Report: Astros offer Prior Contract

by CubsBall2202 on Dec 17, 2007 8:22 PM CST Comment 35 comments

Apparently the Astros have made an offer to Prior: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3158954 I don't know about anyone else but this could be very scary if Prior ever returns to form especially in the NL Central. Has anyone heard anything on possible return dates for Prior next year with his injury at all and if all goes according to plan when he can return?

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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Astros?

While I don't think he'll return to form, I'd rather not see him in the NL Central. Especially with Houston already picking some solid players in Tejada and Valverde.

by 10 14 23 26 on Dec 17, 2007 8:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

prior

while prior is in search of his 2002 form the 2008 cubs will be on their way to october. dont look back
on prior look forward to victory celebrations!!!

GO CUBS GO!!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 17, 2007 8:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't see Prior pitching this year.

So this is sort of pointless -- what sort of deal will he get through free agency at the end of '08, with no innings pitched in two years?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 17, 2007 8:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Prior in the Juice Box?

Come on, that'd be great.

A- we all know, if he comes back hes gonna be spotty, going on and off the DL

B- It would be great to see Prior getting rocked in that joke of a stadium

C- Yes I am very bitter and would much rather have him go to the AL

by bren on Dec 17, 2007 9:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm embarassed to say..

I agree

Reds will finish above the Cubs in the NL Central. Book it.

by wicubfan on Dec 18, 2007 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No reason to be embarassed

I think we all are just so upset with the way Priors career turned out and we had such high hopes that we fooled ourselves into believeing his injuries were minor.

But if I were him, id try to mitigate my arm troubles in anyway, by which I mean, stick to the pitchers parks, ie San Diego, Seattle, Chavez Ravine.

I just cant see him having a good record pitching half his games in Houston, plus I just hate the astros, but his return to Wrigley would be a sight to behold for sure.

by bren on Dec 18, 2007 4:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am upset about the way his career turned out.

At the same time, I'm almost enraged at the way he sort of shunned the Cubs when they treated him so well. They kept handing him a paycheck and hoping that they'd get a return on their loyalty and investment.

I'd like to see him return to Wrigley in a 'Stros uniform, but, like Al said, this is probably a moot point. I doubt he'll pitch much -if at all- in '08.

by Mark H on Dec 18, 2007 4:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"when they treated him so well"

Let's count the ways the Cubs treated Mark Prior so well.

They guarded his arm, always being careful not to overwork that priceless gem.
They guarded his reputation, never letting people claim he was "soft."
They guarded his relationship with the organization, always doing what they could to make sure he was happy and would want to stay long-term, refusing to cut his pay because no one could put the blame for his injuries on him.
They gave him every opportunity to succeed, never demanding he try to make the rotation when he thought he needed surgery and then humiliating him by sending him to the minors instead of the DL.

All I am saying is give Pie a chance!

by DGU on Dec 18, 2007 6:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Im sensing some sarcasm

I cant say youre wrong on any of that, but he made it clear by denying an 09 option year that he wanted out of Chicago. Its clear, for whatever reason, that he will always pale in comparison to Wood in the eyes of the fans.

I kind of thought it was funny when he refered to himself as the "employee" and his goal was to make the Futures game, kind of reminded me of something I would say....when I was 15.

Back to Back to Back AAU National Champion

by bren on Dec 18, 2007 6:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Poor little Mark

He had it so bad, didn't he?

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The point

is not that Mark Prior had it bad. The point is that the Cubs didn't treat Mark Prior "great" let alone any better than they were contractually obligated to do.

Yet somehow there are all these Cub fans here who think that Mark Prior has some massive unpaid debt to the Cub organization that will only be paid back by pitching for the league minimum salary for the next two years and only then if he makes 70 quality starts with 8 complete game shutouts in October.

All I am saying is give Pie a chance!

by DGU on Dec 19, 2007 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he had an unpaid

debt to the Cubs, I just think the guy has a bad attitude in general.

It's clear this guy has been coddled his whole life, and it jives with him presenting himself as some sort of victim in all this.

Love his talent, but have never liked his character. We'll see what happens now when he has a chance to sign with someone who will treat him better, in his mind.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 19, 2007 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Shunned the Cubs?

It's his right to do what he wants per his contract. The Cubs shunned Cliff Floyd and he had to go play in Florida. It's a business, Prior can do what he wants. People act like the Cubs did so much for him. They paid him and paid for his rehab per his contract BECAUSE they thought they could get something for him. They didn't do it out of the goodness of their heart. If they thought Prior was toast you know they would have gotten out as quickly as possible,

by rlpete on Dec 18, 2007 11:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Prior's Return

From what I've heard, he is throwing on flat ground. I believe he has been for the past month or so.

As for a return, they are projecting the earliest late May. How well will he be able to pitch, especially competitively, is questionable.

Better estimates that were give was adding 2-3 months to the aforementioned projection. So, we're looking at August or September.

