Prior to have exploratory arthroscopic shoulder surgery

[hitamprun]

I already know how this is going to end. The Cubs are going to non-tender him at the end of the year and he's going to walk away and win 18 for the Cardinals next season.

 

 

Considering his history, and the fact he probably won't pick up a ball until early 08, that would be quite a trick.

[hitamprun]

did anyone see the comments by hendry attempting to deflect blame for not doing this earlier? something to the effect of "well, he said he was healthy in spring training." man, that really pisses me off. seemed like a real smug way to take a shot at prior.

 

There is no doubt Cubs management is frustrated with Prior, and I think they have a right to be. People think the Cubs are the ones that are making the medical decisions for Prior, and that is not the case. A player can go to any specialist or seek any opinion at any time, and this is exactly what Prior did the last few years. This is not the NFL of 30 years ago when the players had no say. In fact it's just the opposite, the players have complete freedom in who they choose to listen to.

 

Why did Prior insist he was 100% healthy during ST? Then, upon his demotion to AAA, all of a sudden have issues again? You can't tell me he wasn't feeling discomfort until the end of March. I think he was looking to make the major league roster to get service time credit for another year.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I know a lot of people in Chicago who called Prior soft...

 

From BP's Kevin Goldstein:

 

Well, they finally figured out what was wrong with Mark Prior’s shoulder . . . everything. While I’ll leave it to Mr. Carroll to explain exactly what happened (with pictures, no less), let’s discuss what happened beforehand. Basically, for the last two years or so, sports radio and print here in Chicago has been filled with inferences that Mark Prior was, for lack of a better term, a wuss. While doctors struggled to find an answer for Prior’s velocity issues, accusations (both direct and indirect) were flying left and right. It’s all in his head, he’s never dealt with adversity, his confidence is shot, he’s overcompensating for the normal soreness that every other pitcher deals with, nothing [is really wrong with him, etc.

 

Meanwhile, while spending just as much time off the field as Prior, Kerry Wood got a free pass. See, this Wood guy, he’s a man’s man. He’s from Texas and he talks like one would expect the Marlboro man to and he curses and spits and gets arrested for public urination. He’s a tough guy, see? But no, not Prior. Prior was downright erudite, following in his father’s footsteps by attending Vanderbilt before transferring closer to home at Southern California. Prior actually finished his class work after being drafted and got a degree, a rarity among ballplayers. In interviews, he was calm, collected and thoughtful, if not downright boring. He didn’t have spiked hair or a goatee, he almost looked more fitting in a suit than a baseball uniform. He wasn’t what we expected a baseball player to be as a personality, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would punch you in the shoulder when he greeted you, and therefore he was a wimp.

 

Well guess what, folks? Mark Prior has been trying to pitch for what looks like two-plus years with the kind of damage in his shoulder that would have you or I thinking about worker’s compensation even though our jobs probably require little more than sitting in from of a computer much of the day. You own him an apology, and if he comes back in the way Dr. Andrews believes he can, many Cubs fans don’t deserve to reap the benefits.

 

 

Link

[C.C.]

I know a lot of people in Chicago who called Prior soft...

 

From BP's Kevin Goldstein:

 

Well, they finally figured out what was wrong with Mark Prior’s shoulder . . . everything. While I’ll leave it to Mr. Carroll to explain exactly what happened (with pictures, no less), let’s discuss what happened beforehand. Basically, for the last two years or so, sports radio and print here in Chicago has been filled with inferences that Mark Prior was, for lack of a better term, a wuss. While doctors struggled to find an answer for Prior’s velocity issues, accusations (both direct and indirect) were flying left and right. It’s all in his head, he’s never dealt with adversity, his confidence is shot, he’s overcompensating for the normal soreness that every other pitcher deals with, nothing [is really wrong with him, etc.

 

Meanwhile, while spending just as much time off the field as Prior, Kerry Wood got a free pass. See, this Wood guy, he’s a man’s man. He’s from Texas and he talks like one would expect the Marlboro man to and he curses and spits and gets arrested for public urination. He’s a tough guy, see? But no, not Prior. Prior was downright erudite, following in his father’s footsteps by attending Vanderbilt before transferring closer to home at Southern California. Prior actually finished his class work after being drafted and got a degree, a rarity among ballplayers. In interviews, he was calm, collected and thoughtful, if not downright boring. He didn’t have spiked hair or a goatee, he almost looked more fitting in a suit than a baseball uniform. He wasn’t what we expected a baseball player to be as a personality, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would punch you in the shoulder when he greeted you, and therefore he was a wimp.

