Prior delayed again

[Blueheart05]

Carroll wasn't very specific when he said "shoulder problems," but that was three weeks ago (after looking it up). You don't go forward with shoulder problems and start throwing off the mound and to hitters with shoulder problems. Perhaps there was a hint of soreness and it went away, but it couldn't have been present throughout those three weeks. They wouldn't have moved him forward if his shoulder was sore, especially not without having him see a specialist.

 

I might be wrong here, but weren't all of his alleged throwing sessions behind closed doors?

 

LOL, no. As TT has already remind us there are photos of Prior throwing off a mound.

[hawkcub]

When I first heard this I thought oh no. But then I thought how they have been treating Prior so this is not a surprise. There is one thing everyone must remember it is March. I think if we can get through April we will be alright. I think Wood may be back in early May. While Wade Miller may be available in Mid May. We just need to step away from the ledge a little and look at the situation for what it is.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I don't like how the Cubs have handled their injuries and also the way they disclosed their injuries but think it has absolutely nothing to do with ticket sales. Wrigley will be sold out regardless of Mark Prior missing a month of the season or whatever the outcome of all this is.

[Mizzou]

Carroll wasn't very specific when he said "shoulder problems," but that was three weeks ago (after looking it up). You don't go forward with shoulder problems and start throwing off the mound and to hitters with shoulder problems. Perhaps there was a hint of soreness and it went away, but it couldn't have been present throughout those three weeks. They wouldn't have moved him forward if his shoulder was sore, especially not without having him see a specialist.

 

I might be wrong here, but weren't all of his alleged throwing sessions behind closed doors?

 

LOL, no. As TT has already remind us there are photos of Prior throwing off a mound.

LOL, okay. I just remember hearing some report about something that was done behind closed doors. A simulated game maybe.

[Laura]

It may be worth remembering that the Chicago Cubs organization is not at liberty to disclose any aspect of Mark Prior's health without his consent.

 

That is worth remembering.

 

I'm more concerned that this repeated pattern of constant injuries is just another indication of an organizational problem with player health management.

[abuck1220]

hill, marshall, or guzman? hmm...

[moorecg]

Mr. Miles, assuming you stop by sometime soon...any chance you could throw a little water on these flames....Puhleeze? Just tell us it aint as bad as we think.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If the Cubs came out and said "Mark Prior is hurt. We don't know how long he'll be out, or when he'll be facing hitters, but he's not alright.", do you really think the Cubs would sell significantly less tickets? I mean, let's think for a second people.

I don't know what your definition of significant is, but I think they'd definitely sell less tickets in that scenario.

 

Like Jon outlined above, it'd be a drop in the ocean. It's next to impossible to get tickets to see a particular starter pitch, so even if people did buy tickets for the exact purpose of seeing Prior pitch, they were in for a crapshoot anyways.

[David]

If the Cubs came out and said "Mark Prior is hurt. We don't know how long he'll be out, or when he'll be facing hitters, but he's not alright.", do you really think the Cubs would sell significantly less tickets? I mean, let's think for a second people.

I don't know what your definition of significant is, but I think they'd definitely sell less tickets in that scenario.

 

Like Jon outlined above, it'd be a drop in the ocean. It's next to impossible to get tickets to see a particular starter pitch, so even if people did buy tickets for the exact purpose of seeing Prior pitch, they were in for a crapshoot anyways.

 

Not that I think that knowing about this before would've significantly impacted ticket sales, but there's another way to look at this. The overall ability of this team to compete is definitely hurt by injuries, especially to one Mark Prior.

 

Some people (maybe not a significant amount) would be soured on seeing the team, period, with this type of news, regardless of who would be pitching the day they'd be going to the game.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If the Cubs came out and said "Mark Prior is hurt. We don't know how long he'll be out, or when he'll be facing hitters, but he's not alright.", do you really think the Cubs would sell significantly less tickets? I mean, let's think for a second people.

I don't know what your definition of significant is, but I think they'd definitely sell less tickets in that scenario.

 

Like Jon outlined above, it'd be a drop in the ocean. It's next to impossible to get tickets to see a particular starter pitch, so even if people did buy tickets for the exact purpose of seeing Prior pitch, they were in for a crapshoot anyways.

 

Not that I think that knowing about this before would've significantly impacted ticket sales, but there's another way to look at this. The overall ability of this team to compete is definitely hurt by injuries, especially to one Mark Prior.

 

Some people (maybe not a significant amount) would be soured on seeing the team, period, with this type of news, regardless of who would be pitching the day they'd be going to the game.

 

That would hold more weight if the Cubs' ticket success was linked to them winning, but they sell the tickets regardless of the team's prospects for the year.

[Coach C]

Here we go again. :x

[frostwyrm]

I like Hendry's quote:

 

Jim Hendry said. "The first time he's ever complained of discomfort since we got here [in spring camp] is today. It will be perceived any way people want to perceive it. There's no advantage to us holding back until March 14 and then discussing a problem that we knew about earlier."

 

It shows he's aware of just what a horrible credibility deficit the Cubs have regarding injuries.

