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The Biggest Surprises of the 2012 MLB Season – NL Edition

A few weeks ago we talked about some of the biggest surprises that we have seen in the MLB this year within the American League. While there have been many stories that have captivated us in the AL this year (e.g. the Orioles, Mike Trout), no one can deny that there have been some interesting and unexpected happenings in the National League thus far, too. Here is our list of the biggest surprises in the National League thus far in 2012:

1. The Washington Nationals: In a division that was meant to be fought over by the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, having already locked up the NL East, the Nationals have been a surprise to everyone this season. Currently, they sit with the most wins in the majors (96) and the best W-L % in both leagues (.608). Players like Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche and Gio Gonzalez have made this team the one to watch moving into the post-season.

2. What happened to Tim Lincecum?: Last season Lincecum was the pitcher everyone was talking about in the post-season; he was a crucial piece to the Giants post-season run. This season he seems to have lost his groove. Currently, he sits with a 10-15 record and a 5.15 ERA and has been unreliable at best. At this point all we can ask: is whether or not Lincecum can rebound in the 2013 season?

3. Cole Hamels – really?!: Last season Cole Hamels was sitting on the trading block and really unsure about where his future would be. The Phillies had a solid one-two punch in Cliff Lee and Roy Halliday moving into the 2012 season and Hamels was a piece that didn’t necessarily fit into the puzzle. When Lee and Halliday went down, Hamels got the call to arms and has since been outstanding, posting a 16-6 record and 3.08 ERA. Hamels has been a core cog in the late season run of the Phillies. With a massive $144 million contract backing him up, I am sure his confidence is through the roof.

4. R.A. Dickey is looking to lock-up the Cy Young: In what has been an otherwise disappointing season for the New York Mets, R.A. Dickey has been a shining a beacon. With a knuckleball that appears at times unhittable, Dickey has emerged one of the top pitching talents in the MLB. He currently looks poised to bring home the Cy Young this year with a 20-6 record and 2.69 ERA.

5. Andrew McCutchen: While the Pirates have fallen off from what was an outstanding start to the season, Andrew McCuthen has made this team still very fun to watch. McCutchen currently hangs onto one of the top batting averages in the league (.329), and holds onto one of the top home run counts in NL (31). He also sports a ridiculously high slugging percentage (.559) and sits at the tops in terms of runs in the NL (107). My early season prediction of a potential MVP award coming McCutchen’s way is still very possible in my eyes.

With the season winding there is little room for any major surprises in the rest of the regular season. However, with the post-season right around the corner, I have no doubt that there will be plenty more surprises coming our way.

Stay tuned as the “surprises watch” continues!

… and that is the last word.

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