For a team that isn't really looking at a post-season, we're looking at a pitcher who may get 8 starts in 2008.

Worth 2 guaranteed years? Nah.

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 17, 2007 9:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

How many times did we hear the "throwing on flat ground" story when he was with the Cubs?

I can't wait till the Astros have to order a couple hundred extra towels for all the towel drills.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 4:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Al...

"I can't wait till the Astros have to order a couple hundred extra towels for all the towel drills."

Hee-hee. :)

by Mark H on Dec 18, 2007 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If the Astros are smart

they will let Prior's dad approve his spring training regime and all pitch count limits. Heck, they could even let him call the pitches during a game.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 19, 2007 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Minute Maid

It's not much of a sample size, but he has pitched more games in minute maid than any park outside of Wrigley.

The results aren't good: 2-4, 4.75 ERA in 8 starts.

Another stat I find interesting: he's 20-21 in his career on 4 days rest, 22-8 with more than 4 days rest. Perhaps the Cardinals can use him in a 6-man rotation.

Stats from baseball-reference.com

by Richie Hebner 18 on Dec 17, 2007 9:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

OT: Love the SN

I'm friends with Richie's daughter. Went to college with her. He let me hold his World Series ring with the Pirates---very very nice guy.

by ak123 on Dec 17, 2007 11:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jersey Tug

Wasn't Hebner the one who would tug on the back of his jersey from behind his neck as if though he forgot to take the hanger out?

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 18, 2007 7:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OT: Hebner

When we played backyard baseball as a kid, we picked two players that we could 'be', one a starter, one a bench guy. I was Sandberg and Hebner. The stories of his off-season work as a grave digger also added to the impressionable mind of an 11-year old.

I don't remember the jersey tug! I just remember a guy who would come to the plate hunched over like Quasimodo and slap base hits all over the place.

by Richie Hebner 18 on Dec 18, 2007 8:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OT: Grave Digger

I forgot about his job as a grave digger!

I'll have to ask my Dad about it, and I am sure he will remember both the jersey tug and the grave digger!

I can visualize my father imitating Hebner's stance!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane...

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 18, 2007 8:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

One of my favorite Cubs. The guy was just a professional hitter. I kinda wish that he played more in '84.

Reds will finish above the Cubs in the NL Central. Book it.

by wicubfan on Dec 18, 2007 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Last Time

The last time he was throwing for the Cubs, he was pretty much throwing puss in the high 80s. Honestly, I do not believe that he is going to ever return to his old form. It doesn't even sound like the shoulder surgery repaired a whole lot besides some wear and tear from pitching all these years. I really do not think it matters where he ends up, because I have a hard time believing he will be an integral part of any team.

by rambler19 on Dec 17, 2007 10:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Would like nothing better

than to have the Cubs win a game against Prior to clinch the NL Central in September.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 8:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That would likely have to wait till '09

... because the last Cubs/Astros game in '08 is on September 14, with 13 games left in the season. Unless the Cubs run away with the Central, they'd probably have to wait till later than to clinch.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 8:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Common Al

you have to be optimistic. If the Cubs add another piece or two, I can see them having a 13 game lead in mid-September.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 2:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Wouldn't that be great?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 2:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

While...

I'd like to see him in the AL, we have no control over where he goes. In my opinion, I don't think he will return to 2003 form in 2008 (if he pitches at all).

You ARE freaking out MAN!

by crw89 on Dec 18, 2007 8:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we should fear Mark Prior...

...any more than Astros fans feared Wade Miller last year (and the year before). I could see him pitching, at most, a couple games late in the season when the Astros are already buried in the standings. Could he be a threat in '09? Maybe. But maybe not. Sometimes I get the impression that some Cubs fans look at Prior as the last great pitcher in the world. And when the Cubs nontendered him, they nontendered the last great pitcher in the world. Well, he's not and they didn't. (As you can tell, I'm pretty ambivalent about Prior.) Even he does stage some miraculous comeback, I still think the Cubs made an astute business decision in letting him go.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Dec 18, 2007 11:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 18, 2007 2:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

devil's advocate

If Prior wins 10 games after a June return, are the Astros a threat?

The rotation would be Oswalt, Backe, Prior, Williams and Rodriguez (right?) and the lineup is centered around Carlos Lee, Pence, Tejada and Berkman?

I still like our club better than theirs, assuming our closer situation works out and Rich Hill doesn't turn into a pumpkin.

by elgato on Dec 18, 2007 3:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Quick answer

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 18, 2007 4:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Long Answer

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

;-)

This is who I think the Cubs #1 should be...

by initram on Dec 18, 2007 5:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Your "if" won't happen

so the rest of the question doesn't matter. Prior hasn't pitched in nearly two years. Best case, he will start pitching in the minors by June. He'll be lucky to make 10 starts much less win 10.

by rlpete on Dec 19, 2007 12:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs