Rampant Speculation re: Prior Thread (Legit info welcome)

[CuseCubFan69]

I have 2 words that make me feel better....Juan Guzman.

 

Angel?

 

Whoops....Freudian slip!

 

Angel Guzman. Yes....Angel, that's the man.

 

Ahh, too early in the morning for me. I should've realized that. Here I was Googling Juan Guzman to see if there were any stories of him recovering lost velocity or something.

 

For me too I guess! Googling Juan Guzman should have scared the heck out of you as he's the guy the Cubs signed when they let Maddux go as you probably already know.

 

If there is a delay in Prior's return it opens the door for Mr. Guzman.

 

Wrong Guzman again. You're thinking of Jose Guzman:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guzmajo01.shtml

 

This is Juan Guzman:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guzmaju01.shtml

 

Oh Lord that's funny....thanks!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I have 2 words that make me feel better....Juan Guzman.

 

I've made that comparison many times over the past few seasons. :cry:

[David]

I have 2 words that make me feel better....Juan Guzman.

 

I've made that comparison many times over the past few seasons. :cry:

 

Great, now I'm confused all over again.

[C.C.]

I have 2 words that make me feel better....Juan Guzman.

 

Angel?

 

Whoops....Freudian slip!

 

Angel Guzman. Yes....Angel, that's the man.

 

Ahh, too early in the morning for me. I should've realized that. Here I was Googling Juan Guzman to see if there were any stories of him recovering lost velocity or something.

 

For me too I guess! Googling Juan Guzman should have scared the heck out of you as he's the guy the Cubs signed when they let Maddux go as you probably already know.

 

If there is a delay in Prior's return it opens the door for Mr. Guzman.

 

Wrong Guzman again. You're thinking of Jose Guzman:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guzmajo01.shtml

 

This is Juan Guzman:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guzmaju01.shtml

 

Oh Lord that's funny....thanks!

 

Why too many Guzman's.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ok, apparently Cuse may have meant a different Guzman, but I didn't.

 

Juan Guzman at age 24 came up with the Blue Jays. He started 23 games, going 10-3 with a 2.99 ERA or 144 ERA+.

 

In 1992 at age 25, he went 15-5 with a 2.64 ERA and a 156 ERA+.

 

At age 26, 14-3, but the ERA started to rise.

 

Injuries began to pile up and he was never the same.

[David]

Ok, apparently Cuse may have meant a different Guzman, but I didn't.

 

Juan Guzman at age 24 came up with the Blue Jays. He started 23 games, going 10-3 with a 2.99 ERA or 144 ERA+.

 

In 1992 at age 25, he went 15-5 with a 2.64 ERA and a 156 ERA+.

 

At age 26, 14-3, but the ERA started to rise.

 

Injuries began to pile up and he was never the same.

 

He did have a pretty nice rebound in 96, though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ok, apparently Cuse may have meant a different Guzman, but I didn't.

 

Juan Guzman at age 24 came up with the Blue Jays. He started 23 games, going 10-3 with a 2.99 ERA or 144 ERA+.

 

In 1992 at age 25, he went 15-5 with a 2.64 ERA and a 156 ERA+.

 

At age 26, 14-3, but the ERA started to rise.

 

Injuries began to pile up and he was never the same.

 

He did have a pretty nice rebound in 96, though.

 

Yes, he did. But while the hype around him never reached Prior-proportions, it was pretty high. He had a few seasons where he met the hype, then injuries derailed him.

 

I've always been aware that it could happen to Prior as well.

[Twiggy]

Hopefully in the next 1-1.5 weeks Prior can gain some more velocity and throw more then fastballs to the hitters. He isn't ready to have a spot in the rotation the way he is throwing right now.

[Garwilly]

Hopefully in the next 1-1.5 weeks Prior can gain some more velocity and throw more then fastballs to the hitters. He isn't ready to have a spot in the rotation the way he is throwing right now.

 

I say let Z have his spot in the rotation until Prior rounds into form.

[Laura]

On the Trib Live show mentioned earlier in the thread, Sullivan also mentioned that he was surprised at how poor Prior's outing was because Prior had been throwing better in the live BP and ST sessions thus far (at least in Sullivan's opinion). Realistically, the speed ratings yesterday weren't great news, but (again realistically) this is one of those times where we just have to wait and see how he comes along. It's not like he's traditionally been strong out of the gates in spring training.

[CUBZ99]

On the Trib Live show mentioned earlier in the thread, Sullivan also mentioned that he was surprised at how poor Prior's outing was because Prior had been throwing better in the live BP and ST sessions thus far (at least in Sullivan's opinion). Realistically, the speed ratings yesterday weren't great news, but (again realistically) this is one of those times where we just have to wait and see how he comes along. It's not like he's traditionally been strong out of the gates in spring training.

 

So Sullivan thinks it was likely a case of nerves?

[Laura]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

[CuseCubFan69]

On the Trib Live show mentioned earlier in the thread, Sullivan also mentioned that he was surprised at how poor Prior's outing was because Prior had been throwing better in the live BP and ST sessions thus far (at least in Sullivan's opinion). Realistically, the speed ratings yesterday weren't great news, but (again realistically) this is one of those times where we just have to wait and see how he comes along. It's not like he's traditionally been strong out of the gates in spring training.

 

Prior could be throwing at 80-90% game wise right now to get himself ready so I'm not worried about it at this stage. We still have 3 1/2 weeks before the start of the season so we'll see how Prior progesses as the preseason progresses.

[98navigator]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

 

Laura, IIRC, Sullivan did mention that he thought Prior was holding back.

[Soul]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

 

Laura, IIRC, Sullivan did mention that he thought Prior was holding back.

 

If he's been throwing faster than that in practice then I'm not worried.

 

I thought -- though I'm certainly not sure -- that I had heard Prior was popping the gun for 92-ish in practice.

[Laura]

If that's the case, I missed it. Oh well.

[CUBZ99]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

 

Laura, IIRC, Sullivan did mention that he thought Prior was holding back.

 

If he's been throwing faster than that in practice then I'm not worried.

 

I thought -- though I'm certainly not sure -- that I had heard Prior was popping the gun for 92-ish in practice.

 

If that is the case, why in the world would he go all out in practice then hold back in a game? Doesn't make much sense.

[Sammy Sofa]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

 

Laura, IIRC, Sullivan did mention that he thought Prior was holding back.

 

If he's been throwing faster than that in practice then I'm not worried.

 

I thought -- though I'm certainly not sure -- that I had heard Prior was popping the gun for 92-ish in practice.

 

If that is the case, why in the world would he go all out in practice then hold back in a game? Doesn't make much sense.

 

Because it's his first spring start and it's ultimately more useful for him to try and get back into fighting form than to just go out trying to set the town on fire. He might have been focusing on different aspects of his pitching as opposed to his velocity. Seeing what he can and can't do at this point.

[swordsman]

Who has a match to light the Bruce Signal?

[98navigator]

Sullivan didn't try to diagnose or analyze the outing, he just mentioned that on the show.

 

Laura, IIRC, Sullivan did mention that he thought Prior was holding back.

 

If he's been throwing faster than that in practice then I'm not worried.

 

I thought -- though I'm certainly not sure -- that I had heard Prior was popping the gun for 92-ish in practice.

 

If that is the case, why in the world would he go all out in practice then hold back in a game? Doesn't make much sense.

 

I hadn't read that Prior was hitting 92mph in practice but he does admit that he was throwing better in BP than he took to the mound yesterday. His quotes lead me to believe that he was nervous and or hesitant about facing opposing hitters for the first time in a while:

 

Link

 

"I feel happy, but I don't," Prior said. "I think if I look at the bigger picture here, it's a step in the right direction."

 

What does it mean to not finish pitches?

 

"It could be a number of things," Prior said. "It's weird -- I was talking to Larry, and he said, 'You haven't done that all spring.' I really haven't thrown that way. I was just flying off pitches. Maybe it's just seeing hitters where it actually means something and they're not knowing what's coming. In [batting practice], you don't care if they hit the ball 700 yards."

[Magnetic Curses]

again, prior's problem appears to be location, not velocity.

 

if he can't throw his 2-seemer effectively, then his 4-seemer is going to get hit hard and often.

[CuseCubFan69]

Prior has to realize that it's only the exhibition season too and if they hit the ball 700 yards it doesn't matter as long as you're working on the right things. Hopefully he'll start to get his mechanics down and go back to being a pitcher again.

[wade]

I'm not questioning his mental toughness, but I wouldn't blame the guy for feeling snake-bit on the injury front and having some reservations about airing it out. He may just lack confidence right now, time will tell.

 

One thing I do know is that I'm pulling for him.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Anyone else notice how much...smaller Mark Prior looked?

 

Or is it just me?

 

Anyone have a better picture than the one I don't even have?

[98navigator]

He doesn't look smaller to me at all. Check the pics from yesterday's game here.