Brandon Webb Unlikely To Pitch Again In 2011 Due To Shoulder Problems

Rangers say that Brandon Webb is considering his options, one of which is rotator cuff surgery. He’s likely done for the year.Dang. There isn’t a pitcher in recent memory who serves as a better example of how quickly a pitcher’s fortunes can change. From 2006 through 2008, Webb finished second or better in every Cy Young vote. He averaged 227 innings pitched from 2004 through 2008, and was one of the best, most durable pitchers in the game. And then in 2009, he made a single start before going on the disabled list. That was the last the baseball world has seen of Brandon Webb.

Though he hasn’t announced his retirement yet, it seems a little hard to imagine how Webb comes back. Rotator cuff surgery usually has a long recovery period, and there are never guarantees that the pitcher will regain his form. A tough story about one of the best sinker-ballers of his, or any other, generation.

One step forward, one step back. Webb’s shoulder is barking again, and he’ll have to take a break before getting back to pitching. Meaning what was supposed to be a sign of progress is instead a sign of no movement, or at least no overall displacement.

Brandon Webb’s rehabilitation from major shoulder surgery continues apace, though not at a particularly quick pace. Webb, signed by the Rangers for $3 million last winter, hasn’t yet pitched in a real game this spring, but at least he’s pitching. :

Obviously, 84’s not enough. But it’s better than before, and in Webb’s last good season (2008) he averaged just 88 miles an hour on his fastball. Of course, those last four m.p.h. are the toughest. Webb will pitch again next Tuesday, and no matter what happens then he doesn’t figure to show up on TV anytime soon.

The reason? He isn’t hurt again - rather, the organization wants him to work on his mechanics in a bunch of bullpen sessions, rather than focus on throwing in games. They want his attention to go primarily to his delivery.

While Webb has been able to throw pain-free, his velocity has been well below where it was when he was a successful big league starter, and there’s currently no timetable for when he’ll be able to join the Rangers, if ever. He was a $3 million offseason investment, but he was known to be a risky investment, and he’s still a long ways off from even earning consideration for the Major League roster.