Moustakas’ arrival didn’t sneak up on anyone as the former 2nd overall pick from 2007 was highly anticipated at the commencement of spring training and by mid-June the youngster was an everyday name in the Kansas City lineup card. Growing pains were expected, (a .160 July average) but by August the youngster showed off his ability with a .283 average and then turned it up another notch in September with a .352 rate. The third base job is his going forward and Kansas City has made it clear that the recipe of Eric Hosmer at first and Moustakas at third will be the corner combination of the future.

Craig’s work in the postseason will all but guarantee him playing time in 2012 for Tony LaRussa and company. The Cardinals’ utility man caught fire when called up in May and parlayed his playing time into a .350 average (.420 OBP) combined with a pair of home runs and a handful of clutch RBIs. Summer slowed Craig’s bat but a strong September (.327, 5, 12 RBI) gave the Cardinals the added push they needed to make a run for the NL wildcard. Regardless of how Craig finishes the final stretch of the 2011 postseason, this up and comer will be a sure thing to see an added role next spring.

At 27, Andino has outgrown his status as a prospect and finally broken through the precipice of the starting lineup. A former 2nd round pick of the Marlins in 2002, Andino has long been targeted as a combination of power and speed who can supplement his offense with sure-handed glove work. Given playing time, the middle infielder showed what he can do with a full month of work to the tune of an impressive September (.275, 3, 15, 4 SB). In his final full season as a minor leaguer in 2007, Andino showed what he can do given 600+ at bats: .278 AVG, 13 HRS, 50 RBI, and 21 SBs. Brian Roberts injury history will be a question mark once again for the Orioles but Andino’s accession may make Roberts expendable.

The young Kansas City backstop will be the catcher-of-the-future for the Royals considering Perez is only 21 and has already made it clear that he’s one of the top offensive catchers in the American league. Perez has proven he can hit at the minor league level (2010: .290, 7 HR, 53 RBI; 2011: .290, 10 HR, 53 RBI). Pitchers love throwing to him and hitters love hitting in front of him, a combination that makes the future bright for the 6’3’’ prospect. We may not see a full season of Perez in 2012 as the Royals may elect that another season at AAA may be beneficial, but certainly Perez will make his mark as an everyday player sooner than later in Kansas City.

The Astros will attempt to turn things around behind the talented left arm of Happ who has shown in the past that he can be at times effective and even dominant. The months of April, June, and July were forgettable to say the least as Happ surrendered an ERA of over 7.00+ during his 15 starts through those months. Fortunately September was a welcome sight to Astros fans as they witnessed a more apropos performance by their pitching anchor (3.38 ERA in 24 September innings with 26 K’s). Houston will spend at least one more season in the National League and their success in the NL central will hinge on the hopes of their capricious star lefty.

Behind every dismal season there are bright spots. Behind the Mariners 67-95 disappointment of 2011 was the steady rise of Jason Vargas. Vargas, who will be 29 by the beginning of spring training, appears ready to fill in as the number two behind Felix Hernandez. The former Long Beach star owes some of his effectiveness to his ability to contrast Hernandez, a hard throwing power arm while Vargas, a precision crafty lefthander navigates American league lineups like a seasoned veteran. Look for Vargas to take the next step and push the Mariners up the standings in 2012 following an impressive September stretch (2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 8.1 K/9). With a full 200+ innings under his belt and a respectable WHIP of 1.31, Vargas will springboard off of a solid 2011 as an upper echelon lefty in the American league.

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