Welcome to the Gigantic Sox and Dawgs 2012 MLB preview. Over the next few days you will get a team by team look at its key players, new faces, their potential MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year candidates, their possible starting lineup and rotation as well as a quick summary.
For the second year in a row we will select a MVP candidate and Cy Young candidate for each team no matter what their predicted team outcome is.
This preview was sculpted over a two month period in the off season with some mild tweaking as we went along prior to publication. It comes from a culmination of reading many baseball magazines, periodicals, articles and websites.
I hope you enjoy this look at the upcoming season. I know everyone will not agree with me and that’s fine put it in the comments or hit me up on Twitter. I can assure you I’ll most likely have an argument for each and every objection that you could possibly raise.
Yesterday we looked at the NL East, Sunday was the NL West, Monday was the AL West, Tuesday we previewed the NL Central, Wednesday we took a trip around the AL Central and today it’s the AL East.
To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
American League East
1. Tampa Bay – Manager Joe Maddon (7th year/9th overall)
Joe Maddon was the AL Manager of the Year and it was well deserved. After being stripped of a lot of his talent from the 2010 team, he was able to get the 2011 team to play together and make the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. They overcame a substantial deficit in the last month to earn a post season slot on the seasons final day when Boston finished off it’s full collapse. The Rays have a solid starting rotation and really good everyday lineup and they are my pick to win the division in 2012.
Key Players: LF Desmond Jennings; CF B.J. Upton; 3B Evan Longoria; RF Matthew Joyce; P David Price; P James Shields; P Matt Moore
MVP Candidate: 3B Evan Longoria
Cy Young Candidate: P David Price
ROY Candidate: P Matt Moore
Key Additions: C Jose Molina (FA-TOR); RP Josh Lueke (Trade-SEA); RP Burke Badenhop (Trade-MIA); RP Fernando Rodney (FA-LAA); 1B/OF Luke Scott (FA-BALT); 1B Carlos Pena (FA-CHI); INF Jeff Keppinger (FA-SF); P Matt Moore (Rookie)
Possible lineup: Jennings LF; Upton CF; Longoria 3B; Pena 1B; Zobrist 2B; Scott DH; Joyce RF; Brignac SS; Molina C
Possible rotation: Price; Shields; Moore; Hellickson; Davis
2. New York – Manager Joe Girardi (5th year/8th overall)
The New York Yankees came up short last year losing in the ALDS to the Detroit Tigers. To remedy that, this off season they did manage to get SP C.C. Sabathia to sign a nice little 5-year contract extension that should help feed him through the remainder of the decade. Then on the same day in mid January they signed free agent lefty Hiroki Kuroda and traded C Jesus Montero to Seattle for P Michael Pineda. Not bad for a days work after a relatively quiet off season. They also dumped A.J Burnett but at a heavy cost of including $20 million in the deal with Pittsburgh and then they turned around and signed Raul Ibanez for cheap to be the DH.
Key Players: CF Curtis Granderson; 2B Robinson Cano; 1B Mark Teixeira; 3B Alex Rodriguez; SS Derek Jeter; P CC Sabathia; P Ivan Nova
MVP Candidate: 2B Robinson Cano
Cy Young Candidate: P CC Sabathia
ROY Candidate: P Manny Banuelos
Key Additions: SP Michael Pineda (Trade-SEA); SP Hiroki Kuroda (FA-LAD); OF/DH Raul Ibanez (FA-PHI); RP David Aardsma (FA-SEA)
Possible lineup: Jeter SS, Granderson CF; Cano 2B; Teixeira 1B; Rodriguez 3B; Swisher RF; Ibanez DH; Martin C; Gardner LF
Possible rotation: Sabathia; Pineda; Kuroda; Nova; Hughes
3. Boston – Manager Bobby Valentine (1st year/16th overall)
After the biggest late season collapse in baseball history there are some new faces in Boston. Gone are long-time manager Terry Francona to ESPN and general manager Theo Epstein who became the President of the Chicago Cubs. In their places are former Epstein right hand man Ben Cherington who assumes the role of Executive Vice President/General Manager and Connecticut native Bobby Valentine who comes from ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball to be the new field manager.
