The 2012 Major League Baseball season is down to four remaining teams, two from each of the American and National leagues. The American League Championship Series will feature two teams that aren’t strangers to one another as the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees go head-to-head in a rematch from last year’s American League Division Series. Detroit would go onto win that series in 5 games and head to the 2011 ALCS while the Yankees packed their bags for the season.

Can New York gain revenge for last season’s loss or will the Detroit Tigers win their third straight Postseason series against the Yankees in the last 6 seasons? Let’s take a look at the 2012 American League Championship Series:

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

It was just a little over a year ago at this time where the Detroit Tigers were celebrating a Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees in the 2011 American League Division Series to send them packing for the 2011 season. The Tigers would advance to the American League Championship Series and eventually get eliminated by the Texas Rangers. New York was left to watch the Tigers celebrate on their field and extend their season; they now look for revenge in 2012 in a 7-game series.

This will be the 3rd time in 6 years that these two teams will meet in the Postseason. Detroit eliminated the Yankees in the 2006 American League Division Series as they would go all the way to the World Series, only to lose to St. Louis that season and then as we just recapped, the Tigers would be in the 2011 American League Division Series as well. Jim Leyland has had the Yankees number since he has taken over the skipper’s job in Detroit and looks to take his record to 3-0 against the Yankees in the Postseason for his career.

Just like in each of those two prior series the Yankees will have home-field advantage, clearly something that didn’t give them an advantage against the 2006 and 2011 Detroit Tigers teams. What could help the Yankees in the long run is instead of this being a 5-game series this will be a 7-game series. A series that will more then likely see Justin Verlander start at least two of those games, should it go to 7 I would assume that Leyland would use Verlander only in a relief spot, if needed.

In a strange twist of fate the New York Yankees enter this series against Detroit with the statistically better pitching at this point. In the ALDS series the New York Yankees had a team ERA of 1.76 in 5 games. Detroit on the other hand seemed to struggle when pitchers not named Justin Verlander were on the mound and whenever Leyland would call to the bullpen for relief. Something that I have always pointed out in my preview blogs come Postseason for the CCB was that pitching wins Championships and as of right now you have to give that edge to the Yankees.

Where Detroit has the edge is in its lineup. Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter in Baseball right now and Prince Fielder has helped compliment him throughout the season. Fielder seemed to catch fire towards the end of the Athletics series while Cabrera has been a well-known “Yankee killer” throughout his entire Baseball career.

New York on the other hand has struggled dearly with their lineup throughout the Postseason thus far. They did not score more then 3 runs in the last 4 games after scoring 7 in Game 1 of the ALDS series against the Orioles. At times the Yankees seem desperate when stepping up to the plate and very much out of sync. The drama surrounding Alex Rodriguez at this moment is well documented but as we all know, this is a new series and anyone, including the Yankees lineup or Tigers pitching can be rejuvenated when a World Series is on the line.

With that said when it comes to my predictions for the American League Championship Series I will have to side with the New York Yankees and for two reasons that I believe have rung true the last several years in the MLB Postseason. New York enters this series against Detroit with the right time for their pitching to catch fire, the team ERA of 1.76 is extremely impressive for a team that has lacked pitching the last two Postseasons and as we all know, pitching wins Championships. The 2nd reason I believe the Yankees will win the ALCS is because they have momentum going in their favor at this time, they are coming off of a series where they had to fight till the end against the Orioles and have the momentum to carry them into World Series.

Pitching and momentum wins Championships. Should that continue to ring true for the New York Yankees then I like this team to beat a very good Detroit Tigers team. Detroit has become the Yankees new road block season-after-season it seems like and now it’s time for them to get the “monkey off their back.”

Prediction: Yankees win series 4-2

For more MLB talk throughout the Postseason join Bower, Chris Johnson and myself Monday – Friday throughout the Football season on 97.9 ESPN in Hartford, ESPN 1300 in New Haven and online at 979espn.com!

You can listen to Jeff on “The Bower Show” every Monday – Friday from 3pm – 7pm ET on 97.9 ESPN in Hartford, CT. You can listen online at www.979espn.com

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The 2012 ALDS and for the most part, the entire 2012 MLB Postseason, is wide open. More so then it probably ever has been because you legitimately have 8 teams that have great possibilities in being World Series Champions at the end of the season. This is due in part because the game of Baseball is simply improving, gone are the days where the teams with the highest payrolls dominate the Postseason and it has shifted to team’s that have gotten “hot” at the right time to be crowned Champions.

Which teams will catch that momentum at the right time? I give you some of my thoughts in my ALDS Preview and predictions blog:

Oakland Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers

Both of these teams certainly had quite the trip towards the 2012 Postseason. For starters the Oakland Athletics weren’t even considered AL West or Postseason candidates this season or next season either. Instead the Athletics played on heart and determination in capturing the AL West crown in the final day of the 2012 MLB regular season.

The Detroit Tigers on the other hand were expected to win the AL Central and be strong contenders for the World Series Championship this season. But in actuality the Tigers trailed the surprising Chicago White Sox for most of the season in the AL Central but eventually caught up to them and surpassed them in clinching the division with less then a week out. The way Detroit played all season makes them vulnerable going into the Postseason but as we found out last season, a vulnerable Detroit team in the regular season doesn’t usually make for one in the Postseason.

If we can learn from anything the last two Postseasons it’s to expect anything and don’t count out anyone. Both of these teams, Detroit and Oakland, are strong contenders to be AL representatives in this year’s World Series. While on paper it appears Detroit is the better of the two teams, on field they are very evenly matched.

Going off of history and anything that I’ve learned from the MLB Postseason the last two seasons specifically, I am going to go with the Oakland Athletics in this one. They are simply a “team of destiny” at this moment and snuck up on the Baseball world as quite possibly the best story of the 2012 MLB season in my opinion. It’s going to go 5 games but you cannot stop the heart and determination of this underdog Oakland Athletics squad.

Prediction: Athletics win series 3-2

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees

If you are a fan of mid-90’s Baseball rivalries then you are pretty stoked about this Postseason matchup. In 1996 the Yankees and Orioles gave us one of the most memorable American League Championship Series of all-time (remember Jeffrey Maier?) and battled it out in the AL East for all of 1997. It was only a two-year span but it was the intense AL East rivalry for the Yankees until the Red Sox waltzed back into their lives.

Reason why that rivalry never continued on past 1997 until it was renewed in 2012? Because the Baltimore Orioles occupied the basement of the AL East the last 14 years! A lot has changed since then and the Baltimore Orioles are once again one of the most exciting teams to watch in Major League Baseball. They enter the ALDS against the team they trailed, were tied with and were ahead of throughout the month of September by one game, it’s only fitting they battle it out in 5 games!

