Happy Birthday, Mark Prior

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 7, 2009 1:57 PM CDT

Happy birthday to Mark Prior, who turns 29 today.

In 2003, at the age of 22, Prior threw 211 1/3 innings, with a 2.43 ERA, striking out 245 hitters, walking just 50, and allowing 15 homers. He was third in the Cy Young balloting, 9th in the MVP balloting, and looked like the guy who would be a dominant pitcher for the next decade.

He threw 118 innings in 2004, 166 innings in 2005, 43 innings in 2006, and hasn't pitched in the majors since.

In 2003, Prior averaged 113.3 pitches per start, and in his final six starts (all in September), he had pitch counts of 131 (in a game the Cubs were leading 6-0 after 5), 129, 109, 124, 131, and 133.

Prior then threw 133 pitches on October 3, in Game 3 of the NLDS, 116 pitches 5 days later in the NLCS (in a game where the Cubs were up 7-0 after 3 and 11-0 after ), and 119 pitches 6 days after that in the NLCS.

Prior started the 2004 season on the disabled list and, of course, has never been the same since 2003.

Today, turning 29, his career appears to be over.

Hopefully, Dusty Baker will be sending him a card.

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Comments

He's like Brandon McCarthy,

except with a lot more IP/service time.

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

by SarasotaRanger on Sep 7, 2009 2:01 PM CDT reply actions

and a lot more talent.

613photo

by Black Francis on Sep 7, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Was Prior's problem

workoad or mechanics?

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year

by RangerMad on Sep 7, 2009 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

Hard to say

Probably a combination of both, plus some other factors that are probably unknowable. When he first came out, his mechanics were considered to be perfect, but there’s now some thought that he had some issues mechanically after all.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 7, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

If you watch his motion,

it looks like he has a lot less body motion/torque than your average pitcher. He pitches with a lot of arm and really jerks that elbow around a 3/4 arm slot delivery. It looks violent and prone to wear out an arm. Doesn’t help when you take a 120-mph line drive comebacker off that sucker, either.

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

by SarasotaRanger on Sep 7, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I think they also

finally figured out that he’d had a misdiagnosed injury fairly early on too.

by MikeEl on Sep 7, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

mechanics

usa

by Longhorn on Sep 7, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Such a shame.

I’ll be mentioning this to my Cubs fan roommate.

He’ll roll his eyes and curse Dusty, undoubtedly.

Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.

Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays, 10 PM - 1 AM, on FM 88.7 The Choice, or online @ ktcu.net!

by Maximilian on Sep 7, 2009 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

please relay back to us

if in fact this does happen, im interested

go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com

by studcrackers on Sep 7, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

If Dusty Baker ever manages this team

I will cry myself to sleep for a week straight. Maybe longer.

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Sep 7, 2009 2:21 PM CDT reply actions

He'd ruin Feliz for sure.

Holland too, probably.

by jdh90 on Sep 7, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Edison Volquez

has night terrors because of Dusty Baker.

by MikeEl on Sep 7, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Meanwhile

Mauer looks like a perennial MVP threat and potential HOF candidate.

Minnesota should be thriled that Prior’s dad thought he was too good to play there.

by Dr K on Sep 7, 2009 2:40 PM CDT reply actions

I thought about this a bit...

Granted, I’m not sure if Prior ever becomes the monster that Joe Mauer is, but Minnesota has groomed lots of great young pitching and they seem to have a good handle on how to develop young pitching and not abuse their arms, compared to Dusty Baker’s serial arm murderer streak.

by jwiscarson on Sep 7, 2009 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Wasnt it more about...

Mauer being the hometown star and Minnesota wanting to draft him instead of Prior’s dad not wanting him to go there?

After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL

by MayurP on Sep 7, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions

No

It was money.

Minnesota would have taken Teixeira or Prior, but their monetary demands were too high.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 7, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it all worked out in the end for the Twins

"You dont know much do you, Big Steve?"
--Finnerty.Fan on Aug 13, 2009 5:13 PM PDT

by WestTxAg06 on Sep 7, 2009 8:18 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Who won the CY Young in 2003 over this guy?

by TooLegitToQuit on Sep 7, 2009 2:55 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Eric Gagne

Man, that was a cursed year in the Awards balloting.

Gagne, Schmidt, Prior, and Russ Ortiz were the top 4 (only 4, really) in the Cy Young.

The top three have their careers derailed with injuries. Ortiz wasn’t really that good, but he won 21 games, so he got votes.

The N.L. ROY was Dontrelle Willis. Scott Podsednik was 2nd. Marlon Byrd was 4th.

In the A.L., the ROY was Angel Berroa. Rocco Baldelli and Jody Gerut were 3-4.

by Adam J. Morris on Sep 7, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, cursed indeed....

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

by SarasotaRanger on Sep 7, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

and al mvp Arod

was traded that offseason

go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com

by studcrackers on Sep 7, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

AL ROY

Matsui got robbed.

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Sep 7, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I take that back

That’s what I get for going off memory. Certainly Godzilla’s low point while Berroa had a career year.

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Sep 7, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

imo

Baldelli wouldve been a big time star if not for that medical condition. He really had all the tools.

After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL

by MayurP on Sep 7, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions