CaliforniaRaisin

No Tippin' Gordon.

Rightly so, though: no pitcher in the system has been treated with greater care than Guzman, yet he's broken down every season but one (and that was a short season). There's no reason to expect he'll ever stay healthy long enough to compile an impressive career: the #1 predictor of future injury for a baseball player, particularly a pitcher, is past injury. I still list Guzman in my Cubs Top Ten (but not Top Five) prospects, but that's perhaps an indictment of my rating system and the current state of the system rather than a meaningful endorsement of Guzman. I was quite surprised to hear MacPhail tout Pinto over Sean Marshall -- and I say this as someone with a slight acquaintance with and a healthy respect for Pinto. But Mitre's appearance didn't surprise me at all. Interestingly, MacPhail described Sergio's sinker as "double-plus". What a far cry from the kid who couldn't throw any kind of breaking pitch when he was with the Lugnuts only 3 years ago. Thanks, Mark. I guess I have been a bit too optimistic about Guzman's health improving. It's a shame that someone so talented has had so many injury problems. Is there a chance a shift to the bullpen (as Tim suggested last summer) would help alleviate some of the injury risks? Would you rate Marshall ahead of Pinto? I think a bit more highly of Pinto since he achieved success at a higher level and hasn't had the injury problems Sean Marshall has experienced this past season. Of course Pinto has to improve his control; Sean's got an obvious advantage over Renyel there. I'd love to see Sergio win the fifth starter spot this upcoming season.

I think they should get someone at the 3, someone who lock down the opposing 2/3 or someone who can extend the defense with a solid outside jumper. The Bulls can be easily exposed by a solid 2/3, Pierce and Rip can score on anyone on a given night, but the Bulls have troubles vs. most. I agree completely. Of course the other key tto the offseason is re-signing restricted free agents Chandler and Curry.

The Bulls schedule this week: Monday: at Atlanta (Comcast) Tuesday: Denver at the UC (WCIU) Thursday: Charlotte at the UC (WGN - Chicagoland only) Saturday: Boston (revenge :twisted: ) at the UC (WGN Superstation \:D/ ) http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10801230402.jpeghttp://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10201230203.jpeg http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10501230324.jpeg

Wow, thank you for the wonderful recaps, Jon, Jessica, Mark_R, mlpeel and burnt out cubbie fan. They were great reads and I'm really envious of all of you. If the Cubs themselves aren't being that optimistic about Guzman's health, that is very worrying. It is good to see Renyel Pinto and Sergio Mitre get some love though.

I'm assuming the Suns will take it, but if they didn't, I would like Carney from Memphis (athletic SF, nice defender against the 3 and bigger 2 guards). For the 2nd rd, give me... Milan Majstorovic (another SF, who can play the 4, more offensive minded and has a nice outside touch. http://nbadraft.net/index.asp Carney goes one pick before the Bulls in the first round in their mock draft; Milan Majstrovic goes 7 picks after the Bulls' second rounder. I like what I read in the notes about Carney too. Your chocies sound good, sign me up. :)

If the Bulls keep our first rounder and it doesn't go to Phoenix, who is at the top of your list? I was never upset with drafting Deng, I wanted Igoudala over Gordon though. For now, I'm shutting up about that though. :)

Nope. The only time they've been .500 since '98 was 2002 when they started 2-0.

.500!!

I'm not the only one who thought the NBA went too soft on Ben Wallace for inciting the crowd during The Riot, am I? Of course not, I thought so too. Anyone think Larry Brown is going to have another meltdown after the game and try to kill the refs, like the last time the Bulls were in Auburn Hills? Haha, offensive foul on Rasheed!

Another offensive foul on Hamilton! :lol: Bah, Curry fouls out.

The Detroit Pistons are a dirty, dirty team. Gotta love the techincals.

Ugh, Eddy Curry with 5 fouls. :x

He looked in pain, and he's still out... :( :( Bulls on a 9-0 run and lead 81-74!

Was Deng hurt there when he was tripped? He went to the bench immediately.

I'm gonna watch the second half - just got back from some studying.

Following the game on Gamecast, it didn't look that pretty. Skiles like keeping the compliment to a minimum anyways.

I guess I dropped the ball on that one and forgot to announce it -- but I got him his ticket in good order, so I didn't totally mess it up... Ahh, he did tell me how he got the ticket, but now why. Again, kudos to Jon. If he answers no to that, I'd be freaked out. Don't let one compliment from me go to your head. [-X

Which translates to 18-19 DIAF.

Thanks for the recap, Mark! I'm especially glad to hear Ryno's number is being retired this upcoming season. And since this is the first time I've heard of it, a hearty congrats to Jon for being selected the 2004 Poster of the Year. =D>

Bulls win 95-85 and improve to 18-19.

Yup, and Gordon was in for a second and made a three-pointer. Bulls lead 93-78.

74-71 Bulls lead it early in the 4th quarter. This game shouldn't be this close. :evil: Hinrich and Deng are having bad shooting games again. Gordon has 8 minutes through three quarters. :roll:

Sorry I wasn't here to update for you - Bulls lead 55-43 at the half.

Bulls lead the Hawks 20-12 with 2:54 left in the first quarter.