Reds 5-4 win the recipe for success

While unfortunately I had to work and couldn't watch last night's 5-4 Reds win, after watching the highlights and reading the game stories, what was most comforting about the victory was your best players stepped up and were your best players.  Mat Latos was brilliant for most of his 6 2/3 innings, Brandon Phillips hit a 3-run HR and Joey Votto knocked in the game-winning run.

Throughout a 162-game season a championship club is going to need contributions from everyone on the roster, but what usually makes a team championship caliber is having your best players lead the way.  Afterall the Big Red Machine wouldn't have won all those pennants if Rose, Bench, Morgan and Perez weren't out front leading the charge.  So, it's vital Votto, Phillips, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto and Latos have the seasons they're capable of having.

Curious to see how Thursday's afternoon finale with the Angels plays out.  Both teams have spent a lot of energy (and bullpen arms) through the first two games.  Both teams would love to win the series as the Angels head South to take on division rival Texas while the Reds welcome NL darling Washington Nationals.

No doubt the loss of left fielder Ryan Ludwick until the All-Star break at the earliest is a blow, especially as the Reds face arguably the toughest schedule of any team in the month of April. Which is why every win now is important.

While I have no doubt Phillips can handle the cleanup role, my gut feeling is Walt Jocketty is looking for a power-hitting left fielder at the trade deadline come July.  I hope and pray I'm wrong and Ludwick returns from his separated shoulder injury displaying the same power he showed a season ago.  However I'm leery because it's his back shoulder, the one used to drive through the ball, and he had to have surgery on it.  As we saw with Joey Votto coming back from his knee injury last season, if you don't have a strong base it makes it hard to hit the ball out of the park.

In the meantime the Reds must live by the adage of "Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger." That an "Unleash the Heisey!"