The More Things Change...

From today's Daily Herald:

(Mark Prior) reported no problems and said he’ll be ready for the start of the Cactus League season.

However, Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild don’t plan to use Prior until the team is at least five games through the exhibition season.

From one year ago:

Mark Prior had a simulated pitching drill on the mound Friday, throwing with a towel in his hand rather than a baseball.

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Prior also threw a little on flat ground and will do so again Sunday. After that, Rothschild may have a better idea of when Prior can throw a ball off the mound in workouts.

Rothschild stressed that Prior is completely healthy and that the intention is just to ease him into spring.

"I don't have a plan yet for games, but he could pitch by the fourth or fifth one [in March]," Rothschild said.

...

Rothschild emphasized that being cautious with him is just smart and not the sign of anything being wrong.

At least these guys have minimized expectations for Prior this year by telling us any contribution from him will be a bonus.

But, please. Can we stop with the false hop cover stories? It's certainly seems that Prior through out his shoulder in September and October 2003 after injuring his achillies earilier that year. He'll probably never be the same again. The realists in Cub World know this.

But can the team just stop keeping everyone hopeful?

When he pitches well, we'll cheer. Until then Lou and Larry, please don't talk about him.