We all know the story of how Valentine came to be the new manager of the Red Sox but it’s probably a situation that he will thrive in. A former Los Angeles Dodgers draft pick, after a MLB playing career, he has gone on to manage almost 2,200 MLB games in 15 seasons. He will bring more situational play to the team and more structure. Some players will thrive under Valentine, while others will drown and it will be with the survivors that Bobby V will go to war with.
There’s a slight chance Carl Crawford won’t be ready for opening day after minor wrist surgery in mid-January.
Key Players: CF Jacoby Ellsbury; LF Carl Crawford; P Clay Buchholz; P Daniel Bard; P Alfredo Aceves; RP Andrew Bailey
MVP Candidate: 1B Adrian Gonzalez
Cy Young Candidate: P Jon Lester
ROY Candidate: RF Ryan Kalish and C Ryan Lavarnway
Key Additions: RF Ryan Kalish (Rookie); C Ryan Lavarnway (Rookie); C Kelly Shoppach (FA-TB); RP Mark Melancon (Trade-HOU); INF Nick Punto (FA-STL); RP Andrew Bailey (Trade-OAK); OF Ryan Sweeney (Trade-OAK); SP Clayton Mortensen (Trade-COL); OF Cody Ross (FA-SF); SP Aaron Cook (FA-COL); P Vicente Padilla (FA-LAD); Mgr. Bobby Valentine
Possible lineup: Ellsbury CF; Crawford LF; Gonzalez 1B; Youkilis 3B; Ortiz DH; Pedroia 2B; Ross RF; Saltalamacchia C; Aviles SS
Possible rotation: Beckett; Lester; Buchholz; Aceves; Bard
4. Toronto – Manager: John Farrell (2nd year)
John Farrell had a very good first season as the Toronto manager and it didn’t hurt to have Jose Bautista blasting balls into the stratosphere either. The Blue Jays finished fourth in the AL East in 2011 and hey should repeat that finish again this season.
Key Players: LF Jose Baustista; CF Colby Rasmus; RF Ben Francisco; 2B Luis Valbuena; P Ricky Romero; RP Francisco Cordero
MVP Candidate: LF Jose Bautista
Cy Young Candidate: P Ricky Romero
ROY Candidate: RP Joel Carreno
Key Additions: C Jeff Mathis (Trade-LAA); 2B Luis Valbuena (Trade-CLE); OF Ben Francisco (Trade-PHI); RP Jason Frasor (Trade-CWS); RP Darren Oliver (FA-TEX); SP/RP Aaron Laffey (FA-KC); INF Omar Vizquel (FA-CWS); RP Francisco Cordero (FA-CIN); SP/RP Rick VandenHurk (FA-BALT)
Possible lineup: Escobar SS; Rasmus CF; Bautista LF; Lind 1B; Encarnacion DH; Lawrie 3B; Francisco RF; Valbuena 2B; Arencibia C
Possible rotation: Romero; Morrow; Cecil; Alvarez; McGowan
5. Baltimore – Manager: Buck Showalter (3rd year/14th overall)
Baltimore joins Boston as an AL East team with a front office change and in a surprise of surprises they hired former Boston and Montreal GM Dan Duquette as their new general manager. Duquette is expected to work hand in hand with manager Buck Showalter in putting together a team to compete in the division without breaking the bank in the mold of division rival Tampa Bay. They have a good base to work with in RF Nick Markakis, C Matt Wieters and CF Adam Jones but the weakness the last several seasons for the O’s has been pitching and Duquette has a lot of work to do in getting that in line. They also need 2B Brian Roberts to stay on the field. if he can’t Robert Andino goes to 2B and rookie Manny Machado takes over at SS.
