Prior Prior and prior Wood

In two days they have gone from the trash heap to their previous status as stars. I wonder how long before they are sent to the trash again.

Mark Prior was written off. I wrote two weeks ago that he should start the year in Iowa. After pitching four solid innings yesterday, he says he is ready to pitch in the starting rotation.

Really?

Indulge me for a moment while I write something for an audience of one.

Mark! It was one appearance! In spring training! Don’t start writing your Cooperstown speech just yet.

Looking at their separate spring training experience, Wade Miller has the upper hand on the fifth spot in the rotation. The only thing that could give Prior an edge is his paycheck. The Cubs organization will be spending a lot of money for someone to throw AAA ball.

Still, the Cubs may have a better chance at winning with Miller. Miller has experience and has shown this spring that he can keep the Cubs in games. Carlos Zambrano may be the flash that people will love to watch. He may be the strikeout king and an intimidating force with which to be reckoned. Miller will allow three or four runs a game but will allow the team to stay close. That’s what a fifth starter is supposed to do.

Rarely do teams have five starting pitchers who could be aces. If they do, they are people coming back from injury or rookies starting out. With Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, Hill and Prior or Miller, you have such a situation. Zambrano and Hill are both considered young. Marquis, Prior and Miller are all overcoming injury. Lilly is a former phenom who has talent, but has never emerged as a staff ace. All six men have potential. Time will tell who will emerge to lead the Cubs to victory and who will break our hearts.

I am still rooting for Prior to return to his 2003 form. It could still happen.

Then there is Kerry Wood. He is famous for striking out twenty Houston Astros in 1998. He is also the guy who fell out of the hot tub. He could have been a strong staff ace, but something took him down. I still want to blame Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild, but Dusty Baker may have had more to do with it.

Wood is now trying to resurrect his career from the bullpen. He could still be a star, someday taking over for Dempster as the Cubs closer. He could be the Mariano Rivera of the 2007 Cubs.

For now, let us see if he can pitch two days, back to back. We have yet to see that happen.

Both men are saying they are ready to start the season in Cub uniforms this April. Both may need more time. Manager Lou Piniella will make the final decision with the help of Rothschild.

At my son’s only visit to Wrigley, we watched Wood mow down the Florida Marlins back in 2003. We both want to see Kerry be the leader once again.

As we enter the final week of training, we have our eyes focused on each of these former phenoms. Like the phoenix, each one could soar once again. I hope they can while they still wear the Cubbie blue.