Brandon Webb to have surgery Monday

by Jim McLennan on Aug 2, 2009 4:46 PM EDT in Diamondbacks News

The Daily Kentuckian newspaper reports that Brandon Webb will have surgery on his shoulder tomorrow, officially ending his 2009 season. Given the recovery time for the procedure is potentially up to a year, this probably also ends any chance of the Diamondbacks picking up his 2010 season, ending the time of the Cy Young winner with Arizona.

More details and analysis after the jump.

You probably want to start off with our piece on labrum surgery - while there's no certainty this is actually the cause of Webb's shoulder problems, it still seems the most likely candidate, and gives you an idea of the kind of things which will be entailed, and what the recovery process is going to be like. You may also want to view the announcement of the recent setbacks to Webb's recovery.

This news does make the Diamondbacks' decision concerning his 2010 option a great deal simpler. If he had come back in September, but the results had not been the Webb of old, it would have been a tricky choice for GM Josh Byrnes - pay $8.5m for a potentially-shaky ace, or turn him loose and risk another team getting a top of the line pitcher. The severity of the surgery will play into the decision, but now, it doesn't look likely that Webb will be pitching for anyone on Opening Day 2010.

It's a real shame. If it is the end, he'll be ranked second in franchise history for wins (87), strikeouts (1065), shutouts (8) and innings pitched (1319.2), while Webb is third in ERA (3.27) and complete games (15). But we'll save the full obituary until all hope is truly extinguished.

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Comments

I blame this on bablue

that jinxing asshole.

Go DBacks!

by JustAJ on Aug 2, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions

i feel terrible for webby. i hope he’s able to come back. i wonder if the organization might talk him into restructuring a two year deal with him. that way he can come back to the ’backs in 2011 and give it a go. i hate to see him leave.

"Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America."
-- Bruce Catton

by njjohn on Aug 2, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

I hope

Webb stays around. Even if he’s not the BWebb we knew last year, he’ll still be better than 3/5 of our rotation.

Just figure out a way to keep him in a Diamondbacks uniform until he’s healthy, and I’ll be happy. If he stops being what we need, let him go.

by emilylovesthedbacks on Aug 2, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

If he isn't going to play for anybody next year

I wonder if he would think about taking some sort of a “holding pattern” salary with the understanding that he would play for the DBacks in 2012 at a price based on what we were going to have to pay him next year. Otherwise he makes no money, am I understanding that correctly? Obv, we would not pick up the contract next year given this information, so why not take a lesser salary with the prospect of playing in 2012 at a much higher rate? Does that make sense or is he likely to just sit out playing and getting paid and then test the market in 2012? Would the Diamondbacks have any claim on him?

"I forgot I have short term memory loss." Kate

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 2, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

i agree. i’d love to see this. although i think (hope) you’re talking about 2011, not 2012.

"Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America."
-- Bruce Catton

by njjohn on Aug 2, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

EEK. Yes, 2011.

"I forgot I have short term memory loss." Kate

by 4 Corners Fan on Aug 2, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s been confirmed by the Diamondbacks now.

"The conflict is representative of the Darwinian struggle between avians and mammals for dominance."
"Based on Bugs giving Daffy Duck a cigar made out of dynamite?"

by kishi on Aug 2, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Bubye, Brandon Webb

No option picked up = end of his time with the D-Backs. He’ll pull a Pedro and audition for teams next deadline, then sign on with somebody who needs a fifth starter down the stretch in order to try to get a new contract. Something tells me that I doubt that it’s us (but I am not certain).

Someone pay Beric Yrnes $500,000 to be extreme and base jump into the Grand Canyon. Then screw with his equipment. Please.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 2, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

If you ask me

They have to pick up his option. If they don’t, they have to pay 2 million, so it’s a 6.5 million decision.

If he gives us 10 Brandon Webb starts next season, it’s worth 6.5M. If he gives us 20 starts with an ERA of 4, it’s worth it as well. I can’t imagine him being worse than that.

And if we’re not in contention and he rounds into shape in July/August, we can trade him and restock the system.

by paqs on Aug 3, 2009 2:52 AM EDT reply actions

But he'll be out until this time next season

And then need rehab starts, and then probably will suck (labrum tears are serious stuff, people). We could not pick up the option and then have him rehab and come in for an audition as he nears recovery if he’s interested in staying with the team. If not, let him walk, it’s not worth $6.5M for another question-mark on this roster. 10 starts of 4-5 ERA is not worth $6.5M. Keep Garland, dump Webb.

Someone pay Beric Yrnes $500,000 to be extreme and base jump into the Grand Canyon. Then screw with his equipment. Please.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 3, 2009 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions

No

He didn’t have Tommy John surgery and there’s every chance he’ll be back by opening day.

If you dump him and keep Garland, you’re basically not contending next season, the best you can hope for is .500.

If you pick up the option and it pays off, you have a 6 win pitcher (as per Fangraphs) and even if we fall out of contention, he’s a tradeable asset.

Seriously, the way I see it, 6.5 million aren’t going to be a difference maker next year. Webb might.

by paqs on Aug 4, 2009 4:52 AM EDT up reply actions

That's

a pretty good point, actually.

"In the future, I want to be a fossil. Or, at least have my feces be fossilized"
-Pygalgia

by DbacksSkins on Aug 5, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

ouch!! that hurt

Keep Garland, dump Webb.

that is like a knife through the heart there.

"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Aug 3, 2009 4:08 AM EDT reply actions

and apparently I cannot find the damn reply button either

"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Aug 3, 2009 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Your reply issue is understandable.

Been there, done that. But it’s the reality. If Webb had played these two seasons out, performed up to Webb standards, he would have dumped the D-Backs for an eight figure salary. Loyalty doesn’t get you anywhere in baseball. It’s why the Braves cut Glavine, and it’s why we can’t bring back Webb because we like him to much.

Someone pay Beric Yrnes $500,000 to be extreme and base jump into the Grand Canyon. Then screw with his equipment. Please.

by Dan Strittmatter on Aug 3, 2009 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions