Mark Prior is going to start the first time through the rotation:
After the team worked out Monday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Prior will pitch in Chicago’s fifth exhibition game. Only 24 hours earlier, Piniella said the right-hander would not make an appearance until the second time through the rotation late next week. Originally, Piniella had planned to start left-hander Ted Lilly against the Mariners on March 5.
Lilly still will pitch, but he’ll follow Prior in the game.
“We’re going to let Prior start the game because he needs a little more time to warm up,” Piniella said. “I had a nice talk with him today. We brought him in here and had a nice conversation with him.”
That tells me Prior must be feeling good. A healthy Prior would be a huge boost to Cubs hope for a pennant in 2007.
A buck says Prior strains a back muscle throwing the first pitch of the exhibition game.
I think they’re just trying to get Prior’s eventual season-ending injury out of the way early this year.
Give the guy a break (Prior). Injuries happen. He won 18 games a few years ago. He needs to stay healthy and silence all the blow mouths.
Greg S