This Just In ... Mark Prior Retires!

[Tugg Speedman]

Note the date, this is not an old story.
Prior last pitched in the Majors on August 10, 2006

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-mark-prior-retires-20131209,0,6857277.story

Ex-Cubs phenom Prior retires at 33

Tribune staff report
12:41 a.m. CST, December 10, 2013

Former Cubs phenom Mark Prior has retired from baseball after encountering more shoulder problems.

The Tribune confirmed a Twitter report by Mike Beradino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who said he ran into Prior in a hotel lobby at the winter meetings in Florida and was told that the 33-year-old right-hander is "officially retired" after his latest setback while with the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A team. Beradino reports that Prior is considering a position in the San Diego Padres' front office.

Prior pitched for the Cubs from 2002-06 and went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003 before being beset by injuries.

[Galway Eagle]

Note the date, this is not an old story.
Prior last pitched in the Majors on August 10, 2006

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-mark-prior-retires-20131209,0,6857277.story

Ex-Cubs phenom Prior retires at 33

Tribune staff report
12:41 a.m. CST, December 10, 2013

Former Cubs phenom Mark Prior has retired from baseball after encountering more shoulder problems.

The Tribune confirmed a Twitter report by Mike Beradino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who said he ran into Prior in a hotel lobby at the winter meetings in Florida and was told that the 33-year-old right-hander is "officially retired" after his latest setback while with the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A team. Beradino reports that Prior is considering a position in the San Diego Padres' front office.

Prior pitched for the Cubs from 2002-06 and went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003 before being beset by injuries.

But he was pitching in the minors still. 

[Tugg Speedman]

But he was pitching in the minors still. 

A total of 58 innings over the last 7 years.

[Galway Eagle]

A total of 58 innings over the last 7 years.

Oh I'm not arguing that they made too big of a deal of it but I mean he did finally make it official. 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

tried to find the article, I think from the Sun Times, from the playoffs in 2003 talking about how Mark Prior was the most perfect pitcher mechanically ever.  remember reading that on the train going to a playoff game.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Cant believe hes still only 33. Not a Cubs fan but still a real shame.

[MU82]

One of the all-time cautionary tales in sports history.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Not a Twins fan at all but there were a lot "experts" questioning the Twins taking Mauer 1st overall instead of Prior.  Not that Mauer isn't hurt all the time.

[MU82]

Not a Twins fan at all but there were a lot "experts" questioning the Twins taking Mauer 1st overall instead of Prior.  Not that Mauer isn't hurt all the time.

In 2003, the Cubs were all, "Can you believe the Twins handed us Prior on a silver platter?" Prior was the best pitcher in the world for about a three-month stretch there.

Of course, we now know any team would rather have Mauer than Prior. Still, Mauer is extremely overrated. He's kind of a new millennium Mark Grace -- all singles and doubles and reputation. A good ballplayer, obviously, but not the kind of marquee player who should be batting in the middle of a lineup. And now that Mauer is moving to first base, he really will be like Mark Grace -- right down to probably having to leave the team and city he loves if he has any hope of winning a championship.

Two big differences: I'm guessing Mauer won't be anywhere near the fielder Grace was. And Mauer makes more $$ in a single season than Grace did his entire career.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Does Maurer drink and smoke like marc grace?

[🏀]

Does Maurer drink and smoke like marc grace?

Probably doesn't. Probably won't diddle everyone's wife like Grace either.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Mauer should have taken Bobby Bowden's QB schollie offer.

[Wally Schroeder]

Not a Twins fan at all but there were a lot "experts" questioning the Twins taking Mauer 1st overall instead of Prior.  Not that Mauer isn't hurt all the time.

I don't think too many experts were questioning the Twins taking the standout local HS boy. He was clearly a top 10 talent in the draft, and that netted him a $5M signing bonus. They didn't take the guy who was the obvious top talent in the draft, Mark Prior, cause they were unsure if they could sign him. The Cubs gave him a $10.5M MLB contract (not sure on length) + $4M bonus. The Twins didn't have those resources, and there was a real risk that he would have returned to USC for his senior season had they drafted him and not met his demands. At the time, the risk averse Twins made the best decsion for their organization, and it's paid off. Granted, HS players inherintly come with more risk than college players.

There were questions around a system where teams were shying away from taking the top available talent in the draft due to financial concerns. At that time, Prior was also said to have flawless mechanics and he basically couldn't get hurt. Didn't quite turn out that way, and Mauer, unsurprisingly, turned into an excellent MLB catcher. He won't have the same value as a 1B, but protecting his health is again the best move for him and the organization.

[MerrittsMustache]

In retrospect, given the combination of poor mechanics, Dusty Baker, a fragile pysche and the Cubs being involved, Prior was doomed from the beginning.

[JWags85]

Mauer should have taken Bobby Bowden's QB schollie offer.

Totally, then he could had have concussions and no guarantee at a productive NFL career as opposed to the ~$120MM+ he has made with another 7-10 years left in his career.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

I don't think too many experts were questioning the Twins taking the standout local HS boy. He was clearly a top 10 talent in the draft, and that netted him a $5M signing bonus. They didn't take the guy who was the obvious top talent in the draft, Mark Prior, cause they were unsure if they could sign him. The Cubs gave him a $10.5M MLB contract (not sure on length) + $4M bonus. The Twins didn't have those resources, and there was a real risk that he would have returned to USC for his senior season had they drafted him and not met his demands. At the time, the risk averse Twins made the best decsion for their organization, and it's paid off. Granted, HS players inherintly come with more risk than college players.

There were questions around a system where teams were shying away from taking the top available talent in the draft due to financial concerns. At that time, Prior was also said to have flawless mechanics and he basically couldn't get hurt. Didn't quite turn out that way, and Mauer, unsurprisingly, turned into an excellent MLB catcher. He won't have the same value as a 1B, but protecting his health is again the best move for him and the organization.

I should have been more clear, my fault.  A lot of the local experts here questioned the move as the Twins being a cheap a*s team once again.