Prior, Wood, or Miller: Which glass pitcher will shatter

by Thelonious on Dec 13, 2006 4:15 AM CST Comment 50 comments

You don't have the be the prognosticator to...er....prognosticate. Rather than suffering another year of will they or won't they (break down like a 1982 Yugo), why don't we embrace our pitchers' fragileness.

I present to you all a chance to forecast which pitcher will break down first. Al will generously provide expensive prizes to the winners.

Feel free to comment on your reasoning below; you can also comment on which of these pitchers will actually be productive next year.

Poll

Which Pitcher will be the first to break out a fresh shipment of towels?

Mark "The Prodigal Son" Prior

100 votes

Wade "Sugar Plum Fairy" Miller

19 votes

Kerry "Splintered" Wood

24 votes

143 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Interesting poll...

... however, Thelonious will have to provide his own prizes.

Towels for everyone, though.

by Al on Dec 13, 2006 4:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I had a feeling you might...

have something to say about that. Well, I tried.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 13, 2006 4:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was actually...

going to make a poll about "who do you think will have the biggest impact on the team next year", but thinking about that just made me sad, then angry, then sad again, so I switched it. You can still guess which will have an impact in the comments (I give my permission).

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 13, 2006 4:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you would

have made a poll for that original title, and not the one you ended up with I would have voted. But since you didn't I'll pass on voting and posting what I think about those three.

by Macy on Dec 13, 2006 4:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Optimism my friend...

Edit that, make it "Kerry "The Rising" Wood".

I know Sparkles would like it...

GREAT SUCCESS!!!

by Chitown Mojo on Dec 13, 2006 4:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've already expended my optimism

in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Also, the memories that I acknowledge skip right from 2002 to 2004.

This is what I'm going with now.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Dec 13, 2006 5:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well call me pollyannish...

or perverted, but I like and believe in the idea of "Rising Wood".

I mean imagine the guy coming in to close games with "Baby Let's Go Down To The Woods" playing in those speakers...

I like.

GREAT SUCCESS!!!

by Chitown Mojo on Dec 13, 2006 5:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Prior was a friggin' God...

Lord, please throw us a bone or something...

GREAT SUCCESS!!!

by Chitown Mojo on Dec 13, 2006 7:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would rather Hendry stress over this poll

and that I could somehow live in blissful fan denial hoping that all three will have good seasons.

Off season trading is one of my favorite sports.

by stelmodad on Dec 13, 2006 8:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I said

Prior, who is my favorite pitcher, BTW, since I'm guessing he gets a late start (something will happen in ST) and then comes in for about five games and injures himself in some sort of freak accident (a la Giles Collision/line drive off elbow).

I just thought of something.... Does the Prior/Wood saga remind anyone else of Groundhog Day? The same thing happening over and over but with slight variations to the theme?

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Dec 13, 2006 8:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Who does Bill Murray play?

Prior or Wood?

by Al on Dec 13, 2006 8:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Again,

I'm going with Prior.

Here's his day/season:
-Freak reason for not being in shape/ready for ST
-Gets a late start to the season due to above
-Finally pitches in a game, shows some promise
-Fairly steadily improves, thus getting up the hopes of Cubs fans all around
-Has freak accident/collision which puts him on DL for awhile
-Keeps saying he wants to return for before the end of the season
-(Here where the variations occur) Either returns and performs decently a la line drive or stays on DL until the end of the season

Lather, rinse, and repeat.

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Dec 13, 2006 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Prior

LOL You took the words right out of my mouth!

Federer

It's like deja`vu all over again ....

by tigerperson on Dec 13, 2006 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Prior's my pick to make it, too.

I expect him to be awesome (after a bit of a slow start), unless there's another freak accident, like maybe he trips over Z's keyboard cord and breaks his hand or something.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 13, 2006 8:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or

displaces a kneecap while doing towel drills to strengthen his shoulder

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Dec 13, 2006 9:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or Greg's brother Bubba hits him like a cooler.

Upset over Greg not being in Chicago, the evil twin Bubba goes watercooler on Prior's torso.

by HanOfTheBluegrass on Dec 13, 2006 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And, oddly enough

comes back from the Bubba incident two days later with three broken ribs and pitches a two-hit complete game shutout.

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Dec 13, 2006 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely...

Randal Simon.

A bit of make-up and voila!

GREAT SUCCESS!!!

by Chitown Mojo on Dec 13, 2006 8:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wade Miller

doesn't belong on this list. He had one injury as opposed to the plethora that Wood and Prior have gone through. From an injury stanpoint, the only difference between Miller and Dempster is that the Miller injury was more recent. Dempster doensn't seem to be effected by his injury anymore. The fact that he's not a very good pitcher is another story.

IMHO, Prior gets hurt first. Either that or he won't be back from his last injury in time to start the season.

by NO100 on Dec 13, 2006 8:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Miller might be a very pleasant surprise, especially at the relatively bargain price he's signed for.

by Al on Dec 13, 2006 8:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I'm being overly....

...negative, here. But, I fully expect Prior to start the season on the DL.

Frankly, if he pitches before the All Star Break, I'll be amazed.

by Santos L Halper on Dec 13, 2006 10:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

... unlike previous years when I always thought he'd be "fine", I'm going to agree with you here.

Hope I'm wrong again.

by Al on Dec 13, 2006 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

If Prior starts spring training on time and breaks camp with the team I'll be flabbergasted. He's bound to not pitch in spring training, and no one will be told why. Then we'll hear he's hurting but it's not too serious and he shouldn't miss much time. Then he'll make his first major league appearance of the year in June.

Par for the course.

by danimal15 on Dec 13, 2006 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Prior

Barring a freak accident in the next year, Miller has shown us he's fine.

Woody's probably not going to eat up a lot of innings...

Prior it is.

TRAMMELL!

by Faith plus 1 on Dec 13, 2006 10:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Please God

....just one season with these guys healthy....honestly, if they sucked and were healthy, I think I'd take that. At least then they're "busts" and not "talent cursed by injury" anymore.

by Chadnudj on Dec 13, 2006 11:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

No kidding...

...this "unfulfilled potential" and "what could have been" talk is wearing a bit thin...

by Santos L Halper on Dec 13, 2006 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

is

anyone else REALLY tired of towel jokes? i don't think there i have heard a towel remark in the last year that i found even remotely funny. its like jim hendry donut jokes, but even less funny (though not as mean and personal).

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Dec 13, 2006 11:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think they're funny...

at least in an ironic, appropriate manner. Especially since Larry Rothschild was the only coach kept over from last season. I think that's funny. Absolutely hilarious, actually. And anything that reminds me of that makes me laugh.

Skeptical of improvement. I'm waiting for a winner in 2010.

by tyger1147 on Dec 13, 2006 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

The towel jokes, I think, are appropriate because they play to a part of the game that seems silly, and we, of course, want to see him stop doing the damn drill and just throw a baseball.

The Hendry donut jokes are junior-high personal attacks, nothing more, having nothing to do with baseball or his job.

by Al on Dec 13, 2006 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly...

Don't like to read jokes more than one time about Cub related stuff. Sometimes I would rather they were never said.

I get defensive because I like the players, but you know if others like them I'll just ignore them until they get bad(like the other Mark Prior jokes).

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Dec 13, 2006 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

There was no 1982 Yugo (or maybe there was in Yugoslavia, but not here). The Yugo wasn't introduced in the U.S. until the mid-1980s. I still remember its selling price: $3,990. Or about $4,500 for a more "upscale" one.

by danimal15 on Dec 13, 2006 12:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mark Prior is dead to me

Three consecutive years with a myriad of ailments, some that the Cub medical staff can't even diagnosis (hint...you guys are the wrong kind of doctor, the problem is in his head). And now it looks like Prior will start the 2007 season on the shelf.

If I am the Cubs, I non-tender his sorry excuse of an ass and send a message that this organization no longer tolerates wussies. Prior and his Daddy advisor have stolen from the Cubs for three years already. There should be a law against these things.

Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I READ YOUR BOOK !!!

by BlueMike on Dec 13, 2006 4:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Prior

It's too bad that Prior's stint with the Cubs has been so abysmal. I could be wrong, but isn't he one of the only ones on the active roster to actually make Chicago his home?

Is he really already on the shelf for 2007?

Federer

It's like deja`vu all over again ....

by tigerperson on Dec 13, 2006 6:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Prior in 2007

I haven't heard anything from any worthy source to suggest Prior is "on the shelf" for 2007. But based on history, it wouldn't surprise me.

by danimal15 on Dec 13, 2006 9:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Muskat...

said the exact opposite.

In her recent mailbag in response to question about will he be ready for the starting rotation, she said, "That's the plan." then later said no one knows.

So... at least the Cubs are saying they are planning on Prior pitching in 2007. Interesting...............

Skeptical of improvement. I'm waiting for a winner in 2010.

by tyger1147 on Dec 13, 2006 9:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

they were always thinking they would have Prior, just as in prior years. If they weren't, I think they would have released him by now.

At least we now have somewhat of a backup plan in case it doesn't work. Of Prior, Miller, Marquis and one of the other young guys, I would think ONE of them has got to turn out to be pretty good.

by nickler on Dec 14, 2006 12:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel good about

Wade Miller. The Cubs brass keeps saying their not counting on Prior, but I think privately they really are. And I think that's not a good thing. They could've done a better job this offseason in aquiring better pitching. The Lilly signing I'm ok with, but we still could've done better.

I will however, admit that aquiring someone of Zambrano's ability to the staff was unrealistic. Teams aren't going to trade a Zambrano or Carpenter ability pitcher. Really the ownly way to get those kinds of pitchers is to develop your own. So no trading Veal and Gallagher pitchers.

If Marquis struggles real bad, Marshall or Gallagher will probably be the first call-ups from Iowa to get a shot at his spot in the rotation. I would've rather had Marshall in the rotation, instead of signing Marquis. I wouldn't mind Gallagher getting a shot at the end of the year, even though he'll only be 21 years old. next year.

by Macy on Dec 14, 2006 3:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching staff

One would have to think the following is likely to be the case, barring injury of course, out of spring training...

Starters...Zambrano, Lilly, Miller, Hill, Marquis

Bullpen...Dumpster, Howry, Wood, Eyre, Cotts, Ohlman

Headed for Iowa...Wuertz, Marmol, Mateo, Marshall

Headed for poolside at Mommy and Daddy's southern California estate to play with his towels...Prior

=

The idiotic presence of the useless Daryl Ward on the roster means that Lou Piniella will be sorely tested to go with a six man bench as opposed to five. That means six guys in the bullpen as opposed to seven. But with Marquis, Lilly and Miller comprising 3/5's of the rotation, that is recipe for a burnt out bullpen very quickly.

Rommel, you magnificent bastard!! I READ YOUR BOOK!!

by BlueMike on Dec 14, 2006 8:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why the hate for Ward?

What's wrong with a left-handed hitter with pop who can play both corner outfield positions and first base who has pinch-hitting experience? Yeah, he's no defensive replacement, but he's actually dangerous at the plate. The way I see it, the bench shapes up like this:
C - Blanco
2B - Theriot
1B/OF - Ward
OF - Pagan
OF/IF - Up for grabs

I think the Cubs will probably open with 12 pitchers (especially if Wood is good to go), but eventually they'll drop to 11, which is better, anyway (particularly when you have guys like Eyre and, to a lesser extent, Howry who prefer to work every other day.)

On another note, how many more options does Wuertz have? He has no business being at Iowa, given his very impressive career stats. Barring injury, I think you see him or Ohman dealt before being shipped back to the farm .

by GuntherNancy on Dec 14, 2006 8:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is...

... I think everyone will see, a far better bench than the Cubs had last year.

I also think that the 12-man staff is a Dusty Baker creation. My feeling is that Piniella will go with 11.

And I agree with you. Either Wuertz or Ohman (or maybe even both) will go in trades before spring training ends. IIRC Wuertz is out of options.

by Al on Dec 14, 2006 8:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Please no to Wuertz...

We all have the players we love for one reason or another...

He may never get used properly in Chicago, but for whatever (ridiculous, unfounded) reason, I think if we trade him, it will look stupid. Really stupid.

Skeptical of improvement. I'm waiting for a winner in 2010.

by tyger1147 on Dec 14, 2006 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That depends...

... on what could be acquired in exchange for him.

by Al on Dec 14, 2006 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's just it

Daryl Ward can't play the outfield. He is very, very bad in the outfield, to the degree that he should only be trotted out there on an emergency basis (e.g., the 24 other players on the roster contract malaria during the 7th inning stretch). At 1st base, he is also lousy defensively. So where then is his value?!? As a guy who strictly pinch hits maybe 75 times a year?!? Talk about really, really hamstringing Lou Piniella in terms of his lineup flexibility.

Rommel, you magnificent bastard!! I READ YOUR BOOK!!

by BlueMike on Dec 14, 2006 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not at all.

He did just that last year, and successfully.

I believe Piniella will go with an 11-man pitching staff, which does leave room on the roster for such a player.

by Al on Dec 14, 2006 9:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Theriot

There is nothing to suggest that Ryan Theriot can play an adequate defensive shortstop, hence why the Cubs will need to add another infielder to the bench. Daryl Ward kills flexibility.

Rommel, you magnificent bastard!! I READ YOUR BOOK!!

by BlueMike on Dec 14, 2006 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

About Prior...

... Here is the exchange in the Muskat column:

I've heard a lot of speculation about the starting rotation for next season and was wondering what Mark Prior's status is? Will he be healthy and ready to start the 2007 season?
-- Brian K., Iowa City, Iowa

That's the plan. Prior is working with a specialist in San Diego six days a week, strengthening his right shoulder. But it's December, and the Cubs won't know for sure how Prior is until he gets on the mound in Mesa, Ariz., in February.

The question was specifically about whether he'd be healthy and ready to start the season, not specifically about the rotation.

by Al on Dec 14, 2006 8:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I admit...

I was a little disingenuous to Carrie, but it was on purpose. IMO, the fact that they are PLANNING on him being healthy is just plain stupid. See my above comment <if you care> about that.

Skeptical of improvement. I'm waiting for a winner in 2010.

by tyger1147 on Dec 14, 2006 9:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, I'm agreeing with you.

I don't think the Cubs are planning on him being healthy. I think Muskat's comment was so bland and generic it could make you THINK that, though.

by Al on Dec 14, 2006 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

That's obviously the case about Prior.

You're telling me that if Prior was, say... traded to another team, that Lilly and Marquis were the best Jim could do?

I don't think so. If it were impossible for Prior to pitch in 2007 or 2008 for the Cubs (for whatever reason), my guess is that Lou pony's up for Meche, or even considers Zito.

He made the Lilly and Marquis moves IN CASE Prior isn't available they at least have someone OTHER THAN ROOKIES (which I think is stupid). He didn't make them as if Prior weren't going to be available, which I thought he said he was going to do.

Skeptical of improvement. I'm waiting for a winner in 2010.

by tyger1147 on Dec 14, 2006 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

Jim Hendry has lied, and been burned, three consecutive seasons regarding Mark Prior. I firmly believe that he (and Sweet Lou) are operating under the assumption that Prior cannot be counted upon for any of 2007.

I have little faith in Prior contributing anything positive in 2007.

Rommel, you magnificent bastard!! I READ YOUR BOOK!!

by BlueMike on Dec 14, 2006 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs