Prior Signs one year deal

[frostwyrm]

Why is Prior contending for a rotation spot?

 

Because when healthy he's a very good pitcher.

 

But if he's healthy.. doesn't he already have a spot in the rotation.. why does he need to contend?

 

because he needs to prove healthy.

 

I'm confused. If he's pitching, doesn't that prove he's healthy? So why does he need to contend for a spot in the rotation if he can pitch?

 

He pitched last year-9 starts. He wasn't healthy enough to be effective though, and had a 7.21 ERA. He has to prove that he was healthier then he was last year, not to be able to just pitch but to actually be effective doing so.

 

I agree with Omar. If Prior is healthy he ought to able to throw all his pitches, which are all excellent. Even if his mechanics are a bit off right now he should still easily be good enough to be one of our top 5 starting pitchers, and he should see enough action in spring training to smooth out his mechanics. If Prior is 100% healthy you have to pencil him into the top 5.

[Rob]

Via Rotoworld:

Cubs agreed to terms with RHP Mark Prior on a one-year, $3.575 million contract.

 

He's taking a small cut in pay. Prior asked for a raise from $3.65 million to $3.875 million in his second year of arbitration. The Cubs offered him $3.4 million. Prior will contend for a rotation spot this spring after spending the winter attempting to strengthen his right shoulder.

 

Here's to Mark being the most underpaid pitcher in baseball in 07'. (Due to his overwhelming success of course)

 

Another thought -

We better lock up Big Z before this season, because if Prior does return to form, locking up both of them next offseason would be close to impossible.

 

On the plus side of things, I am very confident that he will not be the most overpaid pitcher for us next season.

[Ivy Walls]

Often the deal outlines the plan and expectations. Prior...here is a pay cut, (not really hurtful but it is 16,666 a month less than last year (595833 in '07 which is under 600,000 per month), but he can make last year's money back by Labor Day (27th start) and his demand in arbitration by Sept 30th. 30 starts is essentially 2 starts under a perfect 5-man rotation although because of off days usually the top 2 get 35-36 starts.

 

Now that is not the question all of you are asking. Presumably the contract answers the question of the Cubs paper plans, that Prior must compete (show he can start) he starts. Then the next question is whether he is effective....none of us can say with any confidence merely conjecture whether he will be effective...which is a subjective measure...

 

Will he be an all star....probably not, but then Sutcliffe was in '85 and then '88 was coming back and in '89 an all star again.

 

So what is effective....as a fifth starter it is getting to the 6th inning with a quality start (meaning holding down the opposition to 3 to 4 runs)

 

then the measure goes up from there get into the 7 inning regularly under the same measure of quality starts.

 

Then leave more games with the lead at the 7th inning

 

Then be one of the stoppers

 

Then be the ace.

 

Right now the Cubs are looking for Prior to be the 5th starter....and the hope is he moves into a middle of the order starter by August

 

 

Why is Prior contending for a rotation spot?

 

Because when healthy he's a very good pitcher.

 

But if he's healthy.. doesn't he already have a spot in the rotation.. why does he need to contend?

 

because he needs to prove healthy.

 

I'm confused. If he's pitching, doesn't that prove he's healthy? So why does he need to contend for a spot in the rotation if he can pitch?

 

Guys coming back from injury are usually not as effective as they were before their injury, for several months or even a season or two. Some guys never get back to where they were before the injury. Prior has had several injuries causing him to miss parts of the last 3 seasons including most of 2004 and 2006. His 2005 was good but not as dominant as he was in 2003 before the first injury (the Giles collision). The few starts he made in 2006 were still worse, and revealed yet another injury.

 

Even if he's "good as new" with regards to his health, which we all know won't be the case, we're still talking about a guy that hasn't pitched a full season since 2003. There will be, at the very least, a lot of rust to knock off. He has to compete for a spot because he will probably be pitching considerably worse than 2003 or 2005 simply due to not pitching regularly for a long time. If you have an ERA of 7.00 and a WHIP over 1.60 right now, it really doesn't matter how good you used to be. Assuming Prior's healthy enough to pitch at all, I see him starting the season and playing at least a couple months in AAA just so he can get his mechanics right again and get used to pitching regularly in an environment where there isn't a lot of pressure on him to be an ace pitcher right away.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If he's healthy and pitches like he's capable of pitching, he not only has a spot in the rotation, but probably the #2 spot.

 

He'd be a #1.

 

I think it'd be tough to take the #1 spot from Zambrano, but damn would that be a problem I'd like to have.

 

I don't think Z will be the Cubs best pitcher this coming season. :?

[bc2k]

Why is Prior contending for a rotation spot?

 

Because when healthy he's a very good pitcher.