This series is going to be very exciting in my opinion and only matches the Reds/Giants series when it comes to my own personal excitement to watch Postseason Baseball. Reason being is because both teams are going to leave it all on the line for the opportunity to advance into the American League Championship Series. But like anything, all good things must come to an end and there has to be a winner!

With that said I like the New York Yankees in this one to advance into the ALCS. Reason why I say this is because New York played very well when they were completely healthy in the final stretch of the season and mirrored the team that was red hot entering the All-Star break. If that type of play can continue onto October then New York is going to be a very deadly team to face in the Postseason. It will be a close series but one that sees the Yankees outmatching the great story that is the Baltimore Orioles!

Prediction: Yankees win series 3-2

For more MLB talk throughout the Postseason join Bower, Chris Johnson and myself Monday – Friday throughout the Football season on 97.9 ESPN in Hartford, ESPN 1300 in New Haven and online at 979espn.com!

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The 2012 Major League Baseball season is in the books and Postseason Baseball is upon us. 10 teams remain for the opportunity to be crowned World Series Champion. Let’s take a look back at my predictions on every division and see how I fared in what actually occurred this season. It will be alright to laugh and point at some of picks because you know I’ll be doing the same as well.

With that said here were my predictions for the 2012 MLB season from the start of the season for the Camel Clutch Blog:

National League:

Predicted NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies (Actual finish: 3^rd in NL East)

2. Miami Marlins (Actual finish: 5^th in NL East)

3. Washington Nationals (Actual finish: 1^st in NL East)

4. Atlanta Braves (Actual finish: 2^nd in NL East)

5. New York Mets (Actual finish: 4^th in NL East)

I don’t think I could’ve predicted a division any worse then I did with the National League East this season. Honestly who saw the Nationals being this good, this early on in their franchise? I certainly didn’t just yet but it’s been one of the best stories in Baseball this season. As for the Philadelphia Phillies decline this year I didn’t see that coming either, obviously.

Philadelphia will be a team poised to return to prominence in the NL East next season, no shock there when you have the rotation and lineup they have. When it comes to the Atlanta Braves I actually thought they would’ve suffered what the Boston Red Sox suffered this season and that was still having a bad taste in their mouths from the “final day of the season collapse” in 2011. New York lived up to their expectations while the Miami Marlins did not from their busy offseason heading into this year, I’ll be shocked if Ozzie Guillen is still the manager come 2013.

Congrats to the Nationals and Braves on making the playoffs this season and glad we could all come together to enjoy a good laugh due in part to my horrible NL East predictions this season!

Predicted NL Central:

1. Cincinnati Reds (Actual finish: 1^st in NL Central)

2. Milwaukee Brewers (Actual finish: 3^rd in NL Central)

3. St. Louis Cardinals (Actual finish: 2^nd in NL Central)

4. Chicago Cubs (Actual finish: 5^th in NL Central)

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (Actual finish: 4^th in NL Central)

6. Houston Astros (Actual finish: 6^th in NL Central)

Well at least I got the division winner right in the NL Central and for the most part I didn’t do a bad job predicting this one. Each team is close to the position I had them finishing in with the most important being the Cincinnati Reds returning to the top of this division after seeing Milwaukee and St. Louis own it in 2011. I had Cincinnati as my NL Champions for this season and still like them as a World Series contender heading into Postseason Baseball.

Cincy has the blueprint of the last two World Series Champions in the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, both whom are also part of the National League. The Reds have a strong pitching rotation, an even stronger bullpen and a very solid lineup; all things that helped those two teams win the last two World Series Championships. They have the makings of bringing a World Championship back to Cincinnati in 2012 if the stars continue to align themselves in the Reds favor.

As for the rest of the division the Pirates were a disappointment in the fact that they trailed off at the end of the season yet again and they always seem to be getting closer but can never kick the door down. St. Louis bounced back nicely from Pujols leaving for the Angels and LaRussa retiring as they look to reclaim their World Series crown yet again in this year’s Postseason. As for the rest of the division Milwaukee needs to give Ryan Braun help if they ever want to play in Postseason Baseball during his tenure, the Cubs didn’t capitalize on Theo Epstein being there…yet and the Astros are well, the Astros.

Predicted NL West:

1. San Francisco Giants (Actual finish: 1^st in NL West)

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (Actual finish: 2^nd in NL West)

3. Arizona Diamondbacks (Actual finish: 3^rd in NL West)

4. Colorado Rockies (Actual finish: 5^th in NL West)

5. San Diego Padres (Actual finish: 4^th in NL West)

I should’ve saved this division for last because this was the best of any MLB division that I predicted. I really liked the San Francisco Giants to return back to the top of the NL West this season and for the Los Angeles Dodgers to improve upon their final stretch of 2011. Arizona had decline written all over them and the Rockies/Padres didn’t have a bright future heading into 2012 at all.

San Francisco is poised to be potential World Series Champions again and their matchup in the NLDS could’ve been a NLCS matchup in my opinion as well. The Giants don’t have the starting pitching that they did in 2010 when they won the World Series but their bullpen seems to be very similar to that Championship team and their lineup is wiser & older as Buster Posey really showed up as a NL MVP candidate in 2012. Like the Reds, they are a very dangerous team to deal with in the Postseason.

Los Angeles was a disappointment for me this season because even before the Han-Ram, A-Gon/Beckett/Crawford deals I had them going to the NLCS. Matt Kemp could’ve been the NL MVP if he stayed healthy but because of such it slightly derailed this team for this season, they will be a strong contender in 2013 though. Arizona is like what Baltimore, Oakland and Washington are this season as they were a young team playing with “house money” heading into the Postseason, for them to keep that trend going would’ve been hard to do. Finally I didn’t expect much out of San Diego at all and Colorado needs to be “blown up” in the offseason if they want to thrive ever again, don’t be surprised if Tulo and/or C-Gon get traded at some point.

Predicted National League Division winners: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants

Actual National League Division winners: Washington Nations, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants

I believe it was Meat Loaf who once said: “two out of three ain’t bad.” I’ll take the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants picks but will admit I was very surprised the Phillies decline happened this season. Like I said before, I expected the Washington Nationals to be good, at some point, just not in the 2012 MLB season.

Predicted National League Wild Card Teams: Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers

Actual National League Wild Card Teams: Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals

Well I got these picks completely wrong now didn’t I? I didn’t believe the Braves would be able to bounce back from the Wild Card collapse last season (instead it was Boston who couldn’t) and I thought it would be very tough for this Cards team to return to the Postseason without Albert Pujols & with a rookie manager, I was extremely wrong on both. At least this time both teams will go head-to-head with the Wild Card on the line and not have it be decided like it was last season.

Predicted AL East:

1. New York Yankees (Actual finish: 1^st in AL East)

2. Tampa Bay Rays (Actual finish: 3^rd in AL East)

3. Boston Red Sox (Actual finish: 5^th in AL East)

4. Toronto Blue Jays (Actual finish: 4^th in AL East)

5. Baltimore Orioles (Actual finish: 2^nd in AL East)

The American League East is often looked upon as one of the most competitive divisions in Baseball and for a good part of 2012 it most certainly was. At one point in the season all five AL East teams had records above, at, or close to .500 heading into the All-Star break. That’s pretty impressive for an entire division to accomplish.

I was correct in picking the New York Yankees as the AL East Champions but the rest of the division was an unpredictable mess from my picks. The Baltimore Orioles, who finished 2^nd in the division and made it into the Postseason I had predicted would be in LAST PLACE. Simply because I loved this team the season prior to be contending for a Wild Card position and they didn’t, so next season I need not to hold grudges when I predict divisions.

For the rest of the AL East I knew Tampa Bay would be competitive but didn’t think they’d miss the playoffs and they did as a 90 win team for 2012. I knew Toronto would be “pesky” but still didn’t have what it takes to be competitors in the AL East just yet; I like them to be like the 2012 Orioles in 2013 though. As for the Boston Red Sox I did not see this coming at all, never would I be able to predict the collapse they had, only having 69 wins while having 93 losses, trading away some of their top stars (Gonzalez, Beckett and Crawford) and having this Bobby V hatred that the fans did. I don’t think ANYONE could’ve predicted that happening and not for a Baseball town like Boston.

 Predicted AL Central:

1. Detroit Tigers (Actual finish: 1^st in AL Central)

2. Kansas City Royals (Actual finish: 3^rd in AL Central)

3. Cleveland Indians (Actual finish: 4^th in AL Central)

4. Minnesota Twins (Actual finish: 5^th in AL Central)

5. Chicago White Sox (Actual finish: 2^nd in AL Central)

I guess for at least the American League I decided I’d go with predicting the Division winner right but not being too close with the other teams. Detroit wasn’t a hard prediction to make simply because the division isn’t too strong but I was quite surprised with how long it took them to clinch the division and with so little wins in the process. Detroit should’ve been a 97-100 win team in 2012 in my opinion.

The White Sox finished 2^nd in the division and I had them in last place. Predicting the White Sox for last place in the Central wasn’t something shocking because they blew up their team in the offseason and hired a new manager in the process. But instead of rolling over the White Sox went out there, shocked the baseball world to 85 wins and all the while contending for most of the season in the AL Central.

As for the rest of the division the Royals were very disappointing in that they didn’t contend in the year everyone figured they would, which sets them up to be a nice story for 2013 just like the Orioles, Nationals or Athletics. Cleveland is Cleveland and Minnesota is Minnesota. Both of those teams, Cleveland and Minnesota, need some freshening up for their franchises to ever be successful again.

Predicted AL West:

1. Los Angeles Angels (Actual finish: 3^rd in AL West)

2. Texas Rangers (Actual finish: 2^nd in AL West)

3. Oakland Athletics (Actual finish: 1^st in AL West)

4. Seattle Mariners (Actual finish: 4^th in AL West)

If you had the Oakland Athletics winning the AL West this season I’d like you to pick my lottery numbers for the rest of my life. While it’s an amazing story lets face it, NO ONE SAW THIS COMING! The Athletics were lost in a division with the Texas Rangers AND the Los Angeles Angels, two teams that had great teams to begin with but got BETTER in the offseason while the Athletics traded away some of their top players (Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey)!

The Texas Rangers are a disappointment because they lead the AL West from April 9^th till Game #161 when they let the Athletics win the AL West in Game #162. That is a pretty epic collapse in my opinion, and the only way they can salvage it is by advancing far in the Postseason. As for the Los Angeles Angles they are an even bigger disappointment because they didn’t contend for the Postseason at all this year! They signed both Albert Pujols & CJ Wilson in the offseason, two of the biggest free agents available, called up rookie phenomenon Mike Trout to the bigs and traded for Zach Greinke forming one of the most impressive rotations on paper, all the while still failing to make the Postseason!

As for the Seattle Mariners, what can you say about them? The future appears to be bright there as they start over a new leaf without the likes of Ichiro Suzuki but there is still a lot to improve upon. At least with the Houston Astros coming over to the AL West next season they know that they won’t finish last anymore.

Predicted American League Division Winners: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels

Actual American League Division Winners: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics

Once again a wise man named Meat Loaf once said: “two out of three ain’t bad.” The only problem is the Los Angeles Angels, who I had winning the AL West, I also had winning the World Series! At least I have the chance to be half-right if Cincinnati makes it to the World Series!

Predicted American League Wild Card Teams: Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers

Actual American League Wild Card Teams: Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers

I’m proud of myself on this one because I had the Texas Rangers advancing to the AL Wild Card play-in game this season and while I did predict a AL East team would be the other Wild Card team I didn’t think it would be the Baltimore Orioles. At the start of the season had you known this would be the one-game Wild Card playoff game you’d be guessing it to be the Texas Rangers all day. I don’t know if that’s the case anymore as Texas looks to repeat for the third straight year as defending American League Champions. Baltimore is playing with “house money” and is very, very dangerous.

To wrap everything up it was fun to look back at my 2012 MLB predictions and see how good I did, while how bad I did as well. I’ve always had the great fun & pleasure of covering the MLB Postseason here on CamelClutchBlog.com for the last three years and I look forward to doing that once again here in 2012. Check out my Wild Card play-in game predictions blog coming out on Friday and my ALDS/NLDS predictions blog set for Saturday!

For more MLB talk throughout the Postseason join Bower, Chris Johnson and myself Monday – Friday throughout the Football season on 97.9 ESPN in Hartford, ESPN 1300 in New Haven and online at 979espn.com!

You can listen to Jeff on “The Bower Show” every Monday – Friday from 3pm – 7pm ET on 97.9 ESPN in Hartford, CT. You can listen online at www.979espn.com

You can follow Jeff on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck

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The last couple of days I have previewed & predicted the American League and National League for the 2012 MLB Regular Season. I have given you my predictions for each division and the wild card teams for the 2012 season. So now it’s time to take those predictions and bring it into October Baseball where one World Champion will be crowned!

MLB Postseason:

American League Division Winners: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels

When I look at the top 3 teams in the American League I’d have to say its New York, Detroit and Los Angeles. They are all very evenly balanced and make up some of the elite in the American League. Anyone of these teams could easily be predicted as a World Series Champion coming out of the American League.

American League Wild Card Teams: Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers

The American league is stacked with potential Wild Card teams this season and this selection was pretty hard to do but I believe both of these teams will be narrowly close to their division winner at the end of the Regular season. But when it comes to the first-ever American League Wild Card one game playoff matchup I have the Tampa Bay Rays finally defeating the Texas Rangers after being eliminated by the team from “the lone star state” the last two postseasons. It’ll be a big “monkey off the back” moment for the boys from “the trop.”

ALDS: Los Angeles Angels defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1
New York Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers 3-1

The Angels are a clear #1 seed in the AL playoffs in my opinion and should easily beat this Rays team in ALDS play. It always seems like that the Rays are good enough to make that last ditch effort to make the playoffs but are too spent from the path they took when it comes time for October Baseball. Things will eventually change for this Rays team but this season is not it as they continue to grow from challenges such as these.

New York avenges their loss in the ALDS to the Tigers from last season and finally defeat Jim Leyland in ALDS play. New York’s rotation is arguably deeper then that of the Tigers rotation and have a more even lineup that Detroit does. The woes of Miguel Cabrera playing third base and Prince Fielder becoming accustomed to a new team could hurt them in their first season playing together.

ALCS: Los Angeles Angels defeat the New York Yankees 4-2

It’s like “old times” yet again as the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees are my picks to meet in the ALCS. The Angels are the much better all-around team and can out match the Yankees on nearly every part of their game. “Pitching wins championships” is a moniker I really base my opinions all about and the 1-2-3 punch of the Angels will be very deadly this postseason.

Like I said in my American League preview blog, I really believe the Angels are and will be the best team in Baseball for 2012. Albert Pujols is going to want to make a statement that the Angels made the right move by signing him to that contract and he will be able to cement that by taking this team to a World Series. This is a very well balanced ballclub with a ton of promise as I have them advancing to the World Series.

National League Division winners: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants

The National League is much deeper and competitive then it has been in recent years in my opinion so picking these three division winners was really tough. I believe Philadelphia is the easiest of the three teams to select but that may all change in the NL East next season unless the Phils’ make some big moves during or after this season. I really like what Cincinnati did with their pitching this season as their lineup is already very balanced and they didn’t have any real big off-season distractions like the Brewers & Cardinals did. As for San Francisco they would’ve been NL West champs last season in my opinion if Buster Posey never went down for the year, this team is just as good as they were when they won the World Series in 2010.

National League Wild Card Teams: Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers

In the first-ever National League Wild Card one game playoff matchup I have the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Milwaukee Brewers to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009 when the team was coached by the legendary Joe Torre. Los Angeles is going to be a very surprising team this season in my opinion as guys like Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw become bigger names then they already are. I’m looking for these two to be the catalysts for the Dodgers resurge in Major League Baseball.

NLDS: Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1
Cincinnati Reds defeat the San Francisco Giants 3-2

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be that team who makes a late season push, wins the Wild Card and does really well when it comes to playoff time. I think that 2012 will be a statement year for Matt Kemp as he pushes his status in Major League Baseball from Dodgers star to the best player in the National League. Like I said before the Phillies are on the downside of this dynasty while the Dodgers are on the rise. This game could eventually mean the end of the tenure of Charlie Manuel in Philadelphia as well.

Cincinnati and San Francisco are two of my favorite teams to watch out for in the National League this season. They have great pitching, great hitting and two great managers. They are very similar teams when you take a look at them but I believe the Reds are slightly more balanced and that Joey Votto will be on a mission this season to take the Reds to the World Series. Votto is new Albert Pujols in the National League in that he can put a team on his back and carry them as far as he wants & I believe this will be his season to do such.

NLCS: Cincinnati Reds defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3

I am a big fan of these two teams in 2012. I feel like the Reds will become a top elite NL Central team in the wake of the Brewers and Cardinals off-season problems while the Dodgers will be the surprise team who makes the late season push into the playoffs. Both of team’s future is bright but I like the Cincinnati Reds to advance to the 2012 World Series to take on the Los Angeles Angels. Cincy has better top to bottom pitching and a better top to bottom lineup as well, these two historic National League teams should put on a great show in the NLCS.

2012 World Series: Los Angeles Angels defeat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 to win their first World Series Championship since 2002.

I have said it before and I will say it again, the Los Angeles Angels are the best team in Baseball entering the 2012 regular season in my opinion. They have basically a similar style of team that helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series last season but have a better rotation which helps support my constant theory that “pitching wins championships.” Albert Pujols will make this lineup better around him and help elevate young players like Kendrys Morales & Mark Trumbo to become better players.

As for the Cincinnati Reds I believe they don’t matchup as well to the Los Angeles Angels. For years they have been the “red headed stepchild” to Albert Pujols and it looks like that history will continue to repeat itself in my World Series prediction. Joey Votto will continue to have a monster performance in carrying this team on his back but they will fall short to being crowned World Champions against this very good Angels team.

The Angels rotation has a great 1-2-3 punch that can matchup with any of the top rotations in Baseball and the best part is that all three pitchers (Haren, Weaver and Wilson) are in their primes. This is a perfect time for the Angels to get back atop the Baseball world and look for them to have a similar bounce back season like the Yankees did in 2009 when they won the World Series. The Angels made key off-season additions that made this already good team better and they will be crowned World Champions at the end of 2012.

For more Baseball talk join us every Sunday on “The Wheelhouse” and download the show at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck

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It’s that time of the year again where I preview the 2012 Major League Baseball Season, from who will win the Division’s to who will hoist the World Series Championship when it’s all said and done! The Major League Baseball season officially starts this week over in Japan but will start next week for everyone else when it hits the States starting in the new home of the Miami Marlins. Out of thirty teams one will be left standing with the right to be called the “2012 World Series Champion!” With that being said lets start off with the American League!

American League:

The American League has not hosted a World Series Champion since 2009 when the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies and each of the last two years the defending American League Champion has been the Texas Rangers, will that all change this season? The American League also welcomes Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from the National League over to the American League creating quite possibly the most competitive league of the two in major league baseball. Only one team will have the right to represent the American League in the 2012 World Series and look to end the National League’s dominance the last two seasons. Lets take a look at each of the three American League divisions starting off with the AL East:

AL East:

1. New York Yankees
The defending American League East Champions are poised to repeat this season after improving a pitching rotation that was criticized all last season. The Yankees got through 162 games on the arms of ace CC Sabathia, rookie Ivan Nova, inconsistent A.J. Burnett and two pitchers past their prime Freddy Garcia & Bartolo Colon. With that rotation New York was able to win 97 games and make it into the postseason where their rotation could not matchup with the Detroit Tigers.

