He was 5-1 with an era slightly above 2 with a 1.04 WHIP at all star break. He never really recovered from arm injuries which decimated his season plus the orioles were just awful in the second half last year.

He has good stuff, is young and could be a legimate #2, 15 game winner type starter on many teams if healthy. And he's a lefty.

I'd just like to say I would be so goddamn pissed if they traded away Prior, for ANYONE in the league. First of all, Hendry has already added Eyre and Howry in the bullpen. Second of all, if we trade away Prior -- Wood still isn't ready for opening day. What will our starting rotation be then? Zambrano, Williams, Maddux, Hill and Koronka? Angel Guzman? That's awful.

Secondly, Prior may have had injury troubles in the past, but none were related to his pitching arm. He missed a month in '03 because he had a collision on the base paths. Last year, he took a line drive off the elbow. And I believe had shin splints or something. But it's not like he's need TJ surgery or anything. He is WAY too good to give up, even for a former MVP.

The only way I won't hold a grudge for forever and a day against the Cubs, is if they swing Zito to plug into the rotation. And even then, I still would think the trade would suck.

As an win-starved O's fan, I can definitely see why this would be impressive on a level, but overall I think we'd be trading away much more than stats. When Cal retired we were left with a marquee player void. When Miggy was signed, then subsequently Sosa that void was filled. If we get rid of Miggy, once again we are left without a face. Sure, we all have our favorites but no one we can rally around if Miggy is gone. Also, as has been stated numerous times above, I really don't see Prior as an investment I would want to gamble on. I would have to wonder if his contract was short(ish) and he won and did well enough to get a great deal elsewhere, he'd probably jet. I just think that the Miggy thing was blown out in the first place, so all this spec is just fodder. The O's are coming off one of their worst off-seasons for new acquisitions. Fans are up in arms, Flanny's head is being called for on silver platters around the metro area. I figure this is something that may just be made to be bigger than it is to appease fans for a little longer. Oddly enough though, I haven't met one O's fan who would trade Miggy, not even for Manny. We all love Miggy here. I feel like the organization would get even more heat from the deal than if they just sat on their laurels as per usual.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2012934

and he's had achilles tendonitis.

That was in March '05, and he pitched on April 13th. So did he miss any time because of that injury?

I looked it up and answered my own question, they pushed his first start back a week. Still, it's not like he's had any problems that require surgury. Yet.

To me, its not time missed but decline in performance. I don't follow the NL that closely but I was under the impression that he's been playing through injuries and that was the reason he wasn't very dominating the last two years.

If he's been healthy and has changed from the dominating pitcher of three years ago into a low teens winner with an ERA in the high 3's to low 4's, that's even worse. I know he's only 25 and that he was one of the best young pitchers in baseball 3 years ago, but does anyone really think its even a 50/50 probability that he'll ever realize his potential?

Bottom line though, is that this is the cubs we're talking about and whatever they do isn't going to end up working out for them.

I don't blame you in the least. As a lifetime A's fan it was hard to take the low payroll Oakland A's not signing Tejada. He was both a fan & clubhouse favorite in Oakland and his presence is sorely missed. He recvd a lot of flack the year he won the MVP because there were many that felt the honor should've gone to A-Rod. People forget during said year he had 25 game winning hits. That's TWENTY-FIVE GAME WINNING HITS, including games 18 & 19 of the 20-game win streak. With #18 being one of the most dramatic moments in A's history with a bottom of the ninth 3-run homer off Eddie Guardado.
Miggy has a great attitude as well....which IMHO goes a long way in a sport with many prima-donnas in their mid-year millions.

Absolutely. He is definitely one of the nice guys in baseball, which is why his comments earlier about being traded were so out there. I can understand his frustration, because I too am feeling them. Flanny was a good pitcher, but a terrible GM. I hate that the O's are not contending for players, and that we have become the stigma of the AL East. Baltimore is a great city, and a player would be lucky to sign and play here. Fans are first rate, the stadium is one often copied, never duplicated, the list goes on and on. Unfortunately though we have Angelos as an owner and I believe that adds a lot of fuel to the fire.

Bump.

Clemens and Prior compared statistically, their first four years in the league.



ERA: Clemens--3.27 Prior--3.24
SO: Clemens--694 Prior--719
BB: Clemens--216 Prior--195
Hits Allowed: Clemens--656 Prior--536
ERA+ (Average/Year): Clemens--137.25 Prior--131.5
WHIP: Clemens--1.169 Prior--1.192
SO/9: Clemens--8.14 Prior--10.55 (Just for fun: Nolan Ryan's was 8.95)
Innings Pitched: Clemens--767.4 Prior--614.7

Well, I was talking with a friend over the holiday and he mentioned something in which I probably knew but overlooked. Bedard is going on 27 and hasn't proven his ilk. He is touted as a prospect but how many more years do the O's give him. Prior just turned 25 and has proven his worth. This adds some dimension to the trade in my opinion. We need pitchers!

I'm sure this was largely for kicks, but the big problem with this comparison is that comparing the four years misses the trend within the four years for each player.

Prior started out a stud and has been merely good the last two years. Clemens started out showing promise his first two years before becoming a stud in years 3-4.

Also should be noted that when Miggy is disgruntled or upset he plays like crap...see his final year with the A's. Numerically his worse year.

This morning WBAL is reporting that Tejada's new words are more precise now, to the effect of "The Orioles have done nothing and I want to play somewhere else" rather than "a change of scenery might be nice".

In ESPN insider's rumor central:

I read that on Orioles Hangout last night. Things definitely heating up for the O's to make a move. Manny would work at Camden Yards, but do we really need another OF? The Phillies/Orioles deal I read about yesterday was intriguing:

Phils get:
Tejada, Majewski, Bedard, J. Lopez

O's get:
G. Floyd, Abreu, Rollins

Its all spec from here until the deal gets done somewhere.

As a Phillies fan, I wouldn't make this deal. I think adding Rollins to that deal is giving back too much. And I definitely don't want Javy Lopez.

There was also a variation I read somewhere that had it a 3way between Phillies/Os/Cubs.

Manny's 10/5 so wouldn't he just veto a trade to Baltimore?

One would think. That's why I don't really understand why his name keeps popping up.

Maybe it has something to do with Manny vocally wanting out at times.