Kerry Wood and Mark Prior

I worry it's the latter. It's been most frustrating watching Wood limp along, considering all of his promise. Mark Prior I couldn't have cared less about.

Still, I'm trying to be optimistic.

Wood and Prior, plus the fact that the Cub's haven't been able to create a consistant, big game closer, pretty much typify Jim Hendry's failures as a GM for the Chicago Cubs. He knew that both Wood and Prior threw a ton of innings, and that they were both showing extreme signs of wear and tear, yet we as Cub fans were forced to pin our season's hopes on these two players. Jim Hendry never had a back up plan for the starting rotation. As we walk into 2007 with some glimmers of hope, we still have no big game closer, and I suppose Jim Henry hasn't learned a darn thing from the NCLS championship series when the Cubs couldnt bring a closer in to finish the Marlins. I feel a bit bad for Prior and Wood, they had all this pressure put on them, needlessly. No player could live up to all that. They were annointed saviors even before they stepped into the big leagues.

At the very least there is a glimmer of hope in that Piniella isn't babying Wood and Prior and moving on. Look for both to be history long before the all-star break. If the Cubs are going to break the hearts of thier die-hard fans this year yet again at least they won't be counting games started by Wood & Prior as losses before the National Anthem is played.

I would venture to say that both Wood & Prior have piched their last games for the Cubs. However, this doesn't mean the Cubs will be better for it. The guys replacing them in the rotation are either unproven(Hill, Guzman) or have been pretty bad pitchers(Marquis) or are coming off injuries themselves(Miller). So the pitching problems might still be a fact of life in Cubdom.

This is the MAJOR difference between Sox and Cubs management. Sox parted with Garcia who actually helped them win a championship. It baffled me, but Freddie was not as competitive as the year before and Kenny pulled the trigger. I was on the Cubs bandwagon during that exciting year on the northside. But that would be the last productive year for Wood and Prior. And now the Cubs are on the verge of something new and exciting; they need to rid themselves of the last part of that team. Why not, aren't they to blame for the Cubs downward spiral as much as anyone including Dusty? I know people get hurt, but this is a new season - Cubs need to start fresh and get rid of all those old memories!

"at least they won't be counting games started by Wood & Prior as losses before the National Anthem is played."

Yes, because they have such a history of failure. What with Wood being 15 games over .500 despite playing for no great teams and several bad ones, and Prior 13 over .500 despite a 1-6 injury-plagued season dragging that number down.

It's amazing how much the Wood and Prior's bad luck has sucked the intelligence out of Chicago sports fans and media.

Roman responds: Great point. The perception is they're both utter disappointments, but the reality is they're still winning pitchers. You're so smart, maybe even you can get a job in the print media, although you might want to rework that last sentence.

Say goodbye to Mark Prior, probably Kerry Wood also. I had the misfortune of attending Prior's opening start, and believe me they were being generous when they said he hit 88 mph on one pitch. That had to be after he gave up a 425' double of the center field wall, he had a little red ass going on the next pitch. You hear it's his mechanics, but I'd like to know how you lose 11 mph off your fastball with bad mechanics. Don't even mention his breaking ball. Kerry Wood also pitched in that game, and looked good, smiling as he came off the field. He's not had much to smile about since.

"although you might want to rework that last sentence."

If a typo is the worst of my transgressions, I'm already ahead of the game.

Sorry if I offended you, Roman, but when you make a claim such as Wood and Prior are "cocky and unlikeable"--a claim I find absurd-- without backing it up with specifics, you're going to get jumped on by some people. Although not many these days since the I HATE PRIOR AND WOOD train is in high gear with no sign of an emergency brake.

And while I know you don't control headlines, this is the same newspaper that referred to Prior as "Mrs." among other personal attacks. If Prior and Wood's awfulness is so evident, there should be no need for epithets.

Roman responds: Oh, it's the unlikeable part you took issue with. Well, I'm assuming only one of us actually has worked the Cubs clubhouse and talked to both players. So I'm not speaking just about a perception. It's not that either player was terribly rude, but from first-hand interaction to their whining about broadcasters a few years ago, neither player is very likeable at all. At least not to me. Judging from your email address, which I won't divulge, i don't expect to change your mind.

The future seemed so bright with these two, but the reality is that Prior has had only one really good year and Wood has never won more than 14 games in a season. Seems like the whole pitching staff suffered the past few years as the rotation has been in disarray due to the constant uncertainty surrounding Prior and Wood. I hope one or both can make a comeback, but it is time for the Cubs to quit pinning their hopes on them.

Sox fans, please, if you are going to post in this thread keep the 'bandwagon' garbage out of here along with your worthless,irrelevant and irrational ideas about 'corporate' management. Either flame or fizzle.The Cubs are a great organization with tremendous culture and admiration. The Sox are just an organization-unable to maintain any characteristics of the Cubs,no matter how rich the tradition once was(75 years ago). You have owners who cringed because you accidentally won the world series,and they did not want all the expenses that came with it. We have owners that will spare no expense to keep us entertained and interested. Here's to praying that Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will overcome.

This is all part of larry rothchilds master plan to have both wood and prior fresh for the second 100 years of not winning a world series. So, they need to sit for just one more year and then they'll be ready to start on that second hundred years of ineptitude.

This seems like a wise approach to me. Trying to win and not really caring havent resulted in a championship, so that just leaves actively trying not to win. Prior and wood seem well positioned to lead the cubs in this effort, or i should say non effort. Go Cubbies!!

Some of these posts slam Wood and Prior for no good reason. They've done what they can with the cards they've been dealt. Injuries happen and when it comes to Cubs baseball, 'stuff' happens every year. The team's problem the last few years is that Hendry kept hitching his wagon to these two and when they went down, two large holes were left in the rotation. Finding bona fide starting pitching should have a the number 1 priority from the moment the injuries started popping up, but Hendry held firm. Expecting the best while ignoring the worst. I really do hope Wood and Prior can recover from their injuries. It would be nice to see them again at Wrigley, they did give us some memorable moments in that almost magic season of 2003.

Fifty one years ago the first words I spoke were "go Cubs", so I have ridden the rollercoaster for as long as most people, and still bow to the memory of Harry, and "Take Me out to the Ballpark." I think it is a Federal crime that Mr. Santo (whom I met as a youth) has not been inducted to the Hall of Fame. In short, I'm about as fanatic as they come, and I love Wood and Prior, despite their travails. But if the team traded away Lou Brock, (and many other bizarre and ridiculous errors,) they should see it is time to give these men a fresh start elsewhere. They should be smart and resourceful, and demand good return, because both men still have very high potential, but wipe away the tears and pull the trigger. If you get value for value the fans will forgive you soon, but holding on is just wishful thinking.

As soon as i heard the cubs fired their whole coaching staff besides larry Rothschild I figured this would happen.Maybe he can have them throw wet towels or throw from a chair again.
Hendry and Rothschild deserved the axe last year

It is not a matter of bad luck sucking the intelligence out of Chicago sports fans, it's the reality of of two waning injury riddled careers. The confidence fans once had when Wood and Prior took the mound is gone regardless of what thier career numbers show. The last five years Wood has started 101 games, came in relief 11 games, won 38, lost 37 and was not the pitcher of record in 37 games. Granted some of those last 37 games he was not the pitcher of record because someone came out of the bull pen and blew a lead late in the game but over all that means in the last five years the Cubs have won just 1/3 of the games Wood has pitched in, and the last 3 years he is 3 games under 500. Not very impressive when looked at now is it?
Prior's numbers are a little more impressive, 42 wins, 29 losses and 35 no decsions in 106 games pitched but the fact still remains he has lost speed and doubtful it will return. Those are the real numbers, so yes if they were to start this year you could count those games as a loss before the opening pitch and be right more often than not.

