Kuzul

Every year, in sports, there are underrated players who break onto the scene with great performances.And, every year, people try to predict who those players will be. And this year, I have some ideas.Despite successful 2012 campaigns, these players aren't getting much attention for a variety of reasons. However, in 2013, they will be getting attention, for some good performances, in fantasy and real life. And then, they'll be shining in the bright lights of October.But who will those players be? Well, why don't you find out.Begin Slideshow

BREAKING NEWS: Stephen Strasburg has an innings limit.Okay, so it's not really breaking news at this point. Strasburg's innings limit and inevitable shutdown have been the baseball equivalent in media coverage to Tim Tebow and the New York Jets.During all the hubbub, the Washington Nationals have enjoyed a record-breaking season. They've won a franchise-record 82 games entering play on Tuesday, and that's a number that will almost assuredly increase over the final 28 games of the regular season.They're pretty much guaranteed a playoff spot at this point—barring a Boston or Atlanta-like collapse—so the now finalized shutdown of Strasburg has generated a lot of controversy amongst fans of the team and fans of the sport in general.While many argue that Strasburg should remain active for the postseason because of his impact on the rotation, there are an equal number of those who oppose such an opinion.Even though Strasburg is likely the ...

Stephen Strasburg's innings limit has been one of the hotter topics in baseball, and it's clear that the Washington Nationals will have a tough decision to make.However, it seems like the Nationals are already preparing to move on without Strasburg.According to MLB.com, Washington has interest in Ryan Dempster and Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez. The Nationals have John Lannan in the minors, but they would definitely benefit from trading for Dempster.The consistent ace is 5-3 with a league-leading 1.86 ERA this year. A lot of teams will be pursuing Dempster, since Chicago is looking to stockpile prospects for future success. Washington has a great farm system, so they could definitely make a trade.If the Nationals did trade for Dempster, they would probably have Strasburg, Dempster, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and Edwin Jackson in their rotation. After Strasburg leaves, Ross Detwiler would join the rotation.Washington would have to give up a lot, ...

In a move that seemingly nobody saw coming, the Washington Nationals have chosen to option left-hander John Lannan to Triple-A Syracuse on the final day of Spring Training, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.Lannan and his $5 million salary were the likely candidate to take the place of the injured Chien-Ming Wang as the No. 5 starter in the rotation. After recording more than 180 innings with an ERA of 3.70 in 2011, Lannan was considered the favorite for the job.This move comes less than two weeks after manager Davey Johnson unofficially named Lannan his fifth starter, saying, "John's my guy."That move sent Ross Detwiler and Tom Gorzelanny to the bullpen. Both were scheduled to be long men, but that was not an ideal situation as neither is a right-hander.With the optioning of Lannan to Triple-A, Detwiler finds himself with the No. 5 spot in the rotation. That move ...

In a surprising turn of events, the Washington Nationals optioned John Lannan to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.Lannan was ready to take the reigns as the fifth starter in the Nationals' dominant rotation while Chien-Ming Wang recovers from a hamstring strain.Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reported that Lannan was sent down and that Ross Detwiler will likely become the Nationals' fifth starter.Detwiler has shown good control this spring. In 17.2 innings, Detwiler has struck out 18 while walking five batters. He has pitched to a 3.06 ERA while giving up 14 hits this spring.The 26-year-old Detwiler has not thrown more than 75.2 innings in his career but has a chance to impress the Nationals while Wang is sidelined.Lannan had drawn interest from teams all offseason but the Nationals ultimately decided to keep Lannan around. They will have a decision to make down the road, assuming they hold on to Lannan ...

A potentially new-and-improved Ross Detwiler took the mound in Viera, Florida yesterday and pitched two scoreless innings against the New York Mets. He allowed just two weak singles, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. A different release point—twice now the Nationals have tinkered with his across-the-body throwing motion—seems to have streamlined Detwiler’s follow-through and perhaps, finally, Detwiler 3.0 will take his place in the Nationals’ starting rotation. Or will he? Many still believe that the team chose poorly when they made the then 21-year-old their top pick. They point to the 2007 MLB amateur draft when the Nationals—who were holding a coveted No. 6 pick—drafted the left-hander from Missouri State. There were many highly respected players still available when the Nationals seemingly picked Detwiler’s name out of a hat. Almost four years later, Detwiler has yet to mature and some believe he never will. He has been slowed by both hip surgery ...

The Washington Nationals figure they are one big bat and one top-of-the-rotation pitcher away from reaching respectability, perhaps even contending. Many believe, though, that were it not for former General Manager Jim Bowden, there would be no hole in the rotation to fill. They point to the 2007 MLB amateur draft when the Nationals—who were holding a coveted number-six pick—drafted lefthander Ross Detwiler from Missouri State. There were many highly respected players still available when the Nationals seemingly picked Detwiler’s name out of a hat. Almost four years later, Detwiler has yet to mature and some believe he never will. Was Bowden wrong in choosing the lanky lefty or was Detwiler the appropriate pick that year? Many forget that the Wentzville, Missouri native was considered the second best left-hander in the draft, behind only uber-prospect David Price who went first to the Rays. But perhaps more importantly to Bowden and the Nationals, he ...

The nation has laid witness to the dominance of Stephen Strasburg and now it’s time for the Washington Nationals to claim their spot amongst the upper echelon of baseball. While it is obvious that this franchise has been in a shambles for years, the Nationals benefited from their ineptitude by getting Strasburg and teenage hitting phenomenon Bryce Harper. These unique talents are once in a generation talents that will become cornerstones of championship quality teams. Having both Strasburg and Harper, in addition to Ryan Zimmerman and Drew Storen, gives the Nationals four players who each solidify specific needs found on dynastic teams (i.e. the Yankees' big four of Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera). The assets the Nationals have acquired during these years of loss and disappointment situate them to make a serious push in the next few seasons. This push could last for at least a decade. If you look at similar franchises ...