 

But if he's healthy.. doesn't he already have a spot in the rotation.. why does he need to contend?

 

because he needs to prove healthy.

 

I'm confused. If he's pitching, doesn't that prove he's healthy? So why does he need to contend for a spot in the rotation if he can pitch?

 

Even if he's "good as new" with regards to his health, which we all know won't be the case, we're still talking about a guy that hasn't pitched a full season since 2003. There will be, at the very least, a lot of rust to knock off. He has to compete for a spot because he will probably be pitching considerably worse than 2003 or 2005 simply due to not pitching regularly for a long time. If you have an ERA of 7.00 and a WHIP over 1.60 right now, it really doesn't matter how good you used to be. Assuming Prior's healthy enough to pitch at all, I see him starting the season and playing at least a couple months in AAA just so he can get his mechanics right again and get used to pitching regularly in an environment where there isn't a lot of pressure on him to be an ace pitcher right away.

 

How do you know Prior won't be 100% by Opening Day?

[Mizzou]

Awesome! Glad to see that he was willing to take a pay cut.

 

I hope he has an awesome year!

[Amazing_Grace]

How do you know Prior won't be 100% by Opening Day?

 

I've bugged his house... well, no not really.

 

In all seriousness, I don't know with 100% certainty that Prior won't be 100%, but I'd be willing to bet a lot of money he isn't. Also, if by 100% you mean pitching without pain, then there may be a decent chance of that (still wouldn't bet on it). If you mean by 100% that he's capable of throwing a baseball across homeplate 50-100 times without his arm falling off , there's a chance of that. If you mean by 100% that it will be just as if these injuries never happened, then no, that's not something I can agree with. This is baseball, and it takes time for guys to come back from injury, and that's just a fact. He can rehab all this offseason but he won't be 100% his first start back. I don't expect Prior to be anything like the pitcher he was in 2003 or even 2005 because he's been hurt, badly, often, and it will take some time for him to return to form.

 

I think it's best for him to take all the time he needs to get prepared, and I think a few starts in AAA without the pressure would be a good way to get back up to speed. If he's stays healthy, I think he'll get back to the Cubs in 07 and be able to give the Cubs a boost down the stretch, but I think it's unlikely that he's the #5 or any other number at this point.

[C.C.]

Awesome! Glad to see that he was willing to take a pay cut.

 

I hope he has an awesome year!

 

Just to save face with the fan base he had to.

[C.C.]

If he's healthy and pitches like he's capable of pitching, he not only has a spot in the rotation, but probably the #2 spot.

 

 

He'd be a #1.

 

I think it'd be tough to take the #1 spot from Zambrano, but damn would that be a problem I'd like to have.

 

I don't think Z will be the Cubs best pitcher this coming season. :?

 

Hmmm...Lilly?

Edited February 1, 2007 by C.C.

[JWCUB]

If he's healthy and pitches like he's capable of pitching, he not only has a spot in the rotation, but probably the #2 spot.

 

 

He'd be a #1.

 

I think it'd be tough to take the #1 spot from Zambrano, but damn would that be a problem I'd like to have.

 

I don't think Z will be the Cubs best pitcher this coming season. :?

 

Hmmm...Lilly?

 

Rich Hill 8-)

[cl smooth]

prior's starts during the last two months of the '03 season, including the playoffs, have to be some of the most dominant pitching performances i've ever seen. he just made pitching look so easy...overpowering batters like that. i miss that mark prior. i wish he would come back.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If he's healthy and pitches like he's capable of pitching, he not only has a spot in the rotation, but probably the #2 spot.

 

 

He'd be a #1.

 

I think it'd be tough to take the #1 spot from Zambrano, but damn would that be a problem I'd like to have.

 

I don't think Z will be the Cubs best pitcher this coming season. :?

 

Hmmm...Lilly?

 

Rich Hill 8-)

 

We'll have 2nd half Rich Hill, 2003 Mark Prior, and fat Z. It's all good.

[CuseCubFan69]

Prior is an ignigma. I have no idea what's wrong with him and no idea what to expect from him.

[frostwyrm]

I usually don't like to give anyone a starting job based on past achievements but Prior's upside is just so much higher than anyone else's on the staff, except Z and maybe Hill. If Prior is fully healthy I tell him he'll have to pitch his way out of the rotation, otherwise he's in.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If he's healthy and pitches like he's capable of pitching, he not only has a spot in the rotation, but probably the #2 spot.

 

 

He'd be a #1.

 

I think it'd be tough to take the #1 spot from Zambrano, but damn would that be a problem I'd like to have.

 

I don't think Z will be the Cubs best pitcher this coming season. :?

 

Hmmm...Lilly?

 

Rich Hill 8-)

 

:D

[RichHillIsABeast]

I usually don't like to give anyone a starting job based on past achievements but Prior's upside is just so much higher than anyone else's on the staff, except Z and maybe Hill. If Prior is fully healthy I tell him he'll have to pitch his way out of the rotation, otherwise he's in.

 

If Prior is healthy and gets his mechanics back in order, he leaves Z and Hill in the dust.

 

Prior is a once in a generation type of pitcher. Freaking Giles and Hawpe. :evil:

[KingCubsFan]

prior's starts during the last two months of the '03 season, including the playoffs, have to be some of the most dominant pitching performances i've ever seen. he just made pitching look so easy...overpowering batters like that. i miss that mark prior. i wish he would come back.

You may have seen a bit too much of that Mark Prior over those last two months and, as a result, may never see him again

[CubColtPacer]

prior's starts during the last two months of the '03 season, including the playoffs, have to be some of the most dominant pitching performances i've ever seen. he just made pitching look so easy...overpowering batters like that. i miss that mark prior. i wish he would come back.

You may have seen a bit too much of that Mark Prior over those last two months and, as a result, may never see him again

 

Do people have to keep reminding us of that randomly? I'm really trying to forget it :cry:

Edited February 1, 2007 by CubColtPacer

[Bruce Miles]

Prior is an ignigma. I have no idea what's wrong with him and no idea what to expect from him.

 

Is an ignigma some sort of a lizard? O:)

[CuseCubFan69]

Prior is an ignigma. I have no idea what's wrong with him and no idea what to expect from him.

 

Is an ignigma some sort of a lizard? O:)

 

 

Enigma! Hmmm...Prior is a lizard, eh?

 

Frontpage news in the Sun:

 

"Prior is called a lizard by writer, demands an apoligy!!"

[Soul]

Prior is an ignigma. I have no idea what's wrong with him and no idea what to expect from him.

 

Is an ignigma some sort of a lizard? O:)

 

 

Enigma! Hmmm...Prior is a lizard, eh?

 

Frontpage news in the Sun:

 

"Prior is called a lizard by writer, demands an apoligy!!"

 

He's an enigma.....swallowed by an iguana.....surrounded by an igloo

[Bruce Miles]

Prior is an ignigma. I have no idea what's wrong with him and no idea what to expect from him.

 

Is an ignigma some sort of a lizard? O:)

 

 

Enigma! Hmmm...Prior is a lizard, eh?

 

Frontpage news in the Sun:

 

"Prior is called a lizard by writer, demands an apoligy!!"

 

He's an enigma.....swallowed by an iguana.....surrounded by an igloo

 

Nice!!! We have a winner.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's a quote from Hendry about Prior.

 

"We fully expect Mark to come to camp healthy and ready to pitch. His off-season workouts have been encouraging, and I believe he has the mind-set to become the old Mark Prior again and help the Cubs win."

 

I did find this interesting...

 

Prior will enter spring as the favorite for the fifth starter's job, competing with Wade Miller and perhaps Sean Marshall, whom the Cubs prefer to start out at Triple-A Iowa.

 

If Miller wins the job, there's no assurance Prior will go to the bullpen. He could be sent to Iowa to start the season, even if he's healthy.

 

But Prior's response...

 

Asked if he really thought he had to "win his job back," Prior replied, "Not necessarily," then changed the subject and spoke of his desire to "enjoy" spring training after three straight springs of arm-related shutdowns.

[CubinNY]

Here's a quote from Hendry about Prior.

 

"We fully expect Mark to come to camp healthy and ready to pitch. His off-season workouts have been encouraging, and I believe he has the mind-set to become the old Mark Prior again and help the Cubs win."

 

I did find this interesting...

 

Prior will enter spring as the favorite for the fifth starter's job, competing with Wade Miller and perhaps Sean Marshall, whom the Cubs prefer to start out at Triple-A Iowa.

 

If Miller wins the job, there's no assurance Prior will go to the bullpen. He could be sent to Iowa to start the season, even if he's healthy.

 

But Prior's response...

 

Asked if he really thought he had to "win his job back," Prior replied, "Not necessarily," then changed the subject and spoke of his desire to "enjoy" spring training after three straight springs of arm-related shutdowns.

 

Boy oh boy, the Cubs do like a soap opera.

 

I think Miller will go to the bullpen or be traded if Prior is healthy.

[NoDak]

Why is Prior contending for a rotation spot?

 

He is "contending" for a starting spot because Hendry probably believes that having "competition" will bring out the best in him. Besides, we have, like, 8 guys "contending" for starting spots. Some of them have to be considered "contending and apparently Prior was put into that category. I guess I have no problem with that since he was exceptional in 2003 but that was a few years ago and has had much less success since then. He needs to show that he is healthy.