Mark Prior! :)

by sparkles721 on Feb 16, 2007 6:35 PM CST Comment 36 comments

I read this article that's by Carrie Muskat, and I know they do this all the time but I don't care. I love reading stuff like this, and it makes me happy. I believe it at least until everything starts getting suspicious. Actually, the news that Mark Prior is working like every other pitcher is suspicious.

On the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers, he did everything the other pitchers did, without limitations.

"I think everybody thought I was coming into camp limping, but I'm coming into camp ready to go," he said Friday.

The article also says how he can't listen to everyone about what he should do, and that he will get criticized because he's on a big stage.

He also says he wants to play, and I believe him. I've never questioned his desire to play.

"I've never judged somebody on whether they're hurting or not. You don't get to this level unless you want to play. You get weeded out in a hurry if you don't want to play."

Just don't question his desire.

"Trust me, I want to play," he said. "It's a lot easier having a day like [Thursday] when I can walk out of here and no one has to come and ask me what's going on with my physical well-being or psychological well-being or whether I covered first or not.

"I want to get back to answering, 'Why did you throw that 1-2 pitch?' or 'What were you thinking in the third inning?' I want to get back to those questions. If I get healthy this spring, hopefully everybody can put this behind us and move on."

I love Mark Prior, and for now I am happy with him. Just in case, I hope he has some invisible bubble wrap to protect himself.

Poll

Will Mark Prior contribute in a positive way to the Cubs season?

Yes.

96 votes

No.

7 votes

Yes, but he will still go on the DL.

47 votes

No, he will not be good enough.

5 votes

155 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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I feel like a little..

optimism is in order as well. It's a new season, and I feel like everyone is in camp and ready to begin the season until I hear different.

by Damen Jackson on Feb 16, 2007 6:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If there's one thing...

...I'm optimistic about, it is Prior.

Yeah, I know, I'm optimistic about the thing most people think is most unlikely. What are ya gonna do.

"Looking for good signs is a good sign of delusion." - Me

by gravedigger on Feb 16, 2007 6:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What am I gonna do?

I'm going to say that you are actually optmistic about the Cubs, but you just like to disagree with us and say you aren't.

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

by sparkles721 on Feb 16, 2007 8:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I just like Mark Prior

because he has a great name. And he looks like my undergrad poli sci prof, who also went to USC.

I don't like disagreeing with you guys. I'd think that they're gonna go 79-83 regardless.

"Looking for good signs is a good sign of delusion." - Me

by gravedigger on Feb 16, 2007 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Please, people...

let's not even think about Prior & Wood. It's not worth the effort. If they show ANYTHING, fine.
I'm tired of every uninformed baseball headline writer:

"Cubs hopes rest on Prior, Wood."

You know somebody's gonna write this, and it's gonna be wrong. These guys, for me are at the end of the pen. ( Even Jason Marquis is in front of them, in my eyes.)

I think these 2 are shot. Don't get your hopes up on the twins. If they come around -- it's a bonus. If they don't -- so what? These two have let us down enough.

by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on Feb 16, 2007 11:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have my hopes up.

Just a good feeling.

Hell, someone has to be better than Marquis. We shouldn't be subjected to that all season long.

"Looking for good signs is a good sign of delusion." - Me

by gravedigger on Feb 16, 2007 11:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It won't be hard

to be better than marquis

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Feb 16, 2007 11:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you know

as bad as Marquis was last season, a lot of his biggest problems are mechanical: he's lost a lot of the tilt on his sinker, and he throws too many cutters (while hanging them). BUT, let's say hypothetically I spend the entire 2007 season in Bangladesh and don't hear anything about baseball until November. If I came back, and someone told me "one of Lilly and Marquis pitched a 3.80 ERA", I would guess Marquis.

I can't project him at all. I could see him going anywhere from 4.00-6.00. If he gets that sinker back, he isn't the worst pitcher in the world.

Let it be known that this isn't Al signing in on my screen name. I still hate the signing, and I'm not projecting a good season for Marquis (if I had to project it, I'd say 12-10 4.83 ERA). I just don't think Lilly will be that good either.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 16, 2007 11:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What are you thinking?

Don't come in here and pee on my parade. Do you WANT Al to win the bet?

Yeah but you are right. The reason I hate this signing is that he's worked with two pitchign coaches, hasn't figured it out, was absolutely terrible last season, has had one good season, and was given 21 fucking million dollars and a guaranteed rotation spot.

If he pitches well, I'll be ecstatic. Really.

"Looking for good signs is a good sign of delusion." - Me

by gravedigger on Feb 16, 2007 11:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If he does well

the Cubs will benefit. And for that, I will be glad. Doesn't mean I will be happy about him getting an average of $7 mil per year, but that's been hashed over too many times now

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Feb 16, 2007 11:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By whom?

Seriously, as I've said, if he does well and so do the Cubs, all is forgiven.

"Looking for good signs is a good sign of delusion." - Me

by gravedigger on Feb 16, 2007 11:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If he does well

I mat herald him as the second coming of Christ. And it will be a pleasant surprise. And maybe he will earn his $7 million. I don't know. I need to revisit this when I'm sober.

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Feb 17, 2007 1:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I actually agree with most of what's been said above.

Sure, he could suck again. But I do think a lot of his problem was mechanical -- and the rest of it was psychological, as it appears neither LaRussa nor Duncan liked him and the feeling was mutual. Then when LaRussa left him out there to take two ten-run-plus poundings, that likely destroyed what little was left of his confidence (and take those two outings out of his record and his season ERA is a full run lower).

Maybe Larry Rothschild is no "genius" compared to Duncan. But sometimes a change of scenery is enough to "fix" what's wrong with a professional athlete.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 17, 2007 4:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're simplifying things too much

and chances are still quite good that he will be quite bad or mediocre. He has a CHANCE to be decent. That's it.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 17, 2007 7:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that's simplifying...

... at all.

Look, if Marquis had NEVER had any success at the major league level, I'd agree with you.

But he has. He had a very good season for a 100+ win team that made the World Series.

Is he ever going to be a superstar? Probably not. But I think the odds are pretty good that he can get back to his 2004 level.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 17, 2007 7:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the way you think.

I just feel so much better when I'm drinking beer.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 17, 2007 9:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey..

It's probably not worth a diary right now, but are the Cubs carrying new uniforms this year? I'm looking at some footage from Spring Training today on Comcast, and can't tell if the digs are warmup/practice wear, or new unis.

by Damen Jackson on Feb 16, 2007 6:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

They are new BP jerseys

All the Major League teams have new BP jerseys and caps. They are all simular. I remember seeing something on this before Christmas. If I can find where I found it, I'll post it here

Kasey

by kaseyi on Feb 16, 2007 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I found it...

It was on January 2nd

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/story/2007/1/2/2014/42468

Kasey

by kaseyi on Feb 16, 2007 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lowered Expectations

I've got this funny feeling that since we're finally expecting nothing out of him, he's gonna come up huge. That and I just broke open a tea bag and read the leaves, which told me "Mark Prior '07 = Bob Gibson '68" I hope it wasn't the hallucinogenic tea.

by carlheartscubs on Feb 16, 2007 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think he'll be fine.

Injuries happen in sports. He's had more than his share and has been a bit disappointing in the last couple years but I think he'll kick some major ass this year. He's got the goods, he just needs to buckle down and work through it. I believe that some of it is mental due to the injuries but he'll get into the rotation and win 15 this year. Bank on it.

"If it bleeds, you get first base. And if it really, really hurts, you get second base. But you have to get a note from your mother first."

by Jettero2112 on Feb 16, 2007 7:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I know it's probably nothing.....

but I was optimistic about Wood and Prior until Kerry's hot tub incident. Even if he is back throwing off the mound on Monday like they said, it's a stark reminder that the baseball gods are present, and they are watching. Fingers crossed, everyone.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 16, 2007 8:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Another Prior article....

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ar5FDob7kb5sGdlaPFL7gAQV0bYF?slug=ap-cubs-prior&prov=ap&am p;type=lgns

by Neifi Puppy on Feb 16, 2007 9:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would love to see this line

15-6 thats all.

Have a good year Prior, so we have to pay you 12 million year.

by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Feb 16, 2007 9:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This is kinda the same,

but I am too optimistic about Prior's return. I relate it to football. How? Let me explain. As I have stated before, I am a New York Jets fan. My favorite player, Chad Pennington, has had a plithora of medical issues.
In 2005, he tore his rotator cuff, the same injury he had the previous year. Almost all QB's that get this injury never get back to be as good as new, let alone two torn rotator cuffs. With his extreme desire to excell, he trained hard and came back in the best shape that I've seen him in.
Now this year, not what I'd call a career year, he played all 16 games, for the first time since being drafted in 2000.
With great coaching, preparation and hard work, Pennington achieved comeback player of the year. I believe that Prior and Pennington have many things in common, in a good way. That's probably why they both are my favorite players for their respective sport.
What I am trying to say is, that Prior will come back. It's just a matter of when.

All right, Hendry!! Time to sign Zambrano to an extension!!

by fuzzycubfan on Feb 16, 2007 9:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the only problem

Football injuries are normally impact injuries: they can happen anytime to any player. Although it's true that some football players are more injury prone than others, football injuries are, by their nature, injuries of chance.

