ChicagoSports.com - Lugnuts welcome the Prior spectacle
Mark Prior's road to recovery is generating serious interest beyond the Cubs, Chicago and the National League.

Prior, rehabbing his Achilles' tendon, will make his first minor-league start Thursday night for the Lansing Lugnuts, the Cubs' affiliate in the Class A Midwest League.

He is to throw two innings that night and is to make another start for Lansing on May 25. The appearances will be his first against live batters after a succession of simulated workouts over recent weeks.

Within minutes of Lansing's announcement that Prior would start—the Cubs wanted to wait until midday Monday to confirm that Prior had no elbow soreness—the Lugnuts had more than 100 Internet ticket requests, most from the Chicago area.

Whine! I want to go! Why oh why are we stuck with the Tigers?