America’s self-proclaimed favorite past time returns. Major League Baseball (MLB), which is currently in the middle of its spring training period will kick off its opening day on April 4. After the changes made during the off-season, many questions have arisen.
One notable change is the MLB’s introduction of an altered playoff system. The league, which is made up of two inner leagues, will now allow one extra team from each league to join the playoffs. The new format allows the extra playoff wild card teams to participate in a one game winner-take-all match against the other wild card team in their league.
Other alterations involve powerful free agents signing with new teams. Prince Fielder, who was part of helping bring the Milwaukee Brewers back to respectability the last few seasons, joined the Detroit Tigers this past summer. Fielder will look to get the Tigers over the hump this season and he will also look to help them strive for their first championship since 1984.
Albert Pujols is another All-Star caliber player on the move. Pujols is coming off a successful 11-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals. This stint included two World Series championships, three MVP awards and nine All-Star team selections. He will join the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this season, and he looks to help the team win their first championship since 2002.
The most significant international move was the Texas Rangers signing Japanese pitching phenom Yu Darvish.
The biggest question of the 2012 season is who will win it all. An easy pick to win the 2012 World Series would be the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals. Most of its starters from last season are returning, and they have a competitive edge over other teams with their experience.
Freshman catcher James Grandpre disagrees with this argument.
“The Angels will win it all this year,” Grandpre said. “The teams off-season additions will get them over the hump this year.”
In addition to adding Pujols to the roster, the Angels welcome former Texas Ranger and World Series participant C.J. Wilson to the roster. Kendrys Morales, who had monster numbers in his last full season of 2009, will also be returning from his freak injury. The Angels have the potential to scare a lot of teams this season.
Despite all the various arguments that have been made, Vegas odds once again declared the Philadelphia Phillies as the favorites to win, followed by the Angels and the Yankees. The Phillies won 102 games last season, and recently welcomed closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Last season, once the 2011 MLB playoffs began, betting odds stated that the Cardinals along with the Arizona Diamondbacks were least likely to win it all. The Cards went on to defy the odds, which just goes to show that every team has a chance to win it all.
