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Chicago Cubs: When can the Cubs expect their first 2004 pitch from Mark Prior in a game that counts? While there is no set timetable for his return from a problem with his Achilles tendon (not to mention a stiff pitching elbow), the best guesstimate would be sometime in the second week of May. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports the team is probably a little more concerned about the elbow part of the injury equation than they had previously let on. Said general manager Jim Hendry, "We had thrown him, and he'd done his work and his Achilles' flared up a little again. I just told our doctors on Thursday or Friday, basically, let's do everything once and for all -- test everything, any possibility. Anything can be wrong. Let's find out, precautionary-wise. I don't want to come back two weeks later and say, 'Well, we didn't test this, we didn't test that.'" Prior feels he tried to move things along too quickly and plans a deliberate recovery program.

Colorado Rockies: Manager Clint Hurdle was ejected yesterday just five pitches into the game against Arizona. Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic reports that he was arguing balls and strikes and got the quick toss from home plate umpire Corey Moser. Is this the quickest toss in the history of spring training? Managers sometimes get heaved when exchanging lineup cards, so it's possible there have been earlier ones.

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