[Vision2020] Mark Prior

[deaconjames at verizon.net]

Scott,

Wrigley Field is one place I definitely want to go. There's such a rich history and a mysterious air about it. Babe Ruth's (alleged) called shot was there. Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb's 4,191 hits there. Sammy Sosa hit 60+ homeruns three times while a Cub.

And yet, that rich history doesn't involve much winning by the hometown nine.

I agree with you that Mark Prior's return isn't going lead the Loveable Losers to the playoffs, let alone to World Series rings, but I do think that he (and Derrek Lee, whenever he returns) may have the ability to spark Chicago back into the win column. After all, they are 12-22 on the road; they need all the help they can get. However, Kerry Wood's return to the Kerry Wood/Mark Prior Memorial Disabled List may put a damper on that.

Scott, do you really think that the Cubs fans are the "absolute greatest in the world"? To me, when you say that the Cubs' fan base ignores beligerent backers of the opposing team, that tells me that they are too complacent. A true fan would throw it back at 'em. I think the Cubs' fans are more baseball fans; if they truly loved the Cubs as much as the love baseball, they would demand more from their team.

Take care,

D

From: Scott Dredge <sdredge at yahoo.com>
Date: Sat Jun 10 00:02:25 CDT 2006
To: deaconjames at verizon.net, vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Mark Prior

It won't help.  The Cub's last world championship was in 1908.  Several members of my family have been born, lived long full lives, and  died without the Cubs winning a championship in the same time  span.  What a tragedy this would have been had any of them  actually been Cubs fans.  Also, the Cub's fate was sealed in 1945  by the infamous curse of the Billy Goat which is still in effect in my  opinion.<br>  <br>  Even so, Wrigley Field - home to the Cubs since 1916 - is one of the  best ballparks.  And Cubs fans are the absolute greatest in the  world.  I've been to games at Wrigley where beligerant fans from  opposing teams making jackasses out of themselves have simply been  ignored.  That would never happen at a Giants / Dodgers game or a  Red Sox / Yankees game.  Fist fights happen.
  
  After a day game at Wrigley, be sure and catch dinner at the Chicago  Chop House which features 48 ounce and 64 ounce Porterhouse steaks as  their specialty.  It's right across the street from the Hard Rock  Cafe (also a great place to visit in Chicago) and the last time I was  at the Chicago Chop House they unbelievably had a dress code.  If  you don't have a shirt with a collar they will loan you one.
  
  -Scott

deaconjames at verizon.net wrote:  Visionoids,

Cubs  fans have to be very excited. Mark Prior, who is recovering from  shoulder problems, worked five pain-free innings and threw 76 pitches  for Double-A West Tenn Thursday. Prior allowed three runs on four hits,  striking out four and walking two. 

After a rocky first inning,  Prior closed the night with four scoreless innings, allowing just a  single in the second. He faced just three batters over the minimum  during that stretch and topped out on his fastball at 91 mph. 

Prior  has not pitched for the Cubs all season, but it looks as if he will  soon enough. When he does, the hapless Cubs may have some hap returned  to them.

Take care,

D