Crazy stuff happens in baseball, so it's hard to tell for sure, but putting my hesitancy aside, I think he will win at least 20 games and could even get as high as 25. His sinker has always been great, and his curveball has always been solid, but he's really become more consistent in placing both pitches and has added a devastating changeup. He's really tough to hit right now, and with the defense behind him and offense carrying him, I don't see many losses. He can also go 9 innings so he'll have more innings for his offense to score runs. Tough to tell for sure, though, where that number will end up. Either way, I expect Arizona to win every time he comes out there these days.
In order for Webb to get to 20 wins, he is going to have to win a little less than half of his remaining starts. He will probably get about 26 more starts, and he needs 12 wins.
It is possible, but I don't think it is going to happen. The bullpen is starting to fall apart, and the offense has been on a slump lately. Both are important if you want to get your starter a win. Although the bullpen will rebound and the offense will get better, Webb has been spectacular so far, and it is hard to imagine him doing well every start.
So far the guy is 8/8 but you don't think he'll finish at least 12/26? It is hard to imagine Webb doing well every start, but it's even harder to imagine him doing poorly in more than five, considering the development of his curveball and changeup to an arsenal that has already sent him through two long scoreless innings streaks and won him a Cy Young with a much less talented team and defense behind him. Webb has always had 20-win potential, and he's progressed every season. I think you might be a bit too cautionary in your expectations. It's fine for hindering future disappointment, but I really think this is the year Webb cracks that barrier. The offense is going to average at least 4 runs per game this season. The bullpen is still one of the finest in the NL. They are going through a slump at the same time the offense is, but they should be fine over the course of the season. In the end, Arizona has one of the most talented rosters in the NL and should provide one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball more than enough of an opportunity to win at least 12 more games.
dude bullpens go in slumps just like hitters do and teams do as a whole. Just because they are giving up a few runs a game doesn't mean they are falling apart. You guys def. have one of the top five pens in baseball! The D'Backs downfall is there division is terrible and when they start playing out of division they sruggle.
yeah well now hes 9 for 9 so i say he gets at least 20, he will defintely have at least 12 by the all-star break. That means he would only need 8 more... I say 23 wins.
Good point about the Diamondbacks outside of their division: As of this morning before interleague begins they are 20-5 against the NL West and 6-10 outside of it. They have a dominating pitching staff, especially with Brandon Webb (9-0), but in a division with few threats and fewer pitchers (at least so far this year) it is easy to see why they have been dominating. Naming batters that scare you in the NL west is hard - Matt Holliday, Todd Helton, Rafael Furcal (currently on the DL), maybe Adrian Gonzalez. When all these teams are carrying are small ball players it is easy to get lots of ground balls, which is already Webb's specialty and double plays.
Considering the number of starts Webb is going to get against NL west foes, I think he will easily reach the 20 win plateau. The better question and more worthy of debate right now is when the first loss or no-decision is going to be recorded. He's allowing almost 3 runs per game he pitches, but has lucked out like Dan Haren in that the Diamondbacks bats seem to be hotter on nights when Webb is on the mound. We all know and have already seen that the bats can't stay hot and that the D'Backs cant keep up the run scoring pace they are on. Chris B Young, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton, Connor Jackson, Eric Byrnes, Stephen Drew, Orlando Hudson, and Chris Snyder just don't have the proven ability to be consistent hitters, especially power hitters, throughout the year. I think Webb's first loss will come with him losing 2-0 or some low score where he pitches well and the bats dont show up - like they did in Chicago against the Cubs.
The winning is nice and as fan, I'll take it while I can. Hopefully he gets recognized at the end of the year with a good record and a Cy Young. I just wish all those people in Phoenix would get off their shnide and go to the games - 23,000 people for a 7:00 game with Webb on the mound is pretty pathetic. Radio and TV need to focus more on the Diamondbacks and less on Mike D'Antoni and the Phoenix Suns- whose season is long over - and their coaching issues.
