It is that time of year. With a few flowers starting to bud and birds starting to chirp, Major League Baseball players are coming to Florida and Arizona for what all fans have been waiting for since the end of the World Series: spring training.

The 2012 season has many interesting storylines. Who is the team to beat in the AL West? How will Michael Pineda do in a Yankee uniform? Are teams like the Nationals, Marlins, Royals, Orioles and Indians finally ready to make a playoff run?

Hopefully the Globe’s 2012 projections of the Major League Baseball season will answer these questions, along with many more.Baseball is right around the corner! (Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/MCT)

National League:

West:

2011 final standings:

1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

2012 Projections:

1. Arizona Diamondbacks: With the addition of starting pitcher Trevor Cahill, the Diamondbacks have turned an already solid pitching rotation into an even better one. Justin Upton will continue his great hitting, and the young Paul Goldshmidt will have a solid season.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are headed in the right direction. With sluggers such as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and James Loney and reigning Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, it is possible the Dodgers have a bounce back year. However, the lack of depth will be problematic when injuries occur.
3. San Francisco Giants: The Giants have great pitching, but not much else. Pablo Sandoval is a solid hitter, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt have potential to have break out years, but beyond that, the Giants are very weak hitting wise.
4. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies have a very good offensive team, but are lacking starting pitching. Drew Pomerantz is a strong prospect, but it is debatable whether he is capable of making the jump to a number one starter already. The Rockies have a hopeful future, but, currently, they are ready for a good year.
5. San Diego Padres: The Padres are very young and have a lot of raw talent. However, raw talent needs time to develop. Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal will have solid seasons, but do not expect the Padres to finish above fourth place in the Western division.

Central:

2011 Final Standings:

1.  Milwaukee Brewers
2. St. Louis Cardinals (Wild Card)
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Houston Astros

2012 Projections:

1. St. Louis Cardinals: Despite losing Albert Pujols, the Cardinals still have a dangerous lineup. Though Carlos Beltran, who the Cardinals signed this winter, is no Albert Pujols, he provides a good bat in the middle of the order. With a healthy Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals will be back in the playoffs.
2. Cincinnati Reds: The Reds have a good offensive line up. However, they lack pitching. The Reds traded for starter Matt Latos this winter, but Latos has only had one decent season. The Red’s pitching is not strong enough for a division winning team.
3. Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers have lost a lot of offensive power. Prince Fielder departed during free agency, and the Brew-Crew will miss his offensive power, and will struggle mightily. Expect the Brewers to fade as the season goes on.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates are headed in the right direction. With many young players, the Pirates soon will be ready to contend for a division title. However, it is too early for this now. The Pirates record will be mediocre, and they will again miss the playoffs.
5. Houston Astros: The Astros and Cubs will be fighting for second to last place in the division. The Astros do not have much offense, and not a ton of pitching strength either. Their pitching is decent, but not good enough to contend for playoff contention.
6. Chicago Cubs: Starlin Castro is one of the only bright spot on the Cubs. He, however, is not enough. Weak pitching and a bad offense will lead the Cubs to have an awful season. Unless a miracle happens, the Cubs will not be in the playoffs in 2012.

East:

2011 Final Standings:

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Washington Nationals
4. New York Mets
5. Florida Marlins (Whose name has changed for the 2012 season. They are now the Miami Marlins)

2012 Projections:

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Pitching. With a combination of the Phillies arms, it will be hard to stop them in the National League. Their offense may be lacking, but don’t expect that to stop them. Ryan Howard should be healthy by the second part of the season, and, along with Hunter Pence and Chase Utley, the Phillies are going to be in the playoffs.
2. Miami Marlins (Who will win the Wild Card): The Marlins made a splash in free agency, acquiring shortstop Jose Reyes, pitcher Mark Buehrle, and closer Heath Bell. With a good offense and a strong rotation, the Marlins will win the Wild Card, though will not be able to take the division title from the Phillies.
3. Atlanta Braves: The Braves are a good team with good potential. If they were not in such a strong division, it is easily possible that they would make the playoffs. Don’t rule them out in the East, but their offense is not as strong as the Marlins, and their pitching isn’t as strong as the Phillies.
4. Washington Nationals: The Nationals have a nice team. However, they have the misfortune of being in a division featuring the Phillies, Marlins, and Braves. Stephen Strasburg will have a very strong year, but offensively the Nationals are lacking. Many see Bryce Harper as the face of the franchise, but Harper still needs time to mature. The Nationals will finish around the .500 mark, and will miss the playoffs.
5. New York Mets: The Mets are a weak team in a strong division. They are currently in a rebuilding stage, and have no chance of contending for the division. Johan Santana, their injury prone pitcher will have a nice year, but his pitching will not be enough to compete.

American League:

West:

2011 Final Standings:

1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners

2012 Projections:

1. Texas Rangers: The Rangers are still the team to beat in the AL West. The Rangers have a very good starting rotation, along with an incredible offense. Expect big things from these feisty Rangers, who have been in the World Series two years in a row.
2. Los Angeles Angels (Who will win the Wild Card): The Angels are a very solid team after their winter moves. They acquired Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, and they will compete with the Rangers. With a wild card birth, they will reach the playoffs.
3. Seattle Mariners: A lot of things went wrong for the Mariners last year. Ichiro, a ten time All Star, wasn’t his normal self. Expect him to rebound, and players such as Dustin Ackley and Jesus Montero to emerge as good hitters. The Mariners will have a mediocre year, but give a promising future to their fans.
4. Oakland Athletics: The A’s are in a rebuilding stage. They traded away their best two pitchers, and don’t have much offensive power either. They are not a good team, and one should not expect then to do much in 2012.

Central:

2011 Final Standings:

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Minnesota Twins

2012 Projections:

1. Detroit Tigers: The Tigers are a very good team. With a formidable pitching staff and great offensive power, this team will most likely make it to the playoffs. The Tigers acquired Prince Fielder in the offseason, a big bat who will surely help their team in 2012.
2. Kansas City Royals: With young stars such as Eric Hosmer, the Royals have a nice team. They acquired a decent closer this winter in Jonathan Broxton. Besides the Tigers, they play in a division with weak teams. The Royals will win a fair number of games, though they won’t compete with the Tigers.
3. Cleveland Indians: Like the Royals, these Indians are headed in the right direction. They have a good crew of young players, along with a few decent arms in their pitching staff. The Indians will get off to a nice start, but, similar to last year, will fade as the season goes on.
4. Minnesota Twins: The Twins are looking to rebound from a bad season last year. The team hopes to be lifted with a healthy Joe Mauer, but it will not be enough. The Twins won’t have a nice year in 2012.
5. Chicago White Sox: The Sox lost Mark Buehrle to free agency, which deprives them of a solid pitcher. The White Sox hope to rebuild, but this will not be a good year for Sox fans. The White Sox will finish in the cellar of the AL Central.

East:

2011 Final Standings:

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

2012 Projections:

1. New York Yankees: They Yankees solidified their pitching rotation by acquiring Michael Pineda from the Mariners, giving then a solid rotation. With a strong offensive line up and a very good bullpen, the Bronx Bombers will end up at the top of the AL East.
2. Boston Red Sox: Clubhouse problems that occurred last year will stop, and the Sox will finish in second place. They will compete with the Angels for the Wild Card, but will fall short the last weekend of the season.
3. Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays are a very good team. With pitchers such as David Price and Matt Moore, the Rays rotation is very good. Even Longoria is one of the best third baseman in the game, and a great manager in Joe Maddon. The AL east is tough though, and they will not be able to pull off a miracle playoff run two years in a row.
4. Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have Jose Bautista, who is one of the best power hitters in the game. They also have Ricky Romero, an All Star pitcher. The Jays have a bright future, but 2012 is not their year because of the strength of their division.
5. Baltimore Orioles: Similar to the Jays, the O’s would be much better in a weaker division. They are in a division with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays though, and will have a very tough time competing with them.

The Playoff Picture

National League:

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Miami Marlins

Philadelphia will beat Arizona

St. Louis will beat Florida

Philadelphia will beat St. Louis

American League:

1. New York Yankees
2. Texas Rangers
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Los Angeles Angels

Yankees over Angels

Rangers over Tigers

Rangers over Yankees

World Series:

The Rangers will beat the Phillies in six games. The MVP of the series will be pitcher Colby Lewis, who will throw two dominating starts.

Award Winners:

NL MVP: Justin Upton, Arizona

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit

NL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Philadelphia

AL Cy Young: Jared Weaver, Los Angeles

NL Rookie of the Year: Yonder Alonso, San Diego

AL Rookie of the Year: Matt Moore, Tampa Bay

NL Comeback Player of the Year: Adam Wainwright, St. Louis

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Ichiro, Seattle

NL Manager of the Year: Ozzie Guillen, Miami

AL Manager of the Year: Ned Yost, Kansas City

(Photo by: Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/MCT)