[JWCUB]

Being a Chicago Cubs fan.......Aint it great?

[Coach C]

Being a Chicago Cubs fan.......Aint it great?

 

Oh man, lettme tell ya, it's fan-freaking-tasitc!

 

*sigh*

[Balsa]

Awww crap. Just when things were looking up. That's what kills me.

 

Just when I really thought he was going to pitch in a ST game. Just when Wood and Prior were on a good track. Just when I'd started to hope again.

 

@#$.

[Andy]

Awww crap. Just when things were looking up. That's what kills me.

 

Just when I really thought he was going to pitch in a ST game. Just when Wood and Prior were on a good track. Just when I'd started to hope again.

 

@#$.

Pretty much describes life as a Cubs fan, doesn't it?

[FergieJ31]

Being a Chicago Cubs fan.......Aint it great?

 

Oh man, lettme tell ya, it's fan-freaking-tasitc!

 

*sigh*

 

Amen Coach.

 

Ahhh the eternal signs of spring: the birds are chirping, the trees are budding, and Cub fans' teeth are gnashing over Prior and Wood...

[imb]

at least this season was aborted in the first trimester.

[Mizzou]

Zambrano

Maddux

Rusch

Williams

Hill

 

Wow, what a rotation! If Prior is out for any significant amount of time, this season will be over before it even begins.

[FergieJ31]

That would hold more weight if the Cubs' ticket success was linked to them winning, but they sell the tickets regardless of the team's prospects for the year.

 

I disagree with this argument 100%. What did the Cubs draw pre-98? And what was their highest selling year? '04, when playoff expectations were at a peak.

 

The Cubs haven't gone more than 2 years since '98 without fielding a winning or playoff team (98, 01, 03, 04). A few more years like last year - maybe just one or two more - and all of a sudden it mightn't be so hard to get Wrigley tix again. There's often a few years lag between the onset of losing and an associated drop in attendance (see Chicago Blackhawks - remember the roar?).

 

I'm not saying the Cubs must have known Prior was hurt before tix went on sale. But it's certainly not implausible.

[Laura]

Cubs Year-by-Year Attendance

 

(I almost posted the link earlier, but got distracted)

[frostwyrm]

That would hold more weight if the Cubs' ticket success was linked to them winning, but they sell the tickets regardless of the team's prospects for the year.

 

I agree, there's no good reason for the Cubs to lie so often, but they do. Baseball Prospectus caught them red-handed.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That would hold more weight if the Cubs' ticket success was linked to them winning, but they sell the tickets regardless of the team's prospects for the year.

 

I disagree with this argument 100%. What did the Cubs draw pre-98? And what was their highest selling year? '04, when playoff expectations were at a peak.

 

The Cubs haven't gone more than 2 years since '98 without fielding a winning or playoff team (98, 01, 03, 04). A few more years like last year - maybe just one or two more - and all of a sudden it mightn't be so hard to get Wrigley tix again. There's often a few years lag between the onset of losing and an associated drop in attendance (see Chicago Blackhawks - remember the roar?).

 

I'm not saying the Cubs must have known Prior was hurt before tix went on sale. But it's certainly not implausible.

 

But we aren't talking about the future ticket sales, we're talking about this year. Whether Prior was hurt or not, the Cubs were going to sell tickets, lots and lots of them.

[UK1679666180]

No, the soreness doesn't necessarily mean much.

 

Too lazy to look it up right now, but is there anything significant with the soreness being in the back of his shoulder?

 

There's a difference between being sore and being injured. Being sore is normal especially with the little amount of work he has done in recent months. Being injured would be a sign of being removed from camp, a player knows when he feels sore and the difference between that and being injured.

 

As far as shoulder injuries, most occur during the deceleration phase of the delievery, there's 2X as much stress put on the shoulder joint during that phase and the key spots of pain are in the back and the inside of the shoulder.

 

I've thought his problems were more in the acceleration phase than deceleration. Although, he does land too stiff at times.

[frostwyrm]

That would hold more weight if the Cubs' ticket success was linked to them winning, but they sell the tickets regardless of the team's prospects for the year.

 

I disagree with this argument 100%. What did the Cubs draw pre-98? And what was their highest selling year? '04, when playoff expectations were at a peak.

 

The Cubs haven't gone more than 2 years since '98 without fielding a winning or playoff team (98, 01, 03, 04). A few more years like last year - maybe just one or two more - and all of a sudden it mightn't be so hard to get Wrigley tix again. There's often a few years lag between the onset of losing and an associated drop in attendance (see Chicago Blackhawks - remember the roar?).

 

I'm not saying the Cubs must have known Prior was hurt before tix went on sale. But it's certainly not implausible.

 

But we aren't talking about the future ticket sales, we're talking about this year. Whether Prior was hurt or not, the Cubs were going to sell tickets, lots and lots of them.

 

Will Carroll's source on Prior's shoulder problem also tipped him off about the Achilles, so it's hard to believe this was just a lucky guess on Carroll's part. You can argue about why the Cubs lie, but it's plain that they do in fact lie.