The Lansing Lugnuts in 2012 have made things look easy in playing in the Midwest League.  They defeated the South Bend Silverhawks 9-5 after jumping to a 9-2 lead.  The Lugnuts have received outstanding pitching this season along with some great run support.  Lansing has the best record in all of Minor League baseball in 2012.  They don't show any signs of letting up.

The Toronto Blue Jays affiliate ran away with the first half of the season in the Eastern Division.  They are currently 21-13 in the second half of the season with an overall record of 68-35.  Seven Lugnuts were selected for the Midwest League All-Star game which the East defeated the West 18-2.  The Lugnuts are setting all kinds of team records so far this season.  Radio Announcer Jesse Goldberg-Strassler stated "that the team wants to return to the Midwest League Championship series."   The Lugnuts made it to the Championship last season but were swept by the Quad City River Bandits. 

The Lugnuts in their 9-5 win over South Bend were lead by K.C. Hobson and Kevin Patterson.  All nine Lugnut starters reached base and scored a run.  Hobson lead the way with 4 hits and Patterson was 2 for 5 and had 3 RBI's.  Starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani recorded his 9th win of the season by pitching 5 strong innings of work. 

Strong performances by Lugnuts Kevin Pillar has lead to his promotion within the Toronto organization after recording 108 hits and having 57 RBI's.  Patterson and Hobson both have been hitting leaders all season long with batting averages over .300.   The top pitchers for the Lugnuts have come from Justin Nicolino, Anthony DeSclafani, Noah Syndergaard and Aaron Sanchez.  These four pitchers have recorded 31 wins and only lost 10 games.  

After reaching the Midwest League Championship finals in 2011 and finishing runner-up the Lugnuts have bigger sights in 2012.  They will be the team with the mark on their backs.  However, I see good things happening in the State Capitol in 2012.  Based on they have performed this far it would be a safe guess that they will be in the finals again.