Mark Prior had Shoulder Examined on Friday
According to several reports out of Chicago on Friday night, including reports from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, Mark Prior did not make the trip with the team from Milwaukee to Colorado, instead went back to Chicago had his right shoulder examined by team orthopedist Stephen Gryzlo.
Both reports indicate that Prior could return to the DL and with the call-up of Angel Guzman to start Saturday’s game looming, the Cubs have to create room for Guzman and it looks like Prior could be heading back to the DL. Mark Prior’s desire has come in to question this season and many point to the figure that left the mound in Game Six almost 3 years ago is not the same that currently wears number 22 for the Cubs. The slams and “nicknames” for Mark Prior have even hit the mainstream media and professional baseball scouts. Greg Couch wrote a column that appeared in Friday’s Chicago Sun-Times entitled “Have you met the Mrs.? Prior’s playing cower ball”. Couch claims that a baseball scout refers to Mark Prior as “Mrs. Prior”.
Is this the Sport Illustrated cover jinx of all-time? Are the injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior due to overwork, poor conditioning or poor coaching? This organization continues to reach new lows on a daily basis and if Prior does indeed go back on the DL, it should not come to a surprise to anyone. What was once an organization full of “prized” pitching has been reduced to 19 games under .500.