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Excuse me, so that explains why he's getting his shoulder looked at, after having "soreness" in it. I guess the virus he caught this Winter and the SOLE reason (according to a many a cub fan) for getting delayed must've spread to his shoulder? My bad. Silly me, looks like I'm being paranoid again and this is afterall completely normal. Whew.

To think those of us who were being "paranoid" about Prior not throwing off a mound or to hitters. If we would've just swollowed the company drivel and standard Cubs lies and denials, we would've appeared insightful. Oh wait. Let's not panic though, I mean getting your throwing shoulder checked out 3 weeks into ST games and after not throwing to a hitter is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about, right fellas? Fellas?

His son, seriously? Looks like one of the pics from Conan O'Brien when he puts 2 celebrities together "if they made it." That pic aside, outstanding pics though. That's a great pic of Dopirak with Hendry in the background and Hill throwing his Curve.

Because there's an order and a progression in ST and when you first get to camp you start by throwing off the mound and THEN once you've shown adequate arm strength and control and proper mechanics etc, then you progress to facing live hitters. There is a BIG and obvious difference between just throwing off a mound per say and progressing to the point of face live hitters with wooden weapons.

Hey ndistops, Good luck fitting Schensers mug on your sig:) As far as Prior goes, I feel more comftorable after hearing Larry and that this is really just "extra" precautionary measures with Prior. I still would like to see him pitch soon though to be honest. And Tim, I know you were being facetious, but Maddux is atleast throwing to hitters (not to mention a HOF Veteran who's been in the rodeo for awhile). Again, Prior can put all this to rest by pitching in a game and soon. I'm sorry but I won't feel comftorable (and foolish) til I see him in a game. Just the longtime Cub fan in me.

Well, it's all how it's framed. Yes Prior has been "delayed," but only in terms of when they thought he was going to be ready to throw to hitters. Nobody can be expected to keep to a schedule exactly. The bottom line is that not only is Prior not being shut down, his actual progress isn't being delayed. He's still going forward, building up arm strength, and isn't experiencing pain. There's really nothing at all to worry about in terms of what Rothschild said today. Bullpen sessions are overrated. Bullpen sessions are nothing compared to facing live hitters. Obviously his "bullpen" sessions haven't been to encouraging if they have "delayed" his scheduled time to face live hitters. If there's anything I've learned from the Cubs over the last couple years, especially when it comes to the 2 golden kids, is to read between the lines and to take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Excuse me but, shouldn't he be pitching? For what reason do they keep pushing him back? ST games have now started and he's still not throwing to hitters! The only pitchers I see still not throwing are pitchers that are hurt. Not saying he is hurt, but there is something definitely going on here and the Cubs don't seem to be honest about it, big surprise. I think this is slightly past the "oh, but there's nothing to be worried about" stage, cuz quite honestly, if you're not, you should be. I know I am.It simply is not normal for a MLB Pitcher at this stage of camp to not even be throwing to hitters and to be "delayed".

Yes, it will. but you can't listen to it unless you've subscribed to MLB audio.

Agreed. Anyone know who's starting (Pitcher) tomorrow?

I got MUCH better seats than I thought: Mondays game 44BL row 2, Tuesdays game 30 PFB row D and for Wednesday's game 140 ILB Row B. I gor real lucky with Padre tickets too. Can't wait!

"in case" Pierre sprains an ankle isn't good enough reason for me to validate holding up a roster spot. Why would you rather have Grissom than Greenberg? Well I'm not gonna rehash for the 10th time in this thread exactly why, you can read one of my many redundant posts on why, but for starters his .285 career Avg against Lefties (over .310 last 4 seasons I believe) and his career .467 SLG against Lefties, would suit this current team much better than anything Greenberg could add. Just 1 of many reasons why I'd rather have Grissom right now than Greenberg. The better question is why I would rather have Mabry than Greenberg. That would atleast be more debatable, barely. I don't think you can ignore that Grissom was abominably bad against RHP and LHP last year at age 38. Greenberg provides better defense at all 3 positions, plus he didn't have much of a platoon split at AA last year, in fact he was better against LHP(.856 OPS) than RHP(.780). Sing is off to a good start today. If he has a hot spring and Grissom and Restovich don't show much he could be a sleeper for a bench spot. The fact he hits RH makes him a better complement to LH Mabry than Greenberg. Plus Sing has more power which is always nice for a pinch hitter late in games. Couldn't agree with you more.

"in case" Pierre sprains an ankle isn't good enough reason for me to validate holding up a roster spot. Why would you rather have Grissom than Greenberg? Well I'm not gonna rehash for the 10th time in this thread exactly why, you can read one of my many redundant posts on why, but for starters his .285 career Avg against Lefties (over .310 last 4 seasons I believe) and his career .467 SLG against Lefties, would suit this current team much better than anything Greenberg could add. Just 1 of many reasons why I'd rather have Grissom right now than Greenberg. The better question is why I would rather have Mabry than Greenberg. That would atleast be more debatable, barely.

I think the frequent use out of the pen would be worse that starting every 5 days, but I'd be happy if we could get him pitching, period. I was actually being facetious. I know it's hard to tell with me. What I meant by limit his opportunities to get hurt, was less actual times he steps on top of a mound. Seriously though, noone really knows whether or not coming out of the bullpen would actually be worse for him, it's really an individual thing, but I'm thinking that it really couldn't be any worse than him as a starter, could it?

