RynoRules

Junior leads team in ISO - .294. Not surprisingly, also striking out quite a bit - 35.1%.

Just a quick level set: As of today, ERA+ is 68, WHIP is 1.875, K/BB is 1.27, FIP is 3.82, and xFIP is 5.16. :-& EDIT: Ground ball % is 37% and BABIP is .396.

Appreciate the vote of confidence from CBSSports.com. I feel less confident. Other than CO this is the team that scares me most in the conference. The Hawks always seem to have San Jose and Anaheim's number.

How long until he is an $11-mill per year middle reliever? Are there any peripherals I am missing that indicate the overall results may improve?

This. Although at least the NHL point system gives even bad teams somewhat of a shot to close a substantial gap by reeling off 10 straight. Really should shorten it to something like 60 games for the NBA and 65 for the NHL. The Bulls likely aren't getting past Miami in the second round. Carmelo is on the radar, I guess, assuming that Boozer is amnestied (no reason to think he won't be). They will have two 1st round picks assuming they grab Charlotte's. I'd like to see them grab a SG or SF who can shoot from range and a big man with a mean streak. The middle of the 1st Round appears to be as fluid as any in recent memory. I've seen some mocks with Wille Cauley-Stein as a lottery pick, others having him grabbed by the Bulls in the 2nd Rnd. Kyle Anderson (probably because he isn't terribly athletic) is also all over the place. Aaron Gordon seems to have solidified his status as lottery pick after the tourney, but earlier on I had see him falling to the Bulls, to I put him on the list below (though I would prefer they avoid him). Potentially available players include: SG/SF Nick Stauskas Jerami Grant Zach LaVine Rodney Hood TJ Warren James Young Jordan Adams Kyle Anderson PF/C Adreian Payne Montrezl Harrell Aaron Gordon Willie Cauley-Stein Cleanthony Early Others who grade as 1st/2nd rounders depending on who you ask: PJ Hairston, Aaron Harrison, CJ Wilcox, Jarnell Stokes, James McAdoo, and Johnny O'Bryant. To me Payne is the choice amongst the big guys. He's got some polish, an NBA-ready body, and played in a very physical, defense-oriented conference. Aaron Gordon will likely be gone (I think he's Tyrus Thomas anyway). Harrell is a mean SOB, but I think Payne is more skilled. Its harder to get a fix on SG/SF. Stauskas strikes me as a specialist who would struggle in Thibs' system because he is limited on D. I love Anderson and Warren as college players, but I worry about whether their athletic abilities will allow them to succeed on the next level. Much as it pains me to say it (I am a UNC fan), to me you pick Hood if he falls to you. He can shoot and has height,length and agility. Plus he played in a system that stresses man-to-man D and its fundamentals, so he's likely to fit-in right away. All of that said, if Gary Harris miraculously falls, you grab him immediately. I'd also consider Hairston and WCS from the "reach" list (again, that list is very fluid these days) depending on how things shake out.

Last night did nothing to alter my perception. Renteria says he is sticking with him. I admire his loyalty and patience, but this team doesn't look awful so far, and I'd like to see them win a few games they deserve to win.

I think I am still longing for the days of Washington and Traylor.

I think its my own bias, but anything under 3-bills seems smallish for DT. I thought that about Melton in spite of his production.

Weird mock over at NFLDraftTek has the Bears taking CJ Mosely over Dennard, Donald, etc. and all of the DT's sans Nix falling to the early 2nd. I'm wary of Donald as a combine-hyped prospect, but I still can't see that happening.

Hey, I'm thinking this Rizzo kid can play a little...