So what did General Manager Brian Cashman do in the off-season? He added more pitching depth and may have given New York their best rotation since the dynasty days in the late-90s and early 2000s. Joining CC Sabathia & Ivan Nova this season will be Hiroki Kuroda, young phenom Michael Pineda, the returning Andy Pettitte and bullpen/spot-star relief from either Freddy Garcia or Phil Hughes.

For quite a while (even dating back to 2009 when they won the World Series) the Yankees have been criticized for their lack of bullpen depth and now they have it with at least 6-7 starting pitchers on their roster. New York’s biggest flaw was matching their pitching with the pitching of an elite Baseball team and that’s what kept them from winning their 28th World Championship. New York has that and will be a top favorite to be crowned American League Champions.

2. Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays for all intensive purposes were not supposed to be competitive last season. For all intensive purposes they were not supposed to make the playoffs either. But in reality the Tampa Bay Rays were competitive last season (despite losing Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and basically all of their bullpen) and did make the playoffs in miracle fashion in Game #162. Many people thought that this team would be good again but it wouldn’t be till 2012 or 2013 when more of their “homegrown” talent continued to develop and live up to their potential.

Well one year removed off of their projected “down year” the Rays are back and looking a team that may be better then their American League Championship team back in 2008. The starting rotation, if it lives up to it’s potential, may be the best in all of Baseball and their bullpen, despite all the losses they faced heading in 2011, may be the best bullpen in Baseball. This team is very dynamic, very young and very fun to watch.

With all those positives comes the hunger this team will desire for all season long. They will keep the American League East extremely close all season long and challenge for the division crown. I believe the “projected success” for this team is the only thing holding them back from being an American League East division winner prediction.

3. Boston Red Sox
Boston has dealt with their fair share of ups and downs & heartbreaks. But Game #161 for them snapped one of the most popular Red Sox dynasties into pieces leaving “scorched earth” for new manager Bobby Valentine and new manager Ben Cherington to deal with. Times they are “a-changing” in “beantown” and I believe that while they will be competitively dominant they will face a lot of struggles as they try to gel this team back together after the horrible collapse from last season.

The Red Sox locker room is tumultuous and I believe still has remnants of it from last season. Carl Crawford will deal with the pressures of his huge contract from last season and Adrian Gonzalez will continue to prove he is the team leader now. But the biggest issue I believe the Red Sox will face is Bobby Valentine as their new manager. Valentine wasn’t their first choice to be manager and isn’t necessarily the “Red Sox material” of most managers they hire. His first season should be a bumpy one as the Red Sox continue to their pursuit to return to October Baseball.

4. Toronto Blue Jays
This Blue Jays team reminds me of the Tampa Bay Rays from a couple years ago. You think they are going to explode as a team and contend but wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t. I still think that is the case here.

Toronto has made phenomenal strides in recent years to improve this team and they continue to do so on a regular basis. Being the AL East hurts them and the competitive level is just so high amongst all five teams. Toronto is almost there but it’s just not this season.

5. Baltimore Orioles:
This Orioles team frustrates me a lot. I predicted they would be competitive last season and they weren’t. I predicted them to be competitive two years ago and they weren’t then either. So I’m just going to predict them for last place in the AL East this season as that potential “window of success” is starting to close on them and I predict that Buck Showalter won’t be the manager in Baltimore come the end of the season.

AL Central:

1. Detroit Tigers
The Tigers did what they could to improve their rotation last season and they did with the addition of Doug Fister who played a key role in their late October run to the ALCS. But when it came to meet up with the Texas Rangers last season’s ALCS there was one thing miss, offensive depth. Well they answered that question doing the off-season by adding Prince Fielder.

A line-up with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in it is almost every manager’s dream, especially in that ballpark. Both of these players will compliment each other so well and make each other better on a game-to-game basis. Compare that to their already good rotation and bullpen & you have a very good well-rounded team.

It also helps that the Tigers sit in the AL Central, quite possibly the worst division in all of Baseball. I really see Detroit winning close to 100 games this season and possibly pulling away in the AL Central come late-August/early September. This team has a chip on their shoulder and they want to win a World Series for the motor city.

2. Kansas City Royals

For years most scouts kept telling baseball fans that come 2012 this Royals team is going to be just as good as the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays team were. You remember that 2008 Rays team right? Well they went straight to the World Series in a season that shocked the Baseball world.

Well while the Royals will be good this season they won’t be that good. They still have a season or two to fine tool this team and help bring Baseball back to Kansas City but will prove to be a top competitive team in the AL Central this season. Kansas City still has a couple of holes to fill on this team and need to continue to develop the future stars they have before they come knocking on the door of the Detroit Tigers.

3. Cleveland Indians
This franchise shocked Baseball last season as for the good part of the year they were leading the AL Central until after the All-Star break where they started to fall apart. Cleveland has made some competitive moves the last year or so by getting guys like Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe but they won’t repeat what they did last season. For me, until this team makes some more key additions they may have reached their plateau; it actually wouldn’t surprise me if they fall below the Twins in the AL Central standings this season.

4. Minnesota Twins
It seemed like I couldn’t bet against the Minnesota Twins at all. Every season they looked like they would finally collapse and they would then make the playoffs by winning the division. Well if you guessed that I had the Twins being competitive in the AL Central last season you were right.

It’s starting to surprisingly look like the Twins may have gotten all they can out of the Morneau & Mauer in Minnesota and may be focusing more on developing younger talent for the future of this franchise. I don’t see Minnesota really being that competitive this season and may be at best a 75 win team. They just need to reboot their logic and starting planning for the future to bring this franchise back to its dominance.

5. Chicago White Sox
Don’t expect much from the White Sox this season. This is admittedly a “rebuilding season” for the 2005 World Series Champions. The “Ozzie Guillen era” is over in Chicago and now they look towards the future in former player now manager Robin Ventura. It’ll be a hard year for this White Sox team and its fans as they rebuild.

AL West:

1. Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels had the biggest off-season of any team in all of Major League Baseball. For the last couple of seasons the Angels have been playing “second fiddle” to the Texas Rangers in the AL Western Division, a division that the Angels dominated for most of the 2000’s. Being the “red-headed stepchild” to the Rangers dominance the last couple of seasons led them to landing two of the biggest stars from the 2011 World Series as they shockingly signed Albert Pujols away from the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and ironically enough, C.J. Wilson from the rival Texas Rangers.

