Prior and Miller working with Tom House

[moorecg]

I still have a copy of the Sun-Times from the day of NLDS Game Three. There's a big double truck spread detailing Prior's perfect mechanics.

 

Journalists are so smart.

 

Hey, even perfect mechanics have trouble with a fullspeed runner and a screaming line drive. What are the odds a pitcher would suffer two such injuries in such a short span of time?

 

That was my first thought too, but if he had better mechanics he would have "crashed" more gracefully into Giles and not put his elbow in the way of a screaming line drive from Brad Hawpe :lol:.

 

Actually, only last year did he start having "mechanics" problems and I think that was largely him trying to "shortcut" his rehab. This is the "healthiest" he has been in several years and may even break camp with the rest of the team. I am having good thoughts about a rotation with a healthy Prior and Zambrano at the top of it with Rich Hill following it up.

 

If we somehow break camp this year with Z leading it off and Prior starting the 2nd game of the year followed by Lilly and Hill and those 4 make 30 starts a piece, we're going to have a very good year.

[Sammy Sofa]

I still have a copy of the Sun-Times from the day of NLDS Game Three. There's a big double truck spread detailing Prior's perfect mechanics.

 

Journalists are so smart.

 

Hey, even perfect mechanics have trouble with a fullspeed runner and a screaming line drive. What are the odds a pitcher would suffer two such injuries in such a short span of time?

 

That was my first thought too, but if he had better mechanics he would have "crashed" more gracefully into Giles and not put his elbow in the way of a screaming line drive from Brad Hawpe :lol:.

 

Actually, only last year did he start having "mechanics" problems and I think that was largely him trying to "shortcut" his rehab. This is the "healthiest" he has been in several years and may even break camp with the rest of the team. I am having good thoughts about a rotation with a healthy Prior and Zambrano at the top of it with Rich Hill following it up.

 

If we somehow break camp this year with Z leading it off and Prior starting the 2nd game of the year followed by Lilly and Hill and those 4 make 30 starts a piece, we're going to have a very good year.

 

Factor in the eventual integration of Kerry Wood: Super Closer on the other end with our rather decent bullpen in between and you've got a recipe for awesome awesomeness. It's an insane fantasy, but still, it's a nice one.

[moorecg]

Factor in the eventual integration of Kerry Wood: Super Closer on the other end with our rather decent bullpen in between and you've got a recipe for awesome awesomeness. It's an insane fantasy, but still, it's a nice one.

 

Yeah...I know. I won't even let myself think about Prior being in the rotation...I've assessed this team all off season as if he wasn't even on it. "IF" he is on it, and pitches a full season...well, to paraphrase the great Lloyd Christmas..."I'm sayin we got a chance"

[SouthSideRyan]

Tom House is also a self-admitted former steroids user if I remember correctly. I also remember him speaking out against roid use.

 

If memory serves, I seem to recall him saying he tried steroids very briefly and couldn't discern a real benefit from them.

 

If you ever seen House in person, he's tiny, maybe 5'7"-5'8" on a good day, from what I recall he might've been one of the 1st to try steroids to add velo and that's probably the 1st time he realized that maintaining flexibility is more important than adding mass as it didn't add velo.

 

He believes in nutritional supplements to help speed up the recovery time between outings.

 

That is exactly correct. You will not find your fastball in a weight room. Pitching is mainly a speed of movement activity. Weight lifting does not train pitchers to improve in that area. Juan Cruz is a good example of this. He is really thin, but he generates his velocity from his speed of body movement. Good mechanics with a smooth delivery and with proper timing is how you generate a 90mph fastball.

 

r u a pitcher or sumthin

 

Rick Mills.

[Rusch33]

Prior says he's ready for 2007 and Spring Training.. Great news.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2737285

[David]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Rothschild gave him a positive scouting report on Prior's progress.

 

"[Rothschild] said Prior threw the ball better, mechanically, than he did all of last year," Piniella said Friday. "So he is very encouraged."

 

 

Just thought I'd add these particular quotes.

 

VERY nice to hear. Hopefully they're not blowing smoke.

[Sarcastic]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Rothschild gave him a positive scouting report on Prior's progress.

 

"[Rothschild] said Prior threw the ball better, mechanically, than he did all of last year," Piniella said Friday. "So he is very encouraged."

 

 

Just thought I'd add these particular quotes.

 

VERY nice to hear. Hopefully they're not blowing smoke.

 

When did the Cubs start murmuring that Prior wouldn't be ready for Opening Day in 2006? Are we past that point yet?

[nilodnayr]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Rothschild gave him a positive scouting report on Prior's progress.

 

"[Rothschild] said Prior threw the ball better, mechanically, than he did all of last year," Piniella said Friday. "So he is very encouraged."

 

 

Just thought I'd add these particular quotes.

 

VERY nice to hear. Hopefully they're not blowing smoke.

 

When did the Cubs start murmuring that Prior wouldn't be ready for Opening Day in 2006? Are we past that point yet?

 

March 14th. Not even close.

[David]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Prior was in a hospital around this time last year. He was nowhere near throwing off a mound. He didn't even do that until a few weeks into spring training.

[Guest]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Rothschild gave him a positive scouting report on Prior's progress.

 

"[Rothschild] said Prior threw the ball better, mechanically, than he did all of last year," Piniella said Friday. "So he is very encouraged."

 

 

Just thought I'd add these particular quotes.

 

VERY nice to hear. Hopefully they're not blowing smoke.

 

When did the Cubs start murmuring that Prior wouldn't be ready for Opening Day in 2006? Are we past that point yet?

Well, I honestly believe the Cubs fessed up to that nearly a year ago, now.

[nilodnayr]

Actually it was March 16th...

 

Per KFFL

 

Cubs | Prior could miss season start

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:57:13 -0800

 

ESPNews reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (shoulder strain) may miss the start of the regular season due to a strained shoulder.

 

Cubs | Guzman Could See Action

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:08:17 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports Chicago Cubs P Angel Guzman may be pressed into emergency starting duty if SP Mark Prior (shoulder) is unable to go at the start of the season.

 

Cubs | Hill Could See Action

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:07:03 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports Chicago Cubs P Rich Hill may be pressed into emergency starting duty if SP Mark Prior (shoulder) is unable to go at the start of the season.

 

Cubs | Prior to Get Shoulder Inspected

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:54:02 -0800

 

Updating a continuing story, the Associated Press' Andrew Seligman reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (shoulder) had to cut short a recent throwing session due to right shoulder soreness and will visit Dr. Lewis Yocum in California Wednesday, Mar. 15.

 

Cubs | For Prior, 80 Is Magic Number

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:03:19 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (shoulder) will need to throw 80 pitches without pain or discomfort in order to have a chance to start the season with a mound appearance April 5.

 

Cubs | Prior Throws Simulated Game

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:13:52 -0800

 

The Chicago Sun-Times' Mike Kiley reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (shoulder) threw a simulated game March 11. If he feels no symptoms, Prior will probably throw another simulated game later in the week, or it's even possible he could get into a Cactus League game late this week.

 

Cubs | Prior Status Report

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:08:30 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (shoulder) threw about 30 pitches against live batters on March 9. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said he would wait until March 10 to see when Prior would throw a simulated two-inning game and wouldn't speculate on his first Cactus League start.

 

Cubs | Prior: No Problem With Stone

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 23:18:53 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior (arm) has no problem with comments made by radio broadcaster Steve Stone about Prior's delay in facing hitters being a sign that things were not right. "I don't take it personally," Prior said. "I don't have a problem with Stone. I don't think he has a problem with me. I'm sure he's just doing his job."

 

Cubs | Prior to Face Hitters

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 14:22:10 -0800

 

Carrie Muskat, of Cubs.MLB.com, reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior is on pace to face hitters on Wednesday, March 8. He will throw a 50 pitch session Sunday, March 5.

 

Cubs | Prior Easing In

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:58:02 -0800

 

The Associated Press reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior is easing in to spring training after his last two seasons were marred by injuries. "I've been on throwing programs before, but this one is a little more structured, trying to build up arm strength," Prior said Tuesday. "I'm doing extended amounts of sets, throwing 20-25 at a certain distance and then taking a little break and going back a little bit farther. I think I'm responding to it well. We talked about it last year, that's how it would be - take it a little bit slower or a little bit more methodical."

 

Cubs | Prior Pronounces Himself Healthy

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:45:55 -0800

 

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports Chicago Cubs SP Mark Prior is pronouncing himself healthy and ready to go, with only a throat infection sidelining him from further spring training work. "I'm not expecting something to creep up," Prior said. "I feel good about where I am at right now. Would I have liked to been on the mound right now? Yeah, but you deal with what you have in front of you and go from there."

[David]

Doesn't look like last year he was throwing off the mound even by the 3rd week of February. He's well ahead of that pace this year.

[craig]

My impression is that in recent years, that Prior has done relatively little throwing/pitching during the winters.

 

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

2004/5: not sure how much he did then. He had spring problems, with the elbow ulnar stress syndrom reaction stuff, but he still made the opening week, pitched pretty well, and had a reasonable season around the elbow smash.

 

2005/6: I believe that after rushing back from the elbow smash, the intention was again for him to really rest the arm. Then he was in the hospital come December, and supposedly took a long time to bounce back from that. The impression I got was that he really hadn't done any or hardly any winter throwing until he came to camp. And we all know what happened after that.

 

So, I think it's entirely possible that this winter has been the most aggressive throwing program he's had since joining the Cubs. If he's feeling good, that's excellent news, and I hope it plays out.

 

That said, he did a number of sessions from the mound last spring; but the shoulder gave when he threw seriously hard. He had lots of mound sessions during his summer rehab, but the shoulder didn't hold up. There's a big difference in strain between towel-tossing, tossing, throwing from a mound, and really throwing with full force in an effort to get Pujols out with the bases loaded. Huge difference between throwing bullpens and throwing with full intensity in real games.

 

Also, Prior is Prior. He's a very guarded interview. The fact that he says it's "good", well, he might say that regardless. He's rarely been very forthcoming when he has had problems.

