MLB: Prior Convictions
Baseball
Is anybody else following the health of Mark Prior? Is anybody else getting that really sinking feeling about it?
If you're a Cubs fan, you should.
Here's a guy who, if the Cubs had given him ANY run support earlier in 2003, should have won 21 games (he won 18) and challenged, if not beaten, Eric Gagne for the Cy Young. He had the stuff-- the innings, the K's... but at 18-6 you can't beat a guy who saved 649 games in a row, even though relievers are at an amazing disadvantage in the Cy voting (as they should be).
So now he's showing elbow problems. Lingering elbow problems. He wasn't the same pitcher in '04 and we haven't seen anything promising out of him this spring except a whole slew of inflammation. This is not good.
Now, normally people shouldn't worry about this, but Cubs fans should. If Prior has a few more injury plagued seasons, there's good reason to think that the team would give up on him, only to have him land in a larger market with some monster contract he doesn't deserve... until he gets healthy and starts winning 22 games a year with 250 K's in 200 innings over 35 starts.
Remember, Prior is only 24 right now, he won't even be a quarter-centry old until August. There's no reason to think he can't turn it around, maybe even after surgery (even with the 2 year post-Tommy John waiting period now, he'd still only be 26 or 27, most guys don't even break AAA until that age). Listen up, Cubs management (yes Jim Hendry that means you, and the Tribune too) -- DON'T GIVE UP! The ghost of Greg Maddux still haunts Wrigleyville.
Quick Notes on Spring Training
Is anybody really surprised Frank Thomas is disabled again? Didn't think so.
What's the over/under on Kevin Brown starts this year. 21? Somebody give me a line on this.
Countdown until Scott Erickson remembers he's Scott Erickson and implodes, 6 starts and counting....
Has anybody noticed this kid Andy Phillips tearing the cover off the ball for the Yanks this spring? No, probably not. It's too bad, since this kid could be a starting corner outfielder someplace else. I guess he'll just have to wait until July when he's traded for an aging middle-reliever.
posted by BJC @ 9:48 AM
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