Brandon Webb

5 spot.)

4-Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Jon Garland, Doug Davis, and Max Scherzer. 

It's always a pleasure to have two aces, and that's what Arizona has here in Webb and Haren. However, Haren had a fine year statistically in '08, but I detected a little deterioration in his stuff. Look out for that this season. Regardless, he should still be good for 15 wins in the offensively-challenged National League West.

Continue reading "MLB's Top Five Starting Rotations"

Plus, Brandon Webb was going for his twentieth win, so even more fans were there than usual, I'd bet.

As seems to be typical with California fans (at least from my experience at Dodger Stadium), the Pad fans arrived late and left early. But by the time the third inning rolled around, most of the lower sections were fairly full, as were the upper sections closer to home. In the distance behind the stadium, we could see a condo building my dad had seen on TV, where the residents of one apartment, clearly D-backs fans, had lights arranged for certain key phrases. "Go D-Backs" was always lit, and (in honor of color commentator Mark Grace) they flashed "CAR" whenever there was a pause in the action.

Continue reading "A Night at PETCO"

kest division despite sub-par play.  The poor competition plus the starting rotation headed by Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, and a resurgent Randy Johnson, will keep Arizona in the race throughout, but if they don't win the division they have no shot.

Continue reading "Seven Runs: Too Little, Too Early"

As it was, the game taxed pitchers like Brandon Webb (who had pitched seven innings and 108 pitches two days before), George Sherrill (the Orioles’ closer, who pitched two and a third innings), and Scott Kazmir (who had also pitched on Sunday, logging six innings and 104 pitches). Webb and Kazmir weren’t supposed to appear at all, with Tampa manager Joe Maddon specifically requesting that Kaz rest his arm, and we have yet to see what the effects might be on them, or guys like Carlos Marmol, who threw an inning in spite of recent struggles and a strong need for rest.

Continue reading "Six Extra Innings of Meaning"

4-45.  Arizona needs to ride their starting pitching to get back on track and that starts with Brandon Webb, who will take the mound tonight in Washington against the Nationals, who hold the MLB's worst record at 34-56.  Los Angeles has won six of their last seven and faces Atlanta tonight, one day after starter Hiroki Kuroda  threw seven perfect innings in a dominant one-hit performance.

Continue reading "Despite best efforts, Wagner and ..."