Cubs will allow Prior to walk

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I highly doubt any quality pitcher in this league would do what Prior's doing. Big market team drafts you, sticks with you, pays you, rehabs you, and then opting out of this situation for a marginal contract upgrade.

 

 

Yes I'm bitter, but then again, I'm a Cubs fan

 

Exactly...Look at Kerry Wood..Loyal, Dedicated guy...Mark Prior...Bottle and bib..

 

Yeah, heaven forbid a guy doesn't have loyalty for as team that fanned rumors of his "wussiness" which ended up delaying a surgery he needed for two years.

 

While I agree the Cubs didn't handle the whole thing very well, Prior also had his own doctors and met with general MLB-servicing doctors, too. It seems everyone was trying to avoid surgery unless it was absolutely necessary. Based on how he rebounded from the line drive and the collision and everything else, I don't find that hope too surprising, even in hindsight. He kept getting hurt and kept coming back after rest and conditioning, and that's obviously preferrable to surgery.

[PrimeTime]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I highly doubt any quality pitcher in this league would do what Prior's doing. Big market team drafts you, sticks with you, pays you, rehabs you, and then opting out of this situation for a marginal contract upgrade.

 

 

Yes I'm bitter, but then again, I'm a Cubs fan

 

Exactly...Look at Kerry Wood..Loyal, Dedicated guy...Mark Prior...Bottle and bib..

 

Yeah, heaven forbid a guy doesn't have loyalty for as team that fanned rumors of his "wussiness" which ended up delaying a surgery he needed for two years.

 

 

The guy wants more money..for doing what?...Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..If Prior wants to sabotage the team,The big market team that drafted him, paid his dollars and has been loyal to him,through thick and thin,and then called himself " just an "employee" ..He can take freakin hike..Bottom line, he has hard personal feelings towards the Cubs and does not want to be here..Not anyone in the Cubs orginizations fault.

[Sammy Sofa]

As I've said before. Prior is looking out for #1(himself). He doesn't care about the team or any one on this team. If he did and believed he had a chance at coming back to a level of service to get the big payday then he would have taken the Cubs offer. I would'nt say he's a "mooch", but he's without question out for himself.

He thought he was god's gift coming out of college and with a broken down arm, he still believes that.

Bash away if you must but go back and read comments in past articles. They say it all!!!

See ya Mark, hope you can mature enough to stick with another team.

 

The comments that everyone focuses on all came relatively recently. It would appear that the situation between him and the organization came to a head during the last season. There's little evidence that things were seriously hostile or ugly before that, so it's a little unfair to try and stretch his comments after spring training this year back over the last few years.

 

That said, comments like the ones that I bolded make no sense whatsoever when they're stated like they're obviously true.

[Sammy Sofa]

Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..

 

That situation is by far the exception to the rule, not the norm. By your standards, baseball is mostly populated by "non-men" who don't take less money because they've been hurt.

 

If Prior wants to sabotage the team

 

How is he sabotaging them?

[Hosak8]

Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..

 

That situation is by far the exception to the rule, not the norm. By your standards, baseball is mostly populated by "non-men" who don't take less money because they've been hurt.

 

If Prior wants to sabotage the team

 

How is he sabotaging them?

 

You have ridiculous man-love for Prior. Are you his Physical Therapist, or something?

[Sammy Sofa]

Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..

 

That situation is by far the exception to the rule, not the norm. By your standards, baseball is mostly populated by "non-men" who don't take less money because they've been hurt.

 

If Prior wants to sabotage the team

 

How is he sabotaging them?

 

You have ridiculous man-love for Prior. Are you his Physical Therapist, or something?

 

I just think the vitriol and hyperbole directed at him is beyond ridiculous.

[Hosak8]

Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..

 

That situation is by far the exception to the rule, not the norm. By your standards, baseball is mostly populated by "non-men" who don't take less money because they've been hurt.

 

If Prior wants to sabotage the team

 

How is he sabotaging them?

 

You have ridiculous man-love for Prior. Are you his Physical Therapist, or something?

 

I just think the vitriol and hyperbole directed at him is beyond ridiculous.

 

But the euphoric man-love and expected return to the dominance of his career year are somehow less ridiculous? I mean, people are talking about killing animals over this decision. Yeah, that's warranted.

[Sammy Sofa]

Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..

 

That situation is by far the exception to the rule, not the norm. By your standards, baseball is mostly populated by "non-men" who don't take less money because they've been hurt.

