A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #94...The LEADERS on the Senior Circuit....Who will take us to the MOUNTAIN TOP...and manage the STAFF from 60'6", the Everyday LINE UP, Keep the CLUB HOUSE a Happy One, and stay in the WIN Column for the Most Part...the Top 3 NL SKIPS of 2012

The National League with No Designated-Hitter makes for more In-Game Strategy as the Pitchers must go to the Dish and Hit. The Senior Circuit therefore is a Different Game than the AL and the Top Teams have some of the best.

Some of the Top Teams in 2012 in the NL are New to the Top and what comes with Expectations. The Nats have stayed in the NL East Driver's Seat for most of the Year. The Braves have stayed Close to their Credit and are chasing the Nats instead of the NL Wild Card.

The NL Central has Reds Skip Dusty Baker's Toothpick and Wristbands all over the Central. The Pirates to their Credit are in the Race this Late for the 1st Time in a Decade or Two.

Donny Baseball and Bruce Bochy have been going at it from Day 1 in the NL West and it looks like this Fight won't until the Schedule ends.

So who are the Top 3 Skips through Mid-August 2012 on the Senior Circuit? Drum Roll Please......

1. Davey Johnson NATIONALS (74-45 1st in NL East, #1 Record in the Show): Ok he is a Top Shelf manager but the Nationals Organization coming from their Montreal Expos Days have not been to the Post Season in almost Three Decades. Davey Johnson and his Expertise has his Stamp all over the Nats and remember he won at Shea in'86 with the Amazins' with Expectations in Gotham City of all places. With a Starting Rotation led by Young Arms S2 and G2 aka the Potomac 2-Pack and Ryan Zimmerman, Werth, LaRoche, and Young Phenom Bryce Harper the Nats won't be Here Now and Gone Tomorrow.

2. Clint Hurdle BUCCOS (66-53 #2 in NL Central, Tied for #1 in NL Wild Card): Mr. Hurdle can Manage that is no Secret and he did Big Time Work in Coors Filed for the Rockies. Now taking the Pittsburgh Pirates is one of his Best Jobs yet and the Buccos have not wavered off of a Good Start and Steady Baseball. Led by Bronx Zoo Castoff AJ Burnett and Young Arms like McDonald and Bedard the Starting Pitching has been a Huge Surprise.  The Line Up is led by Presumably the 2012 NL MVP Andrew McCutchens and a Solid Cast. They have some work to do as it looks like the Reds will runaway with the NL Central but Buccos look the Part trying to get into Post Season and that has a lot to do with Skip Hurdle.

3. Dusty Baker REDS (73-47 #2 in the Show, #1 in the NL Central, #2 Seed Overall): With Toothpicks and Wristbands in Tow...Dusty has struck Lighting and thunder with the Reds led by NL Cy Young Hopeful Johnny Cueto and a Veteran Staff with Young Arms like Mat Latos and Mike Leake. They have Cuban Flame-Thrower Aroldis Chapman in the Pen to Save Reds Nation on a Nightly Basis. They also have a Well-Rounded LineUp with Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips leading the Way. The Reds will be formidable and the Only way they know how to play is the Right Way and that is Dusty's Way.    

Note: Numbers from MLB.com