Prior delayed again

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's an update on Prior, courtesy of Bruce Miles.

 

Pitcher Mark Prior will throw batting practice Thursday, according to Larry Rothschild.

 

“We’ll see how he does,” the coach said. “Usually they get two or three batting practices. We may do one and have him face some hitters in a different situation and then get him ready for a game.”

 

The next step after Prior throws batting practice could be a simulated game. Rothschild would not speculate as to whether Prior would start a Cactus League game next week.

 

“Until I see him face hitters, I don’t want to go that far,” he said.

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wish Carroll would have explained how Wood missing a week to 10 days b/c of knee surgery costs him a month. :?

 

The theory would be that the longer he is out due to the knee, his pitching related delay increases exponentially. It's not a 1 for 1 situation, where if you miss 1 day, you take 1 extra day to prepare. What he's saying is everyday he misses could setback his recovery from his shoulder. It would erase the progress to date and force him to almost start over where he was a week to 10 days prior to the surgery.

 

But I think he was saying "as much as a month" meaning worst case scenario. If he can't do much throwing for 10 days (doubtful, from what I can tell) then 10 days after the surgery he would essentially be where he was several days prior to the surgery, and would then have to start from that point moving forward. I also think that was taking into account the idea that Wood might have started by mid-April, something I always thought was doubtful.

 

I thought Woody was only missing one day of "pitching"/arm strength throwing? I thought tomorrow he will be throwing from a chair to maintain arm strength and then when he can put pressure on the leg he will play flat footed long toss etc.

 

That would still put him behind compared to someone throwing on their feet.

[Jon]

Prior's simulated game today was so-so, according to WGN Radio. He wasn't very sharp in the first inning, but looked much better in the second inning.

[Vinestal]

Prior's simulated game today was so-so, according to WGN Radio. He wasn't very sharp in the first inning, but looked much better in the second inning.

Thats probably why they had him pitch a simulated game, knock off some of the rust. Hopefully they will get him in a game soon.

[Jon]

Prior's simulated game today was so-so, according to WGN Radio. He wasn't very sharp in the first inning, but looked much better in the second inning.

Thats probably why they had him pitch a simulated game, knock off some of the rust. Hopefully they will get him in a game soon.

Dusty made it sound better than how Santo said it. This was another step forward. I'd hope that he can make a start in the next 7 or 8 days.

[ThePenguin11]

This whole thing wreaks of Cubs B.S. The only time pitchers are worked out in this manner is to rehab an injury. You don't just hold a guy back to get his arm strength back. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The way to build up arm strength is the same way everybody else is doing it. Get out there and pitch. And pitch off of a mound. I really hope I'm reading too much into this, but the Cubs have forced us to read between the lines.

[Laura]

Paul Sullivan[/url]"]Mark Prior's chances of making his first regular-season start on April 5 at Cincinnati will hinge on whether he's able to throw around 80 pitches by then.

 

Prior threw about 35 pitches on Sunday in a two-inning simulated game behind closed doors at HoHoKam Park. The Cubs insist he's still on track to be ready for the start of the season because the bullpen should be able to pick up the slack the first week with two scheduled days off.

 

"It gives us a little more leeway to look at things," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "If he can't go six or seven innings, the relievers won't get worn out that first week. We don't have to get him up to that 100-(pitch) benchmark."

 

Rothschild said he was "pretty positive" Prior can get up to 80 pitches in the next three weeks. With at least one more simulated game slated before a decision is made on his Cactus League debut, Prior may be able to make four spring starts, though three is more likely.

 

But time is getting short.

 

"It's not running out yet," manager Dusty Baker said. "He could come very quickly. He's thrown a lot. ... Nothing's wrong with him. Nothing hurts. Nothing. Nothing. It's just a matter of him getting on that mound."

 

Going on a five-day schedule, Prior would have to start on Thursday against Los Angeles to get four starts in. If he makes only three, his first start could come on March 21 against Milwaukee in Mesa.

 

Rothschild said three starts would be enough.

 

"You want to build up innings, where he can jump out there," Rothschild said. "Down here (in games) he can throw one inning and throw 30 pitches and we'd have to get him out of there. I don't know that with four (potential starts) left, you want to do that."

[CuseCubFan69]

Prior has more delays than O'Hare. I hope he's healthy and ready by opening day.

[Laura]

AP Wire[/url]"]

Cubs right-hander Mark Prior pitched two simulated innings at the team's training facility Sunday in Mesa, and pitching coach Larry Rothschild noticed a "pretty good jump" in velocity from his first simulated game. Assuming he is OK on Monday, Prior would likely throw on the side Tuesday and pitch another simulated game on Thursday. The Cubs have said they would like Prior - slowed by a throat infection in the winter - to pitch in three preseason games. "He's progressing," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's what we want."

[Soul]

He's obviously rehabbing an injury. Thanks to the Cubs organization for once again trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes.

 

Nobody throws simulated games and "throws with the towel" in Spring Training when you can easily send him out there for 1 inning in a B game, for Christ's sake. That's unheard of. The Cubs aren't reinventing how Spring Training is conducted. They're rehabbing an unreported Prior injury and aren't telling anyone what it is. You can take that to the bank.

[Andy]

Personally, I'd prefer Prior take an extra week off to start the season rather than start a game when he can only throw 80 pitches. Get to full strength and then come back.

[Jon]

Hopefully the simulated game would be no later than Thursday:

Cubs.com[/url]"]MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs are leaning toward having Mark Prior throw one more simulated game before inserting him into a Cactus League game this spring.

 

Prior threw 35 pitches off a mound Sunday, and he is healthy. He will throw a side session on Tuesday and go from there. The Cubs want to control the conditions under which he's pitching.

 

"It was good. Obviously different," Prior said Monday about his session off the mound. "I was a little uncomfortable at first, but I thought I threw strong."

 

...............

 

"I didn't think there was a question that I wouldn't be in a Cactus League game this year," Prior said. "I've always said I've been planning on pitching that first week of the season, so obviously, I would get into some games before the season started.

[gflore34]

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

[goonys evil twin]

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

 

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity.

 

Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game.

 

At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in.

[gflore34]

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

 

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity.

 

Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game.

 

At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in.

 

More frustration on my part in suggesting that Prior should be allowed to walk after this season - I was mistaken on the details of Prior' contract status for next season. Like you, I'm tried of the Cubs BS, I'm also very tried of what appears to be a constantly injuried Prior. If it isn't one thing, its another but, something is always wrong Prior.

[MustangMike]

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

 

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity.

 

Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game.

 

At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in.

 

What I don't get is all the BSing in the first place. What does it gain the cubs by lying constantly and getting caught. I love this team, but hate how they treat the fans and the general public like a bunch of boobs. We are a interested and probing fan base, and if there is infromation, we usually find it out one way or another, how does it help them to constantly lie? I'm with you, just get him ready and stop all the talking, its bloody obvious something is wrong. I'd feel better knowing what it is, I sure hope they know.

[sonofsamiam]

Anyone else growing tried of the annual Prior/Wood injury soap operas? I'm to the point where I wouldn't mind seeing both of them walk after this season. Granted, Maddux, Williams and Rusch aren't much to write home about but, at least they take the ball every fifth day.

 

Tired of the soap opera? Yes. Willing to watch Wood walk after the season? Yes, unless this season is dominating. Willing to even let Prior think about walking? No, and it's pointless to even bring that up. He's not a free agent, he's under Cubs control and still a valuable commodity.

 

Rusch isn't anything to write home about and he doesn't take the ball every fifth day, luckily for us, because he sucks so bad. Let's not pretend we'd be happier with 200 innings of garbage than 150 innings of even Prior's B game.

 

At this point I wish the Cubs would stop focusing, or pretending to focus, on having Prior ready for the 2nd game of the year. Just focus on having him ready. It's obvious all is not right. You don't get to mid-March without knowing when a guy will make his first spring training start without there being a problem. If they feel he needs more simulated games, just do the simulated games. Quit BSing us with make believe timetables that you don't even believe in.

 

More frustration on my part in suggesting that Prior should be allowed to walk after this season - I was mistaken on the details of Prior' contract status for next season. Like you, I'm tried of the Cubs BS, I'm also very tried of what appears to be a constantly injuried Prior. If it isn't one thing, its another but, something is always wrong Prior.

 

Here's the thing about Prior, though: last year, he missed only 1 time through the starting rotation at the beginning of the year due to injury.

 

Then, of course, he missed a month due to the line drive off the elbow. If you want to blame him for that, that's OK I guess. However, I was actually surprised that he came back from that as quickly as he did.

 

Remember, Prior still got in 27 starts last year, and enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. Nearly all of the missed starts were due to the freak line drive.

 

All the hemming and hawing and simulated games drive me nuts, too. But I'm going to reserve judgment until the actual season begins.

[Andy]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

[gflore34]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

[CubinNY]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

 

The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice.

[gflore34]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

 

The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice.

 

35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record.

[Shilzzz]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

 

The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice.

 

35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record.

 

only record...best record. same difference i guess

[gflore34]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

 

The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice.

 

35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record.

 

only record...best record. same difference i guess

 

You're correct about that...

[goonys evil twin]

Today's Sun-Times blurb stated that the Cubs are leaning towards another simulated game rather than him making an ST start, but they still insist he'll be ready for April 5th.

 

 

Have the Cubs won the simulated WS yet? Over the last two seasons with Wood and Prior going every game they've probably had a good chance to do so.

 

The Cubs are 35-11 in simulated games over the last two years. JoBo and Rusch haven't held up their end of the rotation. Still 24 games over 500 is pretty nice.

 

35-11 is real nice, quite probably leading the NL Central, may in fact, be the NL's best record.

 

only record...best record. same difference i guess

 

Quit looking at W-L records, the only thing that matters is simulated WHIP.

[soapy]

Quit looking at W-L records, the only thing that matters is simulated WHIP.

 

outstanding