Mark Prior

There was a note in the paper the other day that ex-Cubs’ pitcher Mark Prior was named bullpen coach for the Dodgers.  Prior is as star-crossed an athlete as you’ll ever find, a pitcher who seemed destined for greatness until the injuries started and kept on coming.

His best year was 2003, when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA.  That was the year I took Clare to Wrigley Field the first time; it just so happened to be a game Prior started against the then-NL Brewers.  The 22-year old righty struck out 16 batters in eight innings, which may be why we left after the Milwaukee eighth.  Oh, ye of little faith.  Cubs’ manager Dusty Baker brought in Joe Borowski—no relation, folks—to close the ninth, only Borowski gave up a three-run homer to Geoff Jenkins for a Brewers’ 5-3 win.

Baker has been criticized for letting Prior run up his pitch counts in starts.  Lord knows Prior was on the mound in the 2003 NLCS against the Marlins when Moises Alou and a certain fan gave us the latest and possibly last installment on the Cub Curse.  Cursed or not, Prior only pitched three more seasons in the majors.  You can only hope he has better luck coaching.