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Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Red Sox sign Mark Prior

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Oft-injured pitcher Mark Prior has been given another shot to get himself back to the majors. CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman has learned that the Red Sox have signed Prior. He’ll work to build up arm strength in extended spring training before the next course of action is decided.

We all know the story of Prior by now. He was the second overall draft pick (after Joe Mauer) in the 2001 MLB Draft. By 2003, he was finishing third in Cy Young voting and leading the Cubs into the NLCS. He went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 1.10 WHIP and 245 strikeouts in 211 1/3 innings that season. He battled injuries the next two seasons, but still made 21 starts in 2004 and 27 starts in 2005. But after going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in 2006, arm injuries derailed his career, seemingly for good.

Repoz Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:22 PM | 47 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Best Regards, L.M. Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:35 PM (#4122039)

Update: Red Sox place Mark Prior on 60 day DL.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:50 PM (#4122043)

It will be weird seeing him with that Boston "B" on his cap. I'll always remember him as a Padre.

3. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 06:55 PM (#4122046)

Update: Red Sox place Mark Prior on 60 day DL.

Can't wait to see him on the Yankees? Oh wait.... :)

4. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:00 PM (#4122050)

Prior's been pitching in extended spring for the Red Sox for almost a month.

5. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:06 PM (#4122059)

Can't wait to see him on the Padres, Rangers, Yankees, or Red Sox.

6. Tripon Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:09 PM (#4122063)

Mark Prior gets paid a good salary to be on the DL for some team. You would think at some point he would have given up by now, but nope.

7. Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:10 PM (#4122064)

It's been almost a decade since that 2003 season? Damn. It seems like yesterday that he, Wood, and Zambrano were going to be the next Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz.

I wore a Cubbies jersey to work today, so I'm feeling empathetic.

8. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:11 PM (#4122065)

Mark Prior gets paid a good salary to be on the DL for some team. You would think at some point he would have given up by now, but nope.

Doesn't the first sentence explain the second?

9. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:12 PM (#4122066)

Awesome, the most fragile of players meets the worst medical staff in baseball. It's like two planets colliding. I reckon there's a real chance of the first death in MLB that gets directly attributed to a medical staff.

10. Ray (RDP)

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:16 PM (#4122069)

He’ll work to build up arm strength

Doesn't this incorrectly assume he has an arm?

11. Why Bloody Valdespin? Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:29 PM (#4122087)

He's only 31. I recommend he start throwing a knuckleball.

12. Stately, Plump Buck Mulligan Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:35 PM (#4122091)

He's white and he's oft-injured. Seems like a perfect fit.

13. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:36 PM (#4122094)

Well, Prior does have excellent mechanics, so if anyone can make a come back from a career of arm injuries, he can.

14. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4122105)

I feel like I am in a cheesy comedy where I fall asleep at my desk at work and wake up in 2005.

15. Ray (RDP)

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:47 PM (#4122110)

And if he ever does come back, his mechanics will prevent him from getting hurt again.

16. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:57 PM (#4122119)

So it has come to this.

17. Gamingboy Posted: May 02, 2012 at 07:57 PM (#4122120)

BALANCE THE HUMOURS!

18. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: May 02, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4122125)

It's a genius mathematical move. A negative number times a negative number equals a positive number. Prior + Red Sox doctors = 2012 Cy Young.

19. Guapo Posted: May 02, 2012 at 10:07 PM (#4122202)

Breaking News: Joba Chamberlain bounces off trampoline, collides with Mark Prior's elbow and crushes it

20. Ray (RDP)

Posted: May 02, 2012 at 10:28 PM (#4122223)

Eric Chavez got hurt tonight diving for a ball. Shocker.

21. MM1f Posted: May 02, 2012 at 11:50 PM (#4122281)

Mark Prior gets paid a good salary to be on the DL for some team. You would think at some point he would have given up by now, but nope.

I don't think he actually does get paid a good salary to be on the DL though. His last few deals have been minor league deals, so he is only getting a couple grand a month to be on the DL. Not a bad gig, but hardly a 6 figure MLB salary.

Also, seeing Prior signing suddenly made me think of his USC teammate, Anthony Reyes. It appears Reyes has also washed out of the bigs due to injury. For some reason I remembered him being a briefly promising MLB pitcher, but BB-Ref shows him as basically horrible from the start. Wore stripey stirrups up high like a champ though.

22. Dan Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:19 AM (#4122288)

Reyes was a highly touted prospect, but the Cardinals traded him away, and like all discarded Cards prospects, he completely fell apart.

23. Dan Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:25 AM (#4122293)

On an unrelated note, if anyone isn't aware and wants to tune in: Jered Weaver has a no-no through 8 against the Twins.

24. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:36 AM (#4122301)

NO-hitter! Congrats, Jered!

25. Dan Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:43 AM (#4122303)

Pretty cool that his parents were at the game. No Jeff though.

26. Tripon Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:55 AM (#4122307)

Reyes was a highly touted prospect, but the Cardinals traded him away, and like all discarded Cards prospects, he completely fell apart.

How did Dan Haren avoid this?

27. Dan Posted: May 03, 2012 at 01:55 AM (#4122321)

How did Dan Haren avoid this?

The Cards used all their bad juju in that deal on cursing Barton?

