Here is the video of Felix Pie doing to Ken Griffey, Jr. what Griffey himself has done to others a few times over his career -- robbing him of a home run -- in the Cubs' 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last night.

FOXSports.com's Dayn Perry lists the Dusty Baker-led Cincinnati Reds on top of his teams that could surprise in 2008. (Hat tip: Wrigleyville23.) It seems like people have the Reds as possible contenders every year, usually referencing their supposedly powerful offense. That offense finished 10th in the NL in runs scored in 2006 and 7th last year. True, the Reds finished first in runs scored in 2005, but they also finished 16 games under .500 that year. How are they better this year?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3062658

The Reds just got worse. I live in Reds country, and I work with a bunch of die-hard Reds fans. None of them are happy about this, and I can't blame them. I can't figure this one out for the life of me. It doesn't make any sense for either the team or Baker.

Why would the Reds choose Baker? They have a bright future. Jay Bruce is Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year, and their farm system is stacked from top to bottom. Baker won't play the kids if he has a veteran to play, and he is not interested in teaching the game to kids. If they don't immeidately perform like all-stars, they will soon be setting on the end of the bench to be forgotten, breaking their confidence.

"The Reds have hired Dusty Baker as manager," reports SI.com's Jon Heyman. The Cubs are going to see plenty more of their former manager for at least the next three years.

The Cubs have yet to hit a home run (or a triple) this season, but they did obtain their first victory of 2007 tonight. Ted Lilly was excellent, throwing 7 innings of 3 hit, 1 run ball, with 9 K's and just 1 BB. Bobby Howry and Ryan Dempster closed the deal in the 8th and 9th innings, just as it should be.

In his last two starts, going back to his final start in 2006, Lilly has now struck out 18 while walking just 1. Lilly had one other appearance in 2006 with at least 9 strikeouts and no more than 1 walk. That came in his second start of the year, in Fenway, when he struck out 10 and walked none. From September 1, 2006, Lilly has a 2.29 ERA in 43.2 innings. (Hat tip: Baseball-Reference.com's Play Index.)

The control the strike zone message Lou Piniella has been preaching since his arrival is good. The execution, today at least, not so much.

The man apparently on the verge of signing a 5-year, $80M extension, Carlos Zambrano, threw like the man who led the National League in walks last season rather than the man who would win a Cy Young. 47 balls to 45 strikes, leadings to 5 walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch. Combine that with Adam Dunn's (1071 OPS the last three seasons against the Cubs) power, and Zambrano had less than an ideal opening to his promised Cy Young campaign.

Former Cub Mark Bellhorn has signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Bellhorn had one of his bad years last year, posting a 66 OPS+ with the Padres in 288 plate appearances. Both of his good years -- 2002 (Cubs) and 2004 (Red Sox) were quite good.

The Cincinnati Post profiles Josh Hamilton, the former #1 draft pick taken by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft and traded to the Reds in a pre-arranged deal for cash considerations:

He admitted Thursday to feeling a bit nervous about starting over with an entirely new organization, but said he had heard good things about the Reds. When he got the call on his cell phone in the middle of the Carolina woods, he started shaking.

"I can't describe it other than saying it's a dream come true," he said. "Where I've been the last three or four years, and then for this to happen and know that people have confidence in me and where I'm going now and how I'm living my l

Departing Reds staffer takes shots at Krivsky (Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News, 12/5/2006)

Barton said when the Reds were ready to acquire pitcher Eddie Guardado from Seattle, a scout told him Guardado had a bad arm that could blow any time, "But Wayne said he had talked to his agent and was told Guardado just had a bad back and his arm was OK."

Krivsky made the deal, and Guardado underwent Tommy John ligament transplant surgery in his elbow Sept. 8 and isn't expected to be able to pitch until the middle of next season.

That's the way to end a complete game-less streak. The 2006 Chicago Cubs have now avoided becoming the only team in major league baseball history to not have a starting pitcher throw a complete game the entire season, thanks to Rich Hill. Hill not only threw a complete game today (118 pitches, 85 strikes), he shutout the Cincinnati Reds, a team with a good offense desperately trying to stay alive in the wild card race. Hill is now 6-2 with a 2.65 ERA in 68 innings since the All-Star Break. He has 62 K's and just 20 walks during that stretch. He continues to cement his status as a lock for the 2007 rotation.

The AP reports that former Cub Eric Hinske has been traded by the Blue Jays to the Red Sox for a player to be named later. The Blue Jays wanted to avoid paying Hinske his $5.6M salary next season.