Former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell talked with Jeff Rickard on the Jeff Rickard Show on Sporting News Radio Tuesday. McDowell said that there might be more to the Achilles' injury suffered by Cubs' pitcher Mark Prior. A portion of the show's transcript is below:

 

Jeff Rickard: Mark Prior looks like he might not pitch until May, you are a guy that has gone through some injuries, are you wondering how this guy is really doing?

 

Jack McDowell: I think the thing that bothers me the most are a lot of these tendon stories that don't heal and that is a telltale sign of guys that have used steroids. I am not saying Mark Prior has or not, but, it kind of worries me that he has an Achilles' heel that won't heal itself. Tendons are the first things to go. You look at the guys that have had heel problems, patella tendon problems, it is one of the tell tale signs and I hope that is not the case with Mark.

 

Jeff Rickard: Could it be in his case that, from the lower half down he is such a big, strong guy, and that is what could be causing the problem?

 

Jack McDowell: Yeah that is true, but you pull an Achilles' tendon and the thing should heal unless he tore it up. And he didn't. I don't know if they (the Cubs) are using that because he is hurt somewhere else, I am not sure. But if it is an Achilles' thing that won't heal, it's worrisome to me.

 

C/O foxsports.com

Another guy who has an achilles' heel that wont heal is former marlins Cliff Floyd....

Didn't Prior pitch in the Olympics? You can't get away with taking aspirin without their drug test knowing it. Sure that was awhile ago, but why would Prior start taking steroids when he was a top prospect and had no pressure to jump ahead of the pack?

All signs point to wear and tear. His mechanics are great, but that's only upper-body mechanics. The way he pushes off and pivots is very stressful on his lower body, his ankles especially. Pitching so much (113 pitches per start, closest was Wood at 109) at a young age must have caught up to him. I just read that he hasn't pitched in a ST game yet. Maybe there is something to the rumors of shoulder, back and/or elbow pain. Tommy John?

Sportsline reports that Prior also has stiffness in his elbow. :mischief2

This could end up being bad for the cubbies. And JAck McDowell should just be quiet unless he has personal information to back it up. Seriously like a witch hunt on whose. ANyone can accuse anyone.

I don't think it's steroids, I think it was AN OVERDOSAGE of Dusty "Dumbass" Baker

I don't think it's steroids, I think it was AN OVERDOSAGE of Dusty "Dumbass" Baker

See Game 6 of NLCS.

AN OVERDOSAGE of Dusty "Dumbass" Baker

Worse than taking steroids...

AN OVERDOSAGE of Dusty "Dumbass" Baker

Worse than taking steroids... lol! And You guys notice I barely write that all, I really mean it!

Jack is talking about things from personal experience.

 

 

This story of the stiff elbow just surfaced I believe.

 

 

The achilles is probably a mild 'cover-up'

 

 

And if you condition an arm properly....the overworking issue isnt really one.

No way in hell does Prior roid. Sorianofan hit the nail on the head, he suffers from Dustyitis.

Jack McDowell is the worst columnist pretty much ever. I don't understand how this guy keeps his job.

 

That said, I'm sure the Cubs are concerned about this.

Jack is talking about things from personal experience.

 

 

This story of the stiff elbow just surfaced I believe.

 

 

The achilles is probably a mild 'cover-up'

 

 

And if you condition an arm properly....the overworking issue isnt really one.

yeah, burnetts arm needed just rest to get better? how about smoltz? no, overwork made then need surgery and dusty is king at overworking his biotches.

Jack McDowell is the worst columnist pretty much ever. I don't understand how this guy keeps his job.

 

That said, I'm sure the Cubs are concerned about this.

yeah, but the dude is still cool as it gets in my book :thumbup

This story sounds way too familiar.

Even as a major Cub and Prior hater, I have to say that I strongly doubt Prior is on steroids.

 

The Achilles thing is lingering from last year, and the Cubs did a bad job treating it, and the elbow problem IMO was caused by Dusty Baker overworking him last year.

 

Like I said in another thread, Dusty Baker is one of the best motivators i've ever seen, but also one of the worst game managers i've ever seen.

prior on steroids

 

ok buddy, if you say so

 

definitely not

He did have big legs, but even I (the witchhunter himself) wouldn't go as far to make such an absurd claim. We might as well jsut say latroy hawkins juices.

Jack is talking about things from personal experience.

 

 

This story of the stiff elbow just surfaced I believe.

 

 

The achilles is probably a mild 'cover-up'

 

 

And if you condition an arm properly....the overworking issue isnt really one.

yeah, burnetts arm needed just rest to get better? how about smoltz? no, overwork made then need surgery and dusty is king at overworking his biotches. see all the pitchers in past eras that worked more innings than prior.

 

 

and i also said condition it properly...both mentally and physically.

What are you getting at I'm confused.

 

Pertaining to past eras, throwing 250 innings now is like throwing at least 300 30 years ago.