Why doesn't this surprise me?

Mark Prior is feeling discomfort in his shoulder and missed his most recent pitching session so he can be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum:

Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior will see a specialist in Los Angeles on Wednesday after cutting short a throwing session due to soreness in his right shoulder.

Prior was scheduled to pitch off the mound Tuesday, but he never got there. The shoulder flared up during long tossing.

"It wasn't getting loose so we weren't going to try it," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.

The right-hander will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Peoria Northsider Report projected Cubs opening day rotation:

#1 Zambrano
#2 Maddux
#3 Rusch
#4 Williams
#5 Hill

By way of observation: at this point in his career, Maddux is barely a serviceable #5, but injuries will force him to fill the #2 spot.

That's serious trouble folks. You'd better be praying the offense puts up some serious runs with that rotation (at least Lee looks to be picking up where he left off - however - he just paid a visit to Slocum too after bruising his shoulder in the WBC:

Meanwhile, first baseman Derrek Lee visited Yocum on Tuesday after he bruised his left shoulder diving to catch a foul ball during the United States' victory over Japan on Sunday at the World Baseball Classic.

I'd say the Cubs pretty much have locked up a 3rd place divisional finish.

Good thing the organization was so aggressive in the offseason eh?

More Pictures from the Peoria Northsider Report...

Well, we think you've had to suffer through Randy's mug long enough so we're going to brighten things up around here a little bit.

After all, there's nothing of note going on in Cub land - this team as presently constructed will fight for 3^rd or 4^th in the division this year (sorry to burst the bubble of BCB readers).

In fact, here's a picture that captures what I anticipate will be the essence of the Cubs season this year (picture the Cubs as the guy on the right):



Can anyone say F-U-T-I-L-I-T-Y? All together now...

In case you're wondering, the 800 pound gorilla on the left won the fight.

Well, that's the extent of the Cubs related content of this post.

And now for something completely different...

To wit, we're going to indulge in the posting of some family photos at TPNR.

Here's my oldest son (Christopher Jr) and I at an apple farm this last October:



Here's my youngest son (Calvin Nicholas) in his room among his animals:



Finally, and since we are, after all, infidels at this site - here's my personal favorite of the [in]famous Mohammed cartoons:



That is really quite funny.

Red States Randy in Cubs Glory...

Ok - here are the long awaited photos of Red States Randy (the resident Cardinals fan here at our blog of the truly cursed) sporting that glorious Cubs hat that he rashly vowed he would wear last season if Derrek Lee beat Albert Pujols in even one of the three triple crown categories:



That's a close-up of Randy - I think he looks rather happy wearing that hat - don't you?

In fact, I'll bet that after seeing these photos he wishes he would make rash vows more often.

Here's one of Randy in his natural habitat conversing with a fellow simpleton (i.e., Cardinals fan):



As you might be able to tell from these pictures, Randy is a rather large fellow. In fact, he was an offensive lineman for a NCAA Division I football program (on a football scholarship no less) when he was in college.

That's one of the reasons I chuckle when I see commentators on our blog leave insulting or sniping comments to Randy's posts.

I'm fairly certain they wouldn't have the fortitude to say to his face the sentiments they occasionally leave in the combox.

Oh well. Randy - thanks for being a good sport! And if you care to make any more hasty vows in the near term, we're all ears my friend!