Cincinnati Reds

In our newest installment of the Draft Day Debate, we look at two of the top first basemen, Joey Votto and Adrian Gonzalez. 

Votto is coming off an MVP year while Gonzalez seems set for his best year yet as he enters the Red Sox offensive powerhouse. While undoubtedly fantasy owners will choose Albert Pujols first off the board and first for 1B, who will be the better pick as the second 1B to go? You decide...

Let me preface this article by saying that Jonny Gomes is one of my favorite players on the Reds.

I am wondering if being 'unofficially' awarded the left-field job prior to the start of camp hasn't sapped the slugger of his hunger.

Recent news surrounding the status of Johnny Cueto, as it pertains to his inflamed shoulder, has Reds fans a bit concerned.  

It was announced that Cueto will take 7-10 days off before he resumes throwing again. That will keep him Arizona-bound when the rest of the team breaks camp to head off to Cincinnati for opening day.

For the second year in a row, Travis Wood enters a three-man race for the last two spots in the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation. Wood is coming off an impressive rookie campaign and is preparing to take another step in becoming a solid pitcher.

Wood, the 24-year-old pitcher, seems to play with more experience than his age. His Major League debut was at Chicago in Wrigley Field where he threw seven innings of two-run baseball.

Cincinnati Reds (2010 record: 91-71)

The Cincinnati Reds won the National League Central last year and, in the process, made the postseason for the first time since 1995, when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS but were in turn swept by the Atlanta Braves in the Championship Series.

Even though the Cincinnati Reds lacked key offseason acquisitions, General Manager Walt Jocketty believes they still have the players needed to win the National League Central Division for the second consecutive year.

The Reds have improved their wins in every year since manager Dusty Baker took over the team in 2008. Just like Bill Murray's character in What About Bob?, the Reds seem to move in "baby steps."

Everyone knows the Reds have a vault of young talent. Everybody knows about Joey Votto, Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce and Aroldis Chapman. Most have heard about Chris Heisey , Mike Leake, Travis Wood, Devin Mesoraco, Juan Francisco, Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier and Chris Valaika.

Here comes a serious question: Have you ever heard of center fielder Dave Sappelt? I had not before this spring training.

From 2002 to 2009, the Chicago Cubs won three division titles. The St. Louis Cardinals took the other five. The Cincinnati Reds never had a winning record during that stretch. Then, in 2010, they figured it all out.

Last year, the Cincinnati Reds had two young pitchers that burst onto the scene.

One of them was Mike Leake, who skipped the minor leagues and started in the majors instantly. He stole a spot in the Reds' rotation and ran away with it. He took the fantasy world by storm by going 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his first 11 starts.

At one time Brandon Phillips was considered among the cream of the crop of second basemen.  In 2007 he posted his only career 30/30 campaign.  In the two subsequent seasons he followed it up with 20/20 years, clearly keeping him among the elite at his position.

The 2010 season, however, saw him return to the leadoff spot to mixed results: