WaNTeD: Prior Explanation

by sparkles721 on Aug 11, 2006 10:29 PM CDT Comment 31 comments

I was originally going to post this as a comment, but maybe more people can help me figure this out.

I have problems. I sometimes believe what the Cubs say. That's why I thought Prior was going to be OK at the beginning of the year, but he obviously still isn't. That's why I thought Woody would be ready for this season if he pitched out of the bullpen last year, but he wasn't either. This isn't about Wood though, it's about Mark William Prior. I have lots of questions about him.

Several times, people have said Prior's injuries are mysterious or weird. That sometimes leads to saying that he needs to shut up and pitch among other things. Sometimes I feel like people think Prior pretends to be hurt, since his injuries aren't clear. If they are mysterious it's probably because the Cubs never tell us everything. They inform us. They hire the medical staff to diagnose those mysterious injuries. Sometimes they can't even diagnose them, so does that mean there is nothing to find or doctors/trainers just can't find them?

I like Prior, and you all know that. But why would he overreact about/fake/(whatever you think he's doing)injuries? And why would the Cubs be so dumb to allow it for a long time and not fix him and make him pitch or just let him go? He says he's hurt the Cubs know he's important, so they just shut him down. Even if it's just to be careful I can understand that, but if it continues why would they not go deeper and fix Prior's problem(s)? He's supposed to be a building block for the team, the ace, and the Cubs HELP him get out of pitching?

It just doesn't make sense to me(sorry if this diary doesn't make sense to you). I don't think he doesn't have the desire to pitch. It drives me crazy when people question that. That's my main question. I already asked it, but I will again. Why do people think Prior doesn't want to pitch? Maybe I missed/didn't pay attention to an article, a quote, an event that showed you that he isn't like Wood, a competitor that wants to be out there even though he's constantly injured.

If you can help it, don't insult Mark Prior(or me or anyone)in your explanation. I'm serious. I do need help with this, and with many other things too. College decisions. Ahh!

Anyway, I'm open-minded and ready to listen.

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.

0 recs | Comment 31 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Well darn

If you can help it, don't insult Mark Prior(or me or anyone)in your explanation.

: watches the wheel spin :

Got nothin do ya Mike?

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Aug 11, 2006 10:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe

he may have pulled a Cartman...
"Screw you guys, I'm goin' home."

It's cool we like the same junk and stuff- Phillip J. Fry

by smwojoz on Aug 11, 2006 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No...

He probably has a life and was doing something tonight

by Lablover on Aug 12, 2006 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're joking.

Cause the reference was to "Faith plus one", a South
Park joke, which I think the poster above would get.
No offense aimed at Mike63 or his fan base.

It's cool we like the same junk and stuff- Phillip J. Fry

by smwojoz on Aug 12, 2006 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha right on smw

n/t

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Aug 12, 2006 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

excuse me

are u talking about Mrs. Prior as many scouts call him these days

by tbizzle83 on Aug 11, 2006 10:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

but we do have

his lackey!! Tell me, sir, does he let you spin the wheel?

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Aug 11, 2006 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol!!

you crack me up.

I can't wait for Iowa football!!

by sue369 on Aug 12, 2006 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's simple...

Mark Prior had a Grade 2 tear in his rotator cuff--the subscapularis muscle. Tears heal in time, but have a great deal of scar tissue and they are NEVER as strong as they once were--the reason for his loss in velocity. They also are much more prone to further injury.

Prior can still become a good pitcher, but it's not going to be the pitcher we remember. His velocity is lost for a reason--weaker rotator cuff. And whatever it is that's been causing this injury and the concerns with his elbow he must correct or he's never going to stay healthy.

by Maddog on Aug 11, 2006 10:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes he wants to pitch.

No athlete goes through the rigors of what these guys go through or the rehabs that are immensely painful to parts of the body one didn't even know they had without having a great desire to play the game. I used to question his desire, but it was unfair of me to do so. I don't think there's any doubt he wants to pitch. I just think he wants to do it pain-free. That's not going to happen.

by Maddog on Aug 11, 2006 10:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I get the impression

That it's not just that he wants to do it pain-free. He just has to relearn how to pitch now that he can't throw like he used to. I think if he could pitch like he used to pitch, he would, even with pain.

Maybe that's why there all the whispers about it being mental. It might take him longer to do than a "normal" pitcher who has to address this. He's been better enough for so long (in his lifetime) that he hasn't been able to make the adjustment to being good enough to pitch in MLB yet. So he keeps pitching like he used to pitch, from a mental standpoint, but the real-world results are completely different because of the injury.

What does not kill you makes you stronger.

by Pa on Aug 12, 2006 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maddog...

thanks for you comments. I love to read your posts anywhere. You always bring up good points and I can understand what you write most of the time.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on Aug 12, 2006 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're screwed in 07

unless they bring in 2 starters via trade or free agency. They'll have to count on too many youngsters & Prior. It will be 06 all over again...

Forget Zito, Soriano, Schmidt & Lee. Its Mulder, Durham & Cameron instead.

by CubFaninCA on Aug 11, 2006 11:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone

catch the quick mention of prior staying back to have
his shoulder checked? Sparks, maybe we'll finally
get a definitive answer, though I wouldn't hold
my breath, were I you.

It's cool we like the same junk and stuff- Phillip J. Fry

by smwojoz on Aug 11, 2006 11:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is easy...

Prior is loony.

Your college: Go to the very best school that you can get into; that you can afford and that you like.

By the way, you can't do much better than that University down on 55th to 60th.

