Prior to start 3/22ST vs SD (was: Sun-Times)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

Is Prior a bust? My vote is no, based solely on an 18-6 season in 2003 that helped the Cubs reach the National League Championship Series and position the franchise for the post-Sammy Sosa days. He does have a 42-29 record and 3.51 ERA.

But Prior is fading into obscurity with the Cubs shockingly early, at just 26 and supposedly healthy.

 

It's an odd free fall for such a highly coveted first-rounder.

 

 

 

Prior appears headed in one of two directions: a demotion to Class AAA Iowa or starting his fourth consecutive season on the disabled list and an assignment of extended spring training.

There was a time when extended spring training for Prior meant that someone would simply keep his spot in the rotation warm until the former All-Star righty returned. But it appears the Cubs are willing to move on, unless Prior steps up big and forces their hand in the next week.

 

 

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers. It's jarring to consider that the man who was supposed to be locked in as the ace by this point is a strong possibility for a rotation spot in Des Moines.

[Wheelimus]

While a demotion would be mildly humiliating, I've got to think that pitching in competitive games would be a lot more helpful than extended spring training.

[kente777]

We've finally come to the point where we are not relying on Wood and Prior. I think that bodes much better for this organization. If one or both come back strong, then that's a big plus. If not, our team is not hanging it's cap on the hopes that they will be our saviors.

[wilk]

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers.

 

Actually this is only partially true. Prior has options left but his clock has expired. He could be optioned to the minors but he'd have to clear revocable major league waivers.

Edited March 15, 2007 by wilk

[David]

Whoops

[Balsa]

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers.

 

Actually this is only partially true. Prior has options left but his clock has expired. He could be optioned to the minors but he'd have to clear revocable major league waivers.

So it's possible he won't be able to be demoted?

[Soul]

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers.

 

Actually this is only partially true. Prior has options left but his clock has expired. He could be optioned to the minors but he'd have to clear revocable major league waivers.

So it's possible he won't be able to be demoted?

 

Ouch. I would imagine some club would pick him up on waivers. He's not making superstar money.

 

That's rather sucky.

[C.C.]

If someone told me back in 2003 that Prior would be fighting for a number 5 spot, I'd call him a jealous Sox fan.

[CubColtPacer]

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers.

 

Actually this is only partially true. Prior has options left but his clock has expired. He could be optioned to the minors but he'd have to clear revocable major league waivers.

So it's possible he won't be able to be demoted?

 

Ouch. I would imagine some club would pick him up on waivers. He's not making superstar money.

 

That's rather sucky.

 

From what he said, it's revocable waivers, which means the Cubs can pull him back if somebody claims him. It typically is courtesy to not make a claim on those type of players because the other team knows that the Cubs will just pull him back and keep him, but that's not always the case.

[Soul]

Hendry confirmed Prior has options left, meaning he could be shipped to Iowa without having to pass through waivers.

 

Actually this is only partially true. Prior has options left but his clock has expired. He could be optioned to the minors but he'd have to clear revocable major league waivers.

So it's possible he won't be able to be demoted?

 

Ouch. I would imagine some club would pick him up on waivers. He's not making superstar money.

 

That's rather sucky.

 

From what he said, it's revocable waivers, which means the Cubs can pull him back if somebody claims him. It typically is courtesy to not make a claim on those type of players because the other team knows that the Cubs will just pull him back and keep him, but that's not always the case.

 

Seems like the Cards or Stros would claim him, if only to stop us from putting him @ Iowa....

 

 

Plus they could use the pitching help.

[WearingTrousers]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

[David]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

 

He was never really that good. Definitely not on Prior's level.

 

Rick Ankiel is pretty much the classic example of this, although even he was never as good as Prior was in 2003.

Edited March 15, 2007 by David

[Soul]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

 

I'm starting to hear Prior's name mentioned in the same sentence as Mark Fidrych.

[CubinNY]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

 

I'm starting to hear Prior's name mentioned in the same sentence as Mark Fidrych.

 

That's who I was thinking of. However, I think the Cubs are stupid if they let Prior go.

 

I'm sure they are frustrated but one does not just lose talent. The Bird had arm injuries he couldn't come back from. Unless Prior is hurt and no one is telling us anything, he and Fidrych are not similar.

