Bleed Cubbie Blue

it's live on

... mlb.tv.

neil m - March 5, 2007 reply

spoke too soon

they pulled the link for mlb.tv as the game started

miltowncubbie - March 5, 2007 reply

wood

looked really wierd with losing all that weight. i hope it helps him stay healthy all year

tbizzle83 - March 5, 2007 reply

Weird??

I think he looks fantastic.

Somehow I think this game is going to be a very accurate omen of our season; you are correct, Al, that this game displays the major crux of our team this 2007 season - Wood, Prior, and Lilly's performances. God bless. Or goat curses.

Dan

dtpollitt - March 5, 2007 reply

re: Weird??

Although I'm definitely excited about today's game, I'd say it's a bit of a stretch to call it an "accurate omen" of anything (and I'm not sure this is what Al was saying.)

Is this game more significant than other spring training games? Heck, yeah -- Prior and Wood are pitching. From a historical standpoint alone it's signficant. But I, for one, am going in with very moderate expectations. As long as Prior and Wood get in their work (i.e., don't get pulled early for giving up a multitude of runs), don't get hurt (!!!) and throw mostly strikes, I'll be more than satisfied.

We still have a long month ahead of us, though, so I don't think much will be decided re: Prior and Wood by this one game. Unless something bad happens. And that's not going to be the case. (Right, Baseball Gods?!)

I am excited, though. Did I mention that?

Clarify...

...I am sorry, my last post was a bit jumbled. I did not mean that "this season rides on today's Wood/Prior/Lilly performance". Instead, I meant that it is obviously significant that (1) Wood lost 30 some pounds for this year's season, (2) Prior is making his first spring training start in how long?!, and (3) this is Lilly's first appearance in a Cubs uni. I just meant that success for this organization starts with these three. Sorry my crap was post.

Dan

dtpollitt - March 5, 2007 reply

I really don't want to be psyched for this

It goes against my better judgment. But I still can't resist at least a bit of excitement and anticipation to see how these guys perform today.

SuperContext - March 5, 2007 reply

Same here

I have to keep telling myself that it's only spring training

what time does the game start?

amaru - March 5, 2007 reply

never mind I just read the title of

the thread. Geez that was dumb.

amaru - March 5, 2007 reply

Yes.

Yes it was. You fit right in here :)

Wood

My folks are down in Mesa for the month (something they have done for the last 10 yrs since retiring damn them!) and my dad had a 15 min conversation with Wood.

He couldn't believe how positive he was and in good spirits.. He said he looked the best he has since 1998. They also chatted about Wood's baby and my soon-to-be 2nd child. Kinda cool that Kerry Wood knows i'm having a baby next week!

Thos - March 5, 2007 reply

Go Cubs!!!

Sorry

I know I shouldn't do this, but I do love myself some Hawkeyes. However, I do think Alford has about run his course in Iowa City. It's about time we got someone in there who both knew how to recruit and how to coach the kids up. As a recent graduate I can tell you that Alford has basically killed basketball around campus. I can't really imagine him sparking the interest amoung students back up to the levels it was when he first got there. He's not a very warm and liked figure in the community there. Sorry for the off topic stuff...

hawkeyenation - March 5, 2007 reply

Thank you!

I'm a Badger alum who has nothing against Iowa athletics but Steve Alford positively makes me root against Iowa. His actions during the Pierre Pierce situations were inexcusable. He preaches religion, yet he doesn't follow his own words. I do not understand how the university continues to employ him.

DmL

dmlichte - March 5, 2007 reply

I agree that

Alford needs to go. He's a phony and makes me want to puke just looking at him. I do watch the team but it's hard to do with him there too. I wish he would make things simple and just leave.

I wonder

I wonder with Bowlsby leaving, who was Alfrord's greatest endorser on campus, whether Stevie will eventually just get the boot. The whole community was outraged with the whole Pierce scandal and the fact he's not an elite coach but is getting paid like one I think is finally starting to dawn on people. For a guy who was so good as a player he is a pretty horrific coach. They need to bring in someone with class to lead that program, much like they did with Kirk (who, even though I love him and love Hawkeye football about as much as I love the Cubs, is overpaid a bit). That's just my opinion though. Maybe a quick loss in the NIT will get Alford fired, or, and I hate to say this, perhaps even missing the NIT would do the trick. I feel bad Haluska had to suffer under such a hack, although he's had an amazing year.

hawkeyenation - March 5, 2007 reply

One can

only hope he will be gone. I like the team just not the coach.

I love Ferentz and it doesn't bother me what he makes.

Doesn't bother me either

and to be honest, I'm glad he's overpaid. Makes sure he's around the program for longer and not look towards the NFL. That and he's a class act. He is exactly what the university needs in coaches, Stevie, obviously, is not. I already can't wait until football season. Just have to hope that I can get season tickets. And then I have to search out tickets for Sept. 2nd, as the Hawks play at Soldier the 1st against Northern Illinois and I will be making the trip for that and would love to catch a Cubs game while I'm in the area.

hawkeyenation - March 5, 2007 reply

Alford

Iowa's decision to get rid of Tom Davis for Alford was bad. The only worse decision is the one to keep Alford. He has turned a program that under Olsson and Davis, was one of the best in the Big Ten into a Penn State-like laughing stock. Add to this the "bad citizen" problems and his reaction to them, and I wonder why they are keeping him around. He's got the game management skill of Dusty Baker and the morals of he-who-will-not-be-named (although he did Coach Alford)

frustratedfan - March 5, 2007 reply

st

I usually take any performances with a grain of salt, but take the opportunity to bone up on my fan moves for the regular season. For Instance:

The one run, it might as well be ten hopelessness. Usually caused by runners left on the basepath after no out hits.

The 7th inning cringer. I practice following the game with no sound on after whoever c-list celeb comes in for an interview after limping their way for "take me out"

Closer shuffle: When three runs isn't safe, I feel a growing subsuming terror. Dusty would usually respond to this by subbing for Novoa.

Any tips much appreciated.

Yesterday's game was great !

Wow ! What a game against the Chicago White Sox ! WOO HOO !

1969cubs - March 5, 2007 reply

About Prior....

He has contributed very little over the last couple of years, and yet he felt compelled to request more salary. I am somewhat disappointed by that. Oh well, I sure hope he gives us some productivity this year. It will interesting to see how he fares today.

deadcatbounce - March 5, 2007 reply

Prior

Yes, he has contributed nothing, but taking a pay cut would mean he would be taking a huge pay cut when inflation is accounted for. I think it's fair to give him the money he wanted.

alwaysacub - March 5, 2007 reply

Prior...

Probably didn't ask for a raise himself. Prior doesn't go to Hendry and say, I want such and such.

Prior's agent asked for basically an inflationary raise. Think about this though, if an agent ASKS for a paycut for their client, what do you think happens then? He'd be fired immediately and probably would have a hard time keeping/acquiring clients if they found out.

Harbinger, or icing?

Al, I'm not sure how much I agree with you that the Cubs fortunes are intimately tied to the threesome going today. The offseason was all about eliminating the REQUIREMENT that we rely on Prior and Wood - with more starting pitching options (behind Zambrano and Hill, we now have Lilly, Marquis, Marshall, Miller, Cotts and Prior all in the mix - 6 pitchers for 3 spots, or, as I supsect is possible, three - Miller, Mashall, and Prior - for one spot).

Hey, greatness by Prior and Wood would go a long ways towards "icing" this season as a potential drought-breaker....if Prior becomes Cy Mark again, and Kerry steps in as Gagne-reincarnated at closer, we're gonna look REALLY good.

But I'm cautious (though optimistic) on both those counts....thankfully, though, thanks to Jim Hendry's crazy spending ways, I'm not depending on those things to happen for the Cubs to be contenders, which is a FANTASTIC relief...

Chadnudj - March 5, 2007 reply

i would like to win a game

"STICK TO THE BASICS...

...STICK TO THE BASICS!!

Ah, nothing like a good Coach Bud Kilmer quote. Oh, Varsity Blues, how I love you.

Dan

dtpollitt - March 5, 2007 reply

LOL (laughing over lineup)

That's an amusing lineup to say the least. Cedeno leading off. Gotta love spring training. I think it's safe to say that this will be a "pitching focused" game for the Cubs.

THE RIOT: Get well soon.

Agreed....

this lineup sucks.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

re: Agreed....

I know, it's so sucky it's funny. Watch, the Cubs will score 15 runs.

It would be nice to get a win......

but I wish we could fast forward ST 2 weeks when most of the scrubs will go back to the minors or get released. I keep reminding myself its only temporary.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

The least

Sweet Lou could do is help out Prior and give him a good defensive lineup

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Lineup

Gameday has Pie playing center and leading off, Pagan playing right, and Cedeno batting 7th. I'm not saying that's correct, I'm just posting what Gameday says.

That's correct.

Just got another update from Bruce -- posted as you note on the front page. Thanks!

Good

Bruce Miles is like a god among sportswriters. I'd hate to see him be wrong.

Is Prior still going

or did something happen to him during warm-ups? (Not that I heard anything, you understand, it's just that with him, you never know!)

danimal15 - March 5, 2007 reply

LOL

Yes, he's still going.

First two hitters:

Pie, grounded out 4-3
Pagan, struck out

Jose Macias...

Did anyone notice he's a NRI for the Nationals? I'm sure it got commented on earlier, but I must have missed it.

bleedhawkeyegold - March 5, 2007 reply

I did notice that.

Washington seems to be a dumping ground these days.

If he makes the team, they're in serious trouble. Or, expecting to name Dusty Baker manager soon.

A chance to

see how Pie does today. This should give us an idea of how ready he is.

For all the hype surrounding him...

I expected him to get to everything during the game on Saturday against Oakland. There were a couple of balls where I thought he got bad jumps on the ball and was unable to make the catch.

Dont get me wrong they would have been great plays, just with the way they talk about him, I expect great plays.

Well...

...that was quick.

whoo coats!

buck with the catch and the nice throw..

HA HA!!!

Nice try, slick Willie.

Talk about emotional whiplash...

I just went from utter disappointment to total elation in 2.5 seconds.

Weird

With the Cubs, it's usually the opposite.

you have to have

steely nerves when listening to unfriendly radiocasts.. homerisms abound

control...

doesn't seem to be there yet for prior

re: control...

Yeah, he doesn't seem to be throwing strikes with any consistency.

Gameday is awful

n/t.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

re: Gameday is awful

Yeah, I've kinda given up on it for the time being. It just doesn't refresh often enough.

I think...

... Gameday will be OK during the season -- it's not really even supposed to be "out there" -- the links were "accidentally" discovered. They must be doing testing.

Prior didn't have a very good first inning, but he got away with it.

You guys are going to have to give updates for us.

n/t.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Hmpf...

Well, no serious damage done. Let's see whether Prior finds the strike zone next inning.

got out of the inning

didnt hear how.. dumb work. Prior walked two though.

2 down

fly out to left.. derosa up to bat

walked

cedeno up to bat.. de rosa on 1st

DeRosa draws the walk

Sweet.

ronny walks

looks like the strike zone is missing for both pitchers

Why do I have the feeling...

that this is not the lineup to get our first mark in the win column? I know spring training records are basically meaningless, but it won't look good startin' out 0-4.

Schwa - March 5, 2007 reply

0-4-1

Like hockey, you get a point for a tie, right!?

Touche...

forgot to account for the tie. Do you/did you go to UW?

Schwa - March 5, 2007 reply

Go Badgers!

Yeah, I am at UW.

Madtown

One of the best places on the planet.

wicubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

Wow...

Cubs players drawing walks. Room spinning.

full count

for kincaid

pop up to 2nd to end the inning

bloomquist for the out

Herr Prof...

Please continue your play-by-play.

THANKS!

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

End of Cubs' second.

No runs scored, but the walks were nice.

prior almost gave one up to jojima

just lf foul

jojima line drive to center

base hit for the catcher.

eww gapper

mike morris double, jojima to 2rd after rothchild mound visit.

Rothchild out...

Then a double. Runners on second and third.

thatll clear the bases

double to clear the bases 2-0 seattle

Ugh.

410-foot double, two runs score.

This isn't good.

re: Ugh.

Yup. He's clearly struggling.

fat pitch?

sounds like it

He was getting hit hard

that its for prior

lou with the hook

damn........

n/t.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

prior getting pulled

Prior is toast

You know you're in trouble when you start thinking "jeez, I'm glad they signed Marquis!"

ExNorthsider - March 5, 2007 reply

Damn...

Lou is pulling him early. Not good. Very disappointing.

Well...

Pessimists/Realists: 1
Optimists: 0

One more chance to even the score when Kerry gets in...

Schwa - March 5, 2007 reply

how many pitches did he throw?

Not sure.

But the Seattle radio guys said he was only throwing 83 MPH. That's not good, either.

ben howard?

they didnt pull mark because of pitch count

re: ben howard?

Yup, Howard is in. And, FWIW, the Seattle radio guys did speculate that Prior was on a pitch count.

Easy.....

folks.....

It is his first outing in a while.

It is really sad that I am the voice of optimism. At least his arm has not fallen off (yet).....

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

There is some cause for concern......

if his velocity and control are shitty. This outing sounds like a typical Prior start from last year.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

I stand....

corrected. I did not know that he was topping out at 83-84 mph......

Back to the program.....

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

ST is pretty much a disaster

so far.

What the F?

The positives are very, very few after a week.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

But hey..

we got Lou! All will be different.

wicubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

just stole third

and almost threw it away.

Crap.

Back to tossing towels.

bergs55 - March 5, 2007 reply

Note

Rothchild or Lou must have saw something they didn't like from Prior pulling him early.

I'm glad. He's got some work to do. Good call from Lou/Larry.

He'll be fine. The frist one is out of the way.

Lets get Woody going.

Scott G F - March 5, 2007 reply

You had me....

until I saw your sig line......

Sosa = tool

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

LOL

I like His Sammieness. Warts and all.

Scott G F - March 5, 2007 reply

base hit

3-0

prior pitches

had no velocity, topping out at "83-84"

suppose to build up to your velocity though, yes?

agreed.

I'm not really worried about prior's velocity at this point. lou and larry probably have him more focused on hitting the strike zone than turning it up a notch.

the walks hurt though.

bmeteor - March 5, 2007 reply

spring training sucks.

"He'll be fine"

Oh really, Doc?

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

rbi double

4-0

Seattle announcer re Prior's radar gun results

Paraphrased:

"You can close the book on Prior, who was hitting 83, 84 maybe 85 miles per hour"

ExNorthsider - March 5, 2007 reply

Yikes

Announcers just said Prior was topping out at 83-84 mph.

SuperContext - March 5, 2007 reply

If he's topping out at 83 or 84.......

then its over for Prior.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

83-84?

sigh =(

this hurts

Something tells me

Ben Howard isn' coming north

We can't score,

or pitch in key moments.

Today's starters were 25-man roster guys, folks.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

re: We can't score,

Well, not necessarily. Prior has not been guaranteed a spot in the rotation. And I don't believe Howard is either.

well, there's alot of starters that aren't playing

soriano, lee, ramirez, izturis, and jones

god, i still cant believe prior was topping at 84

If......

he is throwing only 83-84 mph, why put him out there? IMHO, the lack of velocity is either due to something being structurally wrong with his shoulder or his delivery is off. Either way, why not make sure before sending him out. It would be one thing to get teed up if you are throwing 90+ and are working on hitting your spots. This makes no sense to me.......

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

re: If......

