Its now time to close out predictions for each league by looking at the AL
Eastern Division Champ-Toronto Blue Jays
This is basically Toronto Marlins. They have combined the best of both teams and formed a strong offensive club that will club homeruns at a team record pace. The real key to this team though is its deep pitching. If this pitching staff stays healthy they will be real good. I know that's a big if but I like this staff a lot. I love the pickup of RA Dickey even though they might have paid a little too much. He will be tough again in 2013. I am not saying he will put up the monstrous numbers of 2012. He will win 15-18 games and pitched alot of innings. I also like Johnson too.
Wild Card-Tampa Bay Rays
This is a team that can go either way this year but I like their deep pitching to carry them like Oakland's staff last year. I am concerned that they may not score enough runs. But I just don't think Yankees, Orioles & Red Sox are ready to push them out of second spot in the east. I don't see anyway that a team from the Central can be a wild card.
Central Division Champs-Detroit Tigers
They have two majors stars on offensive side along with solid role players. Cabrera is the best hitter in the league period.
On the pitching side they have the best pitcher in baseball in Verlander. So simply they actually may have the two best players in the MLB. This team could sleep walk their way to the division title. That is my fear in that they won't be challenged all year and will not have to be at their best. They will then enter the playoffs and have to turn it on to face some teams who could beat them. I really like this team to be playing come October.
West Division Champs-Texas Rangers
I know I know the favorite and everyone's pick is the Angels. I just like the Rangers pitching depth better overall and pitching wins pennants. I love the Rangers bull-pen. Now we come to the rub. They have lost Hamilton and Young but I really like the balance in their lineup and they have professional hitters. I look up and down their lineup and I see guys that will hit for good average and hit 15-20 homers. Their lineup does not have the quantity of stars of the Angels but much deeper. Not many holes in this Ranger lineup.
Wild Card- Los Angeles Angels
This team has one of the two best outfields in Baseball. Atlanta is the other! I like their lineup but I want to see how much of an effect the three stars have on the rest of the lineup. The pitching is real good at the top with Weaver and Wilson but the back side I don't know what they will get. The bull-pen is definitely not as strong as Rangers.
Wild Card Game-Rays vs Angels-Angels move on
Take some time and read my take on this Wild Card Game in the National League article
Toronto will play Rangers-Toronto will prevail in tough series
Detroit has best record so they get the Angels- Verlander is the difference. Detroit moves on.
American League Champs in 7 will be the Detroit Tigers
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