In light of the gut wrenching performance displayed by the Ranger's bullpen last night, there is some good news. RHP Brandon Webb pitched 80 pitches in his pullpen session in Surprise, Arizona, which will push him into an extended rehab stint in Double-A Frisco on Monday. He isn't on a pitch count for Monday but is believed to throw four to five innings.
Webb hasn't throw in a minor or major league game since 2009. "It will be something really new for me," Webb said. "I haven't really been this close, for me, in 2 1/2 years and I'm excited." Webb was at Texas Rangers Ballpark on friday and threw a side session. Also note that Webb’s velocity is down four mph from his pre-surgery marks.
Ron Washington has this to say regarding Webb, "I saw a difference in his stroke," manager Ron Washington said. "He was more or less getting on top of the ball with more consistency and I can see some better sink. I see a better breaking ball."
Brandon Webb also hopes that the minor league environment will help the adrenaline flow and get his velocity crankin'.
“We accomplished what we needed to out there and got up to six innings and 80 pitches roughly and came out of it pretty good,” said Webb about his series of starts at Extended Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. “The next step was to get into some better competition and scheduled to throw on Monday in Frisco which will be something really new for me. I haven’t been anywhere close to this far in two and half years. I’m excited to get out there and pitch.”
It's no secret that Texas and their fans desperately want to see better pitching and the former Cy Young award winner take control of this pitching team. The timeline, however, does not show any indications of an imminent return. One can only pray to the baseball gods, and maybe Nolan Ryan, that this kids "stuff" becomes dominant again with an immediate debut to the Rangers starting rotation. Until then, here’s to being lucky and hoping the Ranger's luck doesn't fall short of the 2011 MLB season.
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