Odds and Sods

The Cubs announced today that Mark Prior would once again be placed on the disabled list.  This time for an “exploratory” arthroscopic procedure.  The translation is that he is feeling pain in his shoulder for which there is no visible cause.  The doctors could be incompetent, Prior could be a hypochondriac, or, maybe, his arm just was not designed to withstand the wear and tear of pitching in the Major Leagues.

The former #2 overall draft pack out of USC displayed tremendous potential in 2003, posting an 18-6 record and becoming a pivotal figure on a club that was five outs away from going to the World Series.  However, freak injuries and eight trips to the DL since have ruined his once promising career.  He was limited to 21 starts in 2004, 27 starts in 2005, and just nine starts in 2006.  Unable to make the Opening Day roster, Prior was optioned to AAA to work out his problems, which apparently will not be happening for the forseeable future.

Sometimes, fate has a way of telling you that you weren’t meant to do something.  You don’t get into the graduate or professional program that you want.  You get fired from a job that you weren’t enjoying anyway.  Or, in Mark Prior’s case you keep getting injured.

Maybe he isn’t supposed to be the next Roger Clemens.  Or, maybe the entire space-time continuum rests upon the Cubs not winning the World Series and a higher power is keeping Prior on the sidelines.  Whatever the case, he needs a change of scenery.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who inexplicably still has a job, failed to trade him despite numerous opportunities when he still had some tangible value.  Despite the abysmal pitching market, they won’t get much from trading him, but it is not anymore than they are getting out of him.  It would be better for both him and the club if they parted ways, but this is the Cubs where “if Prior and Wood are healthy” has been the official slogan since 2003.