I wrote the longest post and best post I ever have. And it just dissapeared, I am so dissapointed right now. Sorry.

by Reverend Jim Ignatowski on Aug 12, 2006 12:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Two Words:

Brad. Hawpe.

If we look back, Prior hasn't been the same since he took Hawpe's line drive off of his golden right elbow.

Prior pitched a brilliant 2003.

He was injured for most of 2004, but pitched lights-out in the last month of the season.

He started 2005 really well (ERA in the 2.90-range).

He just hasn't done well since injuring his elbow. My fear is that he'll never be the same-- which would be a damn damn shame.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not optimistic about Prior. To me, there's just too much evidence leading us right back to Hawpe's line drive.

by Romero on Aug 12, 2006 1:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, except...

... that he was 7-6 in 108.1 IP, 18 starts, with a 4.07 ERA, 41 BB and 126 K, after he returned from the Hawpe-induced injury.

While that's not great, it's far better than he's pitched this year, and he made those 18 starts without missing one. What happened between the end of last year and spring training?

by Al on Aug 12, 2006 4:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Degenerative Condition?

I'm not a doctor, but I'll take a guess that maybe there is something wrong with the elbow or shoulder that is degenerating and causing increasing pain. This could cause a pitcher to alter his motion to decrease the pain, but the altered motion would cause loss of control and/or velocity. Anybody have the video facilities to match up Prior's motion from '03 to that of '06 to spot differences?

by FrankSereno on Aug 12, 2006 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a plausible explanation...

... it's happened to a lot of pitchers, depending on what sort of injury they had. One of the most prominent examples from many years ago was Dizzy Dean, who was hit by a batted ball in the foot during the 1937 All-Star Game. He attempted to come back too quickly, and altered his pitching motion, which took a guy who had been perhaps the best pitcher in the game and made him a guy who was done at 29. (Note his 1938 stats, in which he was 7-1 with a 1.81 ERA, but had only 22 strikeouts in 74 IP).

In retrospect, Prior should have been shut down last year. He might be done.

by Al on Aug 12, 2006 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned something

like this is another thread yesterday. Whatever is wrong I hope for his sake they find out what it is and can correct it.

I can't wait for Iowa football!!

by sue369 on Aug 12, 2006 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A lesson in life

I sometimes believe what the Cubs say. - Sparkles

I'm not dissin' you here, Sparkles, but never believe anything you hear from the Cubs. They don't want to get their fans riled or worried or Gasp! give up hope. That behavior may cause some fans to care a little less and not pay as much attention to the team. If such a situation were to ever occur, it may then lead to a little less $$$ for the beloved.

... but ya doesn't have to call me "Johnson."

by Blood Brother on Aug 12, 2006 8:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I just make dumb decisions sometimes.

I won't believe them any more.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on Aug 12, 2006 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a theory

I feel like the weight of his second contract is getting to him. As a pro baseball player (or NBA player for that matter) it's all about getting to the second contract. That's where the big(er) money is. That's the contract that sets you and your kids up for life. The AJ Burnett type deal if you will.

With that in mind, it wouldn't surprise me if his agent/father/Tom House/whoever continually tell Mark: "Hey, if you feel something funny, you shut it down immediately. Don't risk throwing it all away." Like this game in 2004 when prior left after an inning and then was fine for his next start. That's a game that sticks out to me.

This guy has been raised to be a SuperStar pitcher for a long time. Except for perhaps House, these other people all financially vested in Mark's career - and they likely remind him of that. I think that he just sees tens of millions of dollars going down the toilet every time he feels a little twinge, so he never just shrugs it off and pitches through it. Naturally, this is all just total speculation, but it's been on my mind for some time.

"I know what they're doing. They're trying to walk me, but I won't let them." --Jacque Jones

by Jobu on Aug 12, 2006 12:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think there's something to that...

... "Todd Marinovich Syndrome". Remember him? The kid who was raised by his father to be a NFL quarterback from when he was a little kid?

Problem was, he didn't have any grounding in reality when it came to actually performing in the NFL, and came across like the spoiled child he was.

Prior has some of the same things in him, I think, AND it is entirely possible that coming back too soon from the broken elbow MIGHT have caused him to alter his delivery, thus creating an injury elsewhere (Call this "Dizzy Dean Syndrome").

I just wish the Cubs would come clean.

by Al on Aug 12, 2006 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They never will come clean.....

that would be admitting they made a mistake.....they'll never do that.

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Aug 12, 2006 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

College

What are you thinking about studying?

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Aug 12, 2006 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I want to be a pediatrician. That's all I know.

I don't know where I want to go.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on Aug 12, 2006 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago

There is some really good medical schools in the Chicagoland area, because I know you wouldn't want to leave your Cubs behind.

Northwestern(expensive+grades), University of Chicago(bad neighborhood), even University of Il. at Chicago(less expensive) has a good school. My only advice is don't trust the college advisors, talk to current students or the medical schools directly.

My sister is trying to get into medical school, she wants to be a cardiologist. She is 28, so take your time you've got plenty of it.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Aug 13, 2006 3:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The University of Chicago...

... is NOT in a "bad neighborhood". Hyde Park is just as safe as any city neighborhood. Please don't promulgate this myth.

by Al on Aug 13, 2006 3:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will agree that....

Hyde Park is a great neighborhood, it really is. It has some of the cities most beautiful buiildings.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Aug 13, 2006 4:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Update: Prior headed back to Chicago

instead of being with the team in Denver.....to see a doctor.....He is likely headed for the DL again....according to Eastern Seaboard Programming Network.

by TheBeerBaron on Aug 12, 2006 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs