Ready For 2012 Opening Day: Let's Play Ball...

Major League Baseball hasn't had this much buzz about the Baseball Winter Meetings in a very long time. The Winter Meetings became an appetizer, for the huge main course we are all going to indulge in this season beginning with Opening Day.
 
Not having a big bat in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, could prove to be costly down the stretch. After the huge resigning of outfielder Matt Kemp to a multi year deal, and NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw for a 2 year extension, due current ownership issues, the Dodgers made no more off season moves. As Dodger fans not only in Los Angeles but Dodger Nation across the country can only hope that a great group like Magic Johnson & Steve Kasten could propel the Dodgers back to championship status one day soon, as the ownership bidding war continues.
 
Despite their neighbors to the south in Orange County, who set off the free agency season, the L.A. Angels had to make moves especially while the Dodgers were down, for Southern California supremacy. The Angels made huge noise by signing one of the greatest hitters of our time Albert Pujols fresh off a world series championship, and former Texas Rangers rival pitcher C.J. Wilson. The addition of Wilson add a huge depth dynamic to the Angels rotation that has been much needed for a long while especially down the stretch. There is also talks of Mark Trumbo moving to third base or maybe even DH, which would give the Angels a solid, yet powerful line up against some of the American League's greatest teams this season.
 
The Miami Marlins (formerly the Florida Marlins) also made huge news with new uniforms, logo, and very controversial world series manager in Ozzie Guillen. The Marlins didn't stop there by adding former Mets hitter Jose Reyes, catcher Joe Buck, closing pitcher Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle. Also with the addition of their new state of the art multi million dollar ball park set to open this season, which includes a real fish tank, Miami fans should have quite a bit to cheer about this season. Miami can finally start to look up as they placing themselves in winning atmosphere as they compete in a very tough NL East division, against the Braves, Phillies, Nationals, and Mets.
 
The Detroit Tigers seem to be one of the premiere teams to beat this season. 
After a stellar 2011 by Tigers' ace Justin Verlander, manager Jim Leyland was all smiles, until he got an earlier Christmas gift as the team signed in a blockbuster move first baseman and All-Star Prince Fielder to a multi year deal. From the folks I spoke with no one including myself saw this move coming. Even a strong campaign ploy by good friend Matt Kemp wasn't enough to convince Fielder to sign anywhere else but Detroit it seems. Leyland I'm sure was probably doing back flips in his office when he received the news of Fielders signing. How long will Fielder hold up? Will he lose weight to maintain his body to stay healthy? How well will he fit into the line up? Those answers will come I'm sure as the season progresses.
 
A surprising team to watch for I believe will be the Cincinnati Reds, lead by the explosive bats of Brandon Phillips and Joey Vato, the Reds look to prove the doubters wrong and win their division in convincing fashion. This is the most confident I've heard manager Dusty Baker sound in a long time.

How will the Milwaukee Brewers recover from the chaos of the Ryan Braun test results, and how will he perform this season? Only time will reveal that answer along with so many others.

Regardless of who your team is, and/or if your just a baseball fan its going to be a great 2012 season, so....Let's play ball!