Post Season

The Kung-Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval, won World Series MVP
and contributed to the sweep of the Detroit Tigers. This is
him holding a broom he used to sweep the Tigers with. 

The San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions for the 2012 season. They came back in the NLDS and the NLCS and then completed a sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Now that the World Series is completed the off season has begun.

Teams can negotiate with their own players and trade with other teams freely. Soon teams will be allowed to negotiate with free agents from other teams. Here are some notable free agents and what teams I predict will sign them.

Catchers

A.J. Pierzynski: Texas Rangers
Russel Martin: New York Yankees
Mike Napoli: Los Angeles Dodgers

First Basemen

Lance Berkman: Retirement
Jason Giambi: Retirement
Aubrey Huff: Houston Astros (DH)
Carlos Lee: Miami Marlins
James Loney: Seattle Mariners
Carlos Pena: Tampa Bay Rays

Second Basemen

Jeff Keppinger: Tampa Bay Rays
Freddy Sanchez: Toronto Blue Jays
Marco Scutaro: San Francisco Giants

Third Basemen

Eric Chavez: New York Yankees
Scott Rolen: Retirement
Kevin Youkilis: Chicago White Sox
Placido Polanco: Minnesota Twins

Shortstops

Stephan Drew: New York Mets

Left Fielders:

Melky Cabrera: San Francisco Giants
Andruw Jones: Atlanta Braves
Juan Pierre: Philadelphia Phillies
Cody Ross: Boston Red Sox
Shane Victorino: Baltimore Orioles

Center Fielders

Michael Bourne: Atlanta Braves
Josh Hamilton: Milwaukee Brewers
Angel Pagan: San Francisco Giants
Grady Sizemore: Arizona Diamond Backs
BJ Upton: Boston Red Sox

Right Fielders

Torii Hunter: Texas Rangers
Nick Swisher: New York Yankees
Ichiro Suzuki: New York Yankees

Designated Hitters

David Ortiz: Boston Red Sox
Raul Ibanez: New York Yankees
Delmon Young: Detroit Tigers

Starting Pitchers

Zack Grienke: Los Angeles Angels
Edwin Jackson: Washington Nationals
Hiroki Kuroda: New York Yankees
Derek Lowe: Houston Astros
Carlos Zambrano: Miami Marlins
Jeremy Guthrie: Kansas City Royals
Jonathon Sanchez: Baltimore Orioles

Closers

Jonathon Broxton: Cincinnati Reds
Brandon League: Texas Rangers
Jose Valverde: New York Mets

Right Handed Relief Pitchers

Mike Adams: New York Yankees
Luis Ayala: Baltimore Orioles
Francisco Rodriguez: Detroit Tigers
Koji Uehara: Texas Rangers

Left Handed Relief Pitchers

Jeremy Afeldt: San Francisco Giants
Randy Choate: Texas Rangers
Brian Fuentes: Los Angeles Dodgers
JP Howell: Philadelphia Phillies
Oliver Perez: Tampa Bay Rays

Keys to the Championship

After the historic game one of the World Series last night, the Giants seem to be the dominant team. Pablo Sandoval made history becoming the forth player ever (5th time) to hit 3 home runs in a world series game. He joins Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928), Reggie Jackson (1977) and Albert Pujols (2011) as the only players to hit 3 home runs in a world series game.

Each team cannot win without key players. One controversy heading into the playoffs was putting Tim Lincecum into the bullpen. A two time Cy Young award winner pitching out of the bullpen. It sounds crazy, but is it really?

The Giants took a shot to their team when Brian Wilson had to get surgery, their bullpen was weakened. Santiago Cassilla and Sergio Romo took over the role as closer and did a great job at it. The problem now is who will take their spot? Bruce Bochy primarily mixed and match for the 6th and 7th innings, but now he has a first class pitcher to fill the gap.

Last night Barry Zito was dealing, but he faced some adversity in the 6th inning.  Not wanting the lead to shrink further Bochy called to his secret weapon, Tim Lincecum. The All Star game out of the bullpen, faced Peralta and struck him out to get the final out in the 6th. Lincecum then went on to face 6 more batters and retired each one of them, not allowing a single batter to reach base in 2.1 innings. He struck out 5 of the 7 batters faced.

Being able to use this weapon out of the bullpen once every 2 games is something every manager wishes he could have in the World Series. As soon as the starting pitcher gets into some trouble, Bochy will call on Lincecum and pitch through the 7th inning to get the ball to Cassilla and Affeldt to mix and match for the 8th. Romo will be there to close the door in 9th.

Sandoval is as hot as they can be, Scuttaro is getting on base like no tomorrow, Blanco is making stellar catches every night and the starters are pitching fantastic. If this continues you can bet the Giants will be the 2012 World Series Champions.

World Series Preview

The Giants are back in the World Series

We have made it through spring training, 162 games, the Division Series, and the Championship Series, now only one thing remains, the World Series. The Tigers and the Giants will battle it out for the right to be called the best team in 2012.

Both teams have a Cy Young Award candidate and both teams have an MVP candidate. Lets compare them.

Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown in the American League. .330 AVG, .393 OBP, 44 HR and 139 RBI.

The Tigers are roaring through the playoffs

Buster Posey lead the MLB with a .336 AVG. He also had a .408 OBP, 24 HR, and 103 RBI.

Justin Verlander had another great season. 17 wins, a 2.64 ERA, 239 K and 238 IP.
Matt Cain started the All Star game for the National League. 16 wins, a 2.79 ERA, 193 K and 219 IP.

Verlander will start game 1 in San Francisco and it look as if it will be Madison Bumgarner to start that game for the Giants. Game 2 will also be in San Francisco, the Tigers will start Doug Fister and the Giants may start either Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, or Ryan Vogelsong on short rest. Game 3 for the Tigers will be Anibal Sanchez on the mound and Matt Cain for the Giants. In Game 4 the Tigers' Max Scherzer will pitch for the Tigers and the Giants will pitch one of the two who didn't pitch game 2.

The Giants can be called the come back kids. They came back in the NLDS after being down 2-0 in the series and they came back in the NLCS after being down 3-1 in the series. So if the Tigers get a lead in the series don't count the Giants out.

The Tigers had plenty of time to rest their players after they swept the Yankees in 4 games, but that could be bad for a team. The Giants have momentum on their side, a winning streak can carry into the World Series.

It will be an interesting World Series. All games can be seen on FOX at 8 PM eastern time.

First Trades

Well I have been caught up in the post season like many others. It has been exciting and who would have thought that the Giants and Cardinals would be battling it out in the NLCS. In the American League playoffs the team with the least wins is going to the World Series. Well the post season for many teams has begun and that means trades.

John Farrel was the manager of the Blue Jays, but now he will be managing the Boston Red Sox. In the trade Mike Aviles will go to Toronto in exchange for right handed pitcher David Carpenter.

The big trade involved the Diamond Backs, Marlins and Athletics. The Diamond Backs will receive veteran reliever Heath Bell, SS/2B Cliff Pennington, and cash. The Marlins will receive Prospect Yordy Cabrera from Oakland. The Athletics will get center fielder Chris Young.

The Diamond Backs seem like they will be buyers this off season. Bolstering their bullpen with a veteran looking for a rebound from a terrible season was a good idea. Bell has success in the NL West and will obviously look for more. The A's look as if they will let Coco Crisp walk as they won't have a spot for him. Cespedes, Young, and Reddick will occupy the outfield for the A's. Finally after the Marlins were the big spenders they are rebuilding yet again.

Play Off Predictions

NLWC: Cardinals vs Braves.  Braves

NLDS:  Giants vs Reds. Giants 

NLDS: Braves vs Nationals. Braves

NLCS: Braves vs Giants. Braves

ALWC: Orioles vs Rangers. Rangers

ALDS: Tigers vs Athletics. Tigers

ALDS: Rangers vs Yankees. Yankees

ALCS: Yankees vs Tigers. Yankees

WORLD SERIES: Yankees vs Braves. Yankees

But Wait! There's More!

This season has been nothing less than amazing. So many great stories, historic events, fantastic games, and breakout seasons. The season is not over yet, the play offs need to be played.

Speaking of the playoffs, if you told me the Athletics would win the American League West, beating both the Rangers and the Angels I would call you crazy. Yesterday the Athletics beat the Rangers to complete a sweep and end the season on a high note. The reason why they won the AL West is because everyone said they couldn't. Congratulations to the Athletics on a successful season.

R.A. Dickey was a fantastic story this year. The 37 year old knuckleballer pitched his way to a Cy Young quality season. He admitted after his last start that he has been pitching the entire season injured. Yup, he dominated the National League with a strained abdominal muscle. He said he'll have surgery in October.

The Orioles made it back to the post season for the first time since 1997. The Orioles under Buck Showalter are a different ball club. They hustle, they play hard, and they win. The Orioles will play the Rangers in Texas in the wild card game to earn the right to play the Yankees in the ALDS.

Adam Greenberg was hit in the head during his first at bat with the Cubs in 2005. Ever since that day Greenberg would never get another at bat at the Major League level. He played in the independent league for a while, until a movement started to get him just one more at bat. The Marlins took on the task and signed him to a one day contract. In his one at bat, he faced the  toughest pitcher in the National League, R.A. Dickey. In his only at bat Greenberg struck out on three pitches. Dickey said after the game that part of the experience for Greenberg was for Dickey to treat Greenberg like any other Major League player. At least Greenberg finally got his at bat.

The Nationals are in the post season with the best record in the National League. With the best pitching staff in the Major Leagues they dominated the Major Leagues and dominated the opposition. With help from Bryce Harper and Adam Laroche the Nationals were a well rounded team that could be anyone. They will test their young roster in the NLDS playing the winner of the wild card game. Also on the last game of the season Teddy Roosevelt won his first ever race in DC.

This season there were some huge trades. Ichiro went to the Yankees, Youkilis went to the White Sox, Ramirez went to the Dodgers, Dempster went to the Rangers, Pence went to the Giants, Victorino went to the Dodgers and of course the biggest trade of the season Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford, and Punto going to the Dodgers.

Chipper Jones announced that this would be his last season and will retire after the season. He is one of the most loved players in the Major Leagues and his opponents made it noticed. Where ever he went this season the opposing team gave him something to depart with. Chipper will be put to the test in the wild card game against the Cardinals.

There were 7 no hitters this season, tying the all time high for a single season. Phillip Humber, Jered Weaver, Homer Bailey, Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez, Johan Santana, and a combined no hitter by the Seattle Mariners. Pitching really did have the upper hand in 2012.

There were several rookies who came on the scene this season. Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Yoennis Cespedes, Yu Darvish, Todd Fraizer, Jesus Montero, Matt Moore, Brett Lawrie, Matt Harvey, Trevor Bauer, and Quintin Berry are rookies who had a major effect on their teams this season.

Finally Miguel Cabrera made a mockery out of the opposing pitching by winning the first triple crown since  Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1967. Cabrera had 44 home runs, a .330 batting average, and 139 RBI's. It was a historic season for Cabrera and he led the Tigers down the stretch to win the AL Central.