A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #86 with a KNUCKLER from AMAZINS' Ace R.A.Dickey....and you knew it was coming Looking EXPRESS from a KNUCKLE-Baller..."You Big DUMMY"...NL CY YOUNG Top 5 Mid-August 2012

The NL Cy Young Race will go down to the Wire as you can't go by Records, ERA, Punch Outs, WHIP, and Innings Pitched. It will come down to October's Review of Overall Body of Work. There is Cueto from the Red Legs on the Ohio, the aforementioned Knuckler from Citi Field, the Potomac 2-Pack of S2 and Gio, and many more.

The Top 5 NL Leaders as of Mid-August for the NL Cy Young 2012:

Note: if your going to make a Guy miss a couple of Starts because of Pitch Count...your Disqualified...that's Hog Wash Nationals. Not Disqualifying S2 yet but really?

1. RHP J. CUETO Reds: 15-6 (Tied for #1 in Ws in NL)  2.45 ERA (2nd NL) 127 Ks/37 BBs (3.43/1 Ks to Walk Ratio): Cueto has been the Anchor of a good steady Staff and he is Skip Dusty Baker's #1 Arm in the Reds Rotation. Also a 3.43 Strikeout to Walk Ratio is fabulous with the NL's 2nd Lowest ERA.

2. RHP R.A. DICKEY Amazins': 15-4 (Tied for #1 in NL in W's)  2.89 ERA (5th NL)  175 Ks/38 BBs (4.61/1 Ks to Walk Ratio): Dickey has slowed down in W's for the Lack of Run Support from the Mets Line Up but he has been steady and every time he gets his Number called to the Bump...he keeps the Mets in the Game. He and Cueto are Odds on Favorites from the Bluedude.

3. RHP S2 NATS: 14-5 (#2 in NL in W's)  2.91 ERA (Tied for 7th w/Hamels Phils) 173Ks/43 BBs (4.02/1 Ks to Walk Ratio): Strasburg has been everything and them some and the Nats go Charles Bronson Double-Barrel Action with Left-Hander Gio Gonzalez from the Other side of the Bump. I hope the Nats don't shut him down Baseball Minds and Baseball Gods will not approve of that move.

4. LHP M. BUMGARNER Gigantes: 13-7 (Tied for 3rd in NL in W's)  2.97 ERA ( 9th in NL)  150 Ks/32 BBs ( 4.69/1 Ks to Walk Ratio): Bumgarner doesn't get Lincecum or Cain Talk but he is right there with them and then some. The Gigantes Best Pitcher (except for the Last Start vs NATS) after the All-Star Break. A Craft Lefty with the Highest Ks to Walk Ratio.

5. LHP G2 Nats: 15-6 (Tied for #1 in Ws in NL)  3.29 ERA ( 13th in NL)  158 Ks/56 BBs (2.82/1 Ks to Walk Ratio): G2 is the Other Half of the Potomac 2-Pack that hopefully will be featured through McFarlane Sports Picks in April 2013. G2 is just as Nasty on the Left Side as S2 is on the Right Side but a little more propensity to walk Hitters as his is the Lowets Ks to walk Ratio of the Five Pitchers.

These Five Pitchers are Subject to Change by Labor Day Weekend as the Pennant Race and Cy Young Race Plots...THICKEN.

Note: Numbers from MLB.com but K/BB Ratio tallied by the Bluedude for Bluedude Sportstalk