By: Dustin Dietz

ddietz2004@yahoo.com

Due to the excitement of Rangers Opening Day I experienced Friday, I have decided to retract my previous stance of allowing Sports Illustrated to make the playoff predictions and publish my own 2012 MLB predictions. If my predictions have any negative influence on the Rangers this season, please forgive me.

I did not allow the Ranger colored Kool-Aid I sip daily to affect how I feel the season will pan out . Rather, these predictions are truly what I feel will happen this coming season. I apologize if you feel I am an insane fool who knows little about the game of baseball.

National League
West
1. Arizona
2. San Francisco
3. Colorado
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. San Diego
* Not much changes in the West this season. San Francisco will challenge with their outstanding young pitching, but Arizona has excellent young pitching too. Zona can do what San Fran cannot, and that is hit the baseball.

Central
1. Cincinnati
2. St. Louis
3. Milwaukee
4. Pittsburgh
5. Chicago Cubs
105. Houston – The Astros are so atrocious, they will finish below last place in their own division. 110 losses is possible. The Disastros will be the most putrid piece of garbage in baseball since the 2003 Detroit Tigers.
* Cincy lost Ryan Madson for the season, but with Pujols and Prince in the AL, Cincy now has the best player in the division with Votto. They will recapture the Central flag. Watch out for St. Louis with new manager Mike Matheny at the helm.

East
1. Philadelphia
2. Miami
3. Washington
4. Atlanta
5. New York Mets
* Phils have injuries right now, but their pitching staff is far superior than the other teams in the division. Washington begins to announce their presence with some authority.

Wild Cards – San Francisco and Miami
NL Champion – Arizona
Manager of the Year – Mike Matheny (St. Louis)
Rookie of the Year – Dee Gordon (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Cy Young – Roy Halladay (Philadelphia)
MVP – Joey Votto (Cincinnati)

American League

West
1. Texas
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle
4. Oakland
* Seattle is steadily improving, but they are nowhere near the Rangers and Angels. The West will be a two horse race all season. This divison race will provide fans with the most excitement in 2012.

Central
1. Detroit
10. Kansas City
11. Cleveland
20. Minnesota
56. Chicago White Sox
*No team is close talent wise to the Tigers. This division will be an absolute joke. Detroit might clinch the division in August. However, the Royals are improving, and could compete in the near future.

East
1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay
3. Toronto
4. Boston
26. Baltimore – The only way Baltimore begins to compete in the AL East is if Bud Selig contracts the other four teams currently in the division.
* Yankees slightly better than Rays, but not by much. The Rays young pitching will make a push. Boston takes a step back with Bobby V steering the ship. Be wary of Toronto.

Wild Cards – Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay
AL Champion – Texas
Manager of the Year – John Farrell (Toronto)
Rookie of the Year – Yu Darvish (Texas)
Cy Young – Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels)
MVP – Robinson Cano (New York Yankees)

World Series
Texas over Arizona
* The Rangers become the first team since the 1923 Yankees to win the World Series after losing the previous two World Series. If the Rangers win the pennant, and lose a third consecutive World Series, I will no longer be able to follow sports.
Enjoy the season everyone. 2012 should be a blast.

Follow Dustin Dietz on Twitter @DustinDietz18