Prior visits Yocum and Andrews; THT on Prior's Mechanics

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Is it Dr. Yokum or is it Dwight Yokum we have been sending our guys to?

 

You're quite a few days and a few pages late for that joke.

[liekomgj4ck]

Wow, who would of known. Prior is injured, again :shock:

[C.C.]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

[CUBZ99]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

[Soriano12]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

[VanceJergins]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

[Soul]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

 

Anyone know when his first scheduled start @ Iowa might be. I'm only 5 hours away -- might be willing to roadtrip down there to see Mark for old time's sake.

[Pushfrog98]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

 

Anyone know when his first scheduled start @ Iowa might be. I'm only 5 hours away -- might be willing to roadtrip down there to see Mark for old time's sake.

I think he's slated for Friday or Saturday...

[David]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

 

 

It's a sick joke.

 

As of yesterday...

 

Mark Prior was expected to see orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews next week. Prior is trying to get answers regarding his right shoulder.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914512&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

done by BTF's Carlos Gomez (aka Chadbradfordwannabe) for THT.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/breaking-down-the-broken-down-a-video-analysis-of-mark-prior/

 

Basically, he's saying that Prior has lost alot of the aggressiveness in his motion.

 

One thing that stood out about Prior more than any other power pitcher was how slow and controlled his windup was. He didn't seem all that explosive, but he was big, strong, and technically sound.

 

What this guy is saying is that Prior has slowed down his delivery even more, is nowhere near as aggressive as he used to be (he's waiting for his foot to land to get everything going), and he's flying open costing him velocity and command.

 

I know Mr. Gomez is no Tom House, but he knows his stuff and I agree with most of his basic principals. Momentum = velocity, and the rest of the mechanics will take care of themselves.

 

His open letter to Prior reads:

 

Dear Mr. Prior,

 

I realize that most of us have been taught to be deliberate and "under control" with our mechanics. You were taught the "tall and fall" and learned it well. You were blessed with the arm strength and learned the proper arm action to put 95+mph force on the ball. However, you need your body to help your arm. You need to learn how to use your body better. I have one suggestion, and it is a major adjustment.

GET IT GOING!!!

Don't waste time. Move your body quickly. Don't stay over the rubber as long as you have been. Have your butt/hips lead the rest of your body into an aggressive move forward. Use momentum to your advantage. You have an athletic lower body with the biggest calves known to mankind. Push off if you have to, as it will take pressure off your shoulder and bring your fastball back. Don't worry about the arm slot and arm action as those will take care of themselves with increased tempo.

Good luck Mr. Prior.

Sincerely,

Carlos Gomez, aka ChadBradfordWannabe.

 

Comments?

[cubweiser03]

THT has a really interesting breakdown of how Prior's mechanics have changed. Link

 

Yeah, thanks. Great video analysis. slowing things down really shows the difference.

 

I particularly like the follow through illustration. There's just no question part of Mark's problem is he's lost his agressive approach. This shows it beautifully. I think Rothschild and Mark ought to have a look at this. It's a nice analysis, worthy of some additional attention.

 

Yeah and after seeing this i dont look at just health for him returning to his old form. His delivery is quite different than before and i am having a hard time believing that once he's healthy all will return. He's just not throwing the same, i dont see how you can expect the same results.

[gerby23]

Mark who?

Seriously, it sounds good, but until something happens--good, bad, otherwise--I just can no longer get my hopes up. I want to, I just physically can't. Here's hoping he reads that letter/this website/something to get him back to the Prior we all know.

[Soul]

My immediate comment is that this was posted in the Prior injury thread. Would be nice to consolidate the posts on this subject.

 

I find the article very interesting as well.

[VanceJergins]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

 

 

It's a sick joke.

 

As of yesterday...

 

Mark Prior was expected to see orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews next week. Prior is trying to get answers regarding his right shoulder.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914512&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Not cool guys....not cool.

[Sarcastic]

Any word on what's going on with him? I haven't heard any word about the tests?

 

Last I heard, Prior was fully healthy and ready to go full speed with the rest of the team.

 

Yep. Heard the same thing.

 

Is this for real or is it a sick joke? Unfortunately I'll never be able to make myself give up on Prior.

 

 

It's a sick joke.

 

As of yesterday...

 

Mark Prior was expected to see orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews next week. Prior is trying to get answers regarding his right shoulder.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070417&content_id=1914512&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Not cool guys....not cool.

 

I think they were talking about the reports that Prior was 100% going into spring training. We haven't really gotten a confirmation of any specific issue since then.

[imb]

 

Comments?

 

did you just totally miss the last page completely?

 

EDIT

 

AM I JUST A COMPLETE IDIOT?

Edited April 18, 2007 by Bunts Lick Butts

[Banedon]

 

Comments?

 

did you just totally miss the last page completely?

 

It was a thread merge.

[Jon]

THT has a really interesting breakdown of how Prior's mechanics have changed. Link

Definitely a good read. I'd sure like to know what the intentions were exactly with those changes and when they starting to be made.

[Balsa]

THT has a really interesting breakdown of how Prior's mechanics have changed. Link

Definitely a good read. I'd sure like to know what the intentions were exactly with those changes and when they starting to be made.

Some of it might have been subconscious to ease him back after his line drive elbow injury and his Achilles. But that's just a wild guess.

[Laura]

I was under the impression that Rothschild had been working with him over this past off-season. I'm wondering how much of this is endorsed by Rothschild.

[Soul]

 

Comments?

 

did you just totally miss the last page completely?

 

EDIT

 

AM I JUST A COMPLETE IDIOT?

 

....the disadvantage of thread merges, rearing its ugly head 8-)

[TakeMeOutToTheBallGame]

so whats the deal now? ive read reports that he cant get an appointment with dr. andrews for at least another week. is he completely shut down right now?

[YearofDaCubs]

so whats the deal now? ive read reports that he cant get an appointment with dr. andrews for at least another week. is he completely shut down right now?

He has to be I'm thinking. It sounds like he needs to go to Andrews for a 2nd opinion. Probably means what he heard from Yocum wasn't good. I don't think we will be seeing Prior any time soon.

[liekomgj4ck]

so whats the deal now? ive read reports that he cant get an appointment with dr. andrews for at least another week. is he completely shut down right now?

He has to be I'm thinking. It sounds like he needs to go to Andrews for a 2nd opinion. Probably means what he heard from Yocum wasn't good. I don't think we will be seeing Prior any time soon.

 

Damn, and I was counting on him too. Well I guess we have next year guys. :cry: