Talk:Bigger Bust - Mark Prior or Kerry Wood?/@comment-93324-20060315155309

Yes, because obviously a pitcher&quot;s W-L record reflects his true skill... When healthy, both of these guys are studs. In his four full years (we&quot;ll call >160 IP a "full" season), Wood has put up seasons of 58, 61, 72, and 81 Runs Above Replacement; his career Translated ERA is 3.22. Prior put up 93 (!) PRAR in 2003, and his career TERA is 3.13. By comparison, teammate Greg Maddux&quot;s career TERA: 3.24. If you&quot;re going to call either a "bust," I think it would have to be on the grounds of salaries: Wood stands to make nearly $10 million this season, one in which he may or may not even play, and Prior is up for nearly $4 million -- and we have no idea what the status of his arm is. But the injuries can hardly be blamed on the pitchers; Cubs management&quot;s consistent ignorance on the matter of pitch counts and general pitcher abuse theory -- Wood threw 120 or more pitches nine times in 1998, including a staggering 135-pitch outing late in the year that may have directly led to his TJ surgery. In &quot;03, Wood did himself one better, tossing 120 fourteen times; Prior eclipsed 120 10 times, and averaged a majors-leading 114 pitches per start. In other words, the Cubs took their best investments and sabotaged their careers. If anyone can be termed a bust, let&quot;s call out Dusty Baker and Jim Riggleman.