 

If Prior wants to sabotage the team

 

How is he sabotaging them?

 

You have ridiculous man-love for Prior. Are you his Physical Therapist, or something?

 

I just think the vitriol and hyperbole directed at him is beyond ridiculous.

 

But the euphoric man-love and expected return to the dominance of his career year are somehow less ridiculous? I mean, people are talking about killing animals over this decision. Yeah, that's warranted.

 

I don't know why you expect me to say about those people. The vast majority of the "pro-Prior" posts during all of this have been in regards to the likelyhood of him being able to rebound and perform and the projected monetary costs and how this reflects on the market and the teams needs and resources and alternatives. If you feel that this isn't true and that "euphoric man-love" is actually the most common theme instead, please feel free to show us. I simply have not seen that to generally be the case with only VERY few exceptions to the contrary.

 

The anti-Prior posts, on the other hand, have almost all jumped on him for being "selfish" or "soft" or "weak" and as if he wanted to be paid for not pitching. Yes, there have been some that focused mostly on the economic effects, but most of them jump right to hysterical levels of insulting and emotion that far surpasses any "euphoric man-love."

 

I'm also not sure where you're seeing many people convinced that he would be likely to return to his earlier "dominance." It sounds that most people who wanted him back probably felt that he could still be an effective starter at some point, but that's not the same as assuming he'll be as good as he was at his peak.

Edited December 13, 2007 by Sammy Sofa

[CubbieSouthpaw II]

As I've said before. Prior is looking out for #1(himself). He doesn't care about the team or any one on this team. If he did and believed he had a chance at coming back to a level of service to get the big payday then he would have taken the Cubs offer. I would'nt say he's a "mooch", but he's without question out for himself.

He thought he was god's gift coming out of college and with a broken down arm, he still believes that.

Bash away if you must but go back and read comments in past articles. They say it all!!!

See ya Mark, hope you can mature enough to stick with another team.

 

The comments that everyone focuses on all came relatively recently. It would appear that the situation between him and the organization came to a head during the last season. There's little evidence that things were seriously hostile or ugly before that, so it's a little unfair to try and stretch his comments after spring training this year back over the last few years.

 

That said, comments like the ones that I bolded make no sense whatsoever when they're stated like they're obviously true.

 

First off I never said over the past YEARS, I said past articles. We all know that at least 2-3 times per week a newspaper was writing an article about him.

And his recent comment about just being an employee really soured me on him.

As far as the broken down arm comment.

Is it? I don't know. Is he healthy and ready for ST? No. Will he pitch by All-star break? who knows. Or will he pitch in 08? No one knows.

Hey, I was just as big a fan of Prior as anyone here. But his actions and comments over the last 2-3 years (now I'll say years) kinda wore on me. Say what you want, but greed has a lot to do with his decisions not to return to the Cubs. If he's just a employee, at least he could've been was a loyal employee after the Cubs stood behind him. IMHO

[Sammy Sofa]

But his actions and comments over the last 2-3 years (now I'll say years) kinda wore on me.

 

Such as? (Besides the "employee" quote, which seems to be almost all that anyone brings up)

[Guest]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I highly doubt any quality pitcher in this league would do what Prior's doing. Big market team drafts you, sticks with you, pays you, rehabs you, and then opting out of this situation for a marginal contract upgrade.

 

 

Yes I'm bitter, but then again, I'm a Cubs fan

 

Exactly...Look at Kerry Wood..Loyal, Dedicated guy...Mark Prior...Bottle and bib..

 

Yeah, heaven forbid a guy doesn't have loyalty for as team that fanned rumors of his "wussiness" which ended up delaying a surgery he needed for two years.

 

 

The guy wants more money..for doing what?...Kerry Wood needed the surgery and time too..Came back like a man and said "I love this team and I owe them something" and took way less money..If Prior wants to sabotage the team,The big market team that drafted him, paid his dollars and has been loyal to him,through thick and thin,and then called himself " just an "employee" ..He can take freakin hike..Bottom line, he has hard personal feelings towards the Cubs and does not want to be here..Not anyone in the Cubs orginizations fault.

 

You do realize Kerry Wood took the best contract offered to him this offseason? Neither of them owed the Cubs a thing. And I don't see how Prior wants to sabotage the team.

[javy knows my name]

Do your duty, Wayne.

You do realize if he makes it back this season, it will be his last because Dusty will finish what he started.

