A Photo to Sum Up Each MLB Team's Season Thus Far

Sure, much can be written about the young 2012 season thus far, but perhaps there is another way to look at the season. A picture is worth a thousand words, so rather than analyzing the season, let's just take a look at one picture for each team that can sum up 2012 thus far for that team. Enjoy!

Baltimore Orioles

Brian Kersey/Getty Images

The Baltimore Orioles and their fans have been waiting on Matt Wieters to come around and finally live up to his potential, and it looks like 2012 is going to be Wieters' year. With his offensive prowess and his ability to call excellent games behind the plate, Wieters has the Orioles above .500 and competing in the AL East.

Boston Red Sox

Elsa/Getty Images

Boston catchers have had a lot of strain but on their necks as they watch opposing teams destroy the Red Sox pitchers. At the time of this article, the Red Sox have the worst team ERA in baseball.

Chicago White sox

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Philip Humber and the rest of the Chicago White Sox have come out strong in 2012, much to the surprise of baseball analysts and the White Sox fans themselves. Just recently, Humber, who has bounced around in the last few years, threw a perfect game, the 21st in baseball history.

Cleveland Indians

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Cleveland Indians were another team everyone expected to be in the cellar, but thus far, they've been playing good baseball and have a winning record.

The picture above is representative of their team play and their passion for the game; playing all nine innings and never giving up. They may not have the high payroll or household names, but their hard, unselfish play has them in the thick of the AL Central.

Detroit Tigers

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

There's lots of love in Detroit, especially between 3-4 hitters Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. The two All-Stars have the Tigers in first in the AL Central, right where almost everyone predicted they would be.

Kansas City Royals

Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, might as well be the center of the plague, as the Royals have gone winless thus far at their home park.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

Albert Pujols is homer-less, and the Angels are in last place in their division.

Minnesota Twins

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Francisco Liriano and the Minnesota Twins have struggled in 2012. Liriano, supposedly the staple of the Twins rotation, is win-less in April and hosts an ERA above 11.

New York Yankees

Al Bello/Getty Images

Derek Jeter has found the Fountain of Youth, and the New York Yankees offense is one of the best in baseball.

Oakland Athletics

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Bartolo Colon has turned back the clock, and the Oakland Athletics pitching staff has helped the team to an almost .500 record, good enough for second in the division.

Seattle Mariners

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Jason Vargas and Felix Hernandez are pitching like some of the best 1-2 combos in the baseball and have helped the Mariners stay above the Angels in the AL West.

Tampa Bay Rays

Abelimages/Getty Images

Carlos Pena and the Tampa Bay Rays have been playing solid baseball and, because of this, are in the hunt of the AL East. It wasn't long ago that Pena was posting sub -200 batting averages, but now, the slugger is above the .300 mark.

Texas Rangers

Leon Halip/Getty Images

There has been a lot of lining up and high-fiving after games for the Rangers, as the team has the best record in baseball thanks to their superb pitching and their MLB-best offense.

Toronto Blue Jays

Tim Umphrey/Getty Images

The two young sensations for the Blue Jays, Kyle Drabek and Brett Lawrie, have kept this team competitive and tough; they're currently tied for the AL East lead with the New York Yankees.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been hit by the injury bug; and hard. The team is losing players at an alarming rate and, unfortunately for them, it seems to be their most important and skilled players. Chris Young, Justin Upton, and Daniel Hudson have all been bit by the injury bug. Thus, it's been hard for the team to win games and their .500 record shows it.

Atlanta Braves

Nick Laham/Getty Images

I couldn't find a picture of both Mike Minor (seen above) and Brandon Beachy, but frankly, that would have been the most appropriate picture. As I had predicted on my personal website, the two young pitchers are a force to be reckoned with this year, and as predicted, they are helping the Braves run the NL East. After a poor start to the season, the Braves, behind their two young players, are making a push and are right on the Nationals' tail for the leader in the division.

Chicago Cubs

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

At 4-12 the Cubs are one of the worst teams in baseball. It looks like a very tough season ahead for Cubs fans.

Cincinnati Reds

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds haven't totally fallen apart, but Mat Latos hasn't performed as the Reds have hoped, and the same could be said for the entire organization. Just a few games out, the Reds will have to turn their season around if they hope to not disappoint fans this season.

Colorado Rockies

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Michael Cuddyer is the new guy in town, but his hot bat has got the Rockies in second in the NL West.

Houston Astros

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Seems like another year in Houston that we've come to expect: Wandy Rodriguez is pitching well, and the rest of the team is floundering, having the team in the bottom of the NL Central.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Matt Kemp just missed out on the NL MVP trophy last year (he should have gotten it), but he seems like he's out to make it no contest this year. He's dominating at the plate, and the Dodgers are following suit with a fantastic record to lead the NL West.

Miami Marlins

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

It hasn't been the smoothest of starts for Ozzie Guillen and the rest of the Miami Marlins, but they're still in the NL East race, so there is no need to panic yet. Furthermore, the oddness that seems to follow Ozzie has come with him to Miami, as the Marlins pitching staff is upside down (with Josh Johnson being the worst and Mark Buehrle being the best).

Milwaukee Brewers

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

Ryan Braun is off to a (very) slow start, and so are the Milwaukee Brewers.

New York Mets

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

David Wright and the Mets have had a lot to smile about with their unexpected surge in the early parts of the 2012 season, but more and more, it looks like the team's magic is running out and they're heading for the bottom of the NL East.

Philadelphia Phillies

Much like the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Phillies, too, have been suffering from the injury bug, and their record shows it. Without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phillies seem to lack leadership and offensive support. Again, like I predicted on my website, the Phillies seem to be on the downturn, and it doesn't look like 2012 will be kind to them.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Andrew McCutchen is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, and although he hasn't been able to give the Pirates a winning record, he does have them in the middle of the road of the NL Central.

San Diego Padres

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Yonder Alonso is struggling, and so too are the San Diego Padres. Consider it growing pains, as the Padres are young and need time to develop before they can compete.

San Francisco Giants

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Giants are .500, and that is perfectly reflective of their two aces: Cain is pitching very, very well, and Lincecum is pitching just the opposite of that.

St. Louis Cardinals

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The Cardinals don't have Albert Pujols, but who needs him when Beltran is hitting the way he is? The Cards continue to surprise, as does Beltran, and are atop the NL Central.

Washington Nationals

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Jayson Werth had a terrible 2011, but his 2012 is looking very good so far, and the Nationals have one of the best records in baseball and are atop the NL East.