Mikki Moore is the worst defensive big man in the NBA (vent thread)

[winsomme]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

No EJ, it comes from the fact that he's a really bad player, its that simple.

I'm still pulling for him, he plays hard and he wears green, but lets be honest, he's awful.

I don't know, crown. I'm trying to stay constructive. I think there are things that he can do out there.

I mean, he is hitting that jumper. but i think he passed up at least open looks and that bothers me.

[winsomme]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

I mention this not to pile on EJ, but i'm pretty sure he was one of the guys killing Sam in the playoffs last year.

The reason i mention it is that in some ways his criticism of Sam was justified and also interestingly highlights the importance of bench players.

don't we all remember when Doc went to Eddie and it proved to be a nice boost to the bench...?

Bench players -  like kickers in football - are insanely (and maddeningly) important in tight battles. and we are in an incredibly tight battle...

[moiso]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

No EJ, it comes from the fact that he's a really bad player, its that simple.

I'm still pulling for him, he plays hard and he wears green, but lets be honest, he's awful.

I don't know, crown. I'm trying to stay constructive. I think there are things that he can do out there.

I mean, he is hitting that jumper. but i think he passed up at least open looks and that bothers me.

I agree with you about both Moore and Marbury.  There are things they are struggling with so they might as well do a little moore of what they are good at.  Penetrating for Marbury, and that jumper for Moore.  If he's not taking a few of those a game, he is doing nothing to help the team.

[RAcker]

 Mikki isnt the wost defensive big man in the league..
he is.

He's still in the league?

[Edgar]

 Mikki isnt the wost defensive big man in the league..
he is.

He's still in the league?

 
Heat Roster   
 

  2008-09 Roster 
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB   FROM YRS
50 Joel Anthony  C  6-9 245 08/09/1982   Nevada-Las Vegas 1
30 Michael Beasley  F  6-9 245 01/09/1989   Kansas State R
15 Mark Blount  C-F  7-0 250 11/30/1975   Pittsburgh 8
6 Mario Chalmers  G  6-1 190 05/19/1986   Kansas R
14 Daequan Cook  G  6-5 210 04/28/1987   Ohio State 1
9 Yakhouba Diawara  F-G  6-7 230 08/29/1982   Pepperdine 2
40 Udonis Haslem - C  F-C  6-8 235 06/09/1980   Florida 5
13 Luther Head  G  6-3 185 11/26/1982   Illinois 3
22 James Jones  F  6-8 220 10/04/1980   Miami (Fla.) 5
21 Jamaal Magloire  C  6-11 265 05/21/1978   Kentucky 8
8 Jamario Moon  F  6-8 200 06/13/1980   Meridian CC (MS) 1
7 Jermaine O'Neal  C-F  6-11 258 10/13/1978   Eau Claire HS (SC) 12
11 Chris Quinn  G  6-2 175 09/27/1983   Notre Dame 2
3 Dwyane Wade - C  G  6-4 216 01/17/1982   Marquette 5
1 Dorell Wright 
 
 

[EJPLAYA]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

[EJPLAYA]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

I mention this not to pile on EJ, but i'm pretty sure he was one of the guys killing Sam in the playoffs last year.

The reason i mention it is that in some ways his criticism of Sam was justified and also interestingly highlights the importance of bench players.

don't we all remember when Doc went to Eddie and it proved to be a nice boost to the bench...?

Bench players -  like kickers in football - are insanely (and maddeningly) important in tight battles. and we are in an incredibly tight battle...

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity! 

Is it really worthy of multiple threads and pages of ripping a guy who has the same deficiencies that he had coming in? I think he has given us EXACTLY what I thought he would. Maybe some of you had higher expectations.

[Roy Hobbs]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

No, I don't really see the difference between Tony, Moore, and Scal vs. BBD.  All are flawed players, who have spent a considerable amount of time in the rotation this year.  Moore is averaging 17 minutes per game.  That's right in line with what BBD, Tony, Powe and House are averaging.

Also, I'm not sure I'd characterize your criticism of BBD as solely "pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe".  I know fairly recently you said some complimentary things about BBD, but overall, you've been largely scathing.

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity!

When the starters do abjectly stupid things (like Moore makes a habit of), they get criticized for it, too.  There's more criticism of Moore because he makes more stupid mistakes, and does fewer positive things to make people forget the mistakes.

[EJPLAYA]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

No, I don't really see the difference between Tony, Moore, and Scal vs. BBD.  All are flawed players, who have spent a considerable amount of time in the rotation this year.  Moore is averaging 17 minutes per game.  That's right in line with what BBD, Tony, Powe and House are averaging.

Also, I'm not sure I'd characterize your criticism of BBD as solely "pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe".  I know fairly recently you said some complimentary things about BBD, but overall, you've been largely scathing.

