2012 Major League Baseball Predictions

With the 2012 baseball season getting closer here are my predicitons for the standings, their pretty much based on what each team did during their offseason.

NL East:
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Washington Nationals (they have a chance, with their upgrades in their pitching and if Bryce Harper ends up making their team)
3. Miami Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves (they should last year they can choke, so they could always do the same or have a bad season, with Fredi Gonzalez ... he still seems to like to overuse his players)
5. New York Mets


NL Central:
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Houston Astros


NL West:
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

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AL East:
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays


AL Central:
1. Detriot Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins

AL West:
1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners

Ken Hitchcock has turned the Blues into a team

Thirteen games into the Blues 2011-2012 season, with head coach Davis Payne the St. Louis Blues had a record of 6-7. Then on November 6th, 2011 the Blues management decided that their had to be a change to get the team going. At the team the Blues were pretty much dead last in the Western Conference, and needed a way to also get a shot at making the playoffs. So, GM Doug Armstrong knew someone well from his days when he was the GM for the Dallas Stars. The person was head coach Ken Hitchcock. The Blues hired Hitchcock on that day, and fired Davis Payne. Hitchcock became the Blues twenty-fourth head coach in Blues franchise history. During Hitchcock's head coaching career he's made the playoffs nine times, out of sixteen seasons coaching in the NHL. He's been fired three times (Dallas Stars, Philadelphia, and the Columbus Blue Jackets).

He lead the Dallas Stars too two stanley cups, winning one of them. Hitchcock lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to their only winning season in thw 08-09 season, and their only playoff appearance. The Blue Jackets have been in the NHL since 2000. When the Blues hired him, that made him a head coach for sixteen seasons. Ken Hitchcock has been known as a hard nosed head coach, at the time of the hiring some Blues fans weren't sure if he was the right head coach for the Blues, since he hadn't coach since the 09-010 season. But, he had been in an advisor role for the Colmbus Blue Jackets, and was scouting every team and taking notes about them; in order to prepare himself if he became an NHL head coach again. He has taught players how to become better players over his coaching career, for example one of them is former NHL and Hall of Famer, Brett Hull. Hull went to the Dallas Stars in free agency, and wasn't a team player on the Blues. Hitchcock taught him how to become a team player, which ended up helping Brett Hull go on to win some stanley cups, one of them was with the Dallas Stars and others were with the Detroit Red Wings. Also, goalies play better under Hitchcock, a lot of that is because of his coaching style. His coaching style is about defense.

Since the day Hitchcock took over, the Blues have turned their season around a lot. Under Hitchcock, the Blues are 17-5-5 as of now and their record on the season is 23-12-5 (that's combining Payne's 6-7 record at the start of the season). The Blues are now one of the top teams in the Western Conference, currently they are 5th overall in the west. The Blues have a good team, and have players who are injured right now (one is Alex Steen, who now has a concussion), another is Andy McDonald (who has been out since October 13, with a concussion). Other players are Kris Russell, Kent Huskins, and Ryan Reaves. If the Blues can get healthy down the stretch they could be a tough team to beat. Having Andy McDonald and Alex Steen back a lot will help the team, that's once they return. Russell is out for three weeks as of now, hopefully he has no setbacks. Russell has helped the Blues out, ever since the Blues traded for him. Hitchcock knew Russell from his days with the Blue Jacketts, he was Russell's first coach in the NHL.

After a slow start to the season, starting goalie Jaroslav Halak is starting to pick up his game. Halak started the season with a bad record, but as of now is 9-7-5. The Blues back up goalie, Brian Elliott has been a big story this season. Elliott looked like he was about to be out of the NHL, after having a bad season last year going 15-27-4 with three shutouts. Elliott signed a two-way deal with the Blues in the offseason to battle for the back up job with goalie Ben Bishop. Elliott ended up winning the job, even though both goalies did well in camp. The Blues went with Elliott, because he had been in the NHL longer than Bishop has. Elliott helped the Blues out a lot, while Halak was trying to find his game, as of now Elliott is 14-5 with four shutouts on the season. So, the Blues have a good goalie situation for the first time in along time. If the Blues can have a great January, then they have a great shot to make the playoffs for their first time since the 2008-2009 season. Last season, the Blues had a bad January, only winning two games and fell apart that month and ended up missing the playoffs.

