Brandon Webb Could Start Season On The DL After Shoulder Surgery

Bad news for Arizona fans, with General Manager Josh Byrnes acknowledging today that ace Brandon Webb may not be ready in time for Opening Day.

"It’s a long season. If we get 30 starts from him, great. If we get 20, that’s great. We just need to get it right... I do think that where we are with spring training, if we don’t get him going into games by next weekend or so, then I think it’s going to be hard to get him ready for that first start."

The Arizona starter threw only four innings in 2009, eventually going under the knife for shoulder surgery on his throwing arm in August, ending his season - the team still picked up his 2010 option after the season. It was hoped the former Cy Young winner would be recovered in time for Opening Day, giving the Diamondbacks a formidable 1-2-3 with Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, but that now seems to be seriously in doubt, at least for the start of the year. 

Webb won the NL Cy Young in 2006, and came second in both 2007 and 2008. No pitcher in the majors won more games over that three-year period, so his loss would be a significant blow to the Diamondbacks' hopes of rebounding from their 70-win season last year.

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