The Cubs shut Mark Prior down.

[hijinx87]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2012934

MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs ace Mark Prior will be out indefinitely because of inflammation in his right elbow, the latest injury to one of Chicago's star pitchers.

Kerry Wood, slated to start on Opening Day, is sidelined with bursitis in his right shoulder.

Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said Monday the 24-year-old Prior has some inflammation in the elbow joint and a little irritation to the ulnar nerve.

Prior missed the first two months of last season because of right Achilles' tendinitis and stiffness in his right elbow. Last July, he missed a start because of discomfort in the elbow. But Prior and O'Neal both said the current injury is not related to last year's problem.

[tcfrogs]

1. Wonderful Cubs news

And the way Dusty abuses Carlos Zambrano, the Cubbies might be without all three. Check out his pitch counts & late season swoons.

On a positive note - I suspect Prior will be fine. Wood is the troublesome one, IMHO.

[Bluzmann57]

2. The Cubs have a recent history of not telling the truth

about injuries. This Prior and Wood thing is troublesome. I am not sure the Cubs are being straightforward about these injuries. It may be time for Brownlie and Guzman to be called up and let them take their lumps. Wood is brittle and always will be. It appears maybe Prior may be the same way.

[MessiahRp]

3. Think they called him up too soon?

Besides Dusty's pitch count antics I'm starting to think they put too much wear and tear on Prior early on by calling him up so early and it's coming back to bite him now.

Rp

[MikeG]

4. Looks like you'll need to steal more of our players.

[kick-ass-bob]

5. who you got left?

[MikeG]

6. Oliver Perez, Jack Wilson, Craig Wilson and Jason Bay.

[kick-ass-bob]

7. we'll take em all.

We'll give you our rights to Sosa.

[MikeG]

8. No thanky.

[WilliamPitt]

9. ...and Kerry Wood

[hijinx87]

12. Kerry Wood is also shut down . . . .

the only thing I can think of to say that would be positive is, "well, if this is going to happen, you want it to happen in March, and not August."

[Counciltucky]

10. At least Zambrano's healthy.

He'll give you 20 wins.

(I hope I didn't just jinx y'all Cub fans...)

[Counciltucky]

11. Speaking of Cubs pitching...

What's so wrong with LaTroy Hawkins that the Cubs are using Ryan freakin' Dempster as the closer?

[mr_hat]

14. Hawkins was absolutely painful to watch last year. He works >

SO slowly. Worse, he'd throw ball after ball (breaking balls in the dirt with a man on third were his forte) and then throw a fat pitch on a hitter's count.

Dreadful.

[mr_hat]

13. I can't recall who predicted it (may have been Gammons) but

when the Cubs first brought up Prior, he warned about the Cubs ruining him as well as Wood both through over use.

[HuckleB]

15. Certainly, that could be part of it.

It's certainly something the Mariners must consider (and appear to be considering), as they bring along Felix Hernandez, who is in a similar position to Prior when he broke in.

[hijinx87]

16. gammons is an idiot. who was the manager . . .

when woods and prior came up?

[mr_hat]

17. An idiot? Wow. I respect Gammon's work.

As to your questions, the Internet's right at hand, eh?

It's "Wood" btw.

[hijinx87]

19. wood(s). whatever. I don't really follow the cubs.

I just saw the story and knew they were pretty popular with the bunch here at DU.

and gammons? respect? are you serious? I guess if he's on TV, he must know what he's talking about:eyes:

rob neyer knows something about baseball, gammons is a poseur.

[mr_hat]

21. Nice talking with you. Plonk!

[hijinx87]

24. you related to the guy?

I just don't think I have ever met anyone willing to go to the mat over freakin' peter gammons, for heaven's sake.

[HuckleB]

18. Jim Riggleman was the manager.

And, yeah, he botched it, big time. The whole organization did. But how do you does an organization do the same thing with Prior only a few years later? Baker or no Baker, there is plenty of blame to go around.

For the full scoop:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-050315rogers,1,1416742.column?coll=cs-cubs-utility&ctrack=1&cset=true

[hijinx87]

20. dusty baker didn't handle his pitching staff all that well . . .

when he was in SF. the dodgers would have gotten their tails kicked worse during the baker era if he ever learned how to manage his pitchers worth a damn.

I wondered how he would react to all the young horses on the cubs staff.

[Mean Streets]

22. Wood's mechanics

It's true that The Lizard is a young pitchers nightmare, but Kerry Wood dosen't help things by refusing to change his mechanics. Look at the guys delivery, he's no pitcher, he's a thrower. If he stays healthy I bet he'll spend a lot of time as a stopper for somebody. Too bad for someone with stuff as good as his.

[mr_hat]

23. But then, Prior looked to have near-ideal mechanics. Great leg drive,

long, relaxed arm; good back extension.

Too many innings too early (inlcluding his teen years, I'd venture.)

[HuckleB]

25. So does Felix Hernandez (with the M's).

He's 18.

So did Dwight Gooden.

Ideal mechanics are great. But the arm and body can still break down when not developed properly.