For Some Reason I'm Not Surprised...

The Chicago Cubs announced this week that their former ace pitcher, Mark Prior, will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on the right shoulder that has plagued his career. After spending at least some time on the disabled list every year since he was called up to the majors by the Cubs in May of 2002, Prior and the Cubs organization decided it's time that something gets done. Why it took them five years to decide this needed to happen is beyond me.

"Hopefully, Dr. Andrews can go in there and find something that isn't major and hopefully help Mark's career get back on track," Hendry said.

Being a longtime and loyal Cubs fan, even through the absolutely terrible times of the mid and late 90s, and also including last year and this season so far, its not hard for me to admit that the organization as a whole are idiots. I have loved the moves GM Jim Hendry has made, bringing in Piniella to manage, Soriano, DeRosa, Izturiz, all great moves that have improved the team.

What I have never understood is their inability to keep pitchers healthy. Most Notably, of course, is the troubled careers of former dominant pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. If I were in the Cubs' organization, I would find a little more time in my busy schedule to get my two best pitchers back to 100% health as fast and efficiently as I could. I struggle to find the logic in letting them try to work it out or rest it for five years before something gets done about it.

Considering everything I've ever read or hear about, I find it very troublesome that you wouldn't do everything you could right away to fix these ailing hurlers. It angers me when I hear that in their prime, Prior and Wood were said to the have absolute worst mechanics in baseball, but because they were doing so well Cubs officials decided not to fix their minor technical errors in order to perhaps save another mediocre-at-best Cubs season.

Now, four or five years down the road, these dominant pitchers whose mechanics didn't need to be altered because they were so good, have hardly pitched in 15 games combined in 3 years. Maybe mechanics did play a role in it...I just hope someone's learned a lesson before Carlos Zambrano's arm falls off.

Piniella Not Satisfied. Can You Blame Him?

For all you die-hard Cubbie fans out there, next year is finally here. However, it seems as though someone forgot to remind the $100 million Chicago Cubs. With 5 spring training games under their belts, Chicago's lovable losers were winless until today's 6 - 5 victory over Seattle. This coming after begin outscored in their first 4 outings 36-15. With many question marks still remaining in the starting rotation, a lack of offense is the last thing I want to see.

Manager Lou Piniella didn't even wait until after today's game to let the team know he is unsatisfied with what he has seen so far. Before getting on the bus to Peoria, to take on the Mariners, Piniella made it clear that they had a lot of work to do.

"We've got some work to do. this is no push-button operation. Let me tell you this - there is a job at hand." Said Piniella.

While some were inspired just enough to edge out a win, Mark Prior was obviously not one of them. Prior made his first Cactus League appearance since 2005 and had to be taken out in the second inning after throwing only 40 pitches. He made it clear that his performance was poor by saying,

"I wasn't happy with how I threw [...] I wouldn't say i was comfortable out there as far as pitching and obviously executing pitches"

It is still far to early to predict how the Cubs will fair in 2007, but their lack of enthusiasm thus far combined with their infamous track record, makes it hard for even the biggest fans to remain optimistic. Everyone seems to be excited about all the changes that took place within the Cubs organization, except for those who actually matter - the players. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations for this season, but is it asking to much to not be blown out in spring training?

I guess for now I just have to look on the bright side: Kerry Wood miraculously made it through an entire inning without ending up on the DL, it's a long season, and there is ALWAYS next year.