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity!

When the starters do abjectly stupid things (like Moore makes a habit of), they get criticized for it, too.  There's more criticism of Moore because he makes more stupid mistakes, and does fewer positive things to make people forget the mistakes.

There is a big difference, because BBD is SUPPOSED to be in the rotation playing 17 min a game and Mikki isn't. If KG and Powe and BBD recently were healthy and playing normal minutes, Mikki wouldn't be getting more than a couple minutes of garbage time like POB was. Expecting the guy to come in and play 2nd string minutes instead of spot duty, especially when often being matched up against starters like Howard or smaller players on rotation is a little insane. He was only brought in for foul trouble and a lot of DNP's and instead got thrust into bigger minutes. Of course he isn't going to look incredible.

As far as the BBD criticism, the reason that I recently have made some very positive comments about him is because he is just barely starting to deserve them. Once he dropped his weight to a reasonable level again he is starting to show the committment and ability out on the floor to deserve to be in the discussion of a true solid backup. When he let himself go not only did he lose any good will for work ethic, he lost much of his quickness and it hurt his game. That is why his minutes towards the end of last year dropped in huge bunches.

Almost no one on here makes scathing remarks about the leaders. I have been consistent in my comments when warranted. I have ripped PP at the first of the year for lack of effort. I ripped Rondo today even for playing lazy defense. I have been hard on KG's refusal to do the dirty work at times down in the post. I have been ticked at Perk's stupid offensive fouls he can't seem to let go. I pretty much love Ray and everything he does, so I have not really had the chance to let him have it. I am an equal opportunity ripper!

[Bankshot]

^But the difference too between BBD and Mikki is that BBD is a 23 year old 2nd year player, while Mikki is an 11 year vet.  BBD deserves some slack just for that reason... he's a young player and should be expected to make mistakes, but to his credit makes very few for such young player (I don't count missing shots as mistakes).

[greg683x]

Seriously, I would take back Kandi Man.

He is big, like Mikki.

He is strong, unlike Mikki.

He has a hook shot, unlike Mikki.

Has a high defensive IQ, unlike Mikki.

Is a decent shot blocker, unlike Mikki.

Doesn't have a jumphot, but we don't need that with Big Baby on the floor.  If we needed him for 5-8 minutes a game, I would seriously take him.

I'm actually serious.

Are we talking about a different Kandi-man??  It cant be Michael Olowokandi, he doesnt block shots, he isnt strong, and if he even does have a high defensive IQ its not like he would give the effort to put it to use anyway.  Kandi is too lazy to play on a team with this kind of defense.

He does have a hook shot though.

Pick your poison here. I cant stand Mikki just as much as the next guy, but if we had a player like Kandi peoples heads on here would be exploding just as much b/c of missed rotations and half-assed block outs.

....also comparing PJ Brown stats and Mikkis stats isnt fair.  Mainly b/c Mikki has played more minutes than PJ in their first months(and PJ had been retired for 3/4 of the season, unlike Moore who has been in shape and playing with the Kings).  But also b/c defensive abilities and toughness dont show up on the stat sheet.  I thought we all could appreciate that since about all of us would give our right arm to have a player back on this team who only averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds last year.

[kenmaine]

I haven't read a single post of this thread, but the answer is a resounding YES, he's the worst.
It's like he's trying, but he's on a 3 second delay.

[winsomme]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

No, I don't really see the difference between Tony, Moore, and Scal vs. BBD.  All are flawed players, who have spent a considerable amount of time in the rotation this year.  Moore is averaging 17 minutes per game.  That's right in line with what BBD, Tony, Powe and House are averaging.

Also, I'm not sure I'd characterize your criticism of BBD as solely "pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe".  I know fairly recently you said some complimentary things about BBD, but overall, you've been largely scathing.

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity!

When the starters do abjectly stupid things (like Moore makes a habit of), they get criticized for it, too.  There's more criticism of Moore because he makes more stupid mistakes, and does fewer positive things to make people forget the mistakes.

There is a big difference, because BBD is SUPPOSED to be in the rotation playing 17 min a game and Mikki isn't. If KG and Powe and BBD recently were healthy and playing normal minutes, Mikki wouldn't be getting more than a couple minutes of garbage time like POB was. Expecting the guy to come in and play 2nd string minutes instead of spot duty, especially when often being matched up against starters like Howard or smaller players on rotation is a little insane. He was only brought in for foul trouble and a lot of DNP's and instead got thrust into bigger minutes. Of course he isn't going to look incredible.

As far as the BBD criticism, the reason that I recently have made some very positive comments about him is because he is just barely starting to deserve them. Once he dropped his weight to a reasonable level again he is starting to show the committment and ability out on the floor to deserve to be in the discussion of a true solid backup. When he let himself go not only did he lose any good will for work ethic, he lost much of his quickness and it hurt his game. That is why his minutes towards the end of last year dropped in huge bunches.

