University Southern California Trojans
Mark Prior Teleconference Quotes
June 05, 2001 | Baseball
June 5, 2001
(On being bypassed by the Twins, who had the No. 1 pick): "I don't know all the details in the dealings with the Twins. I do know the Cubs were interested in me and the Twins wanted to go with Joe Maurer.
"Today is a great day. To be drafted by the Cubs is an honor. I'm thrilled to be part of that organization. But I still have a job to do against Georgia in the College World Series. Georgia has had a great year. So, today I'll enjoy getting drafted and tomorrow I'll start focusing on the College World Series.
(On whether he's ready to jump straight to the majors): "I've heard many things. People have said I'm ready to go to the majors. As far as I'm concerned, I still have a lot of learning to do before going to the majors. Hopefully, with my ability the learning curve won't be too long. I don't feel that I'm ready to go straight to the majors.
(More on the Twins): "I did meet with their director of scouting and local scout once here in Los Angeles. But that was my only face-to-face meeting with the Twins and the only one by my parents, too. All the others were by the phone.
(On why he didn't sign with the Yankees out of high school): "When the Yankees came around out of high school, I wanted to get going with them. But then I realized I wasn't ready for the business of >baseball on and off the field. I feel I made the right decision, to go to school. And I'm happy I did.
(More on the Twins): "I told them I just wanted to be treated fairly and honestly. I don't know what went on during the negotiations. Obviously things didn't work out with the Twins. They felt a better thing for them was Maurer.
(On what the Cubs told him today): "I talked today to their general manager and their area scout, and they said ?Congratulations.' They said for me to go and take care of things in Omaha. Everything else will take place after that. I'm happy they're giving me the opportunity to help this USC team win a national championship.
(On his memory of facing Georgia when he was at Vanderbilt): "I remember it was hot and they hit me all around the field. I know Georgia is a good team and Coach Polk has come in and done a great job. They have an offensive lineup. They're one of the best teams in the country. They're more than capable of winning the College World Series. It'll be a great game. And they know I was at Vanderbilt.
"Chicago is a great fit for me. I'm been a Chicago fan since I was younger, growing up watching them on WGN. I'm excited that's where I am going.
(On his improvement since last year): "I think my breaking ball has come a long way since last year. I found a good release point for it. And I found command of my fastball. I've shown I can throw it anywhere around the plate.
(On getting the draft behind him): "It's a big relief, a burden off my back. The last 4 or 5 days since my last start was the only time I really thought about it. Now I can go and pitch with my mind free and clear. I don't have to impress anyone now. I'm relaxed and ready to go now.
"I've watched Kerry Wood for the last 3 or 4 years. He's a phenomenal pitcher with great stuff. It's hard to dream I might be in the same rotation with him and in the same lineup as guys like Sammy Sosa. It's kind of mind boggling. I've been focused on practices here at USC, but it'll hit me hard tonight. I'll be a Chicago Cub with a chance to pitch in Wrigley Field in a couple years. It's special.
"I don't know a lot about Chicago's draft history. I do know they want to win as an organization. They've had a great year this year. I hope to get the opportunity to help their organization, whether in the minors or wherever.
(More on Georgia): "I know their team is a great team. Our main concern is to get by a powerful Georgia team and the lineup they have. That's typical of SEC teams. They always have powerful offenses. There is a difference between the Pac-10 and the SEC. The Pac-10 doesn't put up those kind of offensive numbers. So, I'm looking for a different style baseball game. It'll be fun and interesting for me to pitch in that game.
(On his improvement since leaving Vanderbilt): "I changed my conditioning, my strength conditioning and my outlook on the game. That took me to a different level. I took things I could control and took them to a different level than I did at Vanderbilt, and I took the game more seriously.
(On Tom House): "He has helped me out physically since high school. And recently, he's helped with the mental and emotional part of the game. He's been a huge part of my life.
"I've never been to Wrigley Field. I've been to Chicago once, going through on the way to a USC-Notre Dame football game.
"I'd love to be position to be called up in September to pitch. But a lot will depend on how long we're in Omaha, how long it takes to sign and how I do in the minors before a September call-up can be considered.
"My arm feels good. I went through a bit of a dead period in May during the time off we had for finals. But it feels good. I've thrown 130 innings now. I don't know what that does in the eyes of the Cubs.
"I'll go home to San Diego until I sign. I'll run, lift and throw bullpen.
(More on not signing with the Yankees): "I'm not sure why it dragged on. They knew what I wanted money-wise. Maybe I felt I wasn't ready to go in the minors at 17 years old and deal with all the off-the-field things. So, I took the money out of the equation and did what was best for me, go to school, develop myself, get part of my education out of the way. I felt the college situation was better. We weren't far apart on money. They offered more than I thought I'd see. It was a realization I had that I wasn't ready to play professionally yet. They understood and respected my decision.
(On when he'll sign with the Cubs): "I like to be on the field and playing. I just want to be treated fairly. I'll deal with the Cubs after Omaha.
(On the pre-draft discussion with the Twins and Cubs): "I don't know a lot of the details. My parents kept me out of the loop because of our situation with Omaha coming up.
(On the possibility of being in a pennant race with the Cubs this year): "I've been in a pennant race for college baseball, going to the College World Series. I can't imagine what it's like in pro baseball. That goes back to the whole learning thing. I've got a lot to learn.
(On the pressure leading up to the draft): "It hasn't been hard. But this last week tested has me on who I am, to stay focused on this USC team.?
QUOTES FROM USC COACH MIKE GILLESPIE:
"In so far as one can predict whether someone can make the jump from college to the major league level, if a guy can do it, Mark Prior can. He's anything but a project, as it relates to his delivery, his mechanics and his command. He has great command of 2 pitches (fastball and curve) and he hasn't had to use his change, but the command for that is not far away.
"This guy is really an unusual individual. He's very bright, very grounded. His work ethic is beyond description. He is poised and composed. He has the ability to handle the emotional and mental part, too. You'll see him make the move up much easier than anyone can anticipate. He's very special in those regards.
"Our position was he'd be taken by someone who'd be a great fit for him. I knew it wasn't a slam dunk with the Twins. As long as Mark is happy, we're happy. He's excited to be taken by the Cubs. He'll have a long career with them.
(On the draft being held before, instead of during, the College World Series): "It's far less stress than year's past because the College World Series hasn't started yet. Before, it was held during the Series. We don't play until Saturday. This day is an emotional day and his focus today is on the draft. By the time we're in Omaha, everyone will be able to concentrate on the task at hand. We're lucky this year.
"Mark had a great opportunity with the Yankees out of high school. He knew it was a risk that he was a high pick and was offered an attractive signing bonus. A guy who passes that up has not guarantee he'll get drafted that high again. But, in just about every case, a player improves himself by going to college
"It's a great relief that the draft is over. There's little doubt how this has built with the anticipation, speculation and worry about what will happen. Mark dealt with it with a lot of composure and maturity. It had to be a lot of stress. To get to this day and have it go the way it went comes as a great relief to him.
(On the SEC's reputation): "Things go in cycles. We haven't played nearly as many SEC teams. But you can't make a sweeping generalization that the SEC has more power than the Pac-10 or that the Pac-10 plays the short game. It depends year to year. You'll find a pretty similar number of all kinds of players in both leagues. These are 2 of the elite conferences in the country. There are outstanding players in both conferences every year.
"I know (Georgia head coach) Ron Polk quite well, although I've never played against one of his teams. He is the author of a great manual on baseball and when I was at the community college level we used it as a textbook in our baseball class. I've been with him time to time with USA Baseball operations. Maybe I ought to be glad my teams haven't played his.
(On Nebraska making it to the College World Series): "It will be an environment like never before. It will be LSU times 10. It'll be nuts. We're fortunate we're in the other bracket. We'll be witnesses to it rather than participants. They're a good team, maybe a great team.?