To all you little league coaches out there, take notice. Prior was treated like a king. I am guessing when someone hit him or he lost, it wasn't his fault. Now he faces adversity and he can't handle it. Make sure your players take ownership in the way they play. Prior is a pu$$y who should just go away. Wood had a golden arm; he threw 160 pitches in a high school game. The coaches who prepared them for the future should be ashamed of themselves. Didn't teach them ownership or basic mechanics. All those important wins in little league and travel baseball seem pretty meaningless now!

This is great news for us SOX fans but everyone should have known this was going to happen including Cub fans. I just dont understand why the Cubs keep Kerry Wood around and pay him so much money. This guy hasnt won over 15 games his whole career and cant pitch over five innings. Cub fans think he is Nolan Ryan or something but just a few years ago LaTroy Hawkins was here and stinking up the joint and Cub fans were holding daily meetings on how to trade this guy. (and lets not mention Corey Patterson) Before the season was over he was traded. Cub fans accept poor play if they like the player. There is no way Kerry Wood should be on a Cub roster or on any major league roster. He flat out SUCKS. One or two games dont make a career.

I am a huge kerry Wood fan and I liked Prior when he first came up. I love Kerry Wood because he is a warrior. He carried us on his back,as far as he could, in 2003. He has pitched in pain and hurt for this organization. I think the wear and tear of answering questions every day about your health and the suspician that you're lying has taken it's toll on Wood's friendliness to reporters. I don't think Prior has ever been that likeable because I always got the impression he didn't want to be in Chicago. That said, I think the media has been completely unfair to Prior when they call him a "head case" or question his toughness. I'm always amazed how his injuries are dismissed as haveing nothing to do with the deteriation of his capabilities. I think the collision, and landing on his shoulder, and the broken elbow has hurt him to the point where he will never be 2003 mark Prior again. And that's a shame because I would have enjoyed watching that career.

"but from first-hand interaction to their whining about broadcasters a few years ago, neither player is very likeable at all. At least not to me."

I don't recall either of them whining about the broadcasters. I recall Steve Stone's dustups with Mercker, Walker and Alou but nothing with Wood or Prior. In fact, Stone praised Wood as one of the good guys on the team in a radio interview a few days after the season ended. As for your personal experiences with them, perhaps you caught them reacting out of frustration from the way the local media treats them. Because I've never heard a bad thing said about Wood in the 11 years he's been in the organization and haven't heard anything about Prior other than perhaps that he's a bit aloof.

Incidentally, it's comments like Prior's a sissy or that he just wants a paycheck that make me question the acumen of some sports fans. This insinuation that Wood and or Prior enjoy being injured or don't want to pitch is stupifying. Normally, fans aren't vicious in their reactions to players' injuries. That isn't the case with these two. Wood isn't behind because he doesn't care but because he's injured. Prior isn't behind because he's afraid to take the mound; he's behind because he'd get killed with the stuff and command he has at the moment. That he's trying to get back to where he was before joining the rotation is as much the Cubs' idea as it is his.

Roman responds: Wood was the one who had the biggest problem with Stone, because Stone kept saying he needed to change his mechanics. They kept sniping at each other all year, and Wood eventually changed his mechanics. I guess Prior's biggest problem has been the perception he's delicate. As far as the media, you know what, it's not that big of a deal. We have a new Cubs reporter, and I saw the other day Prior was condescending, which he can be. But fans don't care about that as long as he gets out there every fifth day. Same with Wood.

I forgot about Wood's reaction to Stone's criticism in this paper, and I'm of the opinion that Wood should've left it alone. That said, Stone's ego and caustic wit can be grating at times. As far as Prior's comment goes, it didn't strike me in print as condescending. There was no context given so I don't know how he meant it.

I have a neighbor who is a trainer with another mlb club.It's well known cubs over used Wood & prior back when healthy. Since 03 together they been well paid basically for hope that never materialized . You can blame cubs management ,but you can also blame the DL twins for finding all kinds of new injuries or excuses not to perform. Cubs should of dump Hendry,Wood & Prior long before now. Hendry the worse GM in baseball,spent 300 million on what? Still no closer and a shaky rotation!