Sure.

I hope some guys like Murton and Marshall leave and be really good because they would never have been given a chance on the Cubs. The excitement of bringing Prior up through our system and seeing his 2003 year is something I will never forget, and I would be miserable if I saw him even somewhat successful for another team. I hope he is injured the rest of his life and never pitches again. It sounds like we gave him a fair enough offer, and if it's not good enough, soap-drop him. I hope he pissed away the most money he'll ever make in the majors. I can't and won't blame the staff if the guy never wanted to be here. I hope I never miss him as much as I'll miss the idea of him on the Cubs. I blame Dusty.

[cubbyvirus00]

But his actions and comments over the last 2-3 years (now I'll say years) kinda wore on me.

 

Such as? (Besides the "employee" quote, which seems to be almost all that anyone brings up)

 

 

You do have a major man crush on Prior. There have been numerous solid points brought out about this entire situation, and you keep wanting more. You will bag on a poster or continue to poke and prod, for what they post, because it has a negative connotation to Mark Prior.

 

You refuse to accept that this human being wanted no part of the Cub organization, and has made numerous comments to reporters that bear a representation of his feelings to the organization. Its obvious he was offered a fair contract based on IF HE SHOWS UP in the 2008 and 2009 year, not just a flat 5 MILL per year. But no you say! "All this is made up! All of you think hes weak and selfish! I want proof!"

 

It doesent take a rocket scientist to read between the lines and figure this thing out. Now I'm not a stat head, BUT based off of what the other posters have said, Mark Prior was payed $15 mill during his Cub career, and just because he posted one amazing year (2003) does not mean he deserves more money based on that year. There are literally hundreds of MLB pitchers over the span of 50 years that have had amazing seasons while still earning the average salary. I can't believe that some people think he did us a favor by only being paid 15 mill during his time here. He has averaged 17 starts a season over his career, while only averaging 12 starts a season over the past 3 years. Hes pitched 200 innings once over the past 6 years. Take away 2003 and hes been an average pitcher.

 

All of these numbers, along with him sitting out for at least half the season in 08 don't deserve a guarenteed contract. 2003 was 5 years ago. Time to move on.

 

 

I dare say 2003 was a total fluke.

[Outshined_One]

You do have a major man crush on Prior. There have been numerous solid points brought out about this entire situation, and you keep wanting more. You will bag on a poster or continue to poke and prod, for what they post, because it has a negative connotation to Mark Prior.

 

You refuse to accept that this human being wanted no part of the Cub organization, and has made numerous comments to reporters that bear a representation of his feelings to the organization. Its obvious he was offered a fair contract based on IF HE SHOWS UP in the 2008 and 2009 year, not just a flat 5 MILL per year. But no you say! "All this is made up! All of you think hes weak and selfish! I want proof!"

 

It doesent take a rocket scientist to read between the lines and figure this thing out. Now I'm not a stat head, BUT based off of what the other posters have said, Mark Prior was payed $15 mill during his Cub career, and just because he posted one amazing year (2003) does not mean he deserves more money based on that year. There are literally hundreds of MLB pitchers over the span of 50 years that have had amazing seasons while still earning the average salary. I can't believe that some people think he did us a favor by only being paid 15 mill during his time here. He has averaged 17 starts a season over his career, while only averaging 12 starts a season over the past 3 years. Hes pitched 200 innings once over the past 6 years. Take away 2003 and hes been an average pitcher.

 

All of these numbers, along with him sitting out for at least half the season in 08 don't deserve a guarenteed contract. 2003 was 5 years ago. Time to move on.

 

 

I dare say 2003 was a total fluke.

 

Considering you're claiming Mojo has a mancrush on Prior, I'm willing to say you have a vendetta against Prior.

 

Look, it's one thing if you think the Cubs shouldn't have signed Prior because he was an injury waiting to happen. Nobody is going to argue with you on that point; the guy has had enough of an injury history to merit concern that he may never return to the form that we expected.

 

On the other hand, you're going overboard. You want us to "read between the lines" and look at "comments to reporters that bear a representation of his feelings" regarding the organization. You rip on us for not accepting your viewpoint in the same way you seem to think we're ripping you based on your viewpoint. Whatever it is you may think about Prior, don't bring it out to us to the point of being almost insulting. Don't act like those of us who support Prior are a bunch of deluded morons. We've all read Prior's comments to the media. We've all had to put up with all of the crap that has gone on since Prior's injuries started. Don't speak to us like we just started following the Cubs yesterday. There's nothing irrational or stupid about interpreting the guy's comments in a way differently from your own. Quite frankly, I don't care for that attitude.