Key Players: RF Nick Markakis; CF Adam Jones; C Matt Wieters; 3B J.J. Hardy; P Jason Hammel; P Jake Arrieta
MVP Candidate: CF Adam Jones
Cy Young Candidate: Jason Hammel
ROY Candidate: SS Manny Machado and P Robert Bundy
Key Additions: C Taylor Teagarden (Trade-TEX); RP Darren O’Day (Waivers-TEX); P Dana Eveland (Trade-LAD); OF Endy Chavez (FA-TEX); SP Wei-yin Chen (FA-Korea); INF/DH Wilson Betemit (FA-DET); P Armando Galarraga (FA-ARI); RP Pat Neshek (FA-SD); RP Dennys Reyes (FA-BOS); P Jason Hammel (Trade-COL); P Matt Lindstrom (Trade-COL)
Possible lineup: Roberts 2B; Markakis RF; Jones CF; Reynolds 1B; Weiters C; Davis DH; Hardy 3B; Reimold LF; Andino SS
Possible rotation: Hammel; Arrieta; Britton; Matusz; Eveland
Tomorrow, in our final day, we will look at the big winners in 2012..
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1. Philadelphia – Manager Charlie Manuel (8th year/11th overall)
The Philadelphia Phillies will remain the class of the NL East in 2012 as they look to get to their third World Series in the last five seasons under skipper Charlie Manuel. They have possibly the best pitching staff in baseball and got even better in the back end when they signed free agent closer 
2. Atlanta – Manager Fredi Gonzalez (2nd year/6th overall)
The Atlanta Braves tried to hang with Philadelphia last year and with all their injuries and players having down years they just couldn’t do it. But they were in position for the NL Wild Card until they had the biggest late season fade this side of Boston. They ended up missing the playoffs on the last day when the eventual World Series champion St. Louis swooped in on the last day of the season to claim the wild card spot. The Braves need better seasons from 
3. Miami – Manager Ozzie Guillen (1st year/9th overall)
New name, new logo, new stadium, new colors, new uni’s, new manager and new players. A quote from my twitter feed asked, “Are the Marlins robbing banks?” They don’t appear to be but owner Jeff Loria decided to open up the wallet and he has spent big time. The new manager Ozzie Guillen didn’t come cheap, then they signed free agent SS 
4. Washington – Manager Davey Johnson (2nd year/16th overall)
The Washington Nationals are looking to make some noise but it still may be another year or two away. Davey Johnson starts his first full season as the manager after he took over on June 25 when Jim Riggleman resigned unexpectedly two days earlier. The Nats beefed up their rotation with a trade for 
5. New York – Manager: Terry Collins (2nd year/ 8th overall)
In the wake of the Bernie Madoff disaster the Mets at one point were looking for someone to buy into the team. After not being able to attract a minority buyer in time the Mets turned to Bank of America for a $40 million dollar bridge loan until they can sell some minority shares plus they’ve already borrowed $25 million from MLB that they haven’t been able to re-pay. Then they failed to retain free agent SS Jose Reyes who bolted to division rival Miami after New York never even made their former star player an offer. So if the Mets are borrowing money to survive, even with a brand new stadium, how are they supposed to compete in the NL East with Philadelphia, Miami and Atlanta and an improving Washington? It will be a long season again in Queens. 1986 was a long time ago. 
