CHICAGO -- Mark Prior is making progress. He played catch Sunday, and will likely throw off a mound on Monday. The Chicago Cubs pitcher has no discomfort in his right elbow or Achilles after two sessions on a mound last week.
As for rumors that Prior is done for the year, Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker snapped at the distorted report.
"Hey, man, that's a lie," Baker said after Saturday's game. "I dont know who's putting that out. Some people said I said it. I'm tired of people putting words in my mouth that I didn't say. Prior's not out for the season."
What happened was on Friday, Baker was asked a hypothetical question about whether the Cubs could win without Prior.
"We'd have no choice," Baker said at the time. "Can we win without him over the course of the year? The answer is yes, you can, but is the job and task more difficult? Yes, much more so. You can't answer these questions on the bench. You answer them on the field."
What Baker didn't say -- but was somehow reported -- was that Prior was done.
"They turned it around that we don't need Prior," Baker said Sunday. "What am I supposed to say (when asked if the Cubs could win without him) -- no? We still have to play. There were times in San Francisco when we were without Barry (Bonds)."
Baker's approach is realistic.
"You can cry or try to find a way," he said.
Peace: The Cubs were hoping for a litter-free day Sunday with no confrontations between players and umpires. Baker was ejected from Friday's game and Kerry Wood was tossed Saturday after arguments with the umps.
Back when Baker played, he said they could have "good arguments" with the umpires.
"As long as you didn't say a couple magic words, you were going to remain in the game," Baker said. "The fans used to love it and some of the umpires did. The whole thing has changed."
Neither the players nor Baker expected either side to hold a grudge.
"Most of them don't," Baker said. "I feel badly for (the umpires). People get on them every day. Being an umpire is a very tough situation. You don't have a home-field crowd. They travel a lot. It's not an easy job."
Incidentally, the umpires were booed as they took the field for Sunday's game.
Moises Alou / RF
Born: 07/03/66
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 220 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Early bird: Moises Alou has been taking early batting practice with coaches Gene Clines and Gary Matthews.
"That's something I didn't do very often," Alou said. "I had to go to the shop and fix a couple things."
"It's more maintenance than anything," Matthews said.
Alou entered Sunday's game 8-for-19 on the homestand with four home runs and six RBIs.
Extra bases: Reliever LaTroy Hawkins is healthy and ready to go. Hawkins pitched Wednesday and Thursday, and was warming up Saturday if needed. Last year with Minnesota, Hawkins pitched in five of six games on a West Coast trip. ... Corey Patterson was working on his bunting early Sunday with coach Wendell Kim. ... A batting practice home run by Todd Hollandsworth plunked a woman in the bleachers on the backside Sunday. She didn't fall, but drew a large cheer from the early crowd. ... Andy Pratt took the loss Saturday for Triple-A Iowa, giving up three runs on two hits and five walks over two innings. Jason Dubois went 2-for-4 with a double in Iowa's 6-2 loss to New Orleans.
Looking ahead: The Cubs travel to Pittsburgh after closing their four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 1.38 ERA) will start Tuesday followed by Sergio Mitre (0-0, 4.26 ERA) and Wood (2-1, 3.48 ERA).
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Moises Alou / RF
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