Prior 3/22

[David]

The Cubs.com article says several scouts radars had him at 86-87 topping out at 89.

 

Ugh. It was nice seeing that 91 MPH reading come up over and over on Comcast. Guess the radar was just fast. :cry:

 

I got the impression from others that the swings he was getting were from good velo and movement on his FB.

 

Yea, the game is on comcast again right now, and the swings he is getting really don't look like they're coming from a 87 mph fastball.

 

He looks really freakin good, doesn't he?

[E.J.]

The Cubs.com article says several scouts radars had him at 86-87 topping out at 89.

 

Ugh. It was nice seeing that 91 MPH reading come up over and over on Comcast. Guess the radar was just fast. :cry:

 

I got the impression from others that the swings he was getting were from good velo and movement on his FB.

 

Yeah, but it makes sense. There were more than a couple times where Hill was throwing 95 and I know he doesn't throw that fast.

[ronsanto10]

how fast was prior throwing a few years ago?? im not saying im in love with prior, but he has not pitched with any regularity for a while, it may take some time for him to get back to being good again....at least he is pitching in march which is an improvement since last year.....

[Mizzou]

Very encouraging news today. If he continues to improve in his next outing, he may be in the rotation on Opening Day.

[Proven Veteran]

So, I should pick him in the first round of my fantasy draft?

[ronsanto10]

YES!!!!!

 

 

 

 

i mean....no of course not.....

 

So, I should pick him in the first round of my fantasy draft?

[A New Era]

YES!!!!!

 

 

 

 

i mean....no of course not.....

 

So, I should pick him in the first round of my fantasy draft?

 

I picked him in like the 10th round. Could be a good pickup if he regains his old self. .

[Z38]

He's worthy of a final spot on a fantasy roster, which means final round pick. Any higher wouldn't be the best idea. I like Prior one of my favorite Cubs but can't justify drafting a guy who doesn't even have a spot in the rotation despite being healthy.

[98navigator]

Obviously, there were different radar guns in place.

 

Foxsports

 

News: Mark Prior was more impressive Thursday, allowing just a first-inning run in four frames against the Padres.

Impact: Prior's velocity got better as the start went on, and he hit 90 mph on the gun a couple of times during the second half of the start. He also appeared to have his best curveball so far this spring. The performance is unlikely to get him a rotation spot to open the season, but it leads to more hope that he'll contribute sometime within the first month.

[Wheelimus]

Obviously the velocity is coming. He's gained a good 5 MPH on his fastball already.

 

If they're really wanting Angel to start at AAA and it's either Miller or Prior, I'd give the nod to Mark. I'll take a question mark over sure thing suck.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's Bruce's take on Prior's outing yesterday.

 

Radar-gun readings on TV that showed Prior hitting 93 mph with his fastball were generous. The more accurate readings were 86-87 consistently, with Prior topping out at 89 mph.

 

“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” Piniella said about the 93. “The TV said that? And you believe everything you hear on TV? Look, he threw the ball better. That’s the important thing. A really, really nice step forward for him. I think the idea of not rushing him, giving him time, it’s the right tonic.”

 

 

 

Whether it’ll be enough to earn Prior a spot on the team with time running out remains to be seen.

 

“We’ll see where we go from here,” the manager said. “But obviously it was an improvement, and I’m happy to see it because, really, Mark’s worked hard.”

[wade]

Here's Bruce's take on Prior's outing yesterday.

 

Radar-gun readings on TV that showed Prior hitting 93 mph with his fastball were generous. The more accurate readings were 86-87 consistently, with Prior topping out at 89 mph.

 

“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” Piniella said about the 93. “The TV said that? And you believe everything you hear on TV? Look, he threw the ball better. That’s the important thing. A really, really nice step forward for him. I think the idea of not rushing him, giving him time, it’s the right tonic.”

 

 

 

Whether it’ll be enough to earn Prior a spot on the team with time running out remains to be seen.

 

“We’ll see where we go from here,” the manager said. “But obviously it was an improvement, and I’m happy to see it because, really, Mark’s worked hard.”

 

I really like that the discrepencey was addressed. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere else, and Lou obviously had a comment on it.

[KenCub]

While the Comcast gun made me happy, what made me happier were the silly swings the Padres hitters were taking against him. He obviously had them fooled, and that's way more important than a number no one on the field sees.

That didn't look at all like the same guy who was getting slapped around in his other spring starts. It was a very encouraging outing, and if he can turn in another performance like that it might spare him a trip to Des Moines.

[E.J.]

Here's Bruce's take on Prior's outing yesterday.

 

Radar-gun readings on TV that showed Prior hitting 93 mph with his fastball were generous. The more accurate readings were 86-87 consistently, with Prior topping out at 89 mph.

