wood and prior.....

[ronsanto10]

are these guys a lost cause?? prior did good last time out, but woody is hurt again.....is it time to give up on these 2 guys???

[polosprt009]

Lou seems like the kind of manager that wants to win now, and not wait around for guys to come around, especially for two who have been bouncing on and off the DL list since 04. I can easily see them being shipped if not this season, during the off season. Unfortunately I think their window of opportunity is closing quickly.

[Omar]

Prior still has potential for a big 2007.. Just wait for one of the starters to screw up...

[ronsanto10]

dont ya kinda think he is a head case??

 

Prior still has potential for a big 2007.. Just wait for one of the starters to screw up...

[Sammy Sofa]

Lou seems like the kind of manager that wants to win now, and not wait around for guys to come around, especially for two who have been bouncing on and off the DL list since 04. I can easily see them being shipped if not this season, during the off season. Unfortunately I think their window of opportunity is closing quickly.

 

There is no window to move them now. Their value is as low as it can get. They're both incredibly cheap through this season, so there's zero reason for the Cubs to trade them, buy them out, or whatever other brilliant idea people have. Lou is proving himself to not be a fool, therefore the odds of him "getting rid" of Prior and Wood seem slim to none.

 

This thread was the most essential thread of all time.

[imb]

dont ya kinda think he is a head case??

 

no, i think he's kinda been injured.

[polosprt009]

Prior still has potential for a big 2007.. Just wait for one of the starters to screw up...

 

I completely agree. I saw Prior pitch last week in Peoria, and he showed signs of improvement. However it was just one game. He's got kinks to work out still. Before the game while he was throwing in the pen, he was swearing up a storm and showing signs of frustration, inconsistence, and low confidence with his mechanics. As long as he settles down and works into the grove he had going a few years ago, he'll be fine.

 

There is no window to move them now. Their value is as low as it can get. They're both incredibly cheap through this season, so there's zero reason for the Cubs to trade them, buy them out, or whatever other brilliant idea people have. Lou is proving himself to not be a fool, therefore the odds of him "getting rid" of Prior and Wood seem slim to none.

 

By window of opportunity I mean their opportunity to succeed in the big leagues. If after this season they both amount to the same low amount of games as last year, why continue to waste time and money on two pitchers that have proven to be lost causes? Lou is not a fool, however he isn't stupid either. How many seasons must a team wait for two once-aces to come back around?

 

It's frustrating as a fan to watch them go through injury after injury, but there's a time when a team just has to throw in the flag. Realistically thinking, I truly think that will happen after this season if nothing happens with them two. However I truly am still hoping for the best of them both.

[Sammy Sofa]

There is no window to move them now. Their value is as low as it can get. They're both incredibly cheap through this season, so there's zero reason for the Cubs to trade them, buy them out, or whatever other brilliant idea people have. Lou is proving himself to not be a fool, therefore the odds of him "getting rid" of Prior and Wood seem slim to none.

 

By window of opportunity I mean their opportunity to succeed in the big leagues. If after this season they both amount to the same low amount of games as last year, why continue to waste time and money on two pitchers that have proven to be lost causes? Lou is not a fool, however he isn't stupid either. How many seasons must a team wait for two once-aces to come back around?

 

It's frustrating as a fan to watch them go through injury after injury, but there's a time when a team just has to throw in the flag. Realistically thinking, I truly think that will happen after this season if nothing happens with them two. However I truly am still hoping for the best of them both.

 

With Wood, that might be the case if he shows that he simply can't stay off the DL throughout the year, mainly because of his age and the nature of his health problems being so hinged on his lifelong mechanics.

 

Prior, on the other hand, is much younger, and so far hasn't shown to have the same problematic mechanics as Wood. His DL history has, outside of last year, been linked primarily to two fluke onfield accidents. He has a much better chance of being able to fight back and find success again due to his youth, his mechanics and the nature of his health issues.

 

In short, you can't just lump them together because they've been on the DL too much in the last few seasons.

[Wheelimus]

It's going to be a long season, no reason to give up yet. Prior was greatly improved last time out and his problems appear to be velocity and control, not injury. The fastball will come as he pitches more.

 

Wood, of course, is the great unknown. He looked great to start spring training, came into camp in great shape. Maybe he was just overdoing it trying to prove he could pitch. Maybe he worked too hard in the offseason. I'm not sure.

 

Fact is, though, we're going to have pitchers go down either to injury or suck, and we're going to need replacements. There is no reason not to hope that Mark Prior can spend a few weeks building up arm strength and come pitch for us. As for Wood, I just hope he makes it back at all...

[Stu]

I'm starting to wonder how much longer Wood will even be in baseball.

It seems like his arm is just horribly damaged. I read a post by a Cubs fan on another sports board that word in Texas is that he has never really been the same since his HS coach let him twice pitch over 200 innings in double headers.

[Hoosiercubbie]

 

200 innings? Those must have been awfully long doubleheaders!

[98navigator]

Prior pitches today. If he says he's healthy, the Cubs will have no choice but to option him to AAA. However, if Prior comes up with an injury today he could be placed on the DL and sent to extended ST. I'm not saying it will happen, but if I were Prior, I might consider a last minute injury.

 

Going to AAA will be culture shock; it's possible that he could spend more time there in 2007 than he did before he was promoted to the Cubs...

[oldstyle81]

Anyone who has been injured in the past knows it takes awhile for them to get over the fear of hurting that body part again. its human nature. some people take longer than others.

[oldstyle81]

I'm starting to wonder how much longer Wood will even be in baseball.

It seems like his arm is just horribly damaged. I read a post by a Cubs fan on another sports board that word in Texas is that he has never really been the same since his HS coach let him twice pitch over 200 innings in double headers.

 

the word in texas is the same thing that has been said since 1999 and his first tommy john, its nothing new

 

he has terrible mechanics, thats why the problems keep coming back

[Stu]

 

200 innings? Those must have been awfully long doubleheaders!

 

200 pitches, sorry :oops:

 

It was on an IU board afterall :)

[ronsanto10]

how did prior do today?? his line looked ok.....no earned runs, but he got optioned to AAA......how fast did he throw?? did he use his curve alot?

[Rob]

Anyone who has been injured in the past knows it takes awhile for them to get over the fear of hurting that body part again. its human nature. some people take longer than others.

 

Agreed.

 

After throwing out my back, I can barely even think about deadlifting or squatting. That was about five years ago.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

 

200 innings? Those must have been awfully long doubleheaders!

 

200 pitches, sorry :oops:

 

It was on an IU board afterall :)

 

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa ... watch it there, bub. That's my alma mater. Don't think you don't still owe us for harvesting the fine talents of one Mickey Morandini before his glorious years as a Cub ... :club:

[rynefan]

As far as the head case thing, is it assumed that somewhere along the way they're seeing sports psychologists as part of rehab? I have no idea, but if you've got two BIG investments like that, seems like you'd cover all bases to their well being.

[Stu]

 

200 innings? Those must have been awfully long doubleheaders!

 

200 pitches, sorry :oops:

 

It was on an IU board afterall :)

 

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa ... watch it there, bub. That's my alma mater. Don't think you don't still owe us for harvesting the fine talents of one Mickey Morandini before his glorious years as a Cub ... :club:

 

Mine too. Just an attempt at self-deprecation.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm starting to wonder how much longer I can read Prior/Wood threads without having myself committed.