 

Well guess what, folks? Mark Prior has been trying to pitch for what looks like two-plus years with the kind of damage in his shoulder that would have you or I thinking about worker’s compensation even though our jobs probably require little more than sitting in from of a computer much of the day. You own him an apology, and if he comes back in the way Dr. Andrews believes he can, many Cubs fans don’t deserve to reap the benefits.

 

 

Link

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

[jersey cubs fan]

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

It was painfully obvious something was wrong.

[RynoRules]

did anyone see the comments by hendry attempting to deflect blame for not doing this earlier? something to the effect of "well, he said he was healthy in spring training." man, that really pisses me off. seemed like a real smug way to take a shot at prior.

 

When I saw him speaking, I thought there was a lot of tension between he and Prior.

 

I'd guess Prior and his people think the Cubs are to blame for much of his problems, and Hendry blames Prior for all the problems the Cubs have had.

 

That's a pretty baseless and hyperbolic statement. I sincerely doubt that Hendry blames Prior for all of the Cubs problems over the last several years. He might be frustrated with Mark's approach.

[Garwilly]

I already know how this is going to end. The Cubs are going to non-tender him at the end of the year and he's going to walk away and win 18 for the Cardinals next season.

 

Welcome to the forum. Is Davey Rosello really dead?

 

 

No.

[FergieJ31]

I know a lot of people in Chicago who called Prior soft...

 

From BP's Kevin Goldstein:

 

Well, they finally figured out what was wrong with Mark Prior’s shoulder . . . everything. While I’ll leave it to Mr. Carroll to explain exactly what happened (with pictures, no less), let’s discuss what happened beforehand. Basically, for the last two years or so, sports radio and print here in Chicago has been filled with inferences that Mark Prior was, for lack of a better term, a wuss. While doctors struggled to find an answer for Prior’s velocity issues, accusations (both direct and indirect) were flying left and right. It’s all in his head, he’s never dealt with adversity, his confidence is shot, he’s overcompensating for the normal soreness that every other pitcher deals with, nothing [is really wrong with him, etc.

 

Meanwhile, while spending just as much time off the field as Prior, Kerry Wood got a free pass. See, this Wood guy, he’s a man’s man. He’s from Texas and he talks like one would expect the Marlboro man to and he curses and spits and gets arrested for public urination. He’s a tough guy, see? But no, not Prior. Prior was downright erudite, following in his father’s footsteps by attending Vanderbilt before transferring closer to home at Southern California. Prior actually finished his class work after being drafted and got a degree, a rarity among ballplayers. In interviews, he was calm, collected and thoughtful, if not downright boring. He didn’t have spiked hair or a goatee, he almost looked more fitting in a suit than a baseball uniform. He wasn’t what we expected a baseball player to be as a personality, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would punch you in the shoulder when he greeted you, and therefore he was a wimp.

 

Well guess what, folks? Mark Prior has been trying to pitch for what looks like two-plus years with the kind of damage in his shoulder that would have you or I thinking about worker’s compensation even though our jobs probably require little more than sitting in from of a computer much of the day. You own him an apology, and if he comes back in the way Dr. Andrews believes he can, many Cubs fans don’t deserve to reap the benefits.

 

 

Link

 

Damn straight, every word except I do NOT agree that Kerry has gotten a "free pass".

 

I never understood the 'Prior is a wuss' thing. I suspect most people who said that have been loyal Cubs fans since 2003.

Edited April 26, 2007 by FergieJ31

[C.C.]

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

It was painfully obvious something was wrong.

 

The issue was what was that "Something".

[CubColtPacer]

did anyone see the comments by hendry attempting to deflect blame for not doing this earlier? something to the effect of "well, he said he was healthy in spring training." man, that really pisses me off. seemed like a real smug way to take a shot at prior.

 

When I saw him speaking, I thought there was a lot of tension between he and Prior.

