There are no sure things in life, and because life is baseball, there can be no pitcher who’s mere presence on the mound assures his team of a victory.
But over the last decade and a half, the Cubs have employed a couple of the next-best things to certainty–and they will go head-to-head Friday night in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
Two generations will cross on the Wrigley Field mound when Atlanta’s Greg Maddux, the most consistent winner of his era, meets Mark Prior, the power pitcher of the future, with the best-of-five series tied at a game apiece.
“You have the new young lion on our side and you have the veteran-of-many-wars lion on that side,” Dusty Baker said.
Like Rick Sutcliffe in 1984, the Cubs expect Prior to dominate every time he takes his deliberate walk to the mound. They have a reason to be so assured.
Prior won 10 of his last 11 starts and posted a 1.52 earned-run average since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 4.
Maddux, the long-ago Cub who has a career record of 289-163, broke a tie with Cy Young this year by winning 15 or more games for the 16th season in a row.
The Cubs haven’t won a postseason series since 1908, but a victory on Friday would be a huge steppingstone for an evolving team. It’s Prior vs. Maddux. Young lion vs. old lion.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Prior said. “This is my opportunity.”
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Edited by Michael Kellams (mkellams@tribune.com)
