San Francisco Giants: 3 Reasons Barry Zito Is Unsung MVP of Season so Far

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Barry Zito has been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball since joining the San Francisco Giants, but Zito has been far from disappointment in 2012.

Zito has been phenomenal for the Giants so far. The former Cy Young award winner has shown flashes of the past when Zito couldn't be stopped.

So far, Zito is the Giants' unsung MVP and the team can only hope he keeps it up.  

Tim Lincecum

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Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum have completely reversed roles so far in 2012. 

Lincecum, the usual ace, has been a huge disappointment for the Giants.

"The Freak" is only 2-6 with a 5.82 ERA through his first 11 starts. Those are definitely freakish numbers, but not in the right way for Lincecum. 

However, Zito has been a polar opposite of Lincecum. 

Zito is off to a great start. Through his first 11 starts, Zito is 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA. 

The Giants expected Lincecum to be their ace this year, and had worries that Zito would continue to disappoint. Neither one has happened and the Giants have to be thankful the rejuvenation of Zito can take a little heat off the struggling Lincecum. 

Consistency

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The most promising aspect of Zito's hot start is his consistency. 

Consistency has been a huge problem for Zito since joining the Giants. The lefty will look like an ace one start, and then a completely dud the next.

In 2012, Zito has looked like he is no longer a dud and back to a stud. The former ace's consistency has been huge for the Giants. 

Opponents are only batting .223 against Zito and he has not allowed more than five earned runs in a start. His only real rough outing was giving up four earned runs in three innings at Milwaukee. 

Zito's consistency has taken the pressure off the offense and bullpen, and is a promising sign for Zito and the Giants. 

Biggest Surprise

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Barry Zito has been the Giants' biggest surprise so far in 2012 over Melky Cabrera. 

Clearly Cabrera's unreal start has been a huge surprise for the Giants. Nobody could predict Cabrera to be hitting .364 with 82 hits by the beginning of June. 

Yes, those are clearly phenomenal numbers, but they are not a bigger surprise than Zito's start after Cabrera's solid 2011 campaign. 

Fans expected another rough year for Zito and didn't even know if he would be in the starting rotation. Clearly he has exceeded those expectations so far. 

The fact that Zito has been the Giants' biggest surprise and became one of the staff's most reliable pitchers, makes him the unsung MVP of the early going.