They couldn't have seen this coming four months ago, much less four years ago when they fired Dusty Baker and went after Lou Piniella.
But as the Cubs left Cincinnati with another loss in the teams' final meeting -- the Cubs' 12th loss in 16 games against the Reds -- there were Baker and his Reds, five games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central with five weeks to go. And the Reds have a young enough, talented enough team to inspire thoughts of staying in the vicinity for a few years.
''Dusty's a good manager,'' said Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, denying that any of the success in Cincinnati surprises him. ''His last year here in Chicago, he just didn't have the good players. We were kind of like this year, a lot of young guys. And you can't win like that.
That team in 2006 lost 96 games. This Cubs team is on pace to lose 94, even after its best road trip of the season (4-2).
''Dusty's a winner wherever he goes,'' Ramirez said. ''He went to the World Series in San Francisco [2002], he went to a playoff here [2003], and I think he's going to the playoffs this year with Cincinnati. And they don't have that good a ballclub. They got a decent ballclub, but he's getting the most from everybody.''
FUKE FACTOR
Nobody was more surprised to see Kosuke Fukudome's name in Sunday's lineup than Fukudome, who started against a left-handed pitcher for the first time this season.
''I ran out of right-handers,'' interim manager Mike Quade said, smiling, after explaining his all-right approach against rookie lefty Travis Wood, who has been dominant against lefty hitters this season.
Actually, Quade had one alternative: putting Jeff Baker in the outfield instead of at second base and having rookie Darwin Barney play second.
But Quade said the hot-hitting Fukudome earned the start -- and then Fukudome delivered. He lined out and got an intentional walk against Wood and later hit a tying two-run homer against lefty Arthur Rhodes in the eighth, his career-high 12th homer and second in as many days.
''I do feel good,'' said Fukudome, who has raised his average 25 points to .274 just this month, during which he's hitting .364 with four homers and 12 RBI.
OTHER FUKE FACTOR
On the other hand, Fukudome was charged with a key throwing error in the Reds' decisive, two-run eighth, when Ramirez failed to get in front of the throw and prevent it from caroming into the dugout.
''I did the best I can on the throw,'' Fukudome said. ''It may be my mistake, but if I'm afraid of throwing to third, there's nothing I could do [to make the play].''
Color Photo: Andy Lyons, Getty Images / Kosuke Fukudome is congratulated after hitting a homer Sunday against left-hander Arthur Rhodes.
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