Pitching injuries, on the other hand, are almost always stress injuries. When you see pitchers like Mark Prior constantly injured, it usually means that pitcher has an anatomical weakness (or mechanical problems....or both), and their body (elbow, rotator cuff etc.) can't hold up to the constant stress of pitching.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 16, 2007 11:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Trade him now.

I think if we can get some value in return for Prior now it would be in Hendry's best interests. I agree about the injuries with pitchers but I don't think Prior's mechanics look bad, nor do I think he's "anatomically weak," but I do think he's just not used to pitching through pain. That's a big thing. A lot of pitchers will pitch through some discomfort and maybe Prior is "mentally" not the type of pitcher to push his body through a little bit of pain. I can't blame him, there's millions of dollars at stake, especially for a pitcher, and why would a young pitcher risk his arm/shoulder/etc...when he might just need extended rest. He probably should never have attempted to pitch last season when he didn't feel quite right. He should've been shut down in spring training. Like I said, moving him might be best for all parties involved. Of course I'd like to see Hendry add more pitching, maybe Dontrelle will be available and Hendry can fix a mistake he made a few seasons back.

by cubby23 on Feb 16, 2007 11:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm optimistic too.......

but then again I've always been in Prior's corner. The thing about his attitude that I like is that he's aware of the fact that his performance hasn't been up to par. It looks though that he's really dedicated himself to making a successful comeback. Hopefully things will continue to go well. I think by in large that's the problem that most people have with him......its just alot of frustration and dissapointment.

Don't get me wrong though I still think its alot of bullshit that people constantly feel the need to kick the guy while he's down. The topic often comes up about people assuming as soon as he hits FA he'll be out the door and I guess a part of it is because he's not the most dynamic interview and as he said himself in the interview that Julie linked he's always being asked questions about his health.

I suppose if I was in his shoes my demeanor wouldn't exactly be energetic if for one I wasn't able to be doing what it is that I was meant to do and secondly if I was being asked the same questions over and over. They had him on Comcast tonight and I didn't exactly get the impression that Prior is dying to get out of Chicago, in fact I saw someone that genuinely wants to be an integral part of the Chicago Cubs.

I really hope he makes it back and becomes the pitcher everyone thought he could be......and if he does I hope some of the fans that have felt such dissapointment with him are able to turn the page as well.

RAMIREZ!! PRIOR!!

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Feb 17, 2007 2:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you Sparkles

I got my hopes up slightly for Prior this ear. The man obviously has talent like not to many others in the game do. IF we can keep him in the field and if he can stay on the field then we could be looking a rather large bonus from him that will undoubtedly have an effect on the rest of the staff, maybe pushing Marquis closer to irrelevance. Just remember that when he's healthy and on his game he's one of the very best right handers in the game. So,don't put all your faith in him yet but don't give up either. The payback could be tremendous.

by pageian on Feb 17, 2007 1:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The last couple of years..

..have been crazy with Prior. Maybe he was being a panzy-ass or not. If he is healthy right now that is a huge plus. There was obviously something bothering the guy last year or he would have been pitching. Everyone can make all of the jokes that they want to, that is your prerogative. The bottom line is that if Prior is healthy then we are in for a great season. I have spent the entire off-season figuring that he wouldn't be ready. This is a huuuuge bonus if he is. The only thing better than this would be if Miller is healthy also.

Right now Prior is healthy and ready to go. Let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt and save the jokes until he actually gets hurt. After all, who's side are you on anyway.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 17, 2007 2:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ok...so maybe he did have some structural issues.

As per Paul Sullivan's column:
Prior article

He had some genetic looseness in his joints. I still think if the right trade comes along Hendry should move Prior.

by cubby23 on Feb 17, 2007 3:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

prior

i wish i could be optimistic about prior,i really do.i wish mark well as we always root for our guys but the last 3 years with prior/wood have been awfull and pretty much cost baker his job.now that we,re not counting on either to contribute that might take the pressure off.after hearing about wood slipping in his hot tub i can only feel like the curse is keeping an eye on things. i do feel like it will be an exciting season and i really hope they get the carlos thing done. like i,ve said before get it done before the angels and yankees get involved.

by NOMAR on Feb 17, 2007 6:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Did you see the interview..

...with Woody the other night..he was laughing at the reporters when they asked him about the 'injury'. He said something along the lines of.....I slipped and bruised my ribs a little bit. It is a little uncomfortable right now. It is not an injury that is going to affect him in a few days. He went on to say that if he has to miss 4 or 5 days at the very beginning of spring training it doesn't bother him at all. Lou Pinella also laughed at the reporters when they asked him about it. Everyone is making such a big deal out of something that isn't a big deal. I mean this isn't like when Sosa sneezed and threw his back out.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 17, 2007 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs