I hate puns. Especially puns about Prior. Especially this pun about Prior. It’s so “Gordon Wittenmyer”-y. But there might be a glimmer of hope yet for the survival of The Franchise’s career.
And, as lame as Prior has been since 2003, and as much as I (and certainly others) had written him off up until about the 3rd inning of yesterday’s start, how would you like the Cubs’ chances if Prior were even 75% of the pitcher he was at the end of 2003? Not at the very end, when he was a crybaby pansy in Game 6. But up until that point.
A rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, 75% of 2003 Mark Prior, Rich Hill, and Jason Marquis looks astonishingly better than Z, Lilly, Marquis, Hill, and Wade Miller. The latter makes me a little queasy, in fact. The former? Well, combine that with an offense that is vastly improved from last year, and it at least makes them National League competitors. Doesn’t it?
I hope I was quick to write off Prior when he was allegedly hitting only 83 on the radar guns earlier this spring. I called him “mentally soft,” “fragile,” and “a f@#$ing piece of shit USC grad,” to name a few things.
But now, some accounts had Prior hitting 93 at one point in his start yesterday, and Prior was, at the very least, finally giving Michael Barrett a reason to wear a catcher’s mitt. You know, other than to hide the fact that he still has to write his phone number and address on his palm.
From what I’ve read, Prior still lacks much of the command and poise he possessed in 2003. His velocity, even if he hit 93 at one point, is still down, and apparently many of the outs he’s getting are coming on balls hit harder than Barrett’s were last year.
Still. Do we dare start to like his chances of being an honest-to-goodness Major League pitcher again? Hope hasn’t worked out too well for Cubs fans in the past, but it’s hard not to cross your fingers and hope that Wade Miller isn’t in the starting rotation for long. But I guess we’d be doing that even if Prior were good, right?
- There’s still time to vote for Desipio for “better than Bleed Cubbie Blue.” Delete your cookies and vote multiple times. It’s fun and a waste of time.
- Don’t you miss Maddux? He still seems to find away to make batters miss him, that’s for damn sure.
- Ever wonder what guys with soul patches do in their spare time? They make films about the worst moments in your lifetime.
- When do you think Santo is going to realize that he “testified” against his boss? Before or after he’s in the Hall of Fame?
- The only thing more obnoxious than an article about a guy who “wants to win” is an article about a guy who “wants to win” written by a guy named Muskrat.
> Ever wonder what guys with soul patches do in their spare time?
If I’m any guide, “licking Jim Edmonds’ taint.”
And, FWIW, that’s not a soul patch on my chin, just the shadow of my thumb. (Nit duly picked.)
Looks like Santo testified for the defense, so he was actually supporting his boss.
On a personal note, I offer hearty “f*ck you” to BK for making me read one of those stupid “Tribune on Trial” articles.
Sorry, TEC. Clearly I didn’t read it. I didn’t think anyone else actually would.
Thank Christ…he’s back on the juice.
I’m loyal to the Cubs because that eccentric fop PK Wrigley stared out the window and then proceeded to give me money back some time int he 60’s.
I’m making less and less sense every year.
> On a personal note, I offer hearty “f*ck you†to BK for making me read one of those stupid “Tribune on Trial†articles.
The Trib really ought to fire back with some “Sun-Times on Trial” articles.
Oh… wait.
I may be doing it with smoke and mirrors, but check out my outing today against SF. This shit ain’t over Efmale Odges.
The rotation will be Big Z, Lilly, 75% Prior, Hill and me. Marquis will be biting pillows by May.
Wade #2, I’d be okay with that.