That's all for now, AMF.

Who will be the St. Louis Rams head coach?

With the Rams looking for a new head coach again, who will the next head coach be for the Rams? Some names that have been linked to the Rams have been: Jeff Fisher (former head coach of the Tennesse Titans), Jon Gruden (former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Mike Sherman (former head coach of the Green Bay Packers). One of them or someone else, if there aren't any other names popping up, will need to get the Rams back on the right track and get them winning again. I guess you can say that the downfall started in 2005, after Mike Martz had to take leave for health problems. Before he took leave, the Rams were 3-2 in five games under him. Joe Vitt finished out the rest of the season as the head coach, and under him the Rams went 3-8. So, in 2005 their record was 6-10. They brought in Scott Linehan after the 2005 season. Linehan had been an offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings (2002-04), and Miami Dolphins (2005).

Scott Linehan's first season as the Rams head coach looked like it could be a good hire, the Rams went 8-8 in his first season ever as an NFL head coach. The Rams could have made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 if Josh Brown hadn't beaten them by two come from behind field goals, when he played for the Seattle Seahawks or if the Washington Redskins had beaten the New York Giants in week 17. Then came 2007, the team went bad and finished 3-13 in his second season as head coach. After, losing 4 straight games in 2008, Linehan was fired with an 0-4 record. Linehan's defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and former head coach of the New Orleans Saints, took over. Under Haslett, the Rams went 2-10 the rest of the way, so total record in 2008 for the Rams was 2-14.

Steve Spagnuolo era begins, he was hired as head coach going into the 2009 season. He had been the New York Giants defensive coordinator, and was credited for beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the 2007 Super Bowl. The records for Spagnulo weren't good (even though his 2010 one was the best, and almost got the Rams into the playoffs for the 1st time since 2004, the Rams had to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the last week of the season, but lost). In 2009, Spagnuolo's first season the Rams went 1-15, second season 7-9, and then in 2011 the Rams went 2-14 under him. Spagnulo and GM Billy Devaney were both fired today. If you look back at the 07 season through 011, the Rams total record is 15-65. Steve Spagnuolo went 10-38 as the Rams head coach, Scott Linehan went 11-25, and Mike Martz went 54-31 as their total records for the Rams as head coach, during their years in St. Louis. Could Mike Martz have noticed things were going bad, when he wanted to draft safety Troy Polamalu in the 2003 NFL draft. The old front office at the time said no, so the Rams ended up drafting DT Jimmy Kennedy. Kennedy never turned out to be good. So, maybe Martz new that things were going down hill, but stuck with the team to try to keep them winning.

Back to the Rams head coaching search for the 2012 NFL season, if I were the Rams, my main target would be Jeff Fisher. Stan Kroenke the Rams owner has money to pay him, if he wants a lot to come to the Rams. Fisher will interview with the Rams later this week. As the head coach of the Tennesse Titans, Fisher had a record of 142-120 in seventeen seasons all with their franchise. Fisher only had six losing seasons as head coach and he made the playoffs six times. Fisher's post season record is 5-6, including the 1999 Super Bowl loss to the Rams. Fisher also has some ties to the Rams, Kevin Demoff's dad is Fisher's agent (Kevin works in the Rams front office) and back in 1991, Fisher was the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator. If Fisher Titans players and fans liked Jeff Fisher a lot, he's a hard nosed coach who wants to win. Titans fans were upset, when the Titans released him from his contract. doesn't come then, Mike Sherman should be plan B. As of right now Jon Gruden says he doesn't want to get back into coaching in the NFL, and wants to stay working as a broadcaster. Former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil and former Rams running back/HOF Marshall Faulk will both help find a new head coach for the Rams.


That's all for now, AMF.

Cardinals 2012 offseason

The Cardinals didn't do much in free agency during the offseason for the 2012 season. Pretty much, the big news was Albert Pujols leaving for the Angels in free agency. If the Cardinals had given Albert Pujols what he wanted, then they would have their payroll tied up for along time, and couldn't re-new other contracts when the time came for other players (like for example: Adam Wainwright .... in two years or Yadier Molina, who as of now is in his last year of his current deal). After, Pujols left the Cardinals did make moves.

1. They re-signed Skip Schumaker to a two-year deal (he took less money to stay with the Cardinals).
2. They re-signed Rafael Furcal to a two-year deal.
3. They signed free agent LHP J.C. Romero ... (he replaces Rhodes as the second lefty in the bullpen, who the Cardinals won a World Series with .... Romero is younger than him also). Yes, Romero has lost speed off of some of his pitches, but I guess the real question for him is .... can pitching coach Dave Duncan help him out? Romero was also once suspended for steroids, since then he hasn't been that great. But, he can still get lefties out, but if you let him pitch against righthanded hitters .... that's when he gets killed.
4. They signed one of the best outfielders who was on the market, in Carlos Beltran. He showed in 2011, that he still can play, he's also one of the best switch hitters in the game. And is a 6 time All-Star, he was one in 2011 for the first time since 2009. Yes, there are some questions about him heading into the 2012 season, there were also questions about Lance Berkman heading into the 2011 season, he proved people wrong. Now it's time for Carlos Beltran to do the same.

Minor league moves as of now (just depth incase anyone gets hurt or could be September call-ups).
1. INF-OF Eugenio Velez (minor league contract)
2. LHP R.J. Swindle (minor league contract)

My take on the 2012 roster as of now, they could be better than the 2011 team (even without Albert Pujols). Lance Berkman pretty much took over the clubhouse in July, because he didn't like what Pujols was doing to the rookies who were coming up, ever since Berkman did that, the clubhouse relaxed. Furcal even helped by starting the "Happy Flight" chant. And in the 2011 World Series, it was all of the team helping out. Carlos Beltran even got on base a lot more than Pujols did in 2011. Pujols, has even showed that he's on the decline (in the last couple of seasons, he's been hitting into lots of double plays). And some still wonder about his age also. And even with Adam Wainwright coming back, the Cardinals still are the team to beat in the NL Central. Pretty much, the only other team that has gotten better in the NL Central are the Reds. Cardinals and Reds battling it out for the NL Central? I could see that happening in 2012.

As of now, here's the line up and rotation.

Line up: ss - Furcal, rf - Beltran, lf - Holliday, 1b - Berkman, 3b - Freese, c - Molina, cf - Jay, 2b - Descalso, pitcher
note: Allen Craig is out until May, due to knee surgery, it can even take players time to be 100% from knee surgery, so maybe he sees sometime at 1b .... before he sees rf. But, once he does get back, Beltran will share time in cf and rf.

Bench: Skip Schumaker, Tony Cruz, Tyler Greene (out of options), Matt Carpenter (if Mo doesn't find a utility infielder, which he's said to be wanting one or keep Carpenter until Craig is back, since Carp has options and Greene can play some OF if need be), last spot is open as of now (unless the Cardinals find a righthanded bat for the OF who can be on the bench, which they pretty much need).

Starting pitching: Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook.
note: Both, Lohse and Westbrook will be free agents after the season and I don't see the Cardinals re-signing either one, so in 2013 .... Shelby Miller will be in the starting staff (could be a September call up in 012).

Bullpen: Jason Motte, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, Mitchell Boggs/Kyle McClellan, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepcynski, and J.C. Romero.
note: Boggs or McClellan need to be traded, unless the Cardinals wanna go with an extra pitcher to start the season and figure out which one gets traded. If I were the Cardinals, I'd trade Mitchell Boggs and keep McClellan. Since, McClellan can get lefties out if need be.

As of now, if things go the Cardinals way, they should be a 90 win team. It should be interesting to see how new manager Mike Matheny handles the club at first, with his first time being a manager. He might have to learn some stuff at the start of the season, but hang with him folks. He still has lots of Tony La Russa's coaches around him, who can help give him advice (like Jose Oquendo).

All for now, AMF.

Which two rentals should the Cardinals keep?

