The image you see next to this text was my computer background before the start of the Cubs 2004 season (although I don't know who that random black guy is). I was really, really confident after the Cubs came just five outs away from reaching the World Series. Of course the Bartman game hurt, (to this day I don’t blame him, I blame this guy) but with almost everyone returning to the roster, how could you not pick them to go all the way. I even remember going to the computer lab at school on a Friday morning in early March of 2004, signing onto 5 computers and praying that I could score some tickets to some games. I felt that I didn’t really need to worry about seeing a great pitcher, because odds were in my favor to see either Prior, Wood, Zambrano or Maddux. Boy was I wrong. Prior didn’t even wait for the season to start before he went on the DL and Wood went 8-9 and missed 2 months with strained triceps. Despite those injuries, the Cubs were only ½ game behind in the Wild Card standings with 13 games to play. But, in usual Cubs fashion, they choked down the stretch, going 6-7 in their final 13 games while watching the Astros reel off 7 straight wins to end the season and take the Wild Card.
In 2005, we saw the Cubs finish with a below .500 record and last year witnessed them finish in DEAD LAST (yes, behind the freaking Pirates). Now, here we are, in 2007…dealing with the same old stories with Wood and Prior. It was reported today that they are both probably heading to the DL (again) and neither will make the Cubs opening day lineup. To be completely honest, I am almost relieved these guys won’t be making the squad. Instead of having high expectations, I can sit back and expect nothing out of them and be perfectly content with that.
Instead, Cubs fans get the opportunity to watch some new arms in Jason Marquis, Ted Lilly and Wade Miller in this year’s rotation. I know some people have complained about the signings and money spent for Marquis and Lilly. However, last year, these two combined for 377 innings pitched; while Prior and Wood combined for a grand total of 63 innings! I’m sorry, but even though these guys may not be as talented as Cubs fans would have liked, they’re much more likely to go out every start and give the Cubs 5-7 innings consistently…rather than spending 2-3 months on the DL. I think the Cubs have the lineup this year to win those high-scoring affairs when the wind is blowing out in Wrigley.
So I guess what I am trying to say here, is, well…good riddance to Wood and Prior. Wood has never won more than 14 games in a season (and isn't even a starter anymore), which may make him one of the most overrated pitchers in recent memory. And although Prior has had flashes of greatness, it doesn’t appear that he will regain his once dominant form anytime soon. I would love to see them come back and dominate like they once used to, but I am done counting on/hoping for it. As far as I’m concerned, these two will never do anything productive in a Cubs uniform again…and I think it’s safe to say that I’m willing to accept that and move on. So should every other Cubs fan.
(Come back later this week for my MLB predictions and my World Series champion!)
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