Post by unnameddbacksfan on Jun 12, 2008 16:07:30 GMT -5
NEW YORK -- One day after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Delgado, D-backs ace Brandon Webb was a little sore, but otherwise said he was fine.
Webb had a black-and-blue mark just above his right hip where the ball hit and then ricocheted into left field.
"It's a little sore to the touch," Webb said, "but it's good. It hurt right when it happened, but nothing after that really."
Webb also was not worried by the fact that his velocity has been down in his past few starts.
"I don't know what to say about it," Webb said. "My arm doesn't hurt as of yet, so I'm not concerned. I think all pitchers, over the course of the year, go through a span where they have a dead-arm period, and I think that's what this is. I don't know, we'll see."
D-backs manager Bob Melvin removed Webb after just five innings and 58 pitches Wednesday night, hoping that a shorter outing followed by an extra day off in between starts thanks to Monday's off-day would help remedy the situation.
"Everybody's velocity is down at points during the year," Melvin said. "That is not uncommon at all. As a matter of fact, it's common."
Webb is tied for the National League lead in complete games with two, and his 95 2/3 innings this year ranks third.
"I was looking for an opportunity at some point in time to cut his pitch count down regardless," Melvin said, referring to why he took Webb out early Wednesday.
Webb had a black-and-blue mark just above his right hip where the ball hit and then ricocheted into left field.
"It's a little sore to the touch," Webb said, "but it's good. It hurt right when it happened, but nothing after that really."
Webb also was not worried by the fact that his velocity has been down in his past few starts.
"I don't know what to say about it," Webb said. "My arm doesn't hurt as of yet, so I'm not concerned. I think all pitchers, over the course of the year, go through a span where they have a dead-arm period, and I think that's what this is. I don't know, we'll see."
D-backs manager Bob Melvin removed Webb after just five innings and 58 pitches Wednesday night, hoping that a shorter outing followed by an extra day off in between starts thanks to Monday's off-day would help remedy the situation.
"Everybody's velocity is down at points during the year," Melvin said. "That is not uncommon at all. As a matter of fact, it's common."
Webb is tied for the National League lead in complete games with two, and his 95 2/3 innings this year ranks third.
"I was looking for an opportunity at some point in time to cut his pitch count down regardless," Melvin said, referring to why he took Webb out early Wednesday.