Prior is "just an employee"

[SouthSideRyan]

If he has shoulder problems--as has been rumored by Will Carrol amongst others for three YEARS now--why the heck didn't he have surgery to get well? I think the answer that many suspect is related to the whole pampering/softness argument. Meanwhile, as some choose to make apologies for Prior, I take the view that this guy has $20MM of the Cubs' money, and put his team in limbo for three full years. NOW he wants to cry about not getting any respect. Screw that.

 

 

I'm confused, was he afraid to have surgery too?

[Sammy Sofa]

If he has shoulder problems--as has been rumored by Will Carrol amongst others for three YEARS now--why the heck didn't he have surgery to get well? I think the answer that many suspect is related to the whole pampering/softness argument. Meanwhile, as some choose to make apologies for Prior, I take the view that this guy has $20MM of the Cubs' money, and put his team in limbo for three full years. NOW he wants to cry about not getting any respect. Screw that.

 

I'm a Cubs fan, not a Mark Prior fan. So sue me.

 

Your points are all insipid and have little to no basis in reality.

[weis21]

From my POV, there are two ways to take his respones to the questions he was asked:

 

1 - Him saying "I'm just an employee" is suggesting that he is worth more than "an average employee". He did say it numerous times which calls into question if he was trying to make a point of the term. This take on the interview is that he is an arrogent ass that thinks even if his performance in ST is sub-par he IS MARK PRIOR and since his elbow is connected to his wrist when he throws a ball then he should be any team's ace.

 

2 - Him saying "I'm just an emplyee" is him taking a quite humble approach to the situation. Since he is an "employee" then he is to be viewed no higher than any other cub. If he sucks in ST, then he gets sent back down till he gets his strength/focus, etc. straight. He is realistic in the situation and understands that since he hasn't really pitched in 2 years that this is standard protocol for any "employee" in any workplace regardless of the situation.

 

I don't know which way he meant it but i'm an optimist(especially in late march) and chose the second view.

[A New Era]

From my POV, there are two ways to take his respones to the questions he was asked:

 

1 - Him saying "I'm just an employee" is suggesting that he is worth more than "an average employee". He did say it numerous times which calls into question if he was trying to make a point of the term. This take on the interview is that he is an arrogent ass that thinks even if his performance in ST is sub-par he IS MARK PRIOR and since his elbow is connected to his wrist when he throws a ball then he should be any team's ace.

 

2 - Him saying "I'm just an emplyee" is him taking a quite humble approach to the situation. Since he is an "employee" then he is to be viewed no higher than any other cub. If he sucks in ST, then he gets sent back down till he gets his strength/focus, etc. straight. He is realistic in the situation and understands that since he hasn't really pitched in 2 years that this is standard protocol for any "employee" in any workplace regardless of the situation.

 

I don't know which way he meant it but i'm an optimist(especially in late march) and chose the second view.

 

I think it's the 2nd view too. It's just too many fans have such a grudge against mark prior that they will immediately assume the negative, when it comes to mark prior. And if Bruce says he seemed a little defiant. Well he was probably still a little upset, because he obviously wants to be with the team. Doesn't mean he's devil incarnate or anything. Just human.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I'll never forget what Prior did for me in '03. He could take $25MM of the Cubs' money from now to eternity. I'll still love him. It's frustrating seeing what has become of him, but I won't throw him under the bus like so many other Cub fans.

[weis21]

Yeah, you kinda just expect the guy who is "bigger-than-life" because that is all he has been built to be since his days at USC. Like I said, i have no idea of his personality bc i haven't met him nor seen enough information about him to make up my mind.

 

Even if he doesn't throw a pitch this season, I myself, was not expecting him too. I have been heart-broken too many times to fall for that. I think that this team is good enough without him or prior (potentially) to win 90+ games and be a legitamate playoff contender(again the constant optimisty sometimes). If he comes back and even is half-way successful then thats great but I am by no means betting on it.

[A New Era]

I have a bad memory. I'll admit.

 

But Prior was fire in '03

Pitched most of 04 (don't remember his injury history for '04, collision and. . .?)

pitched good in '05 (only shortened by a line-drive to the elbow, in which he came back one month later)

was on the DL almost all year (shoulder "looseness"?)

 

So really wasn't until '06 where it was something weird and should raise doubt about his future)

 

in '07 he comes back to camp healthy, pitches throughout spring training. But just has some refining and endurance building to do. .

 

And from all this we get - Mark Prior is made of glass, he's a wuss, he's injury prone, he hasn't dun nothin for 3 years, he hates chicago, and "he's done"?

[weis21]

I'll never forget what Prior did for me in '03. He could take $25MM of the Cubs' money from now to eternity. I'll still love him. It's frustrating seeing what has become of him, but I won't throw him under the bus like so many other Cub fans.