28. Walt Davis Posted: May 03, 2012 at 02:27 AM (#4122328)

C'mon, it's the Twins.

Holy crap, Josh Willingham is hitting 333/432/653. Continuing the A's curse, Sweeney is hitting 362/392/551. Crisp of course returned to the A's and is hitting 206/275/222. And you know what this means -- as soon as they trade Cespedes, he will hit 350/480/650.

(Yes, I know the Twins have hit OK this year as a team and Mauer seems back to at least no-power Mauer levels.)

29. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: May 03, 2012 at 02:33 AM (#4122330)

I'm waiting for the Sox to sign Nick Johnson. Please, make this happen.

30. Horror Posted: May 03, 2012 at 02:41 AM (#4122333)

It actually occurred to me that this might be a different Mark Prior.

This man has the most determination I have ever seen. I'm rooting for him. It would be one hell of a story if he could even make 20 starts in a season one year.

31. rlc Posted: May 03, 2012 at 04:36 AM (#4122338)

I'm waiting for the Sox to sign Nick Johnson. Please, make this happen.

I'm sure Duquette would let the Sox have him for Xander Bogaerts. The O's like Arubans.

32. bunyon Posted: May 03, 2012 at 07:31 AM (#4122351)

Also, seeing Prior signing suddenly made me think of his USC teammate, Anthony Reyes. It appears Reyes has also washed out of the bigs due to injury. For some reason I remembered him being a briefly promising MLB pitcher, but BB-Ref shows him as basically horrible from the start. Wore stripey stirrups up high like a champ though.

I'll once again posit my theory that a lot of damage we attribute to managers/coaches in the professional leagues is done in college and high school.

This man has the most determination I have ever seen. I'm rooting for him. It would be one hell of a story if he could even make 20 starts in a season one year.

Indeed. We often talk about wanting players to play as long as they're able. He's doing it. I feel the same about Ankiel. Ankiel is not a great OFer but he has made the best of what he has. If I were 31 and had spent all my life trying to be a MLB player and I were ambulatory, I would keep showing up until no one would have me.

33. tfbg9 Posted: May 03, 2012 at 08:45 AM (#4122369)

I wonder what Merloni thinks of this developement?

34. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 03, 2012 at 10:01 AM (#4122401)

Mark Prior gets paid a good salary to be on the DL for some team. You would think at some point he would have given up by now, but nope.

Doesn't the first sentence explain the second?

Change "he" to "they," & it all makes perfect sense.

35. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: May 03, 2012 at 10:45 AM (#4122457)

Prior last pitched in the major leagues in 2006. He didn't have the service time, but he's been gone long enough to have been on this year's Hall of Fame ballot.

36. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 03, 2012 at 11:08 AM (#4122480)

I'm waiting for the Sox to sign Nick Johnson. Please, make this happen.

Wow, his OPS+ is -8. I didn't even know you could go negative.

37. Moses Taylor peacocks peacock Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4122527)

It would be one hell of a story if he could even make 20 starts in a season one year.

Your bar is too high. It'd be a helluva a story if he ever makes an appearance in the big leagues again.

38. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: May 03, 2012 at 12:03 PM (#4122529)

Your bar is too high. It'd be a helluva a story if he ever makes an appearance in the big leagues again.

It'd be an even bigger story if he broke his arm while masturbating in the dugout.

Edit: Wrong thread, but I'm leaving it. Context for the joke is actually in the Chavez thread.

39. tjm1 Posted: May 03, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4122706)

In all seriousness, what about Prior as a reliever? It worked out OK for Kerry Wood, and really well for Dennis Eckersley.

40. bunyon Posted: May 03, 2012 at 03:21 PM (#4122733)

38 is the greatest post in the history of Primer.

41. Petunia inquires about ponies Posted: May 03, 2012 at 04:08 PM (#4122807)

In all seriousness, what about Prior as a reliever? It worked out OK for Kerry Wood, and really well for Dennis Eckersley.

It hadn't even occurred to me that they'd be trying him as a starter. The TFE doesn't indicate, does anything else?

42. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 03, 2012 at 04:29 PM (#4122830)

Prior has been pitching in relief since this particular iteration of his comeback trail began in the indy leagues in 2010. He's pitched in the Rangers and Yankees organizations in the last two years, never going longer than an inning or two per outing.

43. SG Posted: May 03, 2012 at 04:35 PM (#4122837)

Yeah, when Prior was trying to come back for the Yankees last year it was strictly with being a reliever in mind. He was throwing 89-91 mph if I recall correctly, but he was pretty effective until he went out with his hernia, or whatever it was that sidelined him.

44. Nasty Nate Posted: May 03, 2012 at 06:04 PM (#4122902)

Does he still pitch with the Inverted W?

45. BochysFingers Posted: May 03, 2012 at 06:52 PM (#4122944)

http://www.theonion.com/articles/disabled-list-offers-mark-prior-twoyear-8-million,5338/

46. BochysFingers Posted: May 03, 2012 at 06:52 PM (#4122945)

double post

47. Ebessan Posted: May 03, 2012 at 07:25 PM (#4122966)

It appears Reyes has also washed out of the bigs due to injury. For some reason I remembered him being a briefly promising MLB pitcher, but BB-Ref shows him as basically horrible from the start.

He had a really good WS start, though.

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Red Sox sign Mark Prior

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