 

I'd guess Prior and his people think the Cubs are to blame for much of his problems, and Hendry blames Prior for all the problems the Cubs have had.

 

That's a pretty baseless and hyperbolic statement. I sincerely doubt that Hendry blames Prior for all of the Cubs problems over the last several years. He might be frustrated with Mark's approach.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if management is a little frustrated now. Wasn't some of the staff pushing surgery either 2 years ago or 1 year ago, and Prior opted to go with the non-surgery route instead? It was reasonable for Prior to choose that, but it's frustrating in management when you realize that if he had just chosen the other way he might be back now.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Damn straight, every word. I never understood the 'Prior is a wuss' thing. I suspect most people who said that have been loyal Cubs fans since 2003.

 

 

I'm not referring to NSBB posters but I noticed a lot of people who called him "soft" didn't understand young pitching is more fragile then veteran pitching.

[C.C.]

did anyone see the comments by hendry attempting to deflect blame for not doing this earlier? something to the effect of "well, he said he was healthy in spring training." man, that really pisses me off. seemed like a real smug way to take a shot at prior.

 

When I saw him speaking, I thought there was a lot of tension between he and Prior.

 

I'd guess Prior and his people think the Cubs are to blame for much of his problems, and Hendry blames Prior for all the problems the Cubs have had.

 

That's a pretty baseless and hyperbolic statement. I sincerely doubt that Hendry blames Prior for all of the Cubs problems over the last several years. He might be frustrated with Mark's approach.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if management is a little frustrated now. Wasn't some of the staff pushing surgery either 2 years ago or 1 year ago, and Prior opted to go with the non-surgery route instead? It was reasonable for Prior to choose that, but it's frustrating in management when you realize that if he had just chosen the other way he might be back now.

 

They should be embarrassed.

[jersey cubs fan]

did anyone see the comments by hendry attempting to deflect blame for not doing this earlier? something to the effect of "well, he said he was healthy in spring training." man, that really pisses me off. seemed like a real smug way to take a shot at prior.

 

When I saw him speaking, I thought there was a lot of tension between he and Prior.

 

I'd guess Prior and his people think the Cubs are to blame for much of his problems, and Hendry blames Prior for all the problems the Cubs have had.

 

That's a pretty baseless and hyperbolic statement. I sincerely doubt that Hendry blames Prior for all of the Cubs problems over the last several years. He might be frustrated with Mark's approach.

 

You can call it hyperbolic and baseless all you want, I'm just saying what my reaction to Hendry's interview was. Jim is an old school kind of guy. He obviously didn't care at all about how his young pitchers were abused, so he obviously doesn't think the Cubs are to blame. He strikes me as the type of guy who, if he was a fan, would fall into the Prior is a wuss category. Hendry has repeatedly said how the Cubs had good teams that got derailed by the injuries to Prior and Wood. Prior and Wood have been at the forefront of what he believes to be the problems, and Hendry has always taken what I believe to be a strange tone when talking about Prior. I sense a lot of tension there, between a GM who probably thinks that if Prior was tougher he would have pitched through the pain.

[Brendan]

You can call it hyperbolic and baseless all you want, I'm just saying what my reaction to Hendry's interview was. Jim is an old school kind of guy. He obviously didn't care at all about how his young pitchers were abused, so he obviously doesn't think the Cubs are to blame. He strikes me as the type of guy who, if he was a fan, would fall into the Prior is a wuss category. Hendry has repeatedly said how the Cubs had good teams that got derailed by the injuries to Prior and Wood. Prior and Wood have been at the forefront of what he believes to be the problems, and Hendry has always taken what I believe to be a strange tone when talking about Prior. I sense a lot of tension there, between a GM who probably thinks that if Prior was tougher he would have pitched through the pain.

 

i wouldn't be surprised at all if he thought that, especially since hendry was still negotiating contracts while having a heart attack or whatever.

[abuck1220]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

 

yeah...but I think this is it.

http://www.jonmdavis.net/priorsposse.jpg

[C.C.]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

 

If you want to call it that...

[Drew Doughty]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

 

If you want to call it that...

 

i don't think he wants to call it that.

[abuck1220]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

 

If you want to call it that...

 

are you talking about the cubs medical staff?

