Many sports sites have released their predictions for the 2012 MLB season. The two-time defending American League champion Rangers are being given lofty expectations as a team, and rookie starting pitcher Yu Darvish is also receiving some impressive individual projections. Some have Darvish winning AL Rookie of the Year honors and others have gone farther, suggesting he will throw the first no-hitter this season and even win the AL Cy Young Award.
Have a look at some that we've gathered.
SI.com
(Writer and prediction for Rangers, including individual awards.)
TomVerducci: Wild Card
Joe Lemire: West champs and World Series champs; ROY: Yu Darvish.
Ben Reiter: West champs and World Series champs.
Albert Chen: West champs and World Series champs.
Cliff Corcoran: West champs; ROY: Darvish.
Mel Antonen: Wild Card.
SportingNews.com’s Chris Bahr
Rangers will win the West but lose to the Angels in the ALCS.
ALDS: "Rangers over Tigers: Hot-hitting Nelson Cruz—again—will be the difference."
ALCS: "Angels over Rangers: “There will be no three-peat for Texas, thanks in part to old pal C.J. Wilson."
Yahoo! Sports
Steve Henson: Nelson Cruz is his long shot pick to win AL MVP. Henson also predicts that Darvish will toss the first no-hitter of the season on May 16 and finish the season with a 15-9 record and 3.87 ERA.
Tim Brown projects Darvish to finish 14-11 with a 3.95 ERA. Jeff Passan projects Darvish to finish 14-6 with a 3.41 ERA.
All three writers predicted that the Rangers would win the West, winning at least 90 games. Brown had the Rangers finishing 90-72 and losing to the Yankees in the Wild Card round. Henson had the Rangers finishing 100-62 and losing to the Angels in the ALDS. Passan had the Rangers finishing 94-68 and losing to the Rays in the ALDS.
ESPN.com
Of ESPN's 50 prognosticators, 10 project Darvis to win AL Rookie of the Year. A few of those experts include former major leaguers Curt Schilling and Aaron Boone. Insider Keith Law not only has Darvish winning R.O.Y but also AL Cy Young.
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