After returning from a 3 1/2-week layoff from a shoulder injury last summer, Mark Prior went 10-1 in his final 11 starts, serving notice he would be around for quite some time.
But even pitchers with golden arms, perfect mechanics and the concentration of a safecracker can struggle.
Though Prior quietly fought his way through a bout with Achilles’ tendinitis last September, he was unable to overcome the pain when the injury cropped up again in February.
What originally was diagnosed as an inflamed Achilles’ tendon that would sideline Prior for a few weeks of spring training turned into a major problem that has kept him out for the first two months of the regular season.
But the long wait will end Friday, when the right-hander finally returns to the mound in a Cubs uniform, facing Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field.
“The M*A*S*H unit is nine guys deep right now,” Prior said. “Soon to be eight.”
It wasn’t quite as memorable as “He’s back,” but Prior’s return is certain to soothe the fragile psyche of Cubs fans as much as Michael Jordan’s comeback boosted Bulls fans in 1995.
One popular theory last year was Prior’s late-season dominance had been aided by his midsummer layoff. Prior won his first seven starts after returning from the injury caused by his basepath collision with Atlanta’s Marcus Giles, posting a 0.57 ERA in the first six victories.
Can his prolonged rest help Prior remain strong through the end of this season?
“Maybe,” he said. “Maybe not. Obviously, we won’t know until after the season is over. Nobody wants to miss two months of the season. All I know is what I have in front of me and what I can control, and that’s the next four months. So I’m going to give it everything I can in these four months to help this team win ballgames. We’ll see what happens, where we’re at in October or November.”
Manager Dusty Baker declined to discuss the limits the Cubs will put on Prior in Friday’s start, saying he didn’t want the Pirates to try to run up the pitch count. Prior threw 79 pitches in 5 1/3 innings in his final rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Iowa and is expected to increase it to about 90.
“We’ll manage it and make sure it’s done right and properly,” Prior said. “I’m not going to go out there and throw a complete game by any means on Friday. There will be some limitations and restrictions, but given the situation, I think it’s the right time [to return].”
Prior threw 120 or more pitches nine times in 30 starts last year, averaging 126 pitches in six September starts and leading the National League in pitches per start. The Cubs don’t believe his workload had anything to do with his Achilles’ injury, which first flared up in the heat of the pennant race. Prior received treatment at the time, though the injury was not disclosed until it cropped up again this spring.
Baker told Prior he expects him to be honest about how he feels after every start.
“We’ll go on the honor system [regarding how he] feels the next day and after the next start,” Baker said. “I just told him when I ask him a question, give us an honest answer.”
Competitive players like Prior and Kerry Wood often find it difficult to let on when they’re hurting. But both are now allowing themselves more time to heal from injuries instead of rushing back and risking further damage.
It’s all part of maturing, and it helps knowing the time off in the first half could help them stay mentally and physically strong for the stretch run. Prior chafed at all the attention he received during his rehab, including the daily “Prior Watch” updates, but now he’s ready to get back to what he knows best.
“I am who I am,” Prior said. “I do what I do because I love to play baseball. I love playing with the guys on this team. It hurt me more than anything to miss two months, because you feel like you let your teammates down, you let your friends down.”
Now he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and everything is a little more in focus.
Prior watch
Status: Ready, willing and able.
Target date for return: Friday.
Outlook: Prior will return to the mound as the Cubs’ starter Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field against Pittsburgh. In February, the Cubs said there was a “slim” chance he’d miss his first start. He will have missed 52 games, or about 10 starts.
