The same old song and dance

The Chicago Tribune reports today that Mark Prior left yesterday's extended spring training game after only two innings, due to more injury problems. You can go ahead and read the story if you want, but I think we all know how it goes by now.

By now Chicago papers must have developed a generic injury story that allows them to just circle the right information....

Cubs pitcher [circle one: Mark Prior/Kerry Wood] left yesterday's game after only [one/two/zero] innings due to [shoulder/arm/vaginal] problems.

Jim Hendry confirmed the injury but declined to comment any further until he had more details.

The Cubs said [orthopedic/gynecology] specialist [pick random name from phone book] will examine the injury within the next couple days.

The pitcher was on the disabled list [twice/three times/all season/don't ask] last year, and had previously hoped to return to the starting rotation sometime this [week/season/decade].

The Cubs have given no timetable for his return, but remain optimistic.

Cubs manager [Lou Piniella/Fozzy Bear/Dirk Diggler] could not be reached for comment and was last seen angrily chewing off his arm.

Is Wrigley Field a dump?

• The Tribune's own Rick Morrissey calls Wrigley Field a dump this morning. He actually did this once before in 2004, when the field was suffering from "falling concrete" syndrome. He really makes some good points - the Wrigleyville neighborhood is what makes the field special. Well, maybe that and the scoreboard.
• Chris De Luca does some real in-depth research and determines that Ozzie Guillen is not on the hot seat. Um... duh!
• Richard Roeper, also from the Sun-Times, weighs in to let everyone know that the Cubs are a very successful business. Yes, when a sports team focuses on the bottom line and couldn't care less about winning, they can make money.
• The Daily Herald and Scot Gregor found some positives in Monday's Sox loss, namely Ozuna and Erstad. I'm not going to get excited about the strong performances by the bench players, because you can't get too excited about anything in a blow out loss.

The start of a bizarre season indeed

The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers makes a few interesting points regarding the beginning of what should be quite an interesting season for the White Sox.

I know it's only one game, and I actually feel somewhat stupid for analyzing it at all, but if the pitching staff doesn't get it together this year, expect quite a bit of column inches devoted to questioning GM Kenny Williams and his direction.

And these won't be innocent hints, like in the Rogers piece. These will be more along the lines of "hit you over the head repeatedly until you won't want to work in this city anymore."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, Sun-Times' Chris De Luca allows Cubs manager Lou Piniella to all but excuse his team's horrendous game due to the circumstances stemming from the Tribune Co. announcement.

If I was ever allowed to run a baseball team, you can guarantee I wouldn't provide any excuses for my team of professionals. And if, God forbid, I ever get a press pass, you can be sure that I wouldn't let comments like that slide from a manger as high regarded as Piniella.