Excellent question. Maybe they thought he'd ramp it up for the game. Guess not...

who knows if the gun is right?

he wasn't sharp, but there's no reason to think "topping out" means topping out. i'm not worried much about velocity (not yet anyway).

What probably makes the most sense is that......

his shoulder is for lack of a better word and sorry for the language......fucked. Losing 10 MPH on a fastball I wouldn't attribute to delivery problems.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

The reason...

I said delivery problems is because I read last year he changed his delivery and release point due to shoulder irritation. I am not a pitcher (although I play one in whiffle ball) but I would think that if he is not letting it go freely, he may be changing his motion costing him velocity.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

If it was 2 or 3 MPH.......

I'd agree with you and last year that was pretty much where he was throwing. 10 though.......I think he might have a torn labrum since there's only a handful of injuries that would rob a pitcher of 10 MPH.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

i agree

something's been wrong with him for a couple years now.
when he came up, he threw consistently around 96-97 (according to the wrigley gun).
then, post injuries, he never came close to that again. his ceiling was more in the 91-92 range. which meant he threw a lot of stuff in the 86-87 range.

he's just not the kind of pitcher that can get away with that. his fast ball doesn't move much, it doesn't sink...his curveball isn't good enough to throw on it's own.

he was always a hard fastball thrower, whose off-speed stuff was only effective coming off the fastball.

i guess it's possible this is just spring training tightness. but this isn't just an isolated incident. it's an ongoing trend.

billywan - March 5, 2007 reply

Even last year

When I saw his AA rehab start, he started the game at 87-89 and ended around 91-92. At the time I said he didn't look like he was throwing free and easy, and he looked uncomfortable. If, after resting this offseason and presumably doing all his throwing starting in January, the best he could do is 83-85 with poor control, I'm going to have to say in my opinion there is something seriously wrong with his arm. I'm not a doctor, not a coach either, but to me if he was taking a bit off to get it over his control would have been better. No velocity and no control combined really throw up some red flags.

Bill M - March 5, 2007 reply

pie catches a long fly to end the inning

4-0

finally

that one hurt.

3rd inning

tomas perez ball one .. now strike two

dribbles to third to beltre

1 out

yuck

it just seems like we are always so overmatched on both sides of the field.

pie rips one to rf

1st base

Why is it...

That, A: the opposition tees off on us, especially the non-rosters

and B., we can't hit either starters or non-rosters from the other teams?

Is anyone concerned here?

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

Kind of.

First of all, it's only the third inning today. Second of all, four of our better hitters (Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Jones) aren't playing today.

If this sort of thing is still going on a week from now, I'll be worried. Otherwise I think I'll give it at least a second time around the rotation.

Not concerned.....

Yet.

Curious: How long does it take to erase the bad karma/ habits left from the previous manager? Many of the same suspects are back. Personally, I think it is going to take a little while for Lou to change the attitude of this team.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

Or perhaps..

The influence of the manager is overrated and these are the type of plyers the GM gets..

wicubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

Ding,Ding,Ding.......

we have a winner. Although a manager isn't without his fair share of blame.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

re: Why is it...

I'm definitely bummed about Prior, but I'm not hitting the panic button yet either. It's still early in the spring and a lot of the damage we're incurring is coming off of lower-level pitchers such as Ben Howard.

i'm ready for pinella to go apeshit

i'm ready for pinella to go apeshit

You really must be ready for that.

You wrote it twice! :)

runners at first and second

reaches on error

This is starting

to get depressing.

Are you ready

for Pinella to go apeshit?

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

i'll sing it again.

line drive to beltre

murton is down, 2 outs

3-1 to daryl

gapper! pie scores!

1st and 2nd

m. barrett up to bat w/ two outs

DWard

Nice clutch hit.

fo

end of inning 4-1 mariners

when do you expect wood to come in?

September 12th, 2007

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

LMAO

n/t

JimmyJ31 - March 5, 2007 reply

Lilly In

Let's go Prez!!!

fo to murton

one out

grounder to perez

two outs

hey, what's the gun say for lilly anyway?

no speed said yet

these like to talk about promotions and other topics instead of the game... :(

any indication of his velocity?

you just repeated his question

when he said "gun" he wasn't talking smith and wesson.

nice grab murton

3 up 3 down

This is NOT the Bears

During the Bears summer camp, and exhibition games, there was worry about Grossman. But, the team made the PLAYOFFS the year before.

Those fears, to a point, were dispelled when the team went 14-2 or whatever.

This is NOT the Bears, and based on the TRACK RECORD, I do NOT like what is happening, regardless if it "ST" or not.

I guess Lou doesn't either.

Heads should roll.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

I think we get the point

you are scared. Right.

Yeah,

let's say I'm a bit frustrated. Well, a LOT frustrated.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

Deep breath....

It is going to take Lou some time to change the culture/ atmosphere of losing with this club.

I believe he will change it for the better (it can only get better, right?) and this team will be competitive.

Jim Hendry allowing Dusty to continue as manager last year delayed the healing process. It will get better. It has to.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

dude

what is the problem? what are you concerned with specifically? our regulars are doing fine, soriano had a hell of a game yesterday, murton had a hell of a game friday, zambrano was lights out, no one was counting on prior, and we sure werent expecting cy young to step out there in his first spring game in 3 years, why all the pessism?

kylejo - March 5, 2007 reply

Now that's more like it...

Good job, Lilly. Sounds like Orange Guy made a nice grab, too.

derosa so

1st out

basehit up the middle

cedeno at 1st

HR! 2runner by kincaid

4-3

Kinkaid to the rescue!

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

or, kinkade? kincade? kincaid? kool-ade?

oh whatever

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

YES!

Stepped away from my desk and come back to this. Nice. Maybe I should step away more often...

Save your "mojo" moves...

for the regular season. PLEASE don't use them up yet.

Try to work on the best ones in the office: men's room visits, kitchen, parking lot, vending machine, collegial visit, etc.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

re: Save your "mojo" moves...

My company doesn't allow conjugal visits until we hit the ten-year service mark.

Oh, wait...you said collegial visits.

Nevermind.

conjugal visits?

is your company called San Quentin?

re: conjugal visits?

Nah, I'm stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps dragging on...

Kincade

Two-run homer.

4-3 Mariners

Imtrejo - March 5, 2007 reply

almost got out

lf line foul ball

Just don't get hurt

My expectations are frightfully low for these guys. If these guys don't humiliate themselves and don't get hurt, it will be a victory of sorts.

DaveinHouston - March 5, 2007 reply

lo to sexton

2outs

2out basehit

for pie

Pie with a hot-shot base hit

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

fo at 2nd

end of inning .. 4-3 mariners

Pie

Did anyone else notice the size of Pie's head in gameday? He's huge :)

CyberCyclist - March 5, 2007 reply

wonder

how much bigger that makes the bobblehead?

it's only because they aren't using a press photo

reed bunts for a base hit

oh kinkadeed...

double play!

cedeno! 2 outs

did anyone see what prior was throwing

was he switching it up or just throwing one pitch?

1-2-3 (ish)

Lilly looking good

about Prior

I thought we all weren't going to expect ANYTHING out of this guy, yet all I see, mostly, is panic? The guy's had nothing but red flags re his shoulder so we shouldn't expect him to throw anywhere near the mid 90's anymore, which is pretty much useless if he doesn't have Maddux-like movement or anything else. We should just forget about him. The season doesn't depend on Prior.

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

granted

but there was a lot of talk from the camp about him looking good, etc. plus, the guy was at one time one of the most exciting pitchers i have ever seen. so, it is hard not to long for him to do it again. if he doesn't make the team, we'll still have a shot at being competitive or at least being around .500. but i'd like to see the kid do well.

the only talk around camp

was that he was pitching without pain. there was no mention of velocity. If he can't throw the fastball past 90 mph anymore he's not much use, is he.

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

This is what pisses me off........

for all the money Hendry spent he still didn't assemble a good enough pitching staff to win......spending all that money merely to compete is half assed.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Stealing from Al....

LONG SUSTAINED APPLAUSE.......

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

well, the team was terrible

it took this much money to get them to average. now, i think they overspent a bit, but it's not my money. and i'm not especially concerned with mortgaging the future. what future? this team hangs out in the gutter.

I beg to differ.....

IMHO the Cubs have a razor thin margin for error. They should (and will be) better than last year BUT they still are a mediocre club. If Prior is healthy, he makes life a hell of a lot easier. People forget that he was solid in 2005. If he could throw up those numbers, it takes a tremendous amount of pressure off the rest of the staff.

I am not saying this team can't win, but without prior I think it will be much more difficult.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

i don't expect them to win

i expect them to be around .500. but, if they get going well, they might be able to push it to 10 games above and have a shot at the division. i'd take prior from 2005.

A healthy Prior.....

IMHO, pushes them from a so so team to a decent team.

Without him, I think the Cubs will be no better than a .500 club.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

but what is healthy?

i consider him healthy now. i think the team considers him to be healthy as well. i think he needs some work, but i don't think he needs to rest or have surgery.

Personally,,,,,

I don't trust this medical staff. I have believed for sometime now that there is something structurally wrong with his shoulder. IMHO, nothing about his performance over the past two seasons scream healthy.

The man is either weak (which I do not believe) or something is wrong physically.

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

If he's throwing the fastball.....

at 83-85 MPH......he's not healthy.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

couldn't be that his mechanics are a bit off?

that he has to work. he worked to get there in the first place. whether he can work his way back i don't know. but i don't think he is unhealthy (at least compared to an average ml pitcher) and they're still trotting him out there.

not at all

a 12 mph drop in velocity is NOT mechanical. His labrum is probably torn, which is pretty much the worst injury possible.

The consensus around other sectors of cubdom is that prior is done--this is how I feel, and I've felt this way since last year.

There is something very wrong with his shoulder.

and

i don't think it's necessarily fair to put his average velocity at 97. i would at least give it a range, say 93-97, which makes the drop (from the reports we've been given): 8-14 mph. not good obviously, but not entirely dire.

it's dire in my world

I'm going by his 2003 average velocity, which was 95 mph. His velocity is averaging 11 and 12 mph slower in this game. Anything above 4-5 mph is something to worry about.

I'm not really that upset right now, because I accepted the fact that Prior is done months ago.

well

i certainly don't expect him ever to be what he was in 03.

Like I said to someone else......

if it was a couple of MPH off of where he throws when he's healthy then yes I believe an argument could be made that his mechanics might be off, but not 10 MPH. That's just too much velocity lost to be something as arbitrary as flawed mechanics. No control + 10 MPH lost=something torn in his shoulder in my book. Probably a labrum.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

so,

you're ready to use the second-hand reports we've received from the away announcers about his velocity today taken from a spread of what 18 pitches to back this up or to finalize your conclusions? i need more info before i diagnosis a torn labrum.

no

We're going on all of last season, myriad reports, shoulder problems in the past, the revelation that his shoulder is "loose", steve stone's expertise, baseball history, AND this start (give me a minute, and I can come up with about 10 more reasons)

If you're still struggling to accept the reality of this situation, then I can't help you.

i'm not struggling at all.

but i'll take a prior at around 90 mph--with location. the location to me is a bigger issue. so, basically you're saying the kid can never be healthy again. i'm less certain.

Not nnecessarily

but I am saying that he won't be healthy in the near future. The labrum tear seems pretty likely, and those are a bastard to heal. Many pitchers never come back from it. I think it is safe to say that 2003 prior is gone forever, but I wouldn't be shocked if he came back in a year or three to be sporadically effective.

When he.......

hits 90 and exhibits some control please let us know.....

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

Even if he hits 90 and has control......

it won't mean much......Prior's a guy who lives and dies with that 95+ MPH fastball w/ late break.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Yea,

I am. What reason do they have to mislead us? It wouldn't have mattered if he threw 10 pitches the fact remains that he had no control and no velocity on his pitches. Just look at Wood, he's out there throwing 95-97 from what I've heard so if there's some thought about Prior taking it easy or being rusty.....well......Wood's just as rusty as Prior.

I like Mark Prior, I want him to come back and be an ace again for this team and I'd love for nothing more than for him put all the injuries behind him and lead this team to greatness......but if he's throwing that softly, you should be concerned. Make no mistake, this is bad.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

it's not that they are trying to mislead

it's that you can't just simply trust the accuracy of the reports. where did you hear that wood was throwing 97?

In the game thread over at......

NSBB.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

A presidential outing...

From Lilly. Thanks to some good D, of course. I'll take it.

I think no one expects

lilly to be a so pitcher. I just worry about him on those days where its blowing out. He will have to keep the ball in the infield and ill be happy.

Sweet...

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

murton walks

reistma gives it up

re: murton walks

Man, so far Orange Guy is delivering as promised. Clutch hits. Lengthy at-bats. Walks. Love this guy.

yeah,

murton is very good when he is patient. for a time last year, he lost that. stay patient murt.

hmmm.

i wish they would have brought prior in mid-game, rather than letting him start.

they said

he needed longer to warm-up, whatever that means.

Why?

He got a raise and "Feels Good".

Gotta see who can be counted on.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

why?

something to do with towels, is my guess

ward so's

1 down

ground ball up the middle

base hit for barrett

It's exciting...

Just reading these game updates at work. Too bad gameday is terrible today.

I tried clicking on Murton for his stats...

Undefined. :(

HanOfTheBluegrass - March 5, 2007 reply

ball 4

bases loaded 1 out

does that mean that cedeno's up?

hm

eww double play

5-2-3 dp to end the inning

Sigh...

Classic Ronnie.

double plays are no friend to the cubs

Ronnie looks

about 15 in that gameday headshot.

26.2cubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

I wonder what that will do for his bobblehead

I got nothing

send it to triple A

I hope

Double

if we're lucky.

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

here comes wood!

lets go.. ground out to cedeno on one pitchs

91mph

is it just me,

or does he look like a pure badass on his gameday photo? ice runs through this mans veins

Can you say...

IOWA

I wish Theriot was available.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

Hey!

Woody's got some heat.

akcubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

struck him out

guillen didn't even see it

high popup

to 1st base 1-2-3

quick 1-2-3 for K Wood

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

YES

Way to go Woodsy!!!

walks the leadoff

on 4 pitches. what a putz

nice bunt!

kincade to 2nd

We are tied 4-4

Pie basehit!

pie has been solid.

re: We are tied 4-4

That's Pie's third hit of the day. He's having a good game.

P-I-E

R-B-I

3rd hit for Pie

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

he

is killin this game

Kchance - March 5, 2007 reply

Uh...

OK, I think it's safe to say we're all on the same page about Pie's performance today.

All just looking for that...

silver lining

Pie...

Having a nice game at the plate

3-1 for the pagan

putz has poor location

hooray for Foot!

pagan gets one past the 1st baseman

cubs on the corners!

yeah, pagan!

1st and 3rd

come on, orange guy

deep right field.. sac fly for pie

5-4 cubs

go murton!

ummmm

what inning are we in?

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Not only that...

But right now Wood is the pitcher of record

audiospeedwagon - March 5, 2007 reply

good point!

pagan steals 2nd

woo

5.5 in the books

5-4 cubs

i can't believe we've scored 5 runs

and with about 300 mil on the bench.

woudlnt

wouldnt it suck if this guy was lien about everythin and we lost like 20 -3.. i would find u herrprof lol

Kchance - March 5, 2007 reply

I would pad the lead a lil more if i was lying

and not say all that shizz on prior.

sorry not WE

... the cubs

Kchance - March 5, 2007 reply

Cotts in

cotts in to pitch

ball 1

Wood Out/Cotts In

in field hit

derosa couldnt get there quick enough

fo out at 2nd

cedeno misplayed that one i think

bucks coats gets the out

a runner stranded

Phew...

Well, it sounds like Cotts showed a little better command than he did the first time he pitched. I'm just glad Cedeno and DeRosa were able to salvage those outs.

It sounded like

cedeno mightve had a chance a double play..

at least he didnt toss it in the dugout.

ps: why are there so many cellphones at this game?

re: It sounded like

Yeah, I'm hearing a lot of cell phones and a lot of other weird noises on Gameday Audio. I keep hearing what's either a baby crying or some sort of shrieking gremlin. I also hear a lot of Mariners fans even though the Seattle announcers keep whining about how many Cubs fans are there.

cmon mike bear

stand up double for the leadoff

stupid interview

not telling us whats going on

TheBeerBaron's Mark Prior worried meter is

at about a 6 out of 10.....83-85 MPH? I need a confirmation on that.

TheBeerBaron - March 5, 2007 reply

ah, beerbaron, you amuse me

You've had your heart broken so many times this year. It seems that you have a knack for developing star cross'd mancrushes.

I know.....

Hey, at least I accurately predicted that Mark DeRosa would join the CUBS!! I have that going for me ;)

I am still going to be at least semi-optimistic regarding Prior. At least he made his 2nd Cactus League start in 4 years!

TheBeerBaron - March 5, 2007 reply

That's so bad.

What's going on with him? That's a lot of velocity gone.

Oh, Prior. You make me worry so much.

oh sparkles

mark can't hear you over the sound of his shoulder tearing and his arm falling off.

Or maybe he can't hear me...

because I'm crying my eyes out because of him.

I'm really scared now. Stop saying that stuff about tears. I'm sure I will get to hear enough of it at some point.

Oh this sucks.

Don't cry.......

we all should have seen this coming a mile away.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

I'm only crying...

on the inside.

I totally didn't see him losing that much velocity. I thought he would have a fastball in the 90s. I really did.

It's so sad. I'm so blind.

If its any consolation......

I'm probably just as dissapointed as you are.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Me too

Sparkles, me too.

and I need a hug

and possibly rocked in a chair.

Me too.

But instead my dad just walks away after I tell him Prior's problem.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/news/story?id=2788793

Latest on prior

according to espn...

"Prior was scheduled to go two innings but left after 40 pitches -- 16 of which were chest-high or higher."

hmm...

but nothing on velocity

derosa basehit to rf

cubs on the corners.. e paterson in for barett

note to seattle

dont let the play by play guy do the interview

wtf is happening?

this dude sucks!

wtf?!

re: note to seattle

I know, this is ridiculous! You can hear stuff happening but they keep babbling on and on...

cheers

kincaid soft liner

6-4

Yes

i turn into XM 178 and he says Cubs extend lead to 6-4!

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

who are they interviewing?

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

some guy

with a baby on the way

yknow important baseball stuff.

double play to end the inning

bring on the scrubs!

neal cotts still in

against ordonez.. one of the other ones

I thought Ordonez was out of BB

I remember when the mets were really high on him, but that might've been steve phillips. and then he was a cub. sigh

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

double on an error

pie lost it in the sun..

actually its a triple.

great play by kincade!

diving catch over the shoulder for first out along the line.

If Cotts can get outta this...

...it'll show a lot.

Sounds like Kinkade just made a great catch.

aww

he didnt get it..

These announcers suck. Period.

you spend a few years announcing the mariners

and see how YOU sound ;)

hit on the ground to cedeno

runner scores 6-5

dam it

did they score?

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Prior is the story

no matter what the final score or how Wood does, this guy just seems to be a tragic case of not fulfilling that great promise of a few years back...has he had arm surgery or not?? i've lost track of all his ailments...can't fault Cubs for sending him out there today tho if all reports signaled "healthy.''

Dustbag's use of him in past was questionable they had to ride him pretty hard through the '03 playoffs...tho that one laugher where they had the big lead, he clearly shoulda been pulled sooner, that didn't wear and tear his arm as much as some other outings might have.

Of course we'll never know but hasn't it been intimated Prior disliked Baker??

writerinwrigley - March 5, 2007 reply

I would bank on the fact that Prior doesn't like..

Baker and at this point, I'm not sure that I can blame him too much.

PriorandAramisfan23 - March 5, 2007 reply

Prior's never had surgery

that we know of ;) but his problems may not only be dusty's fault, or prior's own fault, or high school or college, it could just be plain genetics or a combination of everything. hard to blame one thing.

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

blooped in rt field for a hit

missed it..

great,

now we gotta listen to seatle traffic updates? thats rediculous...

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

well...

the traffic is pretty ridiculous around seattle.

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

ps: I hate jose guilen

what a jerk

fielders choice

out at 1st, runner up to 2nd. 2outs

pop up to center field to end the inning

on to the 8th.

Will Lou bring on Dempster?

Or is that not necessary in spring training?

it's never necessary

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

re: it's never necessary

LOL. "Necessary" isn't really the right word, but you know what I mean...

lol i was gonna add 'smart'

but just got lazy.

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

Will Lou bring on Dempster?

I don't think he has pitched yet in ST so he should bring him in.

Yeah he did...

He did fine.

It's the 9th already?

here omes another interview

the umpire supervisor! fun!

I'm not even listening...

...to the announcers and I'm annoyed with them.

omg, theese

guys suck, theyy cant even tell us whos hitting...

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

omg, theese

guys suck, theyy cant even tell us whos hitting...

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

this just in

ice cream is yummy

pagan strikes out

murton..

no coats!

duh

what happened

with pie's at bat?

kylejo - March 5, 2007 reply

I dont know

its obviously not as important as subsection a 3 passage nine of the mlb rules.

re: what happened

Pie struck out. I think it's time for him to come out, but I don't know who would replace him.

ice cream,

what is that? can u please describe that for us?

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

its white cold and creamy

like ted lilly!

buck coats (murton)

has an infield hit

Im not sure cause he keeps switching the names

re: buck coats (murton)

They established it was Buck Coats and then called him Matt Murton anyway.

Oh, Pat and Ron, where are you?!

These announcers are morons...

THAT'S NOT MATT MURTON!!!

Step away

and come back to a 6-5 game. At least we are scoring some runs today.

1-2 for ward

for those interested in baseball.

damn!

ward robbed to retire the side

and they are asking the umpire super to stick around

randy wells into pitch

one pitch one out on a hit to pagan.

typing run 90 feet away

was talking to coworker and missed more

er

tying

re: typing run 90 feet away

I missed it, too. I was, uh, briefly indisposed.

typing run 90 feet away

One or the other can be away but not at the same time.;)

"Typing run"

somehow, in this place, seems appropriate.

Godamnit...

What happened?

3-2 pitch

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND....

WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im used to this from fox sports, but a radio play

pops up two out

did he say the bases where loaded?

re: im used to this from fox sports, but a radio p

Yes, he did say the bases were loaded. Rocky Cherry in.

and lou is going to get a pitcher

he wants to win!

re: lou is going to get a pitcher

just win baby?

26.2cubfan - March 5, 2007 reply

rocky cherry to pitch

and the bases are loaded with two outs.

good strategy lou

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

Wow...

This is actually getting good. Problem is, I have to leave work in a few minutes! ARGH!!

wow

You don't need to leave work on time, you just need to get to work on time.

re: wow

Good point. But I gotta catch a train. Bummer. Well, I'll have to find out later tonight how things ended up. This would be a great time to bring on Demp, though, and see how he fares.

Too bad about Prior. I fear the worst.

Catch y'all tomorrow.

strike 2

nice breaking ball.

2 and 1

cmon cherry

2 and 2

nt

btw instead of calling the game

pop up to get out of trouble!

they were asking the umpire

if its harder to call a curve ball versus a regular pitch.

no

it was is it harder to call a curve ball or hit one...

LilLPLancer23 - March 5, 2007 reply

sorry

I shoudlve payed the conversation more respect :/

gameday blows

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

Usually...

... it's OK during the season. I think it's being beta-tested for now, not updating as it will once the season actually starts.

YES!

Well done, Rocky.

I actually like rocky cherry somewhat

and I would be all kinds of thrilled if someone with his name made the team.

He should...

... marry a girl whose last name is Garcia...

maybe

they can play some funky don cherry tune when he comes up to pitch?

I'd much rather...

he marry "Mary Poppins", so he could be Rocky Cherry-Poppins.

They did it!

Prior and Wood both pitched without their arms falling off, Lilly looked good, and how about Felix Pie?

Mapanator - March 5, 2007 reply

you have a funny measure of success

wood sounded great.

Wood's performance

And to some extent Lilly's, tempered the disappointment of the great sucking sound that was Mark Prior today.

Now lets see if Wood can go back-to-back....

SuperContext - March 5, 2007 reply

paterson is out

nt

cedeno is out 2outs..

grounded to.. short?

who cares

he was AB, he's out.

Faith plus 1 - March 5, 2007 reply

LOL!

How about this Cotts guy?!

He has shown absolutely ZERO.

TheEman - March 5, 2007 reply

cotts was decent

he only gave up that one run that shoudlve been an easy out right?

If the Cubs lose today

They'll be one of the only teams without a win. The Pirates are another. Not the company you want to keep.

danimal15 - March 5, 2007 reply

Its up the Ice Cream Man

Rock Cherry to close it out

cherry still in

strike 1

3-2

pie catchs an almost homer at the track.

centerfield basehit

cherry looking a little rocky.

Who would get the W? TV/radio cov'g??

More of these games should be on radio (free) or local Tv esp. today; espn had yankees-Tigers wonder if they'll pick up a cub spring game?

writerinwrigley - March 5, 2007 reply

wood

is in line for the win iirc

If Wood gets the win...

Someone should nail him with a shaving cream pie.

audiospeedwagon - March 5, 2007 reply

Did he?

If he did I will be happy.

He did get the win.

About the pie, I have no idea.

0-2

cmon dp

struck him out!

two down

the runner at first

almost got cherry-picked. ho ho ho

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

cubs win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cashcowsquirtingsourmilk - March 5, 2007 reply

CUBS WIN

CHERRY WITH THE SAVE

Wood with the win.

CUBS WIN

Thanks for the play by play HerrProf. Really appreciate it.

glad it was slow enough

I could do it.

Hooray!

A win's a win. Glad they got the first one!

Hooray......

What did you say about the new 30???????

timeforachange - March 5, 2007 reply

YAY!!!!!

Very nice win for the Cubs.