We're approaching the midway point of the season. What has surprised you most?

[True Dough]

The meteoric rise of pitcher Jacob Misiorowski? He leads MLB in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

Aaron Ashby being tops in wins by a pitcher?

Otto Lopez being the hitter with the best batting average and most hits?

Nasim Nunez running away with the most stolen bases?

The poor performances by the Red Sox, Mets and Giants?

The White Sox leading the AL Central?

The Brewers having the second best win percentage in the majors?

[NewHendoLib]

1. My Red Sox being so bad- especially hitting

[Wounded Bear]

2. My Mariners doing so bad, barely sitting atop the AL West...

[QED]

3. The number of Cubs pitchers on the IL

[True Dough]

4. Surely that's why they traded for David Peterson

He hasn't been very good this year, but the Cubs are desperate for arms.

[QED]

11. And his first pitch tonight as a Cub - HR

[True Dough]

12. But,

the Cubbies wound up winning 8-2 and Peterson picked up the win. Not bad!

[Auggie]

5. Giants, Tigers, Guardians

Expected a better showing from all, especially from the Giants. We knew the pitching was suspect but expectations were the line-up would help neutralize some issues until Posey could fill holes. It's been a debacle, on and off the field. Giants are in selling mode.

Cleveland pitching has been outstanding, but they're not hitting. I think the plan here will be to unload dead wood and keep calling up prospects, looking forward to 2027. They can DFA Fry, Hoskins, and Arias without it costing too much. Kwan would generate trade interest, though his trade value is lower than it should be in this current slump.

[True Dough]

7. The Giants' president and CEO said the other day that the front office supports a Buster Posey-led rebuild

And it apperars that is what we're going to get.

https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/larry-baer-buster-posey-roster-rebuild/1946031/

[Auggie]

8. Well, it looked promising on paper ...

and, who knows, things could come together down the line. The new boss should be allowed three to five years for the rebuild. Posey is in year two. Most questionable move will always be the Vitello hire. Vitello is learning. Posey is learning. They're allowed a fuck-up or two. Or three.

[True Dough]

9. Will be interesting to see

if they can unload Devers. Word is that they've been trying to shop him around but there's apparently been no interest. He hasn't exactly built a reputation as a team player.

[Auggie]

10. Devers is Boston's payback for Pablo Sandoval

Better build the team around Devers because they will be stuck with him. You'd have to hope for a major Dodgers or Yankees star to go down, because they're the only teams that could afford him -- even with the Giants picking up some of the tab.

[The Madcap]

6. How poor tha AL has played overall.

So many teams below .500.