[C.C.]

 

Apology? As fans we can only go by what information we get. All the information we rec'd was there is nothing wrong with him or they had no idea what was wrong. If anything Prior's Medical Staff should be the one's apologizing for not pushing this surgery two years ago.

 

prior has a medical staff?

 

If you want to call it that...

 

are you talking about the cubs medical staff?

 

Being that Prior is on the Cubs, yes.

[Soul]

Damn straight, every word. I never understood the 'Prior is a wuss' thing. I suspect most people who said that have been loyal Cubs fans since 2003.

 

 

I'm not referring to NSBB posters but I noticed a lot of people who called him "soft" didn't understand young pitching is more fragile then veteran pitching.

 

Dusty didn't understand that, either.

[neely crenshaw]

I have to say that I was 100% wrong! i didn't think they find anything but I now i have to say that if he went on with this junk in his shoulder..he threw with a lot of pain. having been through rotator cuff surgery..I don't know how the cobs staff missed it. You can actually throw pretty well with it but it hurts like heck. when he first comes back he won't throw as well as he did injured. it will take a while and a lot of work.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I know a lot of people in Chicago who called Prior soft...

 

From BP's Kevin Goldstein:

 

Well, they finally figured out what was wrong with Mark Prior’s shoulder . . . everything. While I’ll leave it to Mr. Carroll to explain exactly what happened (with pictures, no less), let’s discuss what happened beforehand. Basically, for the last two years or so, sports radio and print here in Chicago has been filled with inferences that Mark Prior was, for lack of a better term, a wuss. While doctors struggled to find an answer for Prior’s velocity issues, accusations (both direct and indirect) were flying left and right. It’s all in his head, he’s never dealt with adversity, his confidence is shot, he’s overcompensating for the normal soreness that every other pitcher deals with, nothing [is really wrong with him, etc.

 

Meanwhile, while spending just as much time off the field as Prior, Kerry Wood got a free pass. See, this Wood guy, he’s a man’s man. He’s from Texas and he talks like one would expect the Marlboro man to and he curses and spits and gets arrested for public urination. He’s a tough guy, see? But no, not Prior. Prior was downright erudite, following in his father’s footsteps by attending Vanderbilt before transferring closer to home at Southern California. Prior actually finished his class work after being drafted and got a degree, a rarity among ballplayers. In interviews, he was calm, collected and thoughtful, if not downright boring. He didn’t have spiked hair or a goatee, he almost looked more fitting in a suit than a baseball uniform. He wasn’t what we expected a baseball player to be as a personality, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would punch you in the shoulder when he greeted you, and therefore he was a wimp.

 

Well guess what, folks? Mark Prior has been trying to pitch for what looks like two-plus years with the kind of damage in his shoulder that would have you or I thinking about worker’s compensation even though our jobs probably require little more than sitting in from of a computer much of the day. You own him an apology, and if he comes back in the way Dr. Andrews believes he can, many Cubs fans don’t deserve to reap the benefits.

 

 

Link

 

Thanks, CFiCT (and thanks to Goldstein and Carroll).

[davearm]

I wouldn't be surprised if management is a little frustrated now. Wasn't some of the staff pushing surgery either 2 years ago or 1 year ago, and Prior opted to go with the non-surgery route instead? It was reasonable for Prior to choose that, but it's frustrating in management when you realize that if he had just chosen the other way he might be back now.

I suspect everyone involved here is more than just a little frustrated.

 

Until this week, there was no known medical explanation for why the Cubs' prized pitcher was unable to perform. Everyone suspected something was wrong, but the best orthopedic doctors around couldn't offer any substantive proof of that, or anything resembling a concrete diagnosis, let alone prescribe a treatment plan.

 

And I never quite understood how people fail to realize that Prior himself probably wants to be out there more than anyone. Baseball is seemingly flush with cash, and the guy that stands to benefit as much as anyone from the $100M+ contracts being passed out is sitting on the sideline with an arm that mysteriously won't work right.

 

Imagine knowing this week's lotto numbers, but the store closes in 10 minutes and your car won't start to drive to the store to buy your winning ticket. What could possibly be more frustrating than that? Well that's Mark Prior's world right now.

[Banedon]

It's too bad the general public won't see that article.