Thursday, April 12, 2007

Prior with shoulder discomfort

WHAT A BIG SURPRISE! PRIOR INJURED AGAIN. Thanks to cubs.com-

CHICAGO -- Mark Prior's right shoulder is apparently giving him trouble again.
The Cubs pitcher made his debut at extended Spring Training on Thursday in Mesa, Ariz., and after throwing two innings, he experienced discomfort in his right shoulder and left the game. Prior had been scheduled to throw 45 pitches, or three innings, whichever came first.
Prior was scheduled to see orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California for further evaluation, according to a statement issued by the team Thursday.
Prior, 26, appeared in four Cactus League games, making three starts, and totaled 10 1/3 innings. He had felt healthy and was able to keep pace with the other pitchers. But on March 28, the team announced Prior would be optioned to Triple-A Iowa, and not break with the big league team. He stayed in Mesa when the Triple-A team broke camp, and was placed on the Minor League disabled list with right shoulder fatigue.
Prior's plan had been to get on a regular routine. He had problems with his shoulder in 2006 and made nine starts before he was shut down.
"Last year wasn't an easy year for me physically," he said in late March. "It was trying to get side work in. It's been nice to go through [spring] camp and be on a normal schedule. I think they want me to keep doing that."
He even joked that his plan was to try and make the Triple-A All-Star team and Futures Game. An 18-game winner and All-Star in 2003, Prior has been on the disabled list at least once each season since he broke into the big leagues in May 2002.
In his last Cactus League game March 28, Prior threw 60 pitches over three innings
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Who is honestly surprised? Prior is just being a big baby, at least with Wood you know he wants to pitch and pitches thru pain for the most part. I still say you don't cut him but lets try to trade him. I know his trade value is low but as soon as he starts having success I say deal him. He has been injured more than he has been healthy. He has a bad attitude towards the cubs and the game of baseball. Prior honestly disgust me. He is not even worth the league minimum let alone 3.6 million. Here is one cubs fan who cant wait to see him leave the Cubs organization.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Floyd to see more playing time and Barrett should bat 2nd.

Here is a tidbit from ChicagoSports-


Cliff Floyd has received more playing time in left than Matt Murton, an apparent change of heart after Piniella said in spring training that Murton would be in left the majority of the time in the early going."Look," he said. "I like Murton, and Murton's going to get playing time. … We're very right-handed. I'm trying to get a little left-handed hitting into the lineup. … Floyd can swing the bat. It has nothing to do with Murton."

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....cubs-headlines

I actually agree with Lou, the cubs need more left handed pop. They are extremely right handed and Floyd has a good bat with tremendous power. His defense is OK but he has a better bat that Murton. I do think a platoon system would be the best for both players, let them decide and battle it out on who will win more playing time.

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Here is my question to cubs fans.

Why doesn't Barrett bat 2nd??

He has a high OBP, lifetime .326 and .368 last year. He has pop in his bat, he has good contact with the ball. He has never stuck out more than 65 times in a year. He is slower than Derosa, Murton, Jones, and Izzy but he provides good contact, good OBP, low strike outs and hits to all fields. I honestly think Lou should try him in the 2 hole.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Zambrano talks resume, cubs off to a slow start.

Here is an article from the Tribune today-

The Cubs don't have a mute button for Carlos Zambrano, but they wish he'd exercise a little more restraint in his dealings with the media.Zambrano was asked to tone it down after he remarked Saturday that Cincinnati was a better hitting team than Milwaukee. While Zambrano said he did not mean to demean the Brewers, he managed to tick off most of Milwaukee's players.

"I just feel you're better off talking about yourself and your own club," general manager Jim Hendry said. "I think the Brewers have a heck of a club. Carlos pitched better against them than he did in Cincy, but I don't think you should start comparing teams this early in the year."I don't see a bad team in the division. My attitude would be that in a perfect world you'd prefer [the player would] talk about your own performance, your own team and not worry about anyone else."Hendry said he hopes to resume contract talks with Zambrano's agent within a few days. Negotiations were put on hold last week after the announcement that the Cubs would be sold after the season.Miller timeWade Miller will be skipped in the rotation this week, with the Cubs using the off day to go with Zambrano, Jason Marquis and Rich Hill against Cincinnati this weekend. Manager Lou Piniella said before the season he would give the fifth starter two fewer starts than the others through the first month of the season, and he reiterated he had no problem with Miller's outing Sunday in Milwaukee."Miller threw the ball OK—he just got it up," Piniella said.Welcome homeCliff Floyd made himself at home with the left-field bleacher fans, who put aside their total devotion to Matt Murton to accept the hometown kid."It was cool," Floyd said. "It was kind of different. I'd never been here on the opposite side of the harassment. The fans were outstanding. I threw them a couple balls."I was hoping to get a hit—it would've made it much better out there. But I think I'll get some hits for them. I was a little nervous at the start, but they make you feel comfortable."Extra inningsMark Prior and Kerry Wood are so far behind that the Cubs would rather not discuss their progress in extended spring training. Hendry said Prior might get his first start in Arizona on Wednesday, which suggests he'll be placed on the seven-day disabled list at Triple-A Iowa for a second time. Hendry had no update on Wood. … The Cubs haven't begun talks on a contract extension for Michael Barrett, but Barrett put himself in good bargaining position Monday. After barely missing a diving catch on a pop foul in the first inning, he tossed the ball to Tribune Co. Vice President Crane Kenney, who was seated in the first row.

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Alot of fans are upset and worried about the Cubs slow start. Alot of teams start slow, and the Cubs are just one of them. Now how you come on and finish is a different story. I always say you cant win a pennant in April, now having said that you cant go win less either. I have a feeling the Cubs are going to be a warm team. Meaning that they will do much better in warmer climate, I think there hot point will be toward the end of the month or when they take there southern and western road trips. That's just my feeling. The only advice I have for you fans that think the world is coming to the end is there are still 152 games left to play in the season, its far from over.