Going into tonight, which two players should the Cardinals keep who the got in trades in July? Edwin Jackson or Rafael Furcal or both? Edwin Jackson keeps bouncing from team to team, he came up in his early 20's as a top pitching prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers ended up using all of his options, he ended up being traded to the Tampa Rays. And he had to learn on the fly when he was a Ray, thanks to the Dodgers using up all of his options. His best season in the MLB career so far was 2009 with the Detroit Tigers, when he pitched 33 games that season, while starting all 33. Jackson went 13-9 with a career era of 3.62 in 214 innings pitched, 161 strikeouts and 70 walks. He had a whip of 1.26. He then was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 09 season, in 2010 he threw a no hitter as a D'Back. And was later traded that season to the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox then traded him in a three way deal in 2011 to the St. Louis Cardinals. So, he's always had the talent to be a good pitcher, and he's still only 27 years old. The Cardinals had always liked him a lot over his career also, I think their current pitching coach Dave Duncan sees him as a younger Dave Stewart (who was a pitcher who didn't really learn how to pitch until he was 30). Going into tonight game, Jackson has started 5 games for the Cardinals and is 2-2 in 32.2 innings, with 22 strikeouts and 9 walks, with a whip of 1.52.

I've liked him a lot so far, he seems like he can be good with help. It seems like all he pretty much needs to do is learn to be a pitcher, and not get high in pitch counts right away. And when he's on his game he can battle. If I were the Cardinals, I'd keep him if he wants to comeback on a two or three year deal. Then trade off starting pitcher Jake Westbrook, who has been up and down this season.

Now on to Rafael Furcal, the Cardinals needed a shortstop and picked up Furcal for nothing from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pretty much because the Cardinals needed a better defensive shortstop than Ryan Theriot. Furcal has done that so far, playing in 20 games and starting in 19 for the Cardinals, he's made only two errors and has showed that his defense is still there. He's also a great lead off batter when, healthy, even though he's been injured the past few seasons. Going into tonights game, he's batting .214 as a Cardinals, which as a Dodger he was batting .197. The Cardinals hold a $12 million option on Furcal. As of right now would you bring him back? I would, if he's willing to accept less money. A lot because of his defense, and he can get on base if healthy. And maybe in 2012, Furcal will be healthy.

That's all for now.

Bears running back Cedric Benson arrested

Austin, Texas - Cedric Benson who plays running back in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, was on boating trip Saturday night. Austin police found Benson boasting while intocicated on a 30-foot boat. Benson decided to resist arrest, the police then had to use pepper spray on him and then dragged him ashore.

He had 15 passengers aboard, when a Lower Colorado River Authority officer stopped him for a random safety inspection. Benson, then failed a field sobriety test on the officer's boat and became uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore.

"When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed on land and refused to put on a life jacket," the authority said in a statement.

This isn't the first time that Benson has gotten into legal problems. Back in 2003, he was sentenced to eight days in jail. That was for a misdemeanor trespassing charge, after he forced his way into an apartment to look for a reported stolen TV. In 2002, Benson had charges dropped against him, those charges were for misdemeanor drug and alcohol.

The Bears, drafted Benson out of the University of Texas, as a fourth round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. But, so far during his NFL career with the Bears, he hasn't done much on the football field. While, at Texas he rushed for more than 5,500 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also, ran for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. He's also been getting hurt for the Bears, he's missed 13 games in his career. Last season, he ended up on the injured reserve in November, that was after becoming the Bears no.1 running back.

John Bale, breaks pitching hand while punching door

Cleveland, Ohio - Royals left-hander reliever John Bale decided to pull a Julian Tavarez on Friday night at the teams hotel. No, Bale didn't punch a wall in the visitors dugout. Instead, Bale broke his pitching hand by punching a door at the hotel, he already had been on the disabled list.

A Royals team offical, has said that Bale had pain in his pitching hand, that was after arriving at Progressive Field for Saturday night's match up against the Cleveland Indians. Then, during the game Bale had x-rays taken. The x-rays revealed a fracture on the side of Bale's hand.

On Sunday morning, Bale flew back to Kansas City, Missouri where he will have his had examined by Royals team doctors, which could happen on Monday. He was surpose to be off the DL in a few days, and the Royals were planing to move him back to the bullpen, after starting the 2008 season as a starting pitcher. So far, this season Bale is 0-3 with an era of 7.63. He has given up 13 earned runs, and allowing 25 hits. He's pitched in 15 1/3 innings.

The Royals signed Bale last offseason as a free agent, after spending three seasons in Japan (2004-2006). The 33-year-old Bale, has also played in the major leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles, along with the Cincinnati Reds. As of right now in his career, he's 3-6 with an era of 4.84, which is in 56 career appearances.