Bull

Well, lets pretend, like you are, that 200 innings isn't the benchmark for "highest level", that's still only two years out of four, which doesn't exactly support your argument. But, in real life, 200 innings is the benchmark for a "highest level" pitcher, and he didn't get there. I'm sorry, I'd love to think that Prior is all that you want him to be, but in the end, all we have is the numbers. And the numbers say that all elite pitchers pitch at least 200 innings per season. You can walk out any stats you want, but in the end, he didn't meet that benchmark. Sorry. I want Mark Prior to kick a**. I want him to dominate the league. I want him to be better than Zambrano. Would I bet my house on it? I'll let you answer that question first. Mark Prior is nothing but the stats he has produced. Period. this side argument isn't even my point (though I stand by what I've said). My point is that Prior believes the Cubs have mishandled, mistreated or otherwise set his career back. He's gone at the earliest possible juncture, the Cubs know it, and would love to delay that possibility. Why you can't acknowledge that Prior has been great in the past, is beyond me. If he hasn't put up the innings you'd like to see, that doesn't change the fact that when he has pitched, he's been dominant. I've stated that Prior isn't 100%. But all things being equal I'd bet he'd out produce Miller. He's being given the raw end of the deal by his "employers" again. You only put up with crap as an employee until you can find a better gig. That's all I'm saying.

Someone will have to help me with the details here, but basically, but a super two wouldn't be calculated until three seasons later. It would be the top x percentage of guys with two+ years service time who are then treated as if they have three years service time. They tried to delay him a year by holding him back till may. Because of how many innings he threw and/or how many days he was on a major league roster (credit his superlative performance and the pennant race and Dusty's abuse) he was treated like he had three full years anyway. And yes 166 innings in 27 starts with 188 Ks and a 116 ERA+ in 2005 is certainly the highest level.

This is documented where? THis doesn't have to be documented. They did hold him back in 2002. It did prevent him from accruing service time. It was common knowledge to informed fans at the time. It also didn't work as he became a "super two" anyway. I don't know what documentation you would be looking for. Performed at the highest level? If you're referring to a single season a full 3 1/2 years ago, then I suppose that's true. This is ludicrous. Where do you get this drivel? look at his stats ERA+ of 122, 175, 113, and 116 with 116, 211, 118, and 166 IP in four consecutive years isn't the highest level? This is ludicrous. You seriously think that an organization, and especially a general manager who's job is on the line, are going to hold back a player if he can contribute more than a player currently on the roster, simply so they can hold on to him longer? Wow. that's not the primary reason, but, yes I believe it was taken into consideration in choosing an 80% Miller over an 80% Prior. They want the best return on the money they've put into him. They didi it in 2002; they're doing it again. I don't fault them, but it is true.

While I'm no sullivan apologist, I don't see how his take is so out of context. If prior is using the phrase "I'm just an emloyee" he's obviously not happy with the organization right now. From the very beginning Prior has been upset with their handling of him (as has his father). They held him in the minor leagues until May 22 in 2002 to prevent him from accruing service time (although I think he became a "super two" anyway). And now they send him down treating him as a kid when he has performed at the highest level, choosing an 80% Miller over an 80% Prior. It is very possible that if he stays in AAA long enough it could push his free agency to after 2009 instead of 2008. I think its clear he wants out. Hopefully he performs this year so he can be traded for value before he walks. Its not softness. He doesn't trust the Cubs management and Hendry in particular. He didn't like Dusty (for good reason - the percieved abuse was very real and may have ruined his career), and he obviously didn't care for Piniella's one way conversation. He's very smart and thinks he's even smarter. Only he, his father, and Tom House know what's best for him. (One reason I don't mind the "towel drill" jokes) I'll eat my hat and a fare share of crow if mark prior EVER signs with the Cubs when he is not under their control. In this article Sullivan is right on the money.

yeah but Z hustles. You have to pay extra for hustle.

Me too - but it doesn't even give me the opportunity to log in. Just opens the media player and sits there with the MLB logo. The only thing I can suggest is logging all the way out and restarting your browser. :? Pagan grounds out, 1-3 I think. 6-1 Cubs through 3 Tried that - but will try again!~ you can't get in from the main mlb page. You have to go in from the cubs page or from their schedule page.

Worked for Walker. Statistically, it's been proven he hit better when he had the scruff working. :) The manliness intimidated the opposing pitcher. score one for the intangibles crowd.

If Ronny turns into a viable starting shortstop, that might be Lou and Co's greatest accomplishment. Same could be said for Izturis.

That was assuming injury and or poor performance by someone else that would send them to the DL or Iowa. Now that Cotts has been added, Wuertz has recovered, and Wood still has a shot to be on the active roster, there doesn't appear to be anymore room for Cherry (or Guzman). What does this mean? Has Cotts been assured a spot? yup

aha. a hair plug.

couldn't happen to a better guy.

any chance Theriot gets more time at second than Derosa?

So Cubs.com shows 17 pitchers and 16 position players left on the active roster (without Marmol and Marshall) but it still lists all the NRIs. How many NRIs are left in big league camp?

have been optioned or will be optioned?

Monroe, LA

cautiously optimistic

voted

Yeah, because having too many capable pitchers is a bad thing. That was such a careless post. I'm hoping he kicks ass. I'd rather have Gooz in the long-man role. He still learning how to pitch. He'd make a nasty weapon coming out of the pen. If you guys think Wade Miller is going to be a capable ML starting pitcher once the regular season rolls around, good for you. I'll go on being "careless" and expecting not very much from him. When I said Careless I meant rooting for a player to fail. Sorry we need all the depth we can get at the Starting postion. I don't root for any of them to fail... That's only careless if you believe his "root" has any effect on the outcome. Otherwise its just his preference. Extreme example, if my son is up against my nephew, I'm rooting the nephew to fail.

Len and Bob talking about Prior's velocity during the game yesterday mention some numbers. One of them was not 90.

You're down for that one. Ok, everyone. Hurry and choose your date before they are all gone. Any chance the thread head could be changed to note "OFF" days and "AVAILABLE" game days? There's a link to the schedule in the first post. Just look at it and then look at the list to see if the date is taken. I've already chosen. Just wondering how full we have the schedule. This is exciting.

You're down for that one. Ok, everyone. Hurry and choose your date before they are all gone. Any chance the thread head could be changed to note "OFF" days and "AVAILABLE" game days?

Love the jab at Dusty. It's comforting to know that we're not the only ones who detest(ed) his managerial style. Talk to most fans from SF, they knew it too! When Dusty was hired several Giants fans posted on cubs.com (that was before NSBB was born) warning us about Dusty. Very few Cub fans posting there believed them, since the Giants had just come off a World Series appearance. I think most of us thought they just had sour grapes. It turned out they were right all along. I remember our response being something like, "yeah, but SF never had any rookies worth playing. he Cubs have a top five farm system. He'll play the rookies here." How little we knew. :cry:

Would've been better with AJ and Barrett ...*smack*... I'm lovin' it.

yes

At 6'2" and a medium frame (read: big butt) I can attest that it is easy to gain and lose as much as 10 pounds in a week at that age. I'd drink protein shakes, raw egg shakes, and eat burgers for a week and add 10 lbs. Then I'd go to baseball practice sucking on gatorade and snickers the whole time, and lose half of it in a day. At 30...not so much.