Prior to Start for Cubs Wednesday

Former USC right-hander Mark Prior will make his highly anticipated debut with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday after only three starts at triple A.

Prior, the second overall selection in the 2001 draft, will pitch at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I’m worried about the expectations that are going to be placed on Mark,” General Manager Andy MacPhail said. “It’s a big step walking out there for the first time and then to bring him in when the team is struggling and have that kind of media attention that he’s garnered through his career, it’s going to be hard to meet those expectations.”

Prior, 21, considered by some the best college pitcher ever, was dominant in nine minor league starts. He was 5-2 with a 2.29 earned-run average in double A and triple A. He had 79 strikeouts in 51 innings.

In three starts at triple-A Iowa, Prior was 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 161/3 innings.

“I don’t doubt that he’ll go through some rough outings,” MacPhail said. “It’s unfair to expect he’ll be dominant in the major leagues the way he’s dominated in the minor leagues. But it’s pretty evident that he’s ready, and it’s pretty evident that we can use him here.”

Prior made an immediate impression on the Cubs during spring training.

“You couldn’t tell this guy was one of the most touted pitchers coming out of college the way he handled himself in spring training,” Manager Don Baylor said. “He was willing to listen, to talk.

“There’s nothing I can tell him. He has to experience that first inning for himself, get his feet on the ground and let him pitch.”

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The Minnesota Legislature sent Gov. Jesse Ventura a Twins’ stadium financing plan Saturday night, although leaders of the endangered franchise haven’t decided whether to accept it.

The bill cleared the House, 72-61, and the Senate followed shortly after with a 49-18 vote. Ventura hasn’t said how he’d treat the bill, although Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock said it generally conforms to the governor’s wishes.

It’s the furthest the Twins have gotten in a stadium quest that began seven years ago. And, if successfully carried out, the proposal might stave off a plan by baseball to eliminate the low-revenue franchise.

But the Twins weren’t celebrating the action. Instead, they spent Saturday highlighting their concerns and questioning whether it will result in a new ballpark.

“The test or whether or not this bill is successful is whether it builds a new ballpark and attracts a new owner, and we’re not there yet,” Twin President Jerry Bell said.

Asked whether the bill saves the team, he answered: “We’re not making any promises, but we’ll do the best we can.”

Ralph Strangis, an attorney hired by Twins’ owner Carl Pohlad to find a new owner, issued a statement before the House vote asking negotiators to return to the bargaining table. He urged them to produce a bill that allows Hennepin County to join Minneapolis in its bid to keep the Twins in that city.

“It has become increasingly clear--as we review future ownership options--that unless the stadium bill allows for multiple site and local government funding options, it dramatically reduces the likelihood that the Minnesota Twins can stay in Minnesota,” Strangis said.

Bell testified that two potential buyers, whom he didn’t identify, wanted Hennepin County in the mix.

The House defeated an attempt by Minneapolis-area lawmakers to send the bill back to conference committee.