The Bulls North get stronger

Image Courtesy of Bing

                            The Bulls North get stronger

The Cubs have a day off and the White Sox have a late game in Oakland tonight. Carlos Rodon gets the start for the Sox. Rodon is actually one of the reasons I'd like to see the Sox hold on to Jose Quintana. By 2019 the Sox could be decent. A starting rotation headed up by Quintana and Rodon backed by Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez and Carson Fulmer or Lucas Giolito could make the Sox fun to watch.

Chicago baseball is defenseless

I've gone back to being concerned about Tim Anderson. Anderson draws so few walks almost all of his on base percentage comes form his batting average. I could live with that if he was better defensively. Anderson currently leads the majors in errors with 19. The Sox as a team rank 29^th out of 30 teams in team defense.

Speaking of defense, do you remember how good the Cubs were on defense last season? Well they're 24^th out of 30 teams this season. Generally you think of good defense as being a constant. With the Cubs that hasn't been the case.

But hey, how about that Cameron Payne?

Taj Gibson has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Taj joins Jimmy Butler and coach Tom Thibodeau to form the nucleus of the Bulls North. The northern version of the Bulls figures to be a better and more entertaining version of the Bulls than their Chicago counterparts. GarPax has made no bones about the Bulls being in full rebuild mode. I have no idea of why any Bulls fan think that GarPax could oversee a successful rebuild.

From the you first department

Carmelo Anthony is now prepared to accept a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Houston Rockets. Former Knicks GM Phil Jackson is probably wondering, “Why now?” Anthony's willingness to go to only the Cavaliers or Rockets show the super team mentality in the NBA. The regular season is becoming a joke as teams rest their super stars. The idea of the best players choosing their teams is becoming like a rec league where playing want to play with their buds. It dilutes the product.

Hawks capped as Kruger goes to Vegas

Meanwhile the Blackhawks have shipped Marcus Kruger off to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The move puts the Hawks under the salary cap. I have to admit that I've never been as big a Kruger fan as some hockey experts. Kruger's strengths are his defensive ability, along with his penalty killing and face off prowess. Kruger was below 50% in faceoffs last year while the Hawks penalty killing stunk. Last year Kruger scored 5 goals to go with 12 assists. I know I come across as a meatball fan, but I think he's replaceable at a cheaper price.

More next time.