Des Moines Is Not Such a Bad Place . . .
. . . unless your name is Mark Prior, who will be sent there to start the season. Prior threw 3 innings today, allowing 3 unearned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. (Prior was clearly hurt by some bad outfield defense today.) He is still throwing in the mid-80s. The Sporting News' Stan McNeal thinks that Prior's once-supposed perfect mechanics "have been flawed all along," based on an anonymous coach who "refused to give details and wouldn't go on the record." Perhaps. Perhaps it was the line drive to the elbow, the collision with Marcus Giles, the heel problem, or too many pitches thrown. Likely, some combination.
In any event, the pitcher formerly known as The Franchise is now a minor leaguer. A rich minor leaguer, but still a minor leaguer.
Jim Hendry says this: "We'll make a spot for him when he's ready, I promise you that." It is better to not make promises unless you know you can keep them. Prior is now on the outside looking in. Not only does he need to improve at Iowa, someone in the rotation will have to falter. That's possible, even likely, but not certain.
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Jim Hendry says this: "We'll make a spot for him when he's ready, I promise you that." It is better to not make promises unless you know you can keep them.
...unless you make your promises so vague that it's impossible to break them. What does "ready" even mean in this context? Does a few starts without hitting the DL mean "ready'? A low ERA after a few starts? A few extra mph on the fastball? Does he have to be dominant, like he was in '03? If the latter, then yeah, I expect the Cubs will make a spot for him when that happens.
At any rate, I hope Hendry was a little bit more clear with Prior in person about what was expected of him than that. For now, though, good luck in Des Moines, Mark.