Forget the knee-shaking, nail-biting race that was supposed to be the National League East this year. In fact, the only thing tight about that division this year is the Mets' unlikely stranglehold of the Braves.

Now that we're all spared from the gazillion NFL draft preview stories on ESPN for another year, all eyes should be focused on the NL Central, where the Cincinnati Reds are defying all expectations.

Let's be honest here: when Bob Castellini took on the role as the new owner and CEO in January and hired Wayne Krivsky as the new General Manager, Cincinnati Reds fans were excited, but expectations weren't high.

You had been there before when Carl Lindner replaced Marge Schott as owner, but his broken promises and firm grip on his cash did nothing but disappoint.

You had been there before when Dan O'Brien signed free agents like Eric Milton for 2005, but that pickup summed up the entire Reds season after he gave up a major-league leading 40 home runs last year.

So this year you didn't want to believe everything you heard about the media buying into the organizational moves because you were tired of the false hope that the Cincinnati franchise demanded of you.  After all, you had been told your team was going to be rebuilt by 2004. Then it was 2008, but you knew it had to be 2020. What's another year of new faces?

Well, what's a new franchise record of 17 wins in April?  Keep in mind this is no Arizona Diamondback team – the Reds have been around since 1869!  Tradition is powerful, and it was just that rich history that Cincinnati was trying dig into for inspiration by bringing back former stars Tom Browning, Mario Soto and others as "advisors."

With the best record in baseball at the end of April and sole possession of first place, you – as Reds fan – have to be excited about this highly energetic team that is soaring under the radar, not to mention that Cincinnati nearly swept the defending NL champion Astros before taking both games against division rival St. Louis. Who cares if Roy Oswalt was 15-0 lifetime against us? We can beat anyone!

Even if the Cardinals have Albert Pujols, you have to admit that the Reds' offense is just better. On any given day, any hitter from leadoff man Ryan Freel to the pitcher (yes, pitcher) could hit one out and sparkplug a burst of scoring. After a strong spring training, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has quickly proven he can hit and field against the best. Sometimes you even have to wonder if he has a better arm throwing from his knees.

Some teams, like the Phillies of the NL East, move the fences back to give their terrible pitchers a better chance at winning. Others, like the Reds, figured out how to find the right players. Yet the Reds' pitching has always been an X-factor for them. It seems, though, that each man in the rotation is trying to outdo the other.

One might think their rotation sums up their feelings thusly:

"At first I didn’t want to be traded, but now that I get three at-bats each outing, I could hit more home runs than Barry Bonds this year!" rejoiced Bronson Arroyo.

Aaron Harang says, "I can throw a complete game shutout on three days rest!"

Elizardo Ramirez believes "I can get my first major league win and hit in the same game after just getting called up from Triple-A!"

Brandon Claussen boasts "I can out duel Roy Oswalt when I pitch!"

And Dave Williams thinks, "Well, I haven't really done anything, but yeah! Go Reds!"

It’s going to be a close one in the Central this year. You can’t blame Williams for getting excited, though he has contributed the least on the staff. Even if the Reds’ success continues, Williams knows as well as anyone – any team is better than Pittsburgh.

Sara Normand can be reached at sara.normand@atomicsportsmedia.com.