StrikeThree
April 17th, 2004, 10:38 AM
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs are not going to rush Mark Prior back, and even acknowledged Friday that it is possible Prior could miss the entire season.
Prior, who has been nursing injuries to his right Achilles tendon and to his right elbow, threw about 35 pitches on Friday, doubling the number of throws from his first mound session Wednesday.
And while pitching coach Larry Rothschild was encouraged by Prior's latest outing, he told the Chicago Tribune that a "chain reaction" could occur if Prior resumed pitching before he was totally pain free. The Cubs have said they hope to have their 23-year-old star back by early to mid-May, but they certainly don't know for sure when Prior will return.
"No, it's not even close," Rothschild told the Chicago Tribune. "Even if I could, I wouldn't [speculate when he might return] until he has been on the mound and is just about ready to face hitters."
Prior, who has been nursing injuries to his right Achilles tendon and to his right elbow, threw about 35 pitches on Friday, doubling the number of throws from his first mound session Wednesday.
And while pitching coach Larry Rothschild was encouraged by Prior's latest outing, he told the Chicago Tribune that a "chain reaction" could occur if Prior resumed pitching before he was totally pain free. The Cubs have said they hope to have their 23-year-old star back by early to mid-May, but they certainly don't know for sure when Prior will return.
"No, it's not even close," Rothschild told the Chicago Tribune. "Even if I could, I wouldn't [speculate when he might return] until he has been on the mound and is just about ready to face hitters."