Idiocy

Overheard ESPN's Jason Stark on Mike & Mike In The Morning this morning. He was saying that the Cubs are starting to think that 2003 was Mark Prior's peak and that he'll never be a dominant pitcher. The Cubs are now willing to trade him.

If Stark has this via a leak, and not his own conjecture, then the incompetence of Andy MacPhail and Jim Hendry has just been broadcast to the universe for all to see.

Any used car salesman knows that you don't devalue a lousy car in the eyes of prospective buyers. You say little if anything and let caveat emptor prevail.

If MacPhail, Hendry and their minions leaked this info, they've just reduced what the Cubs can get in exchange for Prior. They've devalued their asset for absolutely no good reason.

Well, there is one reason. They don't want the Cub fan sycophants being upset that Mark Prior is traded. If they can convince the fan base that Prior is fools gold, then trading him doesn't hurt marketing.

I guess they value PR over wins in terms of positive marketing at 1060 West Addison.