bukie

Spurs lost again, this time in Houston. If the Bulls win at home vs. Toronto tomorrow, they'll pull to within a game of San Antonio.

With 12 games to play, the Lakers needed to win out and have the Spurs go 5-7 just to tie them in the standings. 6 games in, and the Spurs have lost all 6, meaning the Lakers now control their own destiny for the 1 seed.

Bulls officially clinched no worse than the 3 seed with the win today.

If St. Louis holds on here against Calgary, the Flames are basically done, 5 points back with 3 to play.

Maybe PitchFX data? I'm not seeing where that is. It's on the new Gameday and it's in the one box that always stays up. There's the result of the last batter, then below that is the pitcher and then the hitter and below that is the result of each pitch in the at-bat. The last column is NF. What is the Nasty Factor? The Nasty Factor evaluates several properties of each pitch, and rates the “nastiness” of the pitch on a scale from 0-100, based in part on the success or failure of opposing hitters against previous similar pitches. The Nasty Factor incorporates several different factors for each pitch, including: Velocity — The greater the pitch’s velocity — as compared to that pitcher’s and the league’s range of speed for that pitch type — the greater the nastiness; Sequence — The more the pitcher mixes up his pitches, the greater the nastiness… and certain pitch sequences are nastier than others, too; Location — The closer to the edges of the strike zone is, the greater the nastiness, while pitches closer to the middle of the plate, and farther away outside the strike zone, decrease in nastiness; Movement — The more movement the pitcher applies to the pitch — as compared to that pitcher’s and the league’s range of movement for that pitch type — the greater the nastiness. The Nasty Factor also adjusts for how often the pitcher has faced the current batter during the game, as well as how often he has used the same pitch type against the same batter in the current at-bat and previously in the game.

Maybe PitchFX data? I'm not seeing where that is.

No? Fukudome didn't have a good day? Aramis? Heck, even Barney got a couple of hits (and was caught stealing, but still...).

Byrd blown away by three straight 97-mph fastballs down the middle. That's not encouraging.

No runs given up, but nearly twice as many balls as strikes, and only three no-contact strikes.

The two homers really killed what was otherwise at least a decent outing.

Fukudome hit a couple line drive singles.

The biggest difference in the game today has been that 5 of the Pirates' 6 hits have been XBHs, and all 10 of the Cub hits have been singles.

As much as I don't question the Cubs for letting Pena swing at a meatball on 3-0, I question the Pirates for letting Ronny Cedeno swing at a meatball on 3-0. At least it was an 86-mph fastball.

The inability for so many posters to take anything at face value in a game thread never ceases to dumbfound me.

Ok, Grabow, this is a chance to show you can actually be counted on in situations other than mop-ups. Earn that 6th spot in the pen.

An extra base hit at some point today would be kind of nice, though. For the Cubs, I mean.

I also vastly prefer Jeff Russell: LOOGY to Sean Marshall: LOOGY.

Don't think Carmona has it today.

So, it took approximately 7 innings for Quade to go from having a bustling fan club thread to being on his way to being labeled a moron. Can I still like Quade on the whole and question one decision?

I question the decision to leave Demp in in the 7th on a cold Opening Day after 100 pitches. I don't have a problem letting Carlos Pena swing at a meatball on 3-0, and it was a meatball. Sometimes, you just miss it.

That's his, what, 10th coaching position?

Is there any other kind?

Starlin gets on...Starlin scores.

Here is a good article detailing the change in the Bulls' offensive (and defensive) philosophy regarding long jumpers under Thibodeau. The two players most affected by the change in philosophy? Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, who both went from 10% of their long jumpers being 3's to near 50%. Also, the number of long jumpers that the Bulls attempt has actually gone slightly down overall this year, so they aren't taking more long shots, just more threes instead of long twos.

Wait...Grant Wahl actually tried to get nominated for FIFA president for real?