Almost no one on here makes scathing remarks about the leaders. I have been consistent in my comments when warranted. I have ripped PP at the first of the year for lack of effort. I ripped Rondo today even for playing lazy defense. I have been hard on KG's refusal to do the dirty work at times down in the post. I have been ticked at Perk's stupid offensive fouls he can't seem to let go. I pretty much love Ray and everything he does, so I have not really had the chance to let him have it. I am an equal opportunity ripper!

but why isn't Mikki supposed to be getting minutes. he is essentially replacing PJ on the roster from last season. and PJ was a key player for our bench in the playoffs.

we were pushing much of the season to get PJ to come out of retirement, but once it was clear that wasn't going to happen, signing a released player was plan B....and that turned out to be Mikki...

so i think it is fair to think about Mikki's contributions in terms of PJ because that is who we have been trying to replace all season....

as far as BBD goes, he is the same size he was last year this time. I'm not sure what you are basing the idea on that he has all of a sudden taken off a big amount of weight...

[EJPLAYA]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

No, I don't really see the difference between Tony, Moore, and Scal vs. BBD.  All are flawed players, who have spent a considerable amount of time in the rotation this year.  Moore is averaging 17 minutes per game.  That's right in line with what BBD, Tony, Powe and House are averaging.

Also, I'm not sure I'd characterize your criticism of BBD as solely "pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe".  I know fairly recently you said some complimentary things about BBD, but overall, you've been largely scathing.

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity!

When the starters do abjectly stupid things (like Moore makes a habit of), they get criticized for it, too.  There's more criticism of Moore because he makes more stupid mistakes, and does fewer positive things to make people forget the mistakes.

There is a big difference, because BBD is SUPPOSED to be in the rotation playing 17 min a game and Mikki isn't. If KG and Powe and BBD recently were healthy and playing normal minutes, Mikki wouldn't be getting more than a couple minutes of garbage time like POB was. Expecting the guy to come in and play 2nd string minutes instead of spot duty, especially when often being matched up against starters like Howard or smaller players on rotation is a little insane. He was only brought in for foul trouble and a lot of DNP's and instead got thrust into bigger minutes. Of course he isn't going to look incredible.

As far as the BBD criticism, the reason that I recently have made some very positive comments about him is because he is just barely starting to deserve them. Once he dropped his weight to a reasonable level again he is starting to show the committment and ability out on the floor to deserve to be in the discussion of a true solid backup. When he let himself go not only did he lose any good will for work ethic, he lost much of his quickness and it hurt his game. That is why his minutes towards the end of last year dropped in huge bunches.

Almost no one on here makes scathing remarks about the leaders. I have been consistent in my comments when warranted. I have ripped PP at the first of the year for lack of effort. I ripped Rondo today even for playing lazy defense. I have been hard on KG's refusal to do the dirty work at times down in the post. I have been ticked at Perk's stupid offensive fouls he can't seem to let go. I pretty much love Ray and everything he does, so I have not really had the chance to let him have it. I am an equal opportunity ripper!

but why isn't Mikki supposed to be getting minutes. he is essentially replacing PJ on the roster from last season. and PJ was a key player for our bench in the playoffs.

we were pushing much of the season to get PJ to come out of retirement, but once it was clear that wasn't going to happen, signing a released player was plan B....and that turned out to be Mikki...

so i think it is fair to think about Mikki's contributions in terms of PJ because that is who we have been trying to replace all season....

as far as BBD goes, he is the same size he was last year this time. I'm not sure what you are basing the idea on that he has all of a sudden taken off a big amount of weight...

Not true at all as far as BBD's weight. Go look at pics from the first of the year, the middle, and then at the end including the parade where he interestingly enough decided he had the physique to take his shirt off. He looks MUCH slimmer right now and I have given him props for getting it back under control. He was adding weight at a fast pace as the season went on. The pics are clear and his PT suffered. Doc even made a comment somewhere towards the end of the year about it, but I can't put my hands on it.

That being said, his hard work earned him the right to minutes over Mikki, as Powe's did. Last year in the playoffs PJ was a better option than either of the two due to BBD not being in shape to play and inexperienced, and Powe being less experienced and not as long. Mikki was not the signing that they were looking for to replace PJ. He was the signing to upgrade POB since they knew they weren't going to end up with Joe Smith or a more talented other veteran. When they signed Mikki they weren't looking for 17 minutes. If so, where were they going to come from? Powe, BBD, KG, Perk?! They were upgrading POB and nothing more. If one of Powe or BBD went down then he was an option. Especially since Scal was injured.