 

He was only a rookie, but apparently that was the best he will probably ever be, and he choked in the biggest stage in cubs history this side of 1908...sorry if that offends anyone or is too harsh on the then 21 year old. As they say, you live by the sword you die by the sword, i'm happy for his overall first year but he came up just a little short in the biggest situation of the year(s). (though alex gonzalez could have helped out just a little)

[weis21]

I hate to sound overly negative to prior's future, but when you expect to see something for several years in a row and are constantly disappointed, then eventually you don't expect the same things you did before....it's just human nature. I will eat every word happily if prior comes back at 100% and makes me look like a fool, but until then i expect nothing from him....nothing more. However I'm much more intrigued in Guzman's first month in AAA, if he lights it up i would not be surprised to see him make his first start around the first of May.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I'll never forget what Prior did for me in '03. He could take $25MM of the Cubs' money from now to eternity. I'll still love him. It's frustrating seeing what has become of him, but I won't throw him under the bus like so many other Cub fans.

 

He was only a rookie, but apparently that was the best he will probably ever be, and he choked in the biggest stage in cubs history this side of 1908...sorry if that offends anyone or is too harsh on the then 21 year old. As they say, you live by the sword you die by the sword, i'm happy for his overall first year but he came up just a little short in the biggest situation of the year(s). (though alex gonzalez could have helped out just a little)

 

If Prior didn't flat out dominate like he did, we wouldn't have been there in the first place.

 

He came up a little short? That's debatable whether or not he caused the Cubs to lose that night. I didn't see and of the veterans step up and save the day. But Prior had the audacity to get injured. Freaking jerk. Let's burn down his house while we're at it.

[Laura]

I think a lot of this has to do with Game 6. I get blind with rage at Dusty just thinking of that entire series, so I don't have any blame left over.

 

For what it's worth, Prior has always talked like an MBA when it comes to baseball. Back in '03, my friends would laugh about how he would he would always talk about playing in terms of "doing his job;" how the team was made up of "professionals doing their jobs" and how our job as fans was to revel in them winning and partying on. So I can't fault him for discussing it in similar terms now.

 

I really did foolishly trust them in '03 by the time the NLCS rolled around. Maybe the rude awakening is part of the anger now. The way I see it, Wood and Prior both pitched their arms off to get the Cubs to the playoffs that year (and Z and Clement were solid as well). It's not like I want their mummified corpses to remain on the team in perpetuity, but I refuse to hate them because they couldn't do it all in '03.

 

It might be best for them to move on, too.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Funny that this...

 

surprising that it came from him, and not his Daddy

 

Poor Widdle Mark

 

How about you go to Iowa, shut the heck up, and show whether you have anything left?

 

you're closer to Mark Fidrych than Fergie Jenkins, pal.

 

ends with this...

 

Grow up.

 

:lol:

 

Wow, I feel so humbled. A "lol" from a "Superstar", whew. Those 16,000 posts sure mean my POV is irrelevant, yep.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If he has shoulder problems--as has been rumored by Will Carrol amongst others for three YEARS now--why the heck didn't he have surgery to get well? I think the answer that many suspect is related to the whole pampering/softness argument. Meanwhile, as some choose to make apologies for Prior, I take the view that this guy has $20MM of the Cubs' money, and put his team in limbo for three full years. NOW he wants to cry about not getting any respect. Screw that.

 

I'm a Cubs fan, not a Mark Prior fan. So sue me.

 

prior has probably given the cubs their $20 mil worth, by the way. his 2003 alone was probably worth that much.

 

obviously, the rest of your argument sucks, but that part was especially bothering me, and it was one of the few parts of your rant that hadn't already been torn down.

 

Obviously.

[Wes Mantooth]

Congrats to Paul Sullivan, who managed to turn a none story into a six page arguement.

[cl smooth]

paul sullivan looks like a roadie for styx. i don't even bother reading his articles...they kill brain cells.

[jmajew]

Rather than jump all over the new guy poster for his "soft" comment on Prior, the facts seem to be that Prior is not mentally tough--or do you discount the many whispers to that effect from ball players and executives around the league? I think they have a better feel for it than posters on NSBB.

 

Why is that? Why would someone who's employed for another team have a better handle on Prior's makeup than any Cub fan who follows the team closely?

 

Don't the Cubs deserve a bit more respect from Poor Widdle Mark than his "I'm just an employee" crapola? I mean seriously...you're a shell of your former self, you were 1-6 with a skyhigh ERA last year, and the Cubs are paying you over $3.5MM again this year. How about you go to Iowa, shut the heck up, and show whether you have anything left? Because at this stage, you're closer to Mark Fidrych than Fergie Jenkins, pal. Grow up.

