This according to the latest
Newberg Report:According to at least one local report, the Rangers have signed righthander Mark Prior to a minor league contract for 2011. The 29-year-old ex-ace hasn’t pitched in a major or minor league game since 2006. He’d last suited up for the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League.
The Rangers have announced that Prior will report to Oklahoma City, where he could pitch in relief right away. The RedHawks lead their division by two games with four to play.
I went to the official
Orange County Flyers website to see how he had done in the GBL. Apparently he was appropriately
overwhelming to the indie-league batters. He was working under former major league pitcher,
Paul Abbott.
Prior worked with Abbott, an 11-year MLB veteran in his first year as Flyers manager, during his time with Orange County on developing the proper tools to come out of the bullpen. Last week, Prior pitched on back-to-back days for the first time in his professional career. On Tuesday, he threw a scoreless 8th inning for Orange County with two strikeouts against Na Koa Ikaika Maui, the team the Flyers will face in the first round of the playoffs starting next week. Prior signed with Orange County on August 3, throwing a 1-2-3 inning of relief in his Flyers debut against the Victoria Seals. He struck out five consecutive batters in his next outing. In his 11 innings of work, Prior allowed one unearned run on five hits with five walks and 22 strikeouts with opponents batting .143 against him.
“It’s a great day for Mark Prior, getting back into affiliated baseball,” said Abbott. “He came here to face competitive baseball and see if his arm would hold up, and he passed that initial test. Now he’s ready for the next step. He was a true professional while he was here. He was a Flyer, he was one of the guys, and he’s going to be missed.”
If he can stay healthy it looks like Mark prior may actually make a comeback. Good for him. This is someone fantasy owners should definitely keep an eye on.
This according to the latest Newberg Report:
Very great story if in fact he makes it back and can be good. I think he will make it back at some point, but it's a matter of how good he is.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I haven't heard is what he's posting on the gun these days. He probably has good enough movement to and skill to get minor leaguers and the equivalent. I guess we'll find out if he can do better than that relatively soon. Maybe he'll lay some winter ball.
ReplyDeleteI read an article where he said he is around 92. Here's the quote
ReplyDelete“Right now I’m finding out who I really am,” he said. “Obviously I was a power pitcher. But I’ve been 91, 92, so I’m not too far off from where I was. Everybody thinks I was this upper to mid-90s. For the most part I lived at 92, 93. I’m not throwing 85. I’m the same guy and I’m attacking hitters the way I used to.”
My feeling is he's more comfortable with himself as person, he's financial secure with his old cub money and he has a better feel for his body now.
ReplyDeleteIf he can hold up physical I think he'll parlay this into at least a few years of successful relief work in Texas. Maybe even as a closing shot if the young guys can't handle business once Feliz hits the rotation.
Thanks Jim, that's good to know. I'm rooting for him.
ReplyDelete"advanced fantasy bb" who are you kidding? U post your last article on 9/3 and QUIT on the most important month of the season. I bet your one of those guys that quit on his team as soon as you are out of the money, thus impacting the standings negatively. How do your advertisers feel about quiting on 9/3?
ReplyDeleteEverything isn't always the way it seems, Anonymous. Some might say you lack integrity by making such a strong statement and not standing behind it by using your name. But maybe there is another reason...
ReplyDeleteApologies for those checking in the last couple of weeks. My computer crapped out on me, a Fan Error, and it took me a while to get up and running again. Unfortunately, I don't have one of those fantasy internet phones. I'm also between jobs again so no work computers to borrow. My brother the IT guy just finished installing the new fan less than an hour ago. I'll get to the e-mails and comments as soon as possible. Please feel free to e-mail me again if you're still in need of help.