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| Where would Arizona be with Webb healthy?
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Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb has been sidelined with a strained shoulder muscle since struggling in his Opening Day start, but played catch from 120 feet earlier this week and said yesterday that he's still hoping to return before the All-Star break.
Before he can think about rejoining Arizona's rotation Webb will have to stretch his arm out to throwing from 150 feet, progress to pitching off a mound, throw several bullpen sessions, and then complete a minor-league rehab assignment.
In other words, he's still facing a long road back. Or as Webb put it: "You can't just start going into games right away. You've got to build your arm up."
Arizona has filled Webb's spot in the rotation with Yusmeiro Petit, Billy Buckner, and Bryan Augenstein, who've combined to post a 6.80 ERA while the team goes 2-7 in nine starts. If you assume for a moment that a healthy Webb would have reversed those figures with the team going 7-2 in his starts, the Diamondbacks could be sitting at 26-22 right now and Bob Melvin would probably still be managing.
Unfortunately instead they're holding the fourth-worst record in the league at 21-27 and even if Webb is able to return by the All-Star break the Diamondbacks will likely be completely out of the NL West picture (they're already 12.5 games back of the Dodgers) and may also be trailing by double-digit games in Wild Card race (they're 6.0 games behind the Brewers right now).
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What the D-Backs really need is for their line-up to start hitting. Chris Young is starting to look like a bust. Stephen Drew hasn't done anything since coming off the DL. Conor Jackson has dengue or sleeping sickness or something else usually contracted by mustachioed Brits in pith helmets. Eric Byrnes continues to remind everyone that he should never have been given an everyday job (let alone that silly contract extension). There's just a lot of disappointment to go around.
Jackson has Valley Fever (coccidiodomycosis) which turned into pneumonia. A severe case of Valley Fever alone would explain his symptoms, the pneumonia would only make it worse. Give him a break.
As for the rest of your post, yes, Young and Drew need to get it going. Don't even get me started on Byrnes.
I didn't in any way mean to suggest that I blame Jackson for contracting a rare illness. That would be a little ridiculous.
diamond backs are @!$%#ing weak as @!$%# this year!!! hahaha!! its all about them hot dodgers!!! you wish you could be half as good as them... even without manny!!!
Weak Weak Weak....thats all I got to say about them Diamond Backs.
The Dodgers will always out school the D-backs.