truebluefan

HOUSTON -- After missing the weekend series in Denver to have his troublesome right shoulder examined in Chicago, Mark Prior rejoined the Cubs on Monday before the three-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Despite the dire diagnosis -- he's suffering from tendinitis in the rotator cuff and will be shut down completely for three weeks before beginning rehabilitation -- Prior still is hoping to pitch again this season.

''Obviously, when you do the math, from a practical standpoint it doesn't look too good,'' he said. ''But I'm going to approach it like I can come back toward the end of the season. What the reality of that is, only time will tell, but I'm going to approach it that I have a chance to come back this season and pitch.

''Just because there's a time crunch -- there's just six or seven weeks left and it sounds like I might be out four or five weeks -- you just don't shut it down.''

complete article