 

Also, considering Prior's 2003 was a "total fluke", what do you have to say about his 2004 and 2005 numbers? I think you'll find plenty of people who would be happy to argue with you that they were not just average.

[snoodmonger]

I'm sure Hosak and Cubbievirus would have come back for free. They probably would have donated all their previous earnings to Cub Care, too, because they didn't earn that money. And if it looked like their career was over after the 2008 season, they probably would have donated both their legs to Ron Santo.

[Productive Outs]

I hope he is injured the rest of his life and never pitches again.

 

you must really hate mark prior.

 

i hope the reds sign mark prior. i hope he goes on to dominate the cubs every time he pitches against them. i'll probably go up to GAB to watch his first game. i'll cheer him on for the rest of what i hope will be a productive career.

 

to everyone that keeps calling him a wuss and all that: i'd love to see you pitch in a slow-pitch softball league with the shoulder injuries that mark prior had.

[Guest]

What a disappointing day.

[C.C.]

I hope he is injured the rest of his life and never pitches again.

 

you must really hate mark prior.

 

i hope the reds sign mark prior. i hope he goes on to dominate the cubs every time he pitches against them. i'll probably go up to GAB to watch his first game. i'll cheer him on for the rest of what i hope will be a productive career.

 

to everyone that keeps calling him a wuss and all that: i'd love to see you pitch in a slow-pitch softball league with the shoulder injuries that mark prior had.

 

You must really hate the Cubs.

[CuseCubFan69]

What does it say for Prior when Hendry gives deals to Dempster & Miller coming off injuries but not to Prior?

 

Didn't Hendry offer Prior a 2 year deal?

[TruffleShuffle]

i don't hope that prior dominates the cubs, but i hope he dominates everyone else. i still hope he crafts a HoF career, and the cubs are looked at as the team that nearly ruined his arm with overuse, and jim hendry is the guy that let him get away when all he had to do was offer him a few million to stick around. that'll just add another chapter to the sad, embarrassing history of the chicago cubs.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

People should quit mis-stating the amount of money the Cubs gave Prior. Unless I'm mistaken, he got not only $15MM, but also a (then-record) signing bonus of $10MM. That's $25MM to a guy that won 42 games for the Cubs spread over SIX major league service years (02-07). Yeah, I'd say he owes the Cubs something. Karma's a drag, Mark.

[waffle]

Ah, durn.

 

I think we all knew this was coming.

 

In a way, this is a relief. I am SOOO tired of hoping that he would get it together. Now let someone else worry. Potential is a 2 edged sword.

 

I hope he has a solid career.

 

I was never that fond of Prior. This simplifies things.

 

Time to move on

[CuseCubFan69]

i don't hope that prior dominates the cubs, but i hope he dominates everyone else. i still hope he crafts a HoF career, and the cubs are looked at as the team that nearly ruined his arm with overuse, and jim hendry is the guy that let him get away when all he had to do was offer him a few million to stick around. that'll just add another chapter to the sad, embarrassing history of the chicago cubs.

 

I wish Prior well but I don't understand why you want the Cubs punished for making a sound business decision. Could this move bite the Cubs in the butt, possibly if Prior did want to come back but they offered him a 2 year deal and he turned it down. None of us know what really went on between the Cubs and Prior. Maybe Prior had no interest in being a Cub, maybe the Cubs felt he was going to leave or never be the same, imo....only they know.

[C.C.]

i don't hope that prior dominates the cubs, but i hope he dominates everyone else. i still hope he crafts a HoF career, and the cubs are looked at as the team that nearly ruined his arm with overuse, and jim hendry is the guy that let him get away when all he had to do was offer him a few million to stick around. that'll just add another chapter to the sad, embarrassing history of the chicago cubs.

 

 

Perhaps he didn't want to stick around?

[jmajew]

Maybe Prior just wanted a fresh start somewhere new. The expectations for him have been ridiculous since 2003. Let him go somewhere new where there are no expectations where the fans will be happy if he is healthy and can pitch 200 innings with an ERA of 3.8. The majority of Cubs fans would not be happy with that, they want Prior of 2003 back and it is very likely that he will never return. IMO that is why he left.