You know that cliche about a pitcher getting stronger as the game progresses? In Mark Prior’s case, it’s true.
Prior struck out the final five batters he faced Friday night in Seattle, where he shut out the Mariners for seven innings.
The rookie right-hander gave up just one hit over his final four innings Wednesday at Houston. Of the final seven outs he recorded, six came on strikeouts.
“I feel like I get stronger when I start hitting that 90-100 pitch mark,” he said. “I feel like I’m in good shape and can handle it with no problem.”
Manager Don Baylor pulled Prior after 124 pitches in Seattle. And Baylor gave him the hook Wednesday after 118 pitches, leading to a bullpen breakdown that cost the Cubs a victory.
Does Prior believe the Cubs have been too cautious with him?
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I think it was a good time to pull me out.
“Obviously they’re not going to push me too much further than 120. I don’t think any pitcher should really go that far unless it’s a must-win game [or] the playoffs.”
Although Prior wants to remain in games longer, he said he doesn’t want to give in to hitters or deviate from his game plan.
“I gave it everything I had today for the six innings, and if it took 120 [pitches] to get what we had, that’s fine by me,” he said.
Learning curve: In the end, Bobby Hill supported the Cubs’ decision to demote him to Triple-A Iowa.
Hill, who went 1-for-19 on this trip, realizes the difficulty of making swing improvements against major-league pitchers.
“To take a young guy and throw him in the fire, it’s tough,” he said. “[Being demoted] is disappointing, but I can’t go down there with my head down and feel sorry for myself because then it would take me longer to get back here.”
Hill has been working overtime with hitting coach Jeff Pentland on shortening his swing and improving his plate coverage.
“Jeff feels it’s just a matter of a few things and once it clicks, he’ll be a lot better player for his entire career,” said Jim Hendry, the Cubs’ vice president of player personnel. “I think Bobby understood that.”
He did.
“I’m happy to go down and work,” Hill said. “It’s not going to take long. One thing I still have is my drive.”
Baylor said that once Hill shows progress, he will be recalled from the minors. It won’t matter what his replacements at second base–Mark Bellhorn, Delino DeShields, Chris Stynes and Augie Ojeda–are hitting.
“I think he’s a real talent,” Baylor said. “He has speed. If you can get him and Corey [Patterson] at the top of the lineup, you’ll have guys who can get on in front of Sammy [Sosa].”
Let it go: Baylor said he planned to call motivational and fitness guru Mack Newton to inquire about his schedule.
Club President Andy MacPhail appears lukewarm about the idea of having Newton return to work with the team. Newton said Tuesday even if he wanted to come back, his busy schedule probably would not allow it.
Wake-up call: Baylor was asked about MacPhail’s comment last week that the Cubs haven’t played with much enthusiasm.
“Which guys are you talking about?” he asked. “You have to look individually. Some guys don’t look enthused but they were that way when they played for other teams.
“We can’t start changing their personalities. That’s who they are. They might look like deadpan guys but they care.”