 

This is ridiculous. If anything, Prior's taking the high road in not trying to make himself more important than anyone else who got sent down with the "employee" comment. I can't believe how many people are jumping him for this.

 

I just wish he wouldn't have used the "I'm an employee" line. If he would have said something like "This is what is best for the team right now and I understand, BUT i'm going to do my best to make sure this is not permanent."

 

It is clear he was just trying to be the good soldier, I just think that line shows a lack of desire. I know most people where I work say I'm just an employee there is nothing I can do because they are lazy and don't care.

 

Wow that's a mouthfull. I'm sorry he didn't say EXACTLY what you wanted him to say, to make you feel better about what YOU think he meant.

 

My point was simply that the way you word things can have a profound impact on the way fans look at you. I know Prior was being the good teammate. When you know you are going to be scrutinized you need to pick your words carefully.

[Chris]

Funny that this...

 

surprising that it came from him, and not his Daddy

 

Poor Widdle Mark

 

How about you go to Iowa, shut the heck up, and show whether you have anything left?

 

you're closer to Mark Fidrych than Fergie Jenkins, pal.

 

ends with this...

 

Grow up.

 

:lol:

 

Wow, I feel so humbled. A "lol" from a "Superstar", whew. Those 16,000 posts sure mean my POV is irrelevant, yep.

 

Did I say your post is irrelevant? Hardly. However, it is worth noting that it's pretty ironic for you to be telling Prior to grow up considering you were using lines like the ones above.

[RedIvyCub]

That Sullivan article made it sounds worse then it was. I just saw the interview on MLBTV and he didn't sound pissed off.

Big surprise about any Arte Johnson article. Paul Sullivan is awful. The new Suntimes writer puts him to shame every single day. Sullivan is just a useless little twerp.

 

I am just curious over the Sullivan bashing that goes on here? What the heck did the guy ever do to you people?

[CubmanPi]

I'm really not sure what can realistically be expected out of him in a situation like this. The guy was drawing a media circus right out of college, made the bigs after just nine minor league starts, puts up those numbers in '03, and now he can't even make the team after being around for most of ST.

 

The desire for him to start yelling and getting mad and "showing that fire" don't really make sense, because it would just come across as a childish tantrum. Stating that he's "just an employee" means he understands his place and he has been rightfully humbled. I can't imagine I'd even show my face if I were him, and I think he's taking it well.

[cl smooth]

That Sullivan article made it sounds worse then it was. I just saw the interview on MLBTV and he didn't sound pissed off.

Big surprise about any Arte Johnson article. Paul Sullivan is awful. The new Suntimes writer puts him to shame every single day. Sullivan is just a useless little twerp.

 

I am just curious over the Sullivan bashing that goes on here? What the heck did the guy ever do to you people?

 

he writes crap articles and basically is a toned-down version of marrioti. what i mean by that is he just writes crap for the sake of writing it and to get a response. he does his job well since we now have a 7+ page thread about his article.

[soapy]

This thread blows.

[abuck1220]

Funny that this...

 

surprising that it came from him, and not his Daddy

 

Poor Widdle Mark

 

How about you go to Iowa, shut the heck up, and show whether you have anything left?

 

you're closer to Mark Fidrych than Fergie Jenkins, pal.

 

ends with this...

 

Grow up.

 

:lol:

 

Wow, I feel so humbled. A "lol" from a "Superstar", whew. Those 16,000 posts sure mean my POV is irrelevant, yep.

 

actually, your pov makes your pov irrelevant. yep.

[badger1679666666]

Funny that this...

 

surprising that it came from him, and not his Daddy

 

Poor Widdle Mark

 

How about you go to Iowa, shut the heck up, and show whether you have anything left?

 

you're closer to Mark Fidrych than Fergie Jenkins, pal.

 

ends with this...

 

Grow up.

 

:lol:

 

Wow, I feel so humbled. A "lol" from a "Superstar", whew. Those 16,000 posts sure mean my POV is irrelevant, yep.

 

No, it makes your POST stupid and hypocritical, and lacking of any value.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think his statement that he's just an employee is his way of expressing that he has no control over the process. It's probably a combination of frustration, resignation to the fact, and reality.

 

I've made the same type of expression at jobs I've had where I had to follow instructions or policies that I may or may not have agreed with. I'd make a similar statement when people asked about them as a way of expressing that it was beyond my control. Sometimes it could be uttered with frustration; sometimes with resignation; sometimes as a means of passing the buck. That is all likely the case here.

[CUBZ99]

Has there been an explanation in the media as to why Prior was unable to take a full workload this spring? Or why it is taking him extra time to get prepared? Its just odd to see him stating before ST and in every article in ST that he feels 100%, but yet the Cubs are restricting his innings, etc.