Here’s another photo from BCB reader Clark Addison.
As you know, Mark Pryor suffered two serious injuries that ultimately ended his MLB career.
The first incident was a collision with Warriors’ Marcus Giles on the base road. This happened in the bottom half of the second inning on July 11, 2003, after Pryor walked. The scene goes like this:
The second was a line drive that hit Pryor’s pitching elbow and was hit by the Rockies’ Brad Hope. This happened in the top of the fourth inning on May 27, 2005. By the way, that play ended up being an out because Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez caught the ball, as noted in this Baseball Reference link here:
Foul lineout: P-3B (3B enters foul zone)
As a result, Pryor ended up getting an assist in the game, even though he was struggling in pain during the game. The scene goes like this:
Here are the photos.
So at first glance it doesn’t appear to be from either incident. Pryor was in the bottom lane when he collided with Giles, so he wouldn’t be wearing gloves. As you can see in the video of Hope’s play, it was a sunny day so it didn’t match the photo.
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Here’s the thing: Pryor didn’t leave the game after Giles’ collision. He pitched nearly three more innings before finally leaving with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, when he allowed a two-run home run to Andruw Jones and walked Robert Fick. This is what we see in this photo and the time it was taken, Friday, July 11, 2003. The Cubs lost the game 9-5. Others identifiable in the photo include first baseman Eric Karros (left) that day, trainer Dave Tumbas and umpire Mike Winters, who got home plate that afternoon.
Regarding the 2005 injury, I’m sure it had a lot to do with Pryor’s later shoulder issues. Why? Because when an injury occurs, many believe it will be season-ending, if not career-threatening. But Pryor was back on the mound four weeks later. I think he came back too early and maybe subtly changed his movements, causing his shoulder issues. He never had any problems with his shoulder before that injury, and in fact, he bounced back after the injury in 2003 and pitched very well the rest of 2003.
Finally, for those who still think Dusty Baker ruined Prior through overuse, Prior simply doesn’t believe that. I don’t think I read Prior’s 2016 Sports Illustrated article—I suspect I was busy thinking about other things that year—but in it he completely absolves Baker of any responsibility (emphasis in original):
Even now, when people hear my name, they still think of hype and potential. And, inevitably, there are injuries.
Okay then, let’s talk.
Some people pointed out issues with my delivery and arm movement.
Others — mostly Cubs fans — still blame my manager, Dusty Baker, for a series of injuries that derailed my career. They thought he overused me in 2003, blah blah blah. But, here’s the thing: I don’t blame Dusty for what happened to me. I wouldn’t change a single thing that happened that season — except, of course, our failure to bring a World Series championship to Chicago. No matter how many pitches I threw, I never asked to leave the game—it would have been unthinkable.
Dusty was hired to manage every game like it was his last. Over the course of a season (or even multiple seasons), that means an endless series of decisions — especially when it comes to balancing pitcher workload with the need to win games. Ironically, that’s part of my job now with the Padres — the job of pitching coach at all of our affiliates — and it’s not an easy job. Just like anything else, you do the best you can.
I believe Dusty did his best and I would strongly disagree with anyone who thinks he is responsible for what happened to me or Kerry Wood.
So, let’s put all accusations against Dusty aside. In fact, after the “incident” in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, Baker should be accused of sitting back and doing nothing. But in my opinion, Pryor and Kerry Wood both have Hall of Fame talent, they just suffered from bad luck and various injuries.
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By all accounts, Pryor is now doing a great job as the Dodgers’ pitching coach, a job he has held since 2020. I wish him all the best.