I truly believe the Los Angeles Angels will be the best team in Baseball this season. The signings remind me a lot of what the Yankees did in the 2009 off-season when they signed CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeria and AJ Burnett. The Yankees retaliated missing the playoffs in 2008 with these signings and ended up winning the World Championship in 2009. Los Angeles have missed the playoffs since being eliminated by the Yankees in 2009 and retaliated by making the biggest off-season splashes in all of Baseball.

The addition of Albert Pujols does a lot for a team whose offense has gotten older in recent years and now changes the complexity of this team as an offensive unit. As for the pitching CJ Wilson is merely an addition to an already great pitching rotation that turns this former Rangers to a potential #3 starter behind Dan Haren and Jered Weaver. The Angels have a lot of good things going so far and look to be the team to beat in the West.

2. Texas Rangers
They have won the American League Champions two years in a row. That statistic alone is one to be proud of but it also shows that the last two seasons they have been the losers in the World Series. In 2011 they were literally one out away from becoming World Champions and blew it all in Game 6 of the World Series & eventually losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. Texas looks to once again capture the American League Champion and this time win the World Championship.

In those two straight years of dominance the Rangers have really pulled away from the rest of the pack in the West cruising to playoff action and wining the American League Championship. I believe that will be a different story this year for the Rangers. For the 2nd year in a row they have lost their pitching ace (2010 – Cliff Lee, 2011 – CJ Wilson) and really don’t have anyone leading the rotation heading into this season.

Derek Holland has proven to be a potential ace in the future but not right now. Neftali Feliz is trying to become a starter this season but most of the time those experiments never pan out well. Not to mention the Rangers enter this season with some off-season controversy after Josh Hamilton relapsed again. Texas is going to have a good season but the little dynasty of American League dominance is going to end this season.

3. Oakland Athletics
Oakland had a really crazy off-season this year as they traded away Trevor Cahill & Gio Gonzalez, arguably the aces of this young A’s staff and also sent young closer Andrew Bailey to Boston. The Athletics then responded to those trades by signing Manny Ramirez and Cuban phenom Yoenis Cespedes & adding some much needed offensive depth to their team. The moves left many people scratching their heads as it looked like your normal “rebuilding year” and instead the A’s showed that they wanted to be at least a contender in the West. Obviously the A’s have a while to get back to their early 2000 AL West dominance but at least they have given fans a reason to go visit the ballpark with Manny Ramirez and Yoenis Cespedes in the lineup.

4. Seattle Mariners
Things have been rough in Seattle the last couple of seasons. The big Chone Figgins and Cliff Lee trades never really worked out & the glory days of Lou Pinella coaching have been long gone. That trend will probably continue this season as well but at least there is hope after they traded away pitcher Michael Pineda for the Yankees prized prospect Jesus Montero. It’s all part of a rebuilding process in Seattle and one that will continue for some time as I predict them to be the “bottom feeders” of the AL West this season.

American League Division Winners: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels

American League Wild Card Teams: Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers

For more Baseball talk join us every Sunday on “The Wheelhouse” and download the show at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck

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I’ll preface this post with a full disclosure that I am about as diehard a Yankee fan as there is. I live and die by this team, so yes, I may be a bit biased over the course of this entry. Sue me. I’ll show up to court with my Yankee tie on.

On January 24th, a storied career finally came to a close. Jorge Posada is finally stepping away from the game he loves after 17 seasons at the ripe old age of 39. For Yankee fans, he joins a list of catchers rich in history. Names such as Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Thurman Munson, and Elston Howard come to the forefront of any baseball historian’s mind when it comes to great Yankee catchers. You can easily rank Jorge Posada among them.

While Jorge may not sport the number of All Star Appearances that Yogi Berra or Bill Dickey did, and he certainly didn’t win Yogi’s 3 MVP awards, and definitely didn’t have Dickeys lifetime .313 BA, Jorge brought one of those famed “intangibles” that Yankee fans love to use when defending a player. It’s hard to argue for an intangible, as there is no real clear cut way to explain what your eyes see and your brain appreciates. You just watch him take a field and you knew there was no one on that field more proud to wear the pinstripes with the interlocking NY. Now, I know that’s certainly good enough to get a bronze statue in monument park, and your number retired by your team, but it just isn’t good enough to get you into the Hall of Fame.

So let’s talk numbers. Jorge had a lifetime batting average of .273, with an OBP 100 points higher at .374. In comparison, Yogi Berra batted .285 lifetime, with an OBP of .348. Jorge was also a much more patient hitter, which sometimes came to haunt him, as he had a significant number of strikeouts, but he notched 230 more walks than Yogi did. And 260 more than Bill Dickey. He also had 73 more homeruns than Bill Dickey. In fact, short of the difference in batting average, Jorge has very similar numbers to Bill Dickey in 8 offensive categories. He also walked away as a slightly better fielder than Yogi, with a higher fielding percentage, less errors, and more putouts.

Sabermatricians rejoice, as I know you’re pulling out your hair at the mention of these categories. I’ll throw a bone your way too. Jorge’s Range Factor per 9 is much higher than Yogi’s (compare Jorge’s 7.49 to Yogi’s 5.56). While the numbers are much higher overall at the catcher’s position in the present day, it’s hard to argue that a stat is meaningless while at the same time comparing a player to Hall of Famers who played in different eras. You can’t have it both way, gents.

Getting away from actual stats, as those can get boring very quickly, I present another argument. Jorge Posada should have been an MVP winner in 2003, if not for Alex Rodriguez and his season of steroids. Okay, maybe Carlos Delgado would have won, but Jorge was not far behind Delgado in the voting, and both men shared the same number of first place votes. I contend that if A-Rod wasn’t cheating to be the MVP, Posada would have won that MVP in 2003, and we would have a significantly different argument about the guy. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and this is the closest Jorge ever came to the MVP trophy. However, this is as close as Bill Dickey ever came, as he never won the trophy either. Yogi won three, but it’s hard not to win the MVP at least once when your team is winning 10 World Series rings, and you go to the All Star Game every year you played as a starter.

Jorge has an award that neither Bill Dickey nor Yogi Berra ever won, and that is the Silver Slugger. Granted, the Silver Slugger only started to be awarded in 1980, you can’t fault someone for being a victim of when they were born. An award is an award, and Jorge won five of them. The only two players to win more in the American League were Ivan Rodriguez and Lance Parish. Also, Jorge has something that of the Yankee catcher Hall of Famers, only Yogi has under his belt: A victory in a perfect game. Not many other players have the honor to call a perfect game, and even fewer have actually been elected to the Hall of Fame after catching one. Currently, only 2 catchers have been elected. A few others are still active. Of them, only Ivan Rodriguez is the only surefire Hall of Famer.

