MLB

The inevitable has finally happened.

If you are a fan of the unpredictable, baseball in April has been a very, very fun month. With the Washington Nationals playing average baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates in first place and the Toronto Blue Jays making Vegas look quite foolish, little has gone as planned.

As the calender turns to May, we can take a snapshot of the best individual performances in April and how they may or may not impact the 2013 award races. MVPs and Cy Youngs are rarely won in April, but a hot start can be a precursor to a breakout season or award campaign.

The American League East division was expected to be turned upside down in 2013. The Toronto Blue Jays were written in as the favorites to win the division while the New York Yankees were expected to struggle mightily.

With the first month of the minor league season nearly in the books, it's time to reflect on the early-season performances of Prospect Pipeline's Top 50 prospects.

While there are plenty of top prospects off to a hot start at their respective levels, there are countless others who have struggled in the early going. As you will see, injuries have impacted numerous prospects in the Top 50.

While you were sleeping Monday, there were two Major League Baseball games being played deep into the night between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics. 

The Mets and Marlins had the benefit of starting at 7:05 p.m. ET, so even though they played 15 innings and over 5.5 hours, that contest ended around 12:30 a.m. on the east coast. 

The Detroit Tigers brought outfielder Torii Hunter on board for the 2013 season for two reasons: To help stabilize the top of the batting order to set up Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and give a veteran voice in the clubhouse.

If April is any indication of what Hunter brings to the table at the plate, then the mission has been accomplished.

When the Tampa Bay Rays signed veteran catcher Jose Molina to a two-year deal worth $3.3 million following the 2011 season, they actually got much more than what the 37-year-old's numbers show.

Just look at the names in this week's UTK and you'll see the issue. Giancarlo Stanton, Zack Greinke, Troy Tulowitzki, Stephen Strasburg—these are big-time stars, with most making big time money or carrying the hopes of a franchise on their back.

Sometimes in life you just have to toss a perfectly good pie in your face.

Brandon Moss was exhausted; everybody was. The A's had just taken on the Angels through 19 innings, leaving the announcers weary, the fans yawning and the players ready to hit the showers.

Not so fast, because we have some pie throwing and sports-drink tossing to get to before you leave the stadium.

Through the first month of the 2013 season, the New York Yankees have defined themselves as the team that overcomes setbacks.

They knew coming into the regular season that the first month would be a challenge.  With Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira all expected to be out until May 1, the club's prognosis was grim.