BigbadB

But, there is more to it than just having surgery. I have to believe that having surgery immediately after you first get injured is better than having surgery after pitching with the injury on multiple or numerous occasions. But, I suppose there is always the possibility that surgery fixes the problem regardless of how long you wait. The other issue is if his mechanics caused the problems in the first place, he's likely going to need to change those mechanics to avoid future problems, and no one really knows what effect changing his mechanics will do in getting big league hitters out. Did he change his mechanics when he came back in 2006? He was clearly not the same pitcher we saw in 2003. Maybe he was ineffective due more to shoulder problems than an actual mechanic adjustment.

I'll miss Mark too, especially the guy we saw in 03'. I just don't think he has it any longer. Its a damn shame - the dreams of just a few years ago have been blown to pieces. He's had a lot of down time. I'm not sure how well he can come back. How many pitchers have been injured or out of the game as much as Prior and proceeded to be the same pitcher when they returned? Bret Saberhagen missed significant time and he found a little bit of success when he came back. Prior is younger, so he has that going for him. If Prior's delivery is what is giving him all the injury trouble, and if he adjusts his delivery, does he lose a little bit or a lot off his command and movement? For those that don't like comparing Wade Miller, that's fair enough. But, where is Wade Miller now? He's not a perfect comparison, but the guy was putting up pretty respectable numbers during the heighth of the steroid era. He's certainly not Prior, but Miller may be completely done. Let's look at a couple more guys who weren't projected as high as Prior (it's hard to find a really good comparison for Prior's injury history), but the Cubs took a flyer on Mike Sirotka also. Completely out of baseball now. Kip Wells hasn't really deserved any chances at the major league level since his injuries started. He's been horrible. The only reason he's getting any opportunities is because of his name and how good he looked for two decent years. Someone sewed a bionic arm on Chris Carpenter. He came back better than he ever was. But, what are the chances he ends up doing that again? Mark Mulder looks like he's done. How many REAL success stories can be listed for guys after they have gone under the knife? And I'm not referring to limited periods of time of success like Kerry Wood or Chris Carpenter. I'm talking about Prior putting all of his injury problems behind him and going back to being the dominant pitcher he was pre-injury. What are the odds of that actually happening? Not that I want to see him fail. I most certainly put a lot of the blame for his injuries on Dusty Baker. Prior was a real treat to watch pitch.

I scored free tickets to the Holiday Bowl tonight. Looks like it should be a fun game. Kinda cool. Also kind of crazy to not accept, since the seats are with some of my closest friends. I didn't ask what kind of seats they are, but I don't really care since neither team is a favorite of mine. We start tailgaiting in about 4 hours. \:D/

I doubt the Cubs win a tampering suit, either. Prior put himself out there to other teams just long enough to make it look good. I think there's a lot of tampering that goes on behind closed doors, so I don't expect anything to come from this one. Too bad they didn't have Vegas odds on Prior's destination, because I was THAT sure he'd end up in San Diego.

im so glad that this board is so classy... since we are so classy let me say. **** you http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8303/toughguyey2.png Woah, Hey, Hoah! How did my picture get on the internet? I don't remember posing for that one.

I could still beat you up. that still doesn't change the fact that you'll die before me. Depends on how bad I beat you up! :evil: LOL I'm still young enough to say LOL.

Doug Glanville is looking for work. :D And he's younger than So Taguchi.

Not that I'm aware of. I'm the one who has been enamored with the idea of improving the SS situation, and a deal between these 3 teams would make a lot of sense. We know Cleveland would love to get their hands on Bay. We know Pittsburgh is willing to deal Bay. We know Cleveland has depth in the middle infield with Barfield, Cabrera and Peralta. We know that Pittsburgh likes cheap, young talent in return for giving up prized possessions. We know that the Cubs have a hole at SS. We know that the Cubs can afford Peralta, since Roberts would cost much more than Peralta. We know the Cubs have cheap, young talent to trade.

That's what I'd like to see. Cleveland wants Jason Bay really bad and they haven't made an offer yet that Pittsburgh would be satisfied with. A 3 way deal that sends Bay to Cleveland, Peralta to the Cubs and major league ready players go to Pittsburgh would make a lot of sense, IMO. Cleveland has Cabrera to step in and play SS. Cubs could use a SS. Pittsburgh wants players that will, well, I've never really understood what Pittsburgh wants, so I'll just say a package of players. :D

Yeah, that's the article. Thanks for posting the link.

It was very interesting. I just don't know where he found it, otherwise I'd provide the link myself.

This is a perfect example of what really needs to stop around here. A guy makes an unpopular post on this site, and people are still piling on this person several days later. Okay, he didn't spell "riddance" correctly. We get it. Please stop now. It's a personal attack on another poster and it is not welcome here.

I'm not talking about inside the stadium. Petco won't let me light up anywhere on the stadium grounds. I have to exit the stadium entirely to light up. And I'm not going to do it.

No. Prior didn't want to be with the Cubs anymore. Whether he has legitimate reasons for wanting to leave is unknown, but it really doesn't matter. The Cubs only controlled Prior for 1 more year, and I'm sure Prior would have done his final year respectfully and in honor of his contract. The Cubs didn't want to do that, so it appears to be a mutual split. your just saying that cuz you'll get to see him pitch on a reg basis :evil: Wrong. Games I went to Petco to see an MLB game last year= 0 I'm still a smoker, and Petco doesn't want smokers, so I happily oblige.

No. Prior didn't want to be with the Cubs anymore. Whether he has legitimate reasons for wanting to leave is unknown, but it really doesn't matter. The Cubs only controlled Prior for 1 more year, and I'm sure Prior would have done his final year respectfully and in honor of his contract. The Cubs didn't want to do that, so it appears to be a mutual split.

Wow, what a shocker......... Well, not really.

Who is "he". Sam Fuld?

Boy did I make that drive a lot. I lived in Champaign for 7 years and made the weekend trip back to Peoria probably 20 times a year. I used to be able to recite every highway 74 exit, in order, from my house to my folks. ](*,)

I haven't actually been to their site, so pardon my stupidity. But, if these "Insider's" were purposely duping Cub fans visiting the site, wouldn't they also be duping their own fellow fans and tearing down any future credibility among those fellow fans?

They need to just make all the non WGN games be on FSN. WCIU games aren't available in the MLB EI package, which really bites for us transplants.

Ugh. I just had a mental picture of Soriano doing his bunny hops before every catch while playing 2b, including grounders and double play flips.

You're not alone - I see value in Taguchi platooning with Pie against tough lefties as well as being a 5th outfielder/mentor to Fukudome. I'd prefer Taguchi over Angel Pagan, Sam Fuld or Ronny Cedeno. This is your bench as of today if you sign Taguchi. LH- Ward RH- Murton RH- Cedeno RH- Blanco RH- Taguchi UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Japanese Translator that travels with Fukudome and folds his underwear= 100K So Taguchi talking to Fukudome and not folding his underwear= 750K

You're alone. So very alone. So Taguchi sucks. If you absolutely insist on a platoon partner for Pie, find a better one. Oh I'm talking about Taguchi as a 5th outfielder. A platoon partner for Pie? Absolutely not. RH 5th outfielder= platoon partner for Pie. Book it. Give me Sam Fuld as the 5th OF.

If the Cubs are going to have Pie play in CF, then just LET HIM PLAY. Every Cub prospect does not need to be babied with platoon partners.

I was afraid you came in here to say that.