Poor Wood and Prior. Wood has lived off a single game that he pitched as a rookie and the Cubs and their fans have fallen for it ever since. They still do because he is still collecting a paycheck from the Cubs while their know nothing fans now picture him as this flame throwing monster who will save the day out of the bullpen. Please!
Prior was supposed to be the next Tom Seaver but is instead the next Corey Patterson. A spoiled head case that pouts and looks down his nose at the media for speaking the truth. None of this actually matters because the Cubs loyal sheep will flock to their shrine. A shrine to losing.

The whole annual Prior/Wood injury story is getting very stale. The only ones I feel sorry for are the fans. Maybe if they had come through in the 2003 playoffs it would be easier to accept. But they failed then (I'm of the school that DOES NOT blame Bartman for the team's playoff collapse)and have been pathetic since. The Cubs should show them both the door already. The bottom line is that millions of dollars in contracts has been wasted all these years.

Gee, I wonder if Philtration is a Black Sox fan?

I agree with HF whole heartedly but he left his comments on coaching young players(little leguers) short. Teaching and encouraging some one under the age of 16 to throw curve balls does as much if not more harm than allowing them to throw too many pitches in one game. Young muscles, tendons and bones have not develped enough at that point to withstand that kind of strain. Teaching a young pitcher to work the edges of the plate and how to throw an effective change-up is more important at that stage. Breaking balls can be added to thier bag of pitches later and make them that much more effective. Accuracy and control are more important at that stage then a hard breaking curve.

One has to marvel at how Mark Prior had the audacity to ask for a raise coming into spring training. One also has to marvel at Kerry Wood giving the Cubs a 'home town discount' to sign for this year. We have to assume that Wood at least was embarrassed enough over not earning the $36 million the Cubs paid him over the course of the past three years, to come back to Chicago for one more try. That shows a bit of integrity. It also shows Cub management hoping against hope something positive would happen. What apparently happened, at first, was one too many beers in the hot tub leading to 'slip and fall'and a minor rib injury and now this latest strain.

Mark Prior is an altogether different story and so are the Cubs for agreeing to pay a 'reduced' salary over the previous year's $3 million. Three plus million dollars for an 86 mph pitcher who is either the biggest head case in the game or someone who needs to purchase his own MRI machine defies logic.

Can anyone say HGH? How big are those calf muscles these days? Mark Prior has truly become a 'prior' pitcher. Time to bid Mark Prior adieu.

I remember when all major league starters threw atleast 250 innings and several of them like jenkins and seaver for example many more.I really do not understand where all of a sudden it is a big deal to have 5 complete games in one year. Anyway I believe that prior and Wood are ultra talented and worth the time ,energy and patience that it will take for there recovery.I predict that both will come back this year and help the cubs win this years pennant!For now it is z,hill and Miller.

Kerry Wood singlehandedly defeated the Atlanta Braves in the divisional round of the 2003 playoffs. Have you forgotten the home run that ignited the previously supernervous Cubbie lineup (Sammy included) in game one? Once he hit that ball out, the rest of the lineup loosened up and went to work on (was it Maddux or Ortiz or both four years ago?) Oh, and Wood also pitched lights out against a great Braves lineup. His performance during that series brought real joy to Chicago Cubs fans for the ONLY time in our Cubloving lives. He ate a little crow this past offseason, took the huge paycut, and stayed in his Cub uniform where he belongs as well.

Prior had that one good season when he won some games, but he never did what Woody did at Woody's best. Prior's a kid compared to Wood. Asking for the raise after that awful year took the cake.

For those of you who keep saying Prior's success was because he was on HGH, I have this comment. If that was true he would still be successful. They don't test for HGH so he would still be on it. And to say his calves are smaller is just a lie. I watched him pitch Thursday and there is no change in the size of his calves, They are still huge. So stop with the nonsense accusations.

Time to let Wood and Prior go, it's a new day. Who would have guessed that with all the hoopla surrounding Wood, Prior and Maddux, that it is Zambrano who turned out to be the best and most consistant pitcher in the last three years.

"So stop with the nonsense accusations."

Good luck with that.

I actually grew up a Cub fan but I grew out of it.
I was standing in the bleachers surrounded by yuppies yaking on their cell phones and I suddenly felt like I was being played for a fool. I never went back to another game at Wrigley.

I am a White Sox fan and admittedly take a little consolation after a tough Sox loss if the Cubs lose on the same day or are having a rough year. So I make my feelings about the Cubs no secret. But when it comes to Prior, Wood, and the Cubs chances each year, I have no problem being objective about the situation.

Like many observers, I agree that the Cubs ran themselves into this corner with Wood and Prior. Hindsight suggests the club would be much better off if both had been traded a few years back. But that's really not a fair argument to make at this point and believe me, that's not what I am saying. There is no way the Cubs or anyone else could not have guessed it would have turned out this bad. I do think the club has done a terrible job since these injuries have become more regular with both players and they ignore the possibility of things further regressing to the point it's at now. It's become a real black eye for the organization and until they truly part ways and move on, it's a story line that will exist and likely be a distraction on some level.

Oh look! Kerry Wood is hurt again. Yawwnnnnn.... I wish that I could miss that much work and get paid millions of dollars. I can here the Cubs already saying "Just wait till Wood comes back in June!"

"That said, Stone's ego and caustic wit can be grating at times."

And yet Stone was 100% accurate when he said "unless Wood fixes his mechanics, he'll be selling cars."

Stone did something Wood and Prior will likely never do, win a Cy Young.

-"And yet Stone was 100% accurate when he said "unless Wood fixes his mechanics, he'll be selling cars."-

Wow. Stone made mention of Wood's mechanics in 2006, only eight years after Wood's debut. Nobody else ever worried about his mechanics. Very prescient, that Stone.

-"Stone did something Wood and Prior will likely never do, win a Cy Young."

Mark Davis and Steve Bedrosian won Cy Youngs as well, so Stone's in some real exclusive company.

Incidentally, if Steve Stone's such a genius in regards to pitching mechanics, how come he didn't fix his before his career was shortened by arm injuries?

I think Hendry and Rothchild are preparing our two "Ace's" for making a run at the 2010 season. Fire Rothchild or better yet, send him down to ride the bus and stay at the Red Roof Inn and slowly develop some more over paid underachiever's. Maybe he can have Smardja ready for the 2013 opener. This whole thing makes me sick...sick of listening to molly coddling mouth pieces looking to keep their jobs for underperforming. Come on Lou..say what's really on your mind....please save us....

I can't believe you guys, bashing Wood and Prior like that. Good idea, yell at people for getting injured. You're going to criticize them for doing what their coaches tell them to do? You're basically saying "Mark Prior is a wuss for pitching injured!" or "We hate Kerry Wood for throwing a lot of pitches!" How do you expect them to be the most friendly guys when fans and media are always on their case. I doubt any of you can handle half of the criticism they receive and still put on a happy face.

And I do feel bad for them, even if they are making a lot of money. Anyone who has ever had a nagging injury (which I've had far too many of) knows there is nothing more frustrating than being prevented from working (either at a game or your job) because of something like that. And I know everyone is going to say "I don't feel bad for them because they're making a ton of money," so I beat you to it. I feel bad for their mental and physical health, not their financial situation.

I know this post is months late but I don't care, I'm too annoyed to not put my opinion on here.

people commenting on money are the biggest hypocrates in the world.Dude you guys are bitter coz you cannot make that much money in a 100 years and you know what you are not good enough to do that otherwise you would not be griping about that.if that hurts you so much dont go to the games,dont watch them on tv.

ULTIMATE GIFT FOR CUBS FAN

The KERRY WOOD COLLECTION...over 200 baseball cards....'97 and '98 Topps, Bowman, Donruss Signature Series autograph cards, Fleer, Upper Deck, plus various cards from '99-'04 , error cards, specialty cards, league leader cards.

Must sell collection by August 1st...will go to the highest bidder (Minimum price will be set).

For a complete list of cards, contact mrsports24aca@aol.com...