Edited March 15, 2007 by CubinNY

[schutll]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

John Brockington - GB Packers - started with 2 or 3 seasons of 1000 yrds rushing and hen did nothing.

[Banedon]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

 

Culpepper maybe?

[Danny82]

I'm trying to think of another player, in any sport, who was so good early on, and then lost it.

 

Ben Rothlisberger?

 

I think it's pretty early to say that Rothlisberger has lost anything. It was one off year after a pretty horrific offseason accident.

[WearingTrousers]

I think it's pretty early to say that Rothlisberger has lost anything. It was one off year after a pretty horrific offseason accident.

 

True. How about Anthony Thomas to a lesser extent? Didn't he win ROY? Barely hear his name anymore.

[NCCubFan]

I think it's pretty early to say that Rothlisberger has lost anything. It was one off year after a pretty horrific offseason accident.

 

True. How about Anthony Thomas to a lesser extent? Didn't he win ROY? Barely hear his name anymore.

Rashaan Salaam was another example. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season but barely over 600 for the entire rest of his career (which was only two more seasons).

[goonys evil twin]

I think it's pretty early to say that Rothlisberger has lost anything. It was one off year after a pretty horrific offseason accident.

 

True. How about Anthony Thomas to a lesser extent? Didn't he win ROY? Barely hear his name anymore.

Rashaan Salaam was another example. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season but barely over 600 for the entire rest of his career (which was only two more seasons).

 

I think something we're missing here is that these guys all had nice starts to their career, but nothing along the lines of Mark Prior's. You'd have to think of a RB who flirted with the rushing title and/or total yards number and was way up there in TD's. Or a QB that nearly led the league in passing. Prior was one of the very best pitchers in the game, not just good for a rookie.

[NCCubFan]

John Brockington - GB Packers - started with 2 or 3 seasons of 1000 yrds rushing and hen did nothing.

He rushed for over 1,000 yards his first three seasons (back when that was meaningful because the season was only 14 games), then nearly 900 his 4thseason (a good total back then), but never even reached 500 yards in a season after that.

 

John Brockington

[b_wiggy_66]

How the mighty have fallen. Can we go back a year and do the Prior for Tejada and Bedard trade? :lol:

[CubColtPacer]

When I think of a great player who had injuries and tried to come back and was never the same even when healthy enough to run again, my mind goes to Gale Sayers.

[WearingTrousers]

I've made my girlfriend into a Cubs fan over the past 3 seasons. I was trying to explain to her how I felt about Mark Prior, because she had never experienced Mark Prior at his greatest. I told her it was like this:

 

Its Christmas Eve, your a little kid. You see the tree all decorated, you see you mom baking cookies, your dad is suspiciously missing, probably assembling your bike. You go to bed, knowing that in the morning, when you wake up, it will be Christmas and you will have all these great presents, maybe your grandparents will be there, and of course cookies and maybe that bike. Now imagine being that kid, and when you wake up, its January 9th and your mom is waking you up to go to school. You're all confused, "what about Christmas?". Mom doesn't answer, sends you on the bus, and you go to school, having missed all of Christmas break.

 

Alright, so its a rough analogy, but as a Cubs fan I feel like watching Prior pitch in 2002 and 03, and hearing the experts rave about his mechanics, he was as close to a sure thing as a young pitcher can be. In 2003 one of the only things that got me through that horrible NLCS collapse was the expectation of how great Prior was going to be. I projected how happy I would be one day, watching Prior win Cy Youngs and leading the Cubs to the playoffs. Now that has all been taken from me, and I feel cheated. I feel like he skipped all the way through his prime and is now at the end of his career, just trying to survive with reduced velocity and veteran savvy. Its just not fair. Thus the analogy.

 

I guess this was really more of a venting session. Didn't really contribute anything to the conversation, but I feel a little bit better getting that out. Thanks for being my shrink.

[98navigator]

How the mighty have fallen. Can we go back a year and do the Prior for Tejada and Bedard trade? :lol:

 

I hear ya but believe it or not, I wouldn't want Tejada. The dark steroid/HGH cloud seems to be following him around. This team doesn't need that kind of distraction (as it is, some people in the local media are speculating that Prior was on 'roids).