Here We Go Again Part II

Sorry Rosy I am sox fan but I had to ask. I have watched and worked with many kids over the years. They work on their game all the time, mechanics, long toss, speed and agility, arm conditioning on and on. What do some of these major league guys do for off season work that you would show up at spring training do as little throwing as he has and end up hurt. I understand Wood as he was overused for his life, but I thought Prior has been watched closely even in High School. I just don't get it. I am not knocking all major league players as many work hard in the off season just look at the si article on Mike Barret. Do you think that the one big year in the bigs has hurt prior that much?

Just when I thought Cubs had NL simulated game title in their grasp comes this. Rumor has been out there all spring about his shoulder - Hendry says this is 1st complaint of any kind by Prior.

Stoney has said all along something is not right with his spring workload. He had a viral infection that set him back a few weeks in Dec but that was 3 1/2 months ago. Who knows? D Lee is seeing same doctor for a little tweak he feels. Might be May before we see Wood/Prior.

Hmmm...you think it's time to question (again) the Cubs' coaching staff regarding pitchers? Dusty, Rothschild...they need to go. Prior is either injury prone or he has been babied so much he won't throw the ball if there is any discomfort at all. I'm a big Cub fan, but they ain't going anywhere with the current regime in place.

All good points made here. IMO (I'm far from an authority) comparing Wood and Prior is like comparing apples and oranges. Any astute physical trainer, kneisiologist or whomever could have predicted Wood's pitching history. Combine ridiculous pitch counts beginning in HS with bad mechanics and a very weak core and his breakdowns aren't too surprising. Prior is another matter. His mechanics are flawless and that is agreed upon by almost every pitching coach or trainer that has seen him. However, his shoulder might be showing the wear and tear of much bigger pitch counts in the Majors than when he was in college. In 2003 Prior averaged 114.2 pitches per start, the most in the majors. I think he tried to re-invent himself into a Wood type strikeout pitcher instead of letting his great stuff and command take over. Like many hitters fall in love with the long ball, I think Prior became enamored with the strikeout and he's paying for it now. He works way too many long counts that someone with his stuff should not have to do. JMO.

Of course, the manager and pitching coach bear much responsibilty but, in the end, it is the player that must make the adjustments to remain effective and preserve their health.

All simulated games cancelled. LOL

I think you are overlooking something. There was a lawsuit filed for wrongful termination by a Cub trainer. He said thier main trainer was never certified and was doing the wrong things. Because he spoke upm mangement fired him and kept the uncertified guy. I think the current guy came over with Baker from San Francisco. Herm Schneider has been keeping the Sox healthy for years. This could be as significant as the pitching coach IMO.

Read Phil Rodgers column in today's Tribune...one of the few SW's worth reading in our paper's these day's!

Sums it up nicely.

bbdad, You're correct in heaping praise on Herm Schneider. He has done a great job for many years with the Sox. I don't know if even Herm could have prevented KW's numerous problems. As for Prior, he has always surrounded himself with great instructors (Tom House) and the crew at USC. This story is just too much for this Cub fan to endure. If there are no sightings of me for a while maybe try dragging the Skokie lagoons. LOL.

rosy, do you think maybe what's hurt prior is that first year in the bigs and the big number of inninings the cubs put on him. Not sure how many he threw in college but I remember it being a bunch more for a first year pitcher in the majors. Seems like he hsn't been the same since. Some of the injuries were freak, running into choi, hit by line drive, but the shoulder thing has been a puzzle.

lineshot,

I think you're probably right when you point out the bigger workload Prior faced in his first year in the bigs. As we know, except in the case of Clemens, Nolan Ryan and a few others, there is a cumulative effect on the body after throwing so many pitches. Either it's the elbow or the shoulder that suffers. However, unlike Kerry Wood, Mark Prior is very physically fit in terms of his legs and his core. That is another reason why his arm problem is puzzling.

As Dr. Andrews told my son last June, Jordan, just be glad that you're here for elbow surgery and not shoulder. Recovery from shoulder surgery ie. torn laburm, torn rotator cuff is much more iffy than Tommy John and the elbow. I can only pray that he is correct in our case.

Rosy, how is Jordan doing btw? I haven't seen any news or updates on here for a while. I hope all is well and he can throw some this year. Work is very boring and the lunches aren't even fun anymore. Nobody smiles down there anymore. it is no fun. Guess Mom will just have to sell that CBOT seat and let me retire. Yeah like that will happen.

Hey Sweaty,

Jordan is doing very well. He has been cleared to play 3rd base and hit this spring, and has been doing all the throwing during practice. He says his arm never felt better. It is still only 8+months post surgery so he technically is still in rehab and it is hard to find the time for that right now. Pitching will come later. His pitching protocol requires 2 or 3 days per week with a radar gun (throwing at 75% effort only) and there is no time for him to do that right now. He'll just have to find the time to continue his throwing program, team practices and, of course games. Not enough days in the week for him to do what is required plus all his schoolwork.

We're just very grateful that it appears that he will start the season healthy and ready to go. We still try and take things one day at a time, at least until a full year passes. Thanks much for asking.

Sweaty, Check your PM.

Rosy, after your son's surgery did Dr. Andrews give you any pitch count information for high school players? Thanks

lineshot,

No discussion about pitch counts yet. That talk with the Doc, for us, won't take place for a while. His mound throwing program is about 60-70 pitches, fastballs only, at 75% effort. Shortly he'll be mixing in some changeups and throwing some BP. Next comes breaking balls and so on. This rehab and recovery is a long process which must be very carefully followed. That is what we're trying to do.

Thanks Rosy, I was asking because I ran into someone the other day that is dealing with Doc Andrews and told me he recomended about 80-85 for an outing in high school. I am sure it will come up in future discussions.
Thanks

rosy and Jordan....good luck, sounds like things are on track.

Thanks Sox.

Lineshot, I'm not surprised that Andrew's HS pitch count would be 80-85. Too bad that some head coaches would scoff at that number and ride some of their pitchers like pack animals. We've all seen it.

Cubs announce preliminary findings from Dr. Lewis Yocum on Mark Prior to be a shoulder "strain". Team is putting out very optimistic comments. Prior was given an MRI with a dye injection "just to be sure". When those results are released on Saturday my guess is that it will show more trouble. The man has hardly thrown this spring, how can he have a strain?

Prior's agent is telling him to take no chances until he has a long term contract. Thus every little twitch makes him go to the Ortho.

These injuries are a joke and noboby's laughing much about it anymore. Except probably Sox fans and teams in the N.L. Central.