Wade Miller Beats Out Mark Prior For Cubs' Fifth Spot

If you've been following what Bleed Cubbie Blue today calls the "Woodprior monster" for much of spring training, then you're aware Prior and Wood are both having pretty awful preseasons. Prior has been unable to pitch effectively at all, and Wood appears to be injured yet again. Yee-ha.

Into that wake steps Wade Miller, who beat Prior for the Cubs' fifth rotation spot, Lou Piniella confirmed today.

Considering how shaky Prior has been this offseason, this was an obvious move for the Cubs. That said, Miller isn't a huge improvement over the injury-prone Prior; since a 2001-2003 stretch when he averaged around 180 innings a year, Miller pitched a combined 200. He's not exactly a Carlos Zambrano-level workhorse.

On the other hand, the Cubs don't need him to be. If he can keep his ERA under 4, his lifetime average, in that fifth spot ... I think the Cubs will be mighty happy with that.

The tailspin of this story is that Prior -- onetime dominator -- will likely be a starter in the Cubs' minor league system. Wow. "Unhinged" was the word I believe we used a few weeks ago, and it's looking all the more accurate.