'Superman' Sam Fuld headlines surprising early stars (cont.)

16. Kevin Correia, Pirates SP (3-1, 2.48). The Pirates signed him in what appeared to be an overpay at $8 mill for two years. One scout said, "He's a No. 5 starter on a good team.'' That's one opinion, but so far he's pitching like the Pirates' ace.

17. Jordan Walden, Angels RP (3-3 saves, 0.00). Walden has been brilliant over his first eight innings, logging two holds, no runs, only three hits and 10 strikeouts.

18. Josh Tomlin, Indians SP (3-0, 2.33). He doesn't have scintillating stuff, but as Antonetti said, "He's a competitor who knows how to pitch.'' Been the model of consistency since coming up to the Indians. Has a 0.92 WHIP, remarkable for someone who isn't overpowering.

19. Jose Contreras, Phillies RP (5-5 saves, 0.00). With Brad Lidge out, perhaps until the All-Star break, Contreras has been a revelation as a closer. Has thrown seven scoreless innings.

20. Jhoulys Chacin, Rockies SP (3-0, 1.64). He's been nothing sort of brilliant, big especially in Ubaldo Jimenez's absence.

21. Jeff Francoeur, Royals OF (.329, 3 HR, 16 RBI). He even has five walks.

22. Logan Morrison, Marlins OF (.327, 4 HR, 11 RBI). He'll be out 2-4 weeks with a sprained foot, but he's shown unexpected power early. Has a 1.061 OPS. Perhaps also MLB's top tweeting ballplayer at @LoMoMarlins.

23. Mitchell Boggs, Cardinals RP (1-1 saves, 1.80). With Ryan Franklin ineffective in the closing role, Boggs is the man to step in. Has 13 strikeouts in 10 innings and a 0.70 WHIP.

24. Willie Bloomquist, Diamondbacks INF/OF (.306, 7 RBI, 11 runs, 7 steals). A career-long utilityman, he's stepping into a more regular role and has been a producer in 62 at-bats.

25. Yunel Escobar, Jays SS (.322, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 11 runs). Bobby Cox couldn't wait to get him out of town, but there's no denying Escobar has talent. Owns a .917 OPS.

26. Matt Harrison, Rangers SP (3-1, 1.88). The lefty is making the Mark Teixeira trade look even better. Showing powerful stuff, with his 0.94 ERA so far.

27. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals SP (3-1, 2.01). He's been very effective when healthy. Big spring tipped this off. Has a 0.73 WHIP.

28. Justin Smoak, Mariners 1B (.291, 2 HR, 7 RBI). Their decision to take him instead of Jesus Montero for Cliff Lee carried the potential to be second-guessed. Smoak did not have a good year last year but seems much improved this season and is showing an especially good eye, with 11 walks and a .403 on-base percentage. Managed to perform this way with his father, Keith, dying. (He passed away this week at 54.)

29. Kyle Farnsworth, Rays RP (4-4 saves, 1.42). The Rays had the best bullpen in the American League last year in a major surprise, and they're near the top again this year in an even greater surprise. Farnsworth anchors the previously underachieving group with a 0.79 WHIP so far.

30. Josh Beckett, Red Sox SP (2-1, 1.93). He's saved the struggling Red Sox by pitching to his old form. Has a ridiculous 0.79 WHIP thanks to just 13 hits in 28 innings (4.2 per 9 innings).

31. Danny Espinosa, Nationals 2B (.273, 2 HR, 15 RBI). He showed good power as a late-season call-up in 2010, and he's carried it through to this year. Has seven extra-base hits and .509 slugging percentage.

32. Charlie Morton, Pirates SP (2-1, 3.33). Those stats may not look all that special, but considering his 2010 season (2-12, 7.57), they are. "He always had the stuff,'' one scout said. Has the talent but needs to do it now, considering that '10 performance.

33. Drew Storen, Nationals RP (2-2 saves, 1.80). Storen had such a bad spring that the Nationals turned to Sean Burnett to close early on. He also has two holds and a 0.79 ERA. Has the mentality to close, so that's where he should be.

34. Kyle McClellan, Cardinals SP (2-0, 1.89). He was brilliant in going 4-0 this spring, and he's kept it going. One of the smoother transitions from the 'pen you're going to see.

35. Chris Narveson, Brewers SP (1-0, 2.19). When Zack Greinke spoke glowingly of the Brewers' starters, he said they hade "four'' real good ones, obviously omitting Narveson. Well, he has taken it to heart, obviously. And of course, he's outdoing Greinke, who hasn't gotten on the mound yet.

36. Alberto Callaspo, Angels 3B (.313, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 11 runs). They tried for Adrian Beltre, who's off to a nice start with the rival Rangers. But Callaspo can hit, and he's started nicely, like most of the Angels.

37. Carlos Beltran, Mets OF (.283, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 11 runs). He barely played this spring, raising concern his knee wouldn't be ready, but he's been the Mets' best offensive player. Has a .908 OPS.

38. Curtis Granderson, Yankees OF (6 HR, 9 RBI, .691 slugging). Granderson entered the year with an oblique strain, yet there's been no evidence of it affecting his hitting. Has a healthy .1.013 OPS.

39. Jaime Garcia, Cardinals SP (3-0, 1.44). He was a Rookie of the Year candidate last year, but was so awful this spring it was hard to know what to expect. Brilliant so far.

40. Aaron Rowand, Giants OF (.315, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 11 runs). A threat to be released after barely contributing to the world championship last year, he's played solidly so far.

41. Bartolo Colon, Yankees SP/RP (1-1, 3.50). He's joined the rotation after a nice start. Has 20 strikeouts in first 18 innings.

42. Brandon McCarthy, A's SP (1-1, 2.10). Has absurd strikeout-to-walk ratio (20-3) in nice comeback start.

43. Dustin Moseley, Padres SP (0-3, 1.40). The former mop-up man has pitched well enough to be 3-0, but has received exactly zero runs of support.

44. J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks RP (5-5 saves, 1.13). Has 10 strikeouts in eights innings and a 0.50 WHIP. D-backs GM Kevin Towers knows relievers.

45. Jason Isringhausen, Mets RP (0-0, 2.45). Back with the Mets, he has a shot at the setup role now. Has a 0.55 WHIP and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, though he isn't often cracking 90 mph.

Around The Majors

• Between all the embarrassing revelations that surfaced in his divorce trial with soon-to-be ex-wife Jamie, plus his need to borrow $55 million since last September, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt got what he bargained for with MLB taking over day-to-day operations of the Dodgers. McCourt now will need approval to so much as buy a desk.

The difference between McCourt and the Mets-owning Wilpons is that the Wilpons have 30 years history running a team and are in trouble due to one horrific if long-standing financial decision (Madoff), while McCourt made countless questionable moves involving the team. The IRS is investigating McCourt (according to TMZ), as well, as he apparently suffered a double whammy Wednesday. ("People in here were freaking out" on Wednesday, an unnamed source said.)

MLB now employs two top ex-Dodger people, Joe Torre and Kim Ng, who surely have some insight into some of the shenanigans going on at Chavez Ravine. Commissioner Bud Selig's hope seems to be for McCourt to realize he is financially unable to run the team (though there's no evidence he understands that yet). McCourt signed paperwork upon becoming owner that he wouldn't sue MLB, but baseball people harbor no illusions McCourt will abide by his promise. One person familiar with the situation says McCourt plans to fight baseball on this.

• Stan Kasten, a favorite of Selig's, would make sense to run the Dodgers for now. (The name was first mentioned by Jayson Stark.) Three other possibilities are Corey Busch, whom McCourt let go upon taking over the Dodgers, former Padres president Dick Freeman and MLB exec John McHale Jr., a former Tigers and Rays president.

• Good job by Brewers owner Mark Attanasio to extend Ryan Braun for $105 million over five years (2016 through 2020). That's the second long-term deal Braun has signed with Milwaukee, while co-star Prince Fielder hasn't signed one and presumably never will. Attanasio, in fact, twice before had offered $20 million-a-year deals (CC Sabathia and Fielder) -- Braun was the first to accept.

• The Brewers are realistic enough to understand Fielder won't be back after the year. Some candidates to sign Fielder should include the Cubs, Mariners (GM Jack Zduriencik was the Brewers' scouting director, and Seattle scouting director Tom McNamara was a scout in Milwaukee), Rangers, Orioles and Dodgers (if they have an ownership change).

• James Loney looks like a potential non-tender candidate, as one scout pointed out, for the Dodgers.

• Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey, one of the smarter guys in the game, said, "We have to be honest with ourselves. We can keep saying, 'We're a better team than this.' We may not be."