votes
Prince Fielder, Detroit: 2 votes
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami: 2 votes
Joey Votto, Cincinnati: 2 votes
Jay Bruce, Cincinnati: 1 vote
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit: 1 vote
Robinson Cano, NY Yankees: 1 vote
Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado: 1 vote
Albert Pujols, LA Angels: 1 vote
Justin Upton, Arizona: 1 vote
Two of our panelists (Gibberman, Carlen) either are
buying into the massive power of young Stanton, or they
just wanted to type the name ‘Giancarlo’. Jose Bautista,
who has led the big leagues in round-trippers in each of
the last two seasons (with 97 total), only got two votes.
One Bold Prediction
Bassett: Kansas City finishes 2nd in AL Central.
Burns: The Dodgers will be in the NL West race and
will make a big acquisition at the deadline.
Carlen: Phillies will miss the postseason
Del Colliano: Marlins won’t be as good as everyone
thought.
Feinerman: Manny Ramirez will flourish in Oakland
after suspension
Foster: Houston Astros will be within 5 games of
.500.
Franz: The Toronto Blue Jays will win the AL East.
Gambadoro: Ryan Roberts of Arizona will have an
inside-the-park home run.
Gibberman: Pittsburgh will be over .500.
Green: Washington will be in playoff contention
Klapper: David Wright will be traded to a
contender.
Marotta: Justin Verlander will throw two no-
hitters.
Nacke: The Cubs will be decent.
Tompkins: The Red Sox finish 4th in AL East.
World Series Predictions
Bassett: Detroit over Atlanta
Burns: Los Angeles Angels over Arizona
Carlen: Miami over NY Yankees
Del Colliano: Los Angeles Angels over Philadelphia
Feinerman: Philadelphia over Boston
Foster: Tampa Bay over Arizona
Franz: Detroit over Milwaukee
Gambadoro: NY Yankees sweep Arizona
Gibberman: NY Yankees over Arizona
Green: Philadelphia over Detroit
Klapper: Los Angeles Angels over Philadelphia
Marotta: Los Angeles Angels over San Francisco
Nacke: Arizona over Los Angeles Angels
Tompkins: NY Yankees over Philadelphia
Almost half of our panel thinks the title is going back
to the American League with the Angels and Yankees each
garnering three votes. Carter Nacke is the only panelist
who thinks a parade in front of Chase Field is in the
future for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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