Mark Prior Signs Minor League Deal With Rangers

[The Logan]

According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, the Orioles have interest in Mark Prior.

The O's sent scout Mark Ralston to watch Prior throw for major league teams on June 30, but they believe that he prefers to remain on the West Coast. That may be true, but he can hardly afford to pick and choose his next opportunity given the fact that he hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since 2006.

 

Really, Andy MacPhail? Really?

Edited September 2, 2010 by The Logan

[Little Slide Rooter]

I really couldnt fault any team for being interested in signing Prior to a minor league deal and giving him a look. However, I think hes well past the point where he can pick and chose where he plays.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

According to Tom Krasovic of AOL Fanhouse, Mark Prior was scouted by the Marlins, Brewers, Orioles, Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox.

These are just a few of the roughly 15 major league teams who watched Prior throw at USC late last month. Whether it will actually lead to another opportunity in the major leagues is another issue altogether. If anything, Prior functions as a cautionary tale for young phenoms like Stephen Strasburg.

Apparently he hit 90 mph during that showcase leading scouts to say the whole session was "just alright." You can't blame the guy for giving it one last shot though. When your whole life has been baseball, it can't be easy to let go. Especially when you have that much talent.

[UMFan83]

I'm taking a shot in the dark that the Cubs weren't one of those 15 teams watching him throw.

[shnsajax]

He might as well try to pick up a bat and pull an Ankiel now. I don't think he is good enough, but what the hell does he have to lose.

[Backtobanks]

He might as well try to pick up a bat and pull an Ankiel now. I don't think he is good enough, but what the hell does he have to lose.

 

He's already got a bum arm and shoulder and now you want him to pull an ankle?

=D>

[Sammy Sofa]

He might as well try to pick up a bat and pull an Ankiel now. I don't think he is good enough, but what the hell does he have to lose.

 

He's already got a bum arm and shoulder and now you want him to pull an ankle?

=D>

 

http://static.open.salon.com/files/gun_to_head1241048759.jpg

[abuck1220]

nccub thinks that's horrible.

[The Logan]

According to Tom Krasovic of AOL Fanhouse, Mark Prior was scouted by the Marlins, Brewers, Orioles, Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox.

These are just a few of the roughly 15 major league teams who watched Prior throw at USC late last month. Whether it will actually lead to another opportunity in the major leagues is another issue altogether. If anything, Prior functions as a cautionary tale for young phenoms like Stephen Strasburg.

Apparently he hit 90 mph during that showcase leading scouts to say the whole session was "just alright." You can't blame the guy for giving it one last shot though. When your whole life has been baseball, it can't be easy to let go. Especially when you have that much talent.

 

I wasn't referring to Prior trying to make a comeback, I actually hope he can comeback and wish him all the best... I was referring more to the stunner of the O's/Andy MacPhail once again going after a former Cub who's failed and/or fallen out of favor.

[champaignchris]

I count 7 guys on their current active roster or the DL who are former Cubs.

[NCCubFan]

If they sign Prior they'll need to increase their towel budget.

[rocket]

Prior is what, 29 now? He's smart and has a ton of time to do real-life stuff. Might as well keep trying this pitching thing while he's still young

[Sammy Sofa]

Prior managing some kind of comeback would be like a nice hug for my heart.

[questionmarkgrace]

Prior managing some kind of comeback would be like a nice hug for my heart.

 

ugh that is so sappy.

[Sammy Sofa]

You can have one, too.

[bannor10]

I wish him luck...Hey if Carl Pavano made it back...So can Prior

[Guest]

I wish him luck...Hey if Carl Pavano made it back...So can Prior

I wish him luck too. I also wish I could go back in time to 2003 and tell someone on the Cubs that his leg was bothering him and causing him to put too much force on his shoulder, since he didn't think about doing it. Perhaps Dusty wouldn't have ran him into the ground with Prior's full consent.

 

I mostly blame Dusty for how Prior turned out, but I think he's a large part of the equation too.

[SouthSideRyan]

It's not the player's fault if the training staff and management team is willfully ignorant.

[lumafia]

I think a player needs to take some responsibility for it, but not if the team and/or manager is going to call him out on not being "tough". I don't ever remember Dusty throwing a pitcher under the bus for saying that he was done for the day. If Dusty ever did that, I would put 100% of the blame on Dusty, but I can't recall him ever doing that, so he only gets 70% of the blame.

 

Healthy or not, the abuse to which Prior was subjected bordered on criminal. Every member of the organization deserves responsibility for allowing that to happen. The 2 people who deserved the most criticism are Dusty and Hendry. I realize that Hendry took over in July of that year, but he still had an opportunity to pull the reigns back a little. In 2003, during Prior's first full season in the bigs, he threw over 101 pitches in 28 of his 33 starts (includes playoffs). He threw over 120 pitches 10 times. Over 130 pitches 4 times. In his final 9 starts, Prior AVERAGED 125 pitches per game.

 

In contrast, the Washington Nationals have not allowed Strasburg to throw more than 96 pitches in any of his starts this year.

 

Since 2003, only one other pitcher in baseball with more than 30 starts in a season has averaged more pitches per start (03 Prior, 113 pitches/start) during a season. Livan Hernandez averaged 114 pitches per start in 2004.

 

Thank you, Cubs.

[SouthSideRyan]

think a player needs to take some responsibility for it, but not if the team and/or manager is going to call him out on not being "tough".

 

I have no evidence that the myriad of moron sportswriters who wrote about Prior not being tough in '04-'06 were acting on leaks from the organization, but it's always been my assumption considering the stone-age level thinking in the organization at the time.

[bcl412]

Dammit. Every time I read a Prior thread I go into a nice episode of depression.

[hardcorecubfan]

Prior managing some kind of comeback would be like a nice hug for my heart.

 

Come on, you have a heart? :shock:

[imb]

He might as well try to pick up a bat and pull an Ankiel now. I don't think he is good enough, but what the hell does he have to lose.

 

a cocaine addiction is nothing to wish on someone

[NCCubFan]

Prior has signed with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League. He will pitch as a setup man.

[Backtobanks]

Prior has signed with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League. He will pitch as a setup man.

 

HEADLINE: Bed, Bath, and Beyond in Orange County sells out their complete inventory of towels. =D>