In 2011, Justin Verlander became the first pitcher to win the MVP award in a long time. Verlander earned the pitchers version of the Triple Crown and edged out Jacoby Ellsbury and Jose Bautista. The 2012 Major League Baseball season is about to get started.
Ryan Braun won his first MVP award last year by beating Matt Kemp and Prince Fielder. The National League saw a couple big stars leave the league in the offseason, so the MVP race is a little more wide open. Albert Pujols was always a favorite to win the award, but he is now in the American League.
The NHL season is about to enter the stretch run. Some teams are positioning themselves well heading into the most important part of the year while others are sputtering at precisely the wrong time. Get weekly NHL Handicapping tips from CappersPicks.com.
It is one of the most exciting weekends of the year as a sports fan. The Final Four gets going Saturday evening in New Orleans. This year’s Final Four is loaded with powerhouse teams. All of them are capable of cutting down the nets.
This rivalry is played every year but rarely twice. Back in December, Louisville’s was a 10 point underdog so all their recent successes have done is earn themselves another point of respect.
The PGA TOUR moves to Texas this week for one of the final preps for the first Major of the year. Redstone Golf Club hosts the Shell Houston Open and although the tournament is void of all of the Top players in the world, some of the best have decided to play.
The 2005 4th round amateur draft pick had a heck of a season, setting the bar high as he put up Cy Young worthy numbers as a rookie a year ago. Unfortunately, with an abnormal number of pitchers in the sub 3 ERA range, he was not even in contention.
So , he settled for a very much deserved Rookie of the Year award though with his 2.95 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP in 189 innings pitched.
So, with that, it makes it even more intriguing that our No. 1 pick for this year’s NL ROY Award winner also comes from the sunshine state.
Matt Moore
Everyone knows this guy’s pedigree by now. Moor made his first Major League start last season on September 9th in the lone star state against a dominant Texas Rangers’ lineup. What did he do? The Ray’s future ace threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, and struck out six, to just two walks. During his 2011 season prior to being called up, he made two stops. In AA he sported a 2.20 ERA, 11.52 K/9, and a FIP of 2.62 in 18 starts.
He after, moving up to Triple A, had an ERA of 1.37, K/9 of 13.50 in 9 starts and his FIP fell to 2.02.
Jesus Montero
The former Yankee farmhand was the centerpiece of the Michael Pineda deal that took place back in the off-season. This will finally free up Montero for some consistent playing time that he has long deserved. He has hit at least .280 every stop along the way in the minor leagues. In his short stint with the Yankees a year ago, he managed a .328 average with a .406 OBP. If he can find a way to cut down on the strikeouts, he will be a force in the middle of that Seattle order.
Danny Hultzen
Another Mariner, Hultzen was the second overall pick in last year’s first player draft. He will no doubt be on the fast track to the majors, and if he gets there early enough in the season, will be a major player for this award. His case will be aided by pitching in Safeco as it is a major pitcher’s park. He is a three pitch pitcher that employs a mid-90’s fastball with a devastating changeup that sits in the lower 80’s. His third pitch is a slider that needs some work, but with time will develop into a very solid third pitch for him at the Major League level.
Brad Peacock
The A’s picked this guy up when they dealt Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals in the off-season. He made a couple of starts a season ago, and picked up a couple of wins in the process. He came on quickly last season as before the year he hadn’t had a year with a sub 3 ERA, but after dominating AA and AAA was given a shot at the Major League level where he thrived.
Jarrod Parker
The A’s have another contender, and at one time this guy was one of the best prospects around. While injuries delayed Parker’s arrival to the big leagues, he will get there at some point during this season. Although he is with a new club this season following the trade of Trevor Cahill to the Diamondbacks, he should thrive in Oakland. Parker made his first major league start a season ago, throwing 5.2 shutout innings, and A’s fans will be delighted with their new boy.
*** We can’t find any Updated Odds at Presstime ***
ODDS TO WIN 2012 AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
This year’s Final Four field is set as the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes meet for only the ninth time in their history but for the second time this season in the second NCAA Tournament semifinal on Saturday in New Orleans.
While Duke was knocked out by Lehigh in Round of 64, many people did have Baylor meeting Kentucky in the Elite Eight in the South Region.
2012 American League Pennant Race
Opening day of the 2012 MLB regular season is less than two weeks away marking the start of the 162-game race to the World Series playoffs.
The start of the 2012 MLB regular season is right around the corner as teams continue to gear-up for the 162-game race to the playoffs and shot at making it all the way to this year’s World Series.
Kentucky has lost two games all year long and one of them was to the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers beat the Wildcats 73-72 in Bloomington earlier this year thanks to a Christian Watford three-pointer at the buzzer.
Who would have guessed that the Round of 32 matchup would be Lehigh vs. Xavier? If you had this matchup in your bracket then you have to be one in a million.
The PGA TOUR heads to Orlando Florida – Tiger Woods’ home town for the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. By Hill is a tough course, much more difficult than the one experienced last week at the Transitions.
The Cardinals won the World Series last season, but with Pujols gone it will be tough to repeat and the Phillies, Yankees, and Pujols’ new team of the Angels have the best odds to win the World Series this season.
Who would have guessed that the Round of 32 matchup would be Lehigh vs. Xavier? If you had this matchup in your bracket then you have to be one in a million.