FYI, Kyle Fuller is coming to Chicago for a visit. In Emery's 2 drafts, all of Long, Bostic, Greene, Mills, McClellin, Jeffery, Hardin have come to Chicago for pre-draft visits. So, odds are...if a guy comes to visit, the Bears are strongly looking to draft him. I think I like Fuller slightly more than Dennard at this point. Fuller's a better run defender and is very sound in his technique. Dennard has great technique but he's also a grabber and could be prone to penalties in the NFL with his style of play. Fuller has a weird profile over at NFL.com. Here is their conclusion: Yet they also view him as a second to third round pick with great zone cover skills. You are still picking potential starters in the 2nd Rnd, no? Sure he's a scheme guy (he might not fit in with a press coverage team), but for a team that loves Cover 2 as much as the Bears he seems like a guy who could start off the bat.

I was going to mention how Rutgers leaving helps them, but had no idea how terrible East Carolina and Tulane were. 242 and 282 in Pomeroy. UConn, Memphis, and Cincy are going to win 14 conference games in perpetuity. But at least they got to a nice round 11 teams. Looks similar to the way Conference USA did when L'ville and Memphis dominated. That can work for your program in terms of winning, but I guess there is less money to go around. UConn's fans are as devoted as any I've known, so I'm happy for them.

What does that even mean? Kreutz was a highly paid player who dominated the locker room. It sucked that the Bears "best" lineman was a freaking center, even when he was good. Garza is a fairly compensated mediocre lineman who is not guaranteed the starting job for game 1, let alone the entire season. My point in bringing up Kruetz was that he was getting by largely on rep during his last couple of years. I suspect the same thing is happening with Garza. In any case, most of the mock drafts I am keeping an eye on have the Bears going with Dennard, Gilbert or Dix. I think this may be because Donald's stock is rising and the kid from Minnesota is now viewed as a high second-rounder.

And I think you are wrong. Garza isn't a good player anymore. This is Kruetz redux. There are free agent OL who would be better choices as a swing / backup OL.

It always makes sense to have as many good players on the roster as possible. This is not like QB, where only 1 guy plays at a time. And it's not like you are paying him any significant amount of money. For the minimal investment that DLP is, it would make no sense if the Bears were like, "nah, we already got our center" and let him go elsewhere. Plus, it gives the Bears a leg up to re-sign him for 2015 (and possibly beyond) since they'll have exclusive negotiating rights with him for a while before other teams can offer him a contract. You're missing my point, I think. I am more than happy to have DLP on the roster. I don't want Garza any longer - his presence uses up precious salary cap space and a roster spot that might be utilized on a more productive player.

Exactly re Slauson, who is now making starter's money. At least based on advance metrics, DLP is superior to Garza. That's why having Garza on the roster with DLP doesn't make sense, unless -as noted earlier - the plan is to kick Long out to RT and move Garza to guard. To me that take away from the progress we made last year in terms of continuity. If we are stuck with Garza then he should be the the C and G back-up, and DLP should be starting. I can't see a guy Garza's age in that role, though.

why stop there? 6 years/30 mil sounds good. The only value signing him to even a 2 year deal is that he wouldn't be a 2 month rental for whoever we trade with. BUT I think he may have more value because he isn't signed past this year. I have to believe that any contender that would trade for him has a better long term option but have had an injury or some set back. If he is still leading MLB in hits come October, give him an extension.

Now my opinion: Dude can't hit the broad side of a barn right now. I get the arguments above re trade value, but I think this team (at least this early on) deserves a chance to get some wins. The starters and other relievers are good enough to keep us competitive and maybe (just maybe) convince Jed and Theo to get some freaking help for the lineup around the ASB.

Veras today: IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA 0.2 0 2 2 4 1 0 29-12 16.20

Why not just release Garza? Otherwise what's the point of this? Just depth? Slauson and Long will be starting, no? The only guys on the O-Line I don't really trust are Garza and Mills. Just doesn't make sense to me. DLP is a starter.

This team is already frustrating as hell to watch. Much like the ownership.

I started last season's version of this thread ("Marmol Watch" after the 1st game). I'm a bit later this year, but since Strop did a good job today and Veras blew it 12 hours earlier, I'd say the time has come. What is the over/under on how long before Renteria officially declares Veras has lost his job?

Rizzo is Mark Twain, haters

RIZZZZZZZZZ

Now I remember why I generally avoid game threads