Jake

I don't think the team looks like one that is playing badly because of its manager. And it isn't really playing that badly, last two games excepted

QUOTE (Condor13 @ Apr 30, 2015 -> 10:10 PM) So he can ride the pine? He'd be our best option at 2B and 3B.

Don't forget re:Marshall trade that there was cash savings involved too, meaning you got FA players in addition to the draft pick

I assume the Bears didn't get rid of Brandon for no reason and were fully aware they unloaded an immensely talented and productive receiver. Marshall aside, White gives the offense something it hasn't had in a while, which is speed.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2015 -> 10:07 PM) I do question why Hahn made some quick fixes and then seemed to just neglect catcher spot and third base. Oh well, another month of bad playing and Samardzija will be on the trade market. Think OAK will give Semien back?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2015 -> 10:05 PM) Doesn't help Eaton is having a horrific season and that Sale, Shark and Q have sucked. It sure doesn't. Like I said, I think we'll see some things even out and we'll play some stretches of exciting baseball.

I think a big issue with expectations vs. reality is that we have a team with below average defenders at all but two positions, but it's hard to wrap your head around that compared to batting averages, etc. The other thing is that there are only two fast players on the team and several plodders. In those "little things" areas of defense and baserunning, you're looking at a near-league-worst team. We have to be really good when it comes to hitting and pitching to overcome that and it doesn't look we have it in us to do that.

It's not a good team and never had much of a chance to be one. We'll make some good runs and finish around .500 unless we just punt at some point, which I doubt we do. We spent a lot of resources on a mediocre LF, solid DH, mid-rotation SP, and elite closer. That doesn't a good team make unless you had a decent club to begin with.

I honestly don't recall the full logic of it, but as I heard it explained they have very little liability - "they" being the police officers - for what happens in that van so long as you can't prove they intentionally created that situation, which seems doubtful unless someone fesses up. It is telling, though, that the commissioner has essentially already said they know that the injuries are the fault of the officers. Legally speaking, it seems like the big question is whether it was malice or negligence.

From what I understand, it will be fairly difficult to charge these officers, let alone convict them of anything.

Why would the various gangs of Baltimore cooperate with each other? Would they even have any formal line of communication with one another?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 10:43 PM) If Bulls lose this series, Thibs might get fired between end of game and the post game press conference If I ran the show, I'd keep Thibs under almost all circumstances. That would be the one where I wouldn't

The bright side that gets less bright every time I say it is that this team stands to benefit from playing as many minutes together as possible before facing better opponents. They look a lot like guys who didn't get much time on the court together this season. Can't tell if it's actually helping, though, or if guys aren't healthy enough to benefit from extra playing time

When you see how winded Rose got in just a few minutes of game time into Game 1, you know he has to be totally gassed with the huge minutes he's been putting up since

Offensive gameplan continues to be ramming it in there and hoping for a foul call. Doesn't work at the end of games, they won't call that stuff

Pau reminds me of Mike Davis, former Illini. You watch the game and see him blowing opportunities, failing to use his physical tools, etc. but at the end of the game he has an impressive stat line so you don't know how to evaluate him

Seems like our main plan on offense is pray for foul calls

Pau has been highly uninspiring

I've been a big Thibs fan, but we haven't looked like a well-coached team in this series.

I'm not going to say the officiating has been biased, but it's certainly bad. They'll let all kinds of contact go at the hoop on both ends and then suddenly call a touch foul on the floor or call a clean block a foul. The Bulls need a game where fouls are called on those physical plays and they aren't happening.

If that's the only reason they've been carrying Kendrick Perkins, there's no reason to have Kendrick Perkins. You need your vets to keep everyone's collective cool, not instigate more cheapshotting after you've already lost a guy

The bright side of failing to steal that game is that it gives us a chance to play a lot cleaner game heading into the next round. They have played so little together that every additional game of prep they can get makes a difference.

grumble grumble something about Reinsdorf

Rose for Love might have been the one trade where the team did get better in the short term

I'll stand by what I said then which is that there's no way you'd trade for Love and have a better team in the near term.