 

Still, I think the very fact that he was at the convention and exposing himself to the questions, I took that as very, very favorable indeed. If he knew he wasn't likely to be ready for spring, I think it would have been easy enough to decline the event.

 

Time will tell. But for now I'm pretty optimistic. And the fact that he's been throwing since November and pitching bullpens this month, that's really good news IMO. I thin it's *not* just like the other winters. Hopefully he'll be better able to keep pace with the regular pitchers, and appear in some exhibition games like normal pitchers do.

[UK1679666180]

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

IIRC, according to some reports that was the off-season where he made some adjustments and got his velo up to where he could touch 99.

 

(I'll look it up to make sure)

[treebird]

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

IIRC, according to some reports that was the off-season where he made some adjustments and got his velo up to where he could touch 99.

 

(I'll look it up to make sure)

 

I remember Will Carroll saying that, on his blog, I believe.

[David]

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

IIRC, according to some reports that was the off-season where he made some adjustments and got his velo up to where he could touch 99.

 

(I'll look it up to make sure)

 

Heh. I had forgotten about that. I remember getting really excited at the prospect of that. Now I'd give up a body part (well, not any) just to get the 2003 Prior back...

[craig]

That is correct, Will Carroll claimed that. I believe I remember finding that extremely puzzling, since Prior said at the end of the season and again repeated the following spring that he'd basically rested the arm all winter. It never made sense to me then.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

IIRC, according to some reports that was the off-season where he made some adjustments and got his velo up to where he could touch 99.

 

(I'll look it up to make sure)

 

Correct.

[Mizzou]

Prior says he's ready for 2007 and Spring Training.. Great news.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2737285

Wow, that's great news! I know we have to be careful in getting excited about good news related to Prior, but this is outstanding to hear!

[UK1679666180]

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

IIRC, according to some reports that was the off-season where he made some adjustments and got his velo up to where he could touch 99.

 

(I'll look it up to make sure)

 

Correct.

 

I'm glad House didn't make me look like a liar back in October.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

 

2003: he'd pitched a *ton* of innings, and with high pitcher-per-inning, going through the playoffs. He'd been worked really hard. He was young. Plus subsequent account said that he'd really been suffering with this Achiles problem for much of 2003. I believe the game plan after Florida knocked them out was to rest that arm, that he'd done plenty of throwing. And to rest that Achiles. Not sure which offseason it was, but I believe that may also have been the offseason in which Prior got married. So my guess is that he did *not* do much throwing that winter.

 

 

September, 2003:

 

1st, 131 pitches, 8 IP, W

6th, 130 pitches, 7 IP, W

11th, 111 pitches, 5.2 IP, ND

16th, 124 pitches, 8.2 IP, W

21st, 131 pitches, 7.2 IP, W

27th, 133 pitches, 6.2 IP, W

 

October 2003:

 

3rd, 133 pitches, 9 IP, W

8th, 119 pitches, 7 IP, W

14th, 119 pitches, 7.1 IP, L

 

Totals, 9 games (6 weeks), 126 pitches/game, 7-1

 

I can't recall a pitcher going through that kind of stretch other than Clemens or Hersheiser in their primes. They didn't do it in their 2nd full season of professional baseball. It's just amazing to this day.

[A New Era]

Zambrano

Prior

Lilly

Hill

Marquis/Miller/*

 

that would be acceptable.

[RammyFanny]

Matt (Houston): Over/Under on Mark Prior starts this season - 17. Also, are there any rumblings about how his bullpen sessions are going?

 

Will Carroll: I'd set it slightly lower -- 14. They're going well, but my people tell me he's throwing without confidence. It's way, way too early to tell.

[moorecg]

Matt (Houston): Over/Under on Mark Prior starts this season - 17. Also, are there any rumblings about how his bullpen sessions are going?

 

Will Carroll: I'd set it slightly lower -- 14. They're going well, but my people tell me he's throwing without confidence. It's way, way too early to tell.

 

:pukel: :pukel: :pukel: :pukel:

 

:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

 

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

 

Gee...this sounds familiar. Good thing i've always penciled this staff together w/o counting on him...man this is frustrating. I hope Carroll is wrong again.

 

And I'm wondering...how can the be "going well" but Prior not be "throwing with confidence?"

[VanceJergins]

Matt (Houston): Over/Under on Mark Prior starts this season - 17. Also, are there any rumblings about how his bullpen sessions are going?

 

Will Carroll: I'd set it slightly lower -- 14. They're going well, but my people tell me he's throwing without confidence. It's way, way too early to tell.

 

:pukel: :pukel: :pukel: :pukel:

 

:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

 

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

 

Gee...this sounds familiar. Good thing i've always penciled this staff together w/o counting on him...man this is frustrating. I hope Carroll is wrong again.

 

And I'm wondering...how can the be "going well" but Prior not be "throwing with confidence?"

 

I think maybe a chill pill is in order. He's been injured the past couple years, of course his confidence isnt going to be sky-high at first. Its still January, he has another 2 months and nobody has said anything about him not being completely healthy. This isnt anything to panic about.