And the Tribune is selling the Cubs. Finally! We can put a face to organization. Now the question is, to whom?

And the Tribune is selling the Cubs. Finally! We can put a face to organization. Now the question is, to whom?

the only positive thing i can take from Monday's game is that at least Big Z pitched better than Contreras. I'm so happy baseball's back!

Lilly looks damn good in his cubs debut

Lilly was dealing last night. Evidently he had an inner-ear infection to boot. Not bad for his debut.

The best part of the game came in the 9th with Dempster on the mound being, well, Ryan Dempster and trying to piss the game away as only Ryan Dempster can. Pinnella goes to the mound, shouts about 3 or 4 expletives (evidently saying "it's fucking cold out here, now stop fucking around, pitch strikes, and get the God-damned win"). No more Dusty Baker Mr. Nice Guy. I love it.

That and Michael Barrett demonstrated yet again that he's a shitty catcher. He's a good batter that happens to catch.

Prior leaves game with sore shoulder

By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 12, 2007, 4:01 PM CDT


Mark Prior's first extended spring outing ended badly on Thursday when the injury-plagued right-hander was forced to leave his start with shoulder problems.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry confirmed Prior was removed from the game against minor league hitters, but declined to comment on the injury without having all of the details.

The Cubs announced Thursday afternoon that Prior would be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, an orthopedic specialist, within the next few days.

Prior experienced discomfort in his right shoulder in the second inning. He left after completing the inning.

Prior was disabled twice with shoulder soreness last season.

He had thrown 75 pitches in a bullpen session earlier this week and was expected to make a five-inning start Thursday to stretch out his arm before his first start at Triple-A Iowa.

Had Prior's outing on Thursday gone well, he likely would have been sent to Iowa to start Tuesday. How this latest setback affects Prior's status is unknown but he'll likely remain on the minor-league disabled list if the injury is serious.

When Prior was demoted to Iowa at the end of spring training, he said he felt good physically and was capable of getting major league hitters out.

The Cubs have given no timetable for his return to the majors. But the basic plan called for Prior to rejoin the rotation after two to three minor league starts, assuming his velocity and control had improved and he was pitching well.