An interesting stat I heard from the MLB network relates to that power of Jorge’s. During his time as an active catcher, from 1998 to 2010, no player hit more than 240 homeruns. This is 11 more than Mike Piazza’s 229 and 24 more than Ivan Rodriguez’s 216. I think this stat alone supports my theory that Jorge deserves his mantle on the wall in Cooperstown, as those are two of the best power hitting catchers of all time.

Sadly, this is where I digress, as I know what will happen with Jorge’s ballot. It will become a replica of Elston Howard, who happens to have many similar numbers to Jorge Posada in both offense and defensive categories. Howard, the first African-American to play for the Yankees is a two time Gold Glove winner, and a recipient of the MVP award. He took over for Yogi after his retirement, and won himself four World Series rings. He never made it to the Hall of Fame. He was an above average fielder, just like Jorge, but his numbers weren’t quite there. It looks a lot like Jorge’s line, to be honest, with the exception of a few stats. Jorge had over 110 more homeruns, 200 more hits, 100 more doubles, 300 more RBIs, and his OBP was 50 points higher than Elston’s. One could use these stats as an argument had Elston been elected, but he never was.

Had it been a list of the best Yankee catchers of all time, of course Jorge would be ranked above Elston Howard. As much as it pains me to do it, I’d probably rank him above Thurman Munson too, but that is only because Jorge played longer, and had a couple of more World Series rings than Thurman did. However, Jorge played the same game, with the same intensity. Jorge lived and died by the pinstripes the same way I, as a fan, do so from April-late October every year. It’s hard as a fan to not like that. It’s almost the same reason why Yankee fans don’t like A-Rod. He just doesn’t bring that intensity that a guy like Jorge does. I want my players to be angry after a game. I want them to feel like they let down the entire city of New York, because the next time they take the field, they’re going to tear the cover off of the ball. Jorge, for 17 seasons, was that guy.

I’ll never forget when the Yankees were suffering a tremendous loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in early 2009, and Girardi didn’t want to waste a pitcher, so he put Nick Swisher on the mound. Swisher recorded a strike out, laughed on the mound, and rolled the ball to the dugout for his trophy case. The team found humor in the embarrassing situation, as Swisher could then retire with a 0.00 ERA. Everyone except Jorge Posada. When asked after the game about it, Posada wasn’t so amused. “Nobody was laughing,” Posada said. “I think today was embarrassing, and it’s just one of those days that everything went for them and nothing went for us. We didn’t pitch, we didn’t do the things we were supposed to do.”

In a nut shell, that was Jorge Posada, in the middle of a World Series winning season. There was no humor about the game. He brought 100% of himself to every game he played. While some people may harp on when he “quit the team,” against the Red Sox in the middle of the 2011 season, I took a step back after my initial angry outburst. I thought about it, and remembered that this is the same player for the 16 previous seasons who brought a fire to the field every time he crouched behind the plate. I can’t honestly sit back and get angry at him for being insulted the way he was for being put in the 9th spot. Maybe it was what Jorge needed, as seemingly, it turned his final season around.

Oddly enough, it was Jorge who clinched the Yankees AL East title in 2011. It was a season of accomplishments, from Jeter’s 3000th hit, to Mariano Rivera’s 602nd save. It was very appropriate that Jorge Posada got an achievement of his own. One that stood for everything he stood for. He launched the team into the playoffs. Pinch hitting for a hot-hitting Jesus Montero, Jorge drove a single into right field, scoring two runs, and sending the Yankees to the playoffs.

I realize that this is supposed to be about the career of the man, and why he should be in the Hall of Fame, but I firmly believe that clinching game is a microcosm of Jorge the player. He didn’t have to hit a home run with the bases loaded and two outs in the 8th. He just had to make contact, and score a run to take the lead. He gave the Yankees two. He was always giving a bit more than they asked, but never hogged the spotlight or the glory. If the team was winning, he was winning. The epitome of a team player is Jorge Posada.

While I personally gave Posada a lot of grief for not being a clutch player, he was also the man who caught Jeter’s famous “Flip Play” in Oakland in the 2001 ALDS. He sent Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS into extra innings with his double in the bottom of the 9th. While the Yankees have found a suitable replacement behind the plate in the form of Russel Martin, I just feel as though the Yankees are missing that extra bit of intensity that Jorge brought to the table. Not to knock Martin, as he had a fantastic first year for the Yankees, but there is no player quite like Posada.

We watched him grow up and mature as a player, and become a leader of the Yankees. He became a general on the field and did everything a fan could ever wish for in their player. Posada deserves to have his name added to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York when his balloting begins in five years. While I am fairly sure the Baseball Writers do not agree with me, and won’t vote Jorge in, I hold out hope that they will let go of this gate keeper mentality, where some vote “No” on the first ballot, just because. Jorge’s numbers are right there with other Hall of Fame catchers.

It’s time for him to get his fair shake, and his own individual accomplishment that every player dreams about. In five years, I hope to be in Cooperstown with other Yankee fans on the grass chanting “Hip-Hip-Jorge” one final time. I just wish the Writers would see it my way for once. But this would mean Mattingly and Munson would be in too. But that’s an argument for another day.

Erik Espenberg is a native New Yorker who is an avid fan of the Yankees, Rangers, and Jets. When not writing for Camel Clutch, he can be found killing his brain cells playing assorted video games. He can be contacted at [email protected].

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Well, we are upon the Thanksgiving holiday when we get together with family, and friends to celebrate being together, and commemorating the Pilgrims and the Indians sharing traditions after the harvest. Many people thank their God for blessing them with what they have while remembering those who do not have as much. Those who are fortunate will go serve in homeless shelters, and such places, and deliver turkeys, and meals to the poor, so those less fortunate can also have Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful holiday, and a great American tradition.

As for me personally, and I am not going to go totally Tim Tebow on my readers, but I am thankful to God that I have family, friends, and my Episcopal Church family who love and care about me. I am thankful for my 14 year old beagle, Ace Frehley. I am thankful for my overall good health, and a roof over my head, and I am very thankful that I get to write these blogs for this great site, and share my views with the readers.

This blog is about one other thing I am very thankful for: SPORTS, and SPORTS RELATED items (pro wrestling). Sports have been a big part of my life. Music, and movies have also, but sports are a lot more fun in the sense that you can really have a great debate over them. I love how they are a distraction from every day life also.

Anyway, I am going to be discussing the sports related items that I have been thankful for this year, and I hope you enjoy them, and even debate them.

The NFL 2011 Season happening: For much of the year, all we heard was “Lockout,” “deal is close,” “deadline league,” “canceling games,” etc. There were optimists about the CBA (John Clayton, Adam Schefter), but there were WAY more pessimists (Collinsworth, King). However, I never thought they would miss any games, at least any GAMES THAT COUNTED. Ok, they missed the Hall of Fame Game. Wow. One preseason game. I am just thankful that Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots jumped in there despite his wife’s dying of cancer along with other cooler heads (Jeff Saturday, and John Mara of the Giants) and got the CBA done. I’m thankful to see my favorite NFL teams in action once again.

The New York Yankees not only winning the AL East, but making the playoffs: It is amazing how powerful the alphabet network from Bristol, CT is. Just about all their “experts” said the NY Yankees wouldn’t win the East, and they wouldn’t make the playoffs based on the mighty Boston Red Sox getting all these players in the off season. Wow. I guess the boys in Bristol didn’t count on the Red Sox (who did have a game and a half lead going into September) chowing down on Pizza, chicken, and beer in their locker rooms, and tuning out Francona, and just choking that entire month. Yeah, yeah, the Yankees got eliminated in the first round. They made the playoffs when the “experts” said they wouldn’t. It’s ok. They got 27 rings to look at.

Harve De Grace is a leading candidate for Horse of the Year: This year, there is no clear favorite for the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. However, with the Breeder’s Cup Classic as her only clunker (4th place finish), it is looking like filly Harve De Grace (see my previous blog about meeting her) is a leading candidate. Winner of the Woodward against males, winner of the Beldame, against her own sex, and winner in a couple of other stakes, she definitely should be able to take the award. Friday, is the Clark Handicap where BC Classic runner up, Game On Dude, and 5th place finisher Flat Out are running. If either win, then it will be interesting to see if she still will be the leading candidate. Anyway, I think she should win. Would be great if a third female in a row won HOY (Rachel Alexandra in ’09, Zenyatta in ’10)

WWE possibly catching on that they need to build new stars: With the rise of super star, CM Punk, and seeing Randy Orton lately putting over Wade Barrett, and Cody Rhodes, and Dolph Ziggler, and Zach Ryder getting elevated, it appears that WWE has realized that they need to put over new people if they want to continue into the future. I don’t need to tell long time fans that for YEARS, Vince and the gang have overworked the same warhorses (Taker, HHH, Cena, Orton, Batista, Edge, HBK, Jericho, Kane, etc) in top matches. The top titles would go back and forth between these guys for years, and none of the younger guys would get elevated. NOW, the large majority of them are gone from the company, and NOW the youngsters are being pushed. The company should have had the older top guys put over these youngsters while they were still around. Oh well, at least it appears that WWE is getting the message now. Thankful for Orton to put over young guys. Just waiting on Cena to do so.

Edge leaving the wrestling ring with his health intact (pretty much), and on top: April 11, 2011 is a date that will be in my mind forever. I went through that day as normal. I surfed the net, and nothing of note fancied my interest. I was on twitter reading what people were saying about this and that. I was watching “Tough Enough.” The show took a commercial break right before the part when Stone Cold does the elimination, about 8:50pm EST. Raw did their little preview that they do or whatever, and they flashed a rather sad looking photo of Edge and on the bottom , it said “Edge Retiring?” Cole and Lawler’s voices could be heard speculating. My heart sank. I was stunned. I was like, “Is this an angle?” “This better be an angle.”

I knew Edge back in June of 2010 spoke of retiring in about two years, but then around WM27, he did a couple of interviews, and he said things indicating that he had apparently changed his mind, and would go a couple of more depending on his body. I had noticed in the months going into WM27 that he looked to be in quite a bit of pain. I noticed it in his left arm in particular. He’d either come down shaking it, or if he was hit in the left arm, he’d flex his left hand. I remember from his book, he said when he was having problems with his neck, he had issues with his left arm.

Anyway, when Raw came on, pretty much during the show , Cole and Lawler speculated about this “retirement” thing. People on twitter went nuts. I then remembered on the previous week’s Smackdown, he speared Brodus Clay, and grabbed his neck. Anyway, at about 1015pm, you could see him talking to Cena, and when you saw him walk to the arena, you could tell it was not an angle by looking at his sad face.

Of course, as we all know, he made the tearful announcement, and gave up the title the next night at the Smackdown taping. Edge’s retirement hurt me so much. I was affected by this so much. I cried for a week. For a few months, I hurt so badly over it. I couldn’t understand why God allowed this to happen. It really wasn’t fair. I was upset about how WWE handled him after he returned from the Achilles tendon (he returns from a career threatening injury and they deny him the belt at Mania? the heel/face turning of his character, switching him from SD/Raw/SD, feud with Kane. but that’s a blog for another time).

I was kind of upset that he was made to look like Del Rio’s bitch up to Mania, and was very annoyed that they put an 11 time World Champion the freaking CURTAIN JERKER at WRESTLEMANIA, and had to put up with people saying Del Rio should win. Hello. Del Rio beats Edge’s arm to a pulp and takes his belt too?? Edge lost 3 previous World Title matches, and now some dude who’s been on tv six months who made Edge his bitch on TV should get Edge’s belt too? NO WAY (again another blog). NOW, I had to deal with the horrible news that Edge was forced to retire due to injury to his neck.

However, seven months later, even though I still miss him terribly and always will, I am thankful to God, the spinal stenosis was caught, and Edge got to go out on top, as the World Champion. I am very thankful that Edge, and WWE decided to have the MRI done to make sure he could proceed as a wrestlers. I am sure it was very hard for him to cope with when he heard the news, but I am thankful that his friends and family were there for him to give him support. I constantly pray for him, as I always have. I am also thankful that he got to do Haven.

He said in an interview with Eurosport Superstar Caz that he was glad that he did Haven as he said that at first he wanted to hide in the mountains and grow a huge beard, but after doing Haven, he said that hiding would have been the wrong thing. I am glad that he did Haven, and the show will be renewed so I will get to see him that way. I am thankful that he will spend the rest of his life walking, and such. As he was scheduled to do a ladder match, I would have just (figuratively speaking) died on the spot if I saw another Droz or dare I say it, another Owen Hart incident.

Also, as much as Del Rio’s getting the belt at Mania may have been the “right” business decision, Vince McMahon’s decision to keep the belt on Edge wound up being the right decision. I am very grateful that Edge went out as champion. Not everyone gets to go out on top as champion. Very few do, being it wrestling (Trish Stratus I believe did), or in sports (Jerome Bettis, Michael Strahan), so as sad as his retirement was for me as his fan, I thought it was an honor well deserved.

Well, I hope readers enjoyed this. Happy Thanksgiving

Terri Bey currently blogs for CamelClutchBlog.com about Wrestling, NFL, and other sports/pop culture related subjects. Her work has appeared in BleacherReport and for F4WOnline.com. Terri can be found here at Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TerriBey and at Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/missedgehead

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