Harsh

Greg Couch goes off, albeit in a subtle way, on Mark Prior:

I ... that Mark Prior. There was a thrill in watching him, so methodically intimidating while not showing one bit of emotion or reaction. Strike three, sit down. Next.

You knew exactly what you had in Prior, and exactly what you were going to have for years.

Now, you can barely remember that guy.

...
I'm sure this is frustrating for him, too. In 2002, the Cubs shut him down before the end of the season, even though nothing was wrong. They were babying him, and rumor was that wasn't the team's choice. In 2003, the babying was done. He threw all the way to the National League Championship Series, and everything seemed fine until ...

The Bartman game. That's the first time Prior showed the emotion on the mound, calling for fan interference. Then he threw a wild pitch.

It was the beginning of the unraveling. After arriving as the guy with a supposedly perfect motion, critics now question his mechanics.

The only reference not made in the column is to Donnie Moore.

I am with Paul Sullivan in one respect.

Whether Prior will make his next start is up in the air, and the possibility of Prior being shut down for the rest of the season if he goes on the disabled list for a third time is something the Cubs may consider.

Turn him off. Don't pitch him again.

And don't bring him back in Cubbie Blue if Dusty Baker and Larry Rothschild are going to be the coaches. A different approach with this guy is needed. Baker et al have had 4 seasons with diminsihing returns. This is one case where you really need to fire the coaches more than the players.