 

“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” Piniella said about the 93. “The TV said that? And you believe everything you hear on TV? Look, he threw the ball better. That’s the important thing. A really, really nice step forward for him. I think the idea of not rushing him, giving him time, it’s the right tonic.”

 

 

 

Whether it’ll be enough to earn Prior a spot on the team with time running out remains to be seen.

 

“We’ll see where we go from here,” the manager said. “But obviously it was an improvement, and I’m happy to see it because, really, Mark’s worked hard.”

 

Ugh. Sucks that he's still only hitting upper 80's, but he was definitely pitching much better yesterday. Hopefully with more repitition he can gain back those 6-7 mph on his fastball.

[Sammy Sofa]

Here's Bruce's take on Prior's outing yesterday.

 

Radar-gun readings on TV that showed Prior hitting 93 mph with his fastball were generous. The more accurate readings were 86-87 consistently, with Prior topping out at 89 mph.

 

“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” Piniella said about the 93. “The TV said that? And you believe everything you hear on TV? Look, he threw the ball better. That’s the important thing. A really, really nice step forward for him. I think the idea of not rushing him, giving him time, it’s the right tonic.”

 

 

 

Whether it’ll be enough to earn Prior a spot on the team with time running out remains to be seen.

 

“We’ll see where we go from here,” the manager said. “But obviously it was an improvement, and I’m happy to see it because, really, Mark’s worked hard.”

 

Ugh. Sucks that he's still only hitting upper 80's, but he was definitely pitching much better yesterday. Hopefully with more repitition he can gain back those 6-7 mph on his fastball.

 

Dammit. I'm still kind of stunned that none of those pitches were at least 90 or 91.

[David]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

[XZero771679666304]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

Even the Padres radio guys said it looked like he was reaching the low-90's.

[Sammy Sofa]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off.

[98navigator]

Obviously, there were different radar guns in place.

 

Foxsports

 

News: Mark Prior was more impressive Thursday, allowing just a first-inning run in four frames against the Padres.

Impact: Prior's velocity got better as the start went on, and he hit 90 mph on the gun a couple of times during the second half of the start. He also appeared to have his best curveball so far this spring. The performance is unlikely to get him a rotation spot to open the season, but it leads to more hope that he'll contribute sometime within the first month.

 

There were a few different scouts in attendance. Like I said before, there were probably various radar guns in the yard as well. The Comcastsportsnet reading may have been optimistic but Foxsports.com reported that Prior reached 90mph a couple of times... Most importantly, Prior was able to execute his pitches, deceive hitters, and be reasonably efficient after the first inning.

[XZero771679666304]

Here's Bruce's take on Prior's outing yesterday.

 

Radar-gun readings on TV that showed Prior hitting 93 mph with his fastball were generous. The more accurate readings were 86-87 consistently, with Prior topping out at 89 mph.

 

“Ooh, I don’t know about that,” Piniella said about the 93. “The TV said that? And you believe everything you hear on TV? Look, he threw the ball better. That’s the important thing. A really, really nice step forward for him. I think the idea of not rushing him, giving him time, it’s the right tonic.”

 

 

 

Whether it’ll be enough to earn Prior a spot on the team with time running out remains to be seen.

 

“We’ll see where we go from here,” the manager said. “But obviously it was an improvement, and I’m happy to see it because, really, Mark’s worked hard.”

 

Ugh. Sucks that he's still only hitting upper 80's, but he was definitely pitching much better yesterday. Hopefully with more repitition he can gain back those 6-7 mph on his fastball.

 

Well, if he's not finishing his pitches like he and Larry say, that's probably where that velocity is hiding. As he regains (hopefully) the confidence to let it fly, his velocity will return.

[98navigator]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off.

 

How do we know that they aren't all using the same source?

[jjgman21]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

agree 100%. we know Maddux and Hill's velocity and the gun on the broadcast was accurate for them. if what they are saying about the gun is true, than Maddux' fastball is about 82-83.

[Sammy Sofa]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off.

 

How do we know that they aren't all using the same source?

 

Hey, I hope they are wrong. Personally, I don't think there's anyway that that pitch was under 91.

[98navigator]

I still say there is NO way that the pitch to Khalil Greene was 89.

 

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off.

 

How do we know that they aren't all using the same source?

 

Hey, I hope they are wrong. Personally, I don't think there's anyway that that pitch was under 91.

 

I hear ya... I'm just saying, the pattern of the reporting, for some of the articles, is exact; "averaged 86 to 87 m.p.h., topping out at 89."

 

We know none of the writers have radar guns. It's very possible that most of them sought the advice of a particular scout or relied on the in-house reading (which might be inaccurate too).

 

 

On the road, other teams may slow down the gun.

Edited March 23, 2007 by 98navigator

[Exile on Waveland]

Well, 89 or 93, sounds like Prior is pitching better. Which is encouraging.