Texas Rangers Magazine

With pitchers and catchers ready to report for Spring Training and another MLB Opening Day just around the corner, the Athlon Sports 2012 Baseball Annual slides home in time to provide the preseason analysis and predictions craved by fans of the national pastime from coast to coast.We take a lap around the big leagues in "15 Things to Watch in 2012," examining Los Angeles' newest Angel, Albert Pujols; the Miami Marlins makeover, with a new stadium, logo, manager and roster; MLB's new, long-overdue HGH testing policy; and the possibility that 2012 is finally closing time for 42-year-old Yankees icon Mariano Rivera."Short Hops" takes a look at the lighter side of a day at the ballpark - with random ruminations from the "Most Interesting Men in the World" who make baseball what it is, John Mayberry's attempts to make a move on Pirates of the Caribbean starlet Antoinette Nikprelaj and the "Calendar of the Weird," which chronicles oddball occurrences from 2011.In "Penn'y' Wise, Dollar Foolish," we decide whether the free-agent contracts signed by Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, C.J. Wilson and Co. were investor home runs or expensive swings-and-misses.This year's magazine also includes the following feature stories:"Curse Buster" Athlon Sports' Baseball Annual is the most complete preview available today. Order your copy now!