[winsomme]

This whole line of discussion comes from one place only. With Scal and TA injured and not playing, and POB traded away to another squad, we have no one else to badmouth. Very few on here have the guts to call out the starters and what they are doing wrong, rather make excuses for them. Instead they look for the second and third stringers to rip on. Obviously these guys have major flaws or they'd be starting somewhere. They however are not however the difference in us winning and losing most of the time and certainly won't get many minutes when it matters in the playoffs. The guy played 11 minutes last night matched up against Dwight Howard who is an athletic freak. Please people...

Says the guy who has spent months criticizing BBD.

Really Roy?! You don't see any difference in pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe, and our thir string big man who has a handful of games uner his belt and some of them pretty solid ones?

No, I don't really see the difference between Tony, Moore, and Scal vs. BBD.  All are flawed players, who have spent a considerable amount of time in the rotation this year.  Moore is averaging 17 minutes per game.  That's right in line with what BBD, Tony, Powe and House are averaging.

Also, I'm not sure I'd characterize your criticism of BBD as solely "pointing out the pluses and minuses of him and Powe".  I know fairly recently you said some complimentary things about BBD, but overall, you've been largely scathing.

I am not at all saying that there shouldn't be some criticism of his play. I am just baffled why we don't see the same comments about our starters when they come out and play like garbage for games at a time. I am all for some good natured negativity!

When the starters do abjectly stupid things (like Moore makes a habit of), they get criticized for it, too.  There's more criticism of Moore because he makes more stupid mistakes, and does fewer positive things to make people forget the mistakes.

There is a big difference, because BBD is SUPPOSED to be in the rotation playing 17 min a game and Mikki isn't. If KG and Powe and BBD recently were healthy and playing normal minutes, Mikki wouldn't be getting more than a couple minutes of garbage time like POB was. Expecting the guy to come in and play 2nd string minutes instead of spot duty, especially when often being matched up against starters like Howard or smaller players on rotation is a little insane. He was only brought in for foul trouble and a lot of DNP's and instead got thrust into bigger minutes. Of course he isn't going to look incredible.

As far as the BBD criticism, the reason that I recently have made some very positive comments about him is because he is just barely starting to deserve them. Once he dropped his weight to a reasonable level again he is starting to show the committment and ability out on the floor to deserve to be in the discussion of a true solid backup. When he let himself go not only did he lose any good will for work ethic, he lost much of his quickness and it hurt his game. That is why his minutes towards the end of last year dropped in huge bunches.

Almost no one on here makes scathing remarks about the leaders. I have been consistent in my comments when warranted. I have ripped PP at the first of the year for lack of effort. I ripped Rondo today even for playing lazy defense. I have been hard on KG's refusal to do the dirty work at times down in the post. I have been ticked at Perk's stupid offensive fouls he can't seem to let go. I pretty much love Ray and everything he does, so I have not really had the chance to let him have it. I am an equal opportunity ripper!

but why isn't Mikki supposed to be getting minutes. he is essentially replacing PJ on the roster from last season. and PJ was a key player for our bench in the playoffs.

we were pushing much of the season to get PJ to come out of retirement, but once it was clear that wasn't going to happen, signing a released player was plan B....and that turned out to be Mikki...

so i think it is fair to think about Mikki's contributions in terms of PJ because that is who we have been trying to replace all season....

as far as BBD goes, he is the same size he was last year this time. I'm not sure what you are basing the idea on that he has all of a sudden taken off a big amount of weight...

Not true at all as far as BBD's weight. Go look at pics from the first of the year, the middle, and then at the end including the parade where he interestingly enough decided he had the physique to take his shirt off. He looks MUCH slimmer right now and I have given him props for getting it back under control. He was adding weight at a fast pace as the season went on. The pics are clear and his PT suffered. Doc even made a comment somewhere towards the end of the year about it, but I can't put my hands on it.

That being said, his hard work earned him the right to minutes over Mikki, as Powe's did. Last year in the playoffs PJ was a better option than either of the two due to BBD not being in shape to play and inexperienced, and Powe being less experienced and not as long. Mikki was not the signing that they were looking for to replace PJ. He was the signing to upgrade POB since they knew they weren't going to end up with Joe Smith or a more talented other veteran. When they signed Mikki they weren't looking for 17 minutes. If so, where were they going to come from? Powe, BBD, KG, Perk?! They were upgrading POB and nothing more. If one of Powe or BBD went down then he was an option. Especially since Scal was injured.

totally disagree about Baby's weight. he's right where he was last year. He's pushing 3 bills easy. And that is fine by me.

and just because they downgraded their expectations because they thought they couldn't get Smith, they were still trying to get him... which (like their efforts to get PJ out of retirement) indicates they were looking for a key player to add to the bench not just someone better than POB.

moving POB was simply to open the roster spot. If the plan was for POB to be a player this year, then why were they working from the beginning of the season trying to get PJ out of retirement?