Wood should come out of the Bullpen for no other reason then it would limit the opportunities for him to get hurt. I'm sooooo over Wood, if it's not one thing it'll be another. He's just one of those people that are chronically aching and their body just can't hold up. What a terrible waste. If the guy wasn't set for life, I'd actually feel sorry for the guy.

"in case" Pierre sprains an ankle isn't good enough reason for me to validate holding up a roster spot. :D

Anyone else think I overreacted?

These 3 OF spots you speak of, where exactly does he fit in? Behind Murton, hitting "extreme righties", sure OK, i'll play, but not too excited to see 2 rookie LF'ers. In CF where Pierre hits left handed and takes virtually no games off? Nah don't think so. In RF where Jones hit's LH and can't hit lefties worth a lick and where I'd like to see a RH hitter in stead of a LH rookie? Which BTW is absolutely unrealistic to think Dusty, or any Manager for that matter, would give days off to a veteran who's making 6 Million a year for a LH rookie, who in all honesty, hasn't done enough in the Minors that says to me "wow yeah he should be given a chance". Conor Jackson or Gonzalez of the DBacks, sure, but c'mon guys, not Greenberg. Not now anyway.

How does that make sense? Just because someone doesn't pick him up doesn't mean he's ready for a big league bench role. I don't see the big deal about him making the roster after 1 Cactus League game when he made the big leagues midseason last year. Greenberg and Theriot would provide something off the bench that Perez, Hairston, Grissom, Mabry and Restovich can't. And something the Cubs bench could definitely use. That's raw's point. And I agree. Cubs don't have Patterson anymore and now have a legitimate CF where Greenberg will get ZERO playing time and the Cubs won't be out of a race on opening day. Plus let's not forget Greenberg got assaulted on the first pitch he ever saw in a MLB game and if you think that's not something to overcome, ask Shammy. Another reason why Greenberg needs some more at bats in the Minors and get COMPLETELY comftorable at the plate again. How much playing time do you think he get in RF with a left handed hitting Jones? Me thinks not much. Even after all those reasons why not Greenberg should make this roster, I wouldn't want to stunt his growth wasting on the bench getting sporadic AB's. BOttomline Greenberg is not ready yet and to rush him, IMO, is a little silly. Am I saying that Greenberg shouldn't play fot the Cubs at all this year? I think not. but let's wait til August or Sept. to even speculate his role with the Cubs is all eyes sayin, yo.

I don't think raw is asking for Greenberg to be given a starting job. So he would like him to platoon with Murton then? Cuz, again, I don't see where he would fit on this team. If he's suggesting keeping him over Mabry I don't see it for the simple reason that, again, Mabry can play different positions. I don't see Greenberg giving Lee a day off. I also don't like the idea of keeping someone who'll strictly PH and especially don't like the idea of a young kid PH, cuz again, that'd be his only role on this team, that or PR, which makes less sense. Since he's a lefty, he wouldn't spell Pierre and obviously wouldn't spell Jones, who also is a Lefty. Bottomline is CUbs already have too many Lefties as it is, and i really don't like the idea of Mabry on this team either, but again, atleast he plays more positions than Greenberg. Let's also not forget that nobody picked Greenberg off of waivers and someone already is suggesting after 1 game that he should make a roster, where again, in which he absolutely doesn't fit. Just thought it was a little curious is all. Don't you?

And you want Greenberg to start over Pierre or platoon with Murton? I don't see where Greenberg would fit on this current team. Not dogging Greenberg, I do like him but again, don't see where he'd fit. Atleast Mabry can play a couple a couple different positions. I'd rather have Sing than Greenberg, actually. Platoon with Jones.

I don't really know much about pitch grips, but it could be some form of circle change? Yes. Circle change.

Freaky looking? If you think that's freaky lookin, you should visit California and you're opinion on freaky lookin would probably change a little.

Top 5 I've been to, excluding Wrigley: 1. Safeco 2. Dodger Stadium 3. SBC 4. Chase Field (pool tickets baby!) 5. Angel Stadium (can't beat the energy level for a baseball game)

when did the cubs sign david cone? That's funny that you mention Howry looking like someone, in this case Cone, cuz I think Howry looks like the one dude (can't remember his name) from the show "American Hot Rod" on the Discovery Channel. He's the one that talks funny (and by funny I don't mean HAHA funny) and has some funky facial mannerisms. I'm sure I'm the only one who would think that, cuz I'm probably the only one that watche(d)s that show, but he's a dead ringer to Howry.

It's highly unlikely that Grissom will actually see time in the Minors. I'm sure the Cubs will release him if they actually had interest in him going to the Minors and giving him a chance to sign with another club. They've done this many times. It's pretty simple situation for Grissom. The 5th OF spot is clearly his to lose. If he has a bad ST, the Cubs will release him and he'll probably end up retiring. If he produces a "non spectacular but not terrible" SPring, let's say .275, he's the Cubs 5th OF spot. Baker CLEARLY thinks a lot of him and he is in fact, a "dusty guy". That is undeniable.