1. Detroit – Manager Jim Leyland (7th year/21st overall)
The Detroit Tigers got some bad news in early January when they found out that C/DH 
2. Cleveland – Manager Manny Acta (3rd year/6th overall)
The Indians went out and got a pair of veteran starters to beef up their rotation. They acquired 
3. Kansas City – Manager Ned Yost (3rd year/9th overall)
The Royals are coming they’re just not quite all the way back as of yet. With good young players like 
4. Minnesota – Manager Ron Gardenhire (11th year)
The Twins are falling and things could be worse if 
5. Chicago – Manager Robin Ventura (1st year)
The White Sox are going no where fast and if you weren’t sure of that the late season and off-season fire sale should have clued you in. They aren’t done dumping payroll yet and will probably be sellers come the trade deadline look for them to move 
1. Cincinnati – Manager: Dusty Baker (5th year/19th overall) 
The Reds are ready to once again make some noise in the Central Division and do it with two rookies in key spots up the middle in C 
2. St. Louis – Manager: 
The defending World Series Champions have a new manager, new first baseman and new rightfielder and are missing a Hall of Fame manager and a consensus MVP candidate. In their place are a rookie manager, last years best free agent signing, 
3. Milwaukee – Manager: Ron Roenicke (2nd year)
The Brewers made the playoffs as the division champions last season and had one of their own, LF 
4. Pittsburgh – Manager: Clint Hurdle (2nd year/10th overall)
Pittsburgh had a baseball resurgence in 2011 as they were above .500 at the All-Star break for the first time since 1992. They were in first place on July 18, it was the latest they had been in first place since 1997. But they ended up fading in August and had their 19th losing season in a row. I see more of the same this year for the Buco’s as they compete and hang in there most of the season before falling away again.
5. Chicago – Manager: Dale Sveum (1st year)
New president, new general manager, new manager, organizational top to bottom overhaul courtesy of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer is in progress. Trades with Colorado, Cincinnati and Miami have brought infield help and pitching depth and got rid of some problems. While a dip into the free agent market got some more pitching. But there is still along way to go and Epstein and Hoyer know this I just don’t know if Cubs fans do.
6. Houston – Manager: Brad Mills (3rd year) 
The Astros have new ownership and they are thinking of changing the team’s nickname. That is not sitting well with fans who have started to lash out. The team is bad enough they need to let the fans keep the name. There’s also a new general manager and like in San Diego you have to wonder if former Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills has possibly hit the end of the road in Houston. This team is going no where, look for another 100 plus loss season.
1. Los Angeles – Manager Mike Scioscia (13th year)
The Angels will contend with the Rangers for the division title as long as veteran outfielder’s 
2. Texas – Manager Ron Washington (6th year)
The two time division champions are on their third number one starter in three years, moved their closer into the starting rotation and signed a Japanese import to bolster the starting five. Line up wise there aren’t many better 1-9 as they can hit with anyone. It’s a two-team race and it comes down to the Rangers starting pitching vs. Angels aging outfield/designated hitter types (Hunter/Wells/Abreu/Morales).
3. Oakland – Manager Bob Melvin (2nd year/9th overall) 
Oh you silly A’s trading away anything with value, I was shocked they didn’t deal the office furniture but who knows maybe Billy Beane did. And hoping to rekindle the magic of the 1997 Cleveland Indians they signed free agent starter 
4. Seattle – Manager Eric Wedge (2nd year/9th overall)
The Mariners go into 2012 with the potential for one rookie to play every day (DH 
1. San Francisco – Manager Bruce Bochy (6th year/18th overall) 
You could almost list the entire Giants lineup as “key players” as they each need to have a good year for the team to succeed. The starting rotation once again looks really solid and should help carry the team which at times will have problems scoring runs. But when you team the rotation up with the back end of the bullpen and closer 
2. Arizona – Manager Kirk Gibson (3rd year)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to go back to the playoffs again after winning the division last year in Kirk Gibson’s first full season as manager. 
3. Colorado – Manager Jim Tracy (4th year/11th overall) 
Lots of new faces in the Rocky Mountains as Dan O’Dowd went about business this winter reshaping the roster. Trades with the Angels, Cubs, Rangers, Orioles and Red Sox brought in more depth and he followed that up with some free agents, C 
4. Los Angeles – Manager Don Mattingly (2nd year)
The Dodgers are still in a mass state of confusion as they await the sale of the team to someone who will hopefully restore the luster to this once proud franchise. Manager Don Mattingly will be looking for some production from leadoff man 
5. San Diego – Manager Bud Black (6th year) 
The Padres should once again struggle to get to .500 this season, they’ll have trouble scoring runs as the only real bopper is newly acquired RF 
