Line shot instant link for Prior, Clement
July 28, 2005
BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter

Not long after Boston's Matt Clement took a line shot to his head Tuesday night, a sickening thud that Greg Maddux said Wednesday he couldn't bear to watch, Clement was on the phone to one of his buddies, Mark Prior, and left a voice-mail message.

''Maybe he was up late watching us,'' Prior said, referring to the Cubs' long night Tuesday.

Prior reported that Clement sounded good considering a drive from Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford smashed into his head behind the right ear just a short time before he called. Clement immediately collapsed at Tropicana Field and left on a stretcher but never lost consciousness as he spent the night at Bayfront Medical Center.

''He said he had a headache,'' said Prior, the person Clement realized could understand his plight better than most. Prior took a shot off his elbow earlier this season that put him on the disabled list.


I kinda wish we still had Matt. Could have used his consistency and health this year. I'm shocked that more pitchers haven't been seriously hurt by balls, and that the ones who are hurt (Prior, Clement) are able to recover so fast.