Published: June 03, 2009 11:02 pm      

MARK MAYNARD: Addicted to Webb watching 060409

My name is Mark and I’m an addict.

Don’t worry. It’s nothing too terrible. The choice of addiction since 2003 has been watching Arizona Diamondback baseball. Specifically, games when Brandon Webb was pitching. I’m not alone, I’m sure. Go ahead. Admit it. It’s the first step to recovery.

This season has been difficult for those of us with the Webb addiction. Ashland’s baseball hero hasn’t been able to pitch since Opening Day, way back on April 6, because of a shoulder injury. That seems like ions ago.

Brandon went only four innings in that one, getting a no-decision in a 9-8 loss to the Rockies. I was able to watch some of it at work through the beauty of MLB.com. I’ve plunked down more than $100 for the past four seasons (at least) simply for the pleasure of watching Webb pitch for the Diamondbacks.

It didn’t matter that Webb’s games started late at night and ended sometimes in the wee hours of the morning. Oh, I watched parts of other games, too (although the Reds are always blacked out). I remember when Barry Bonds was going for the home run record and watching his at-bats until it happened.

But the MLB.com purchase was mostly to watch Webb pitch. I would usually look at the week ahead, see when he was pitching and curl up in front of the computer (as much as a guy my size can curl up in a desk chair) for a night of baseball. Webb was so durable, like clockwork. He would take the ball every five days. Period. And when he went to the mound, the Diamondbacks were a different team, a more confident team, usually a winning team. It was amazing to watch the tenor of this team change when he pitched. They’ve missed that this season.

I’ve missed it, too. With Webb not available, my MLB.com account has been silent. I haven’t watched Diamondback games, proving to me that I was more of a Brandon Webb fan than an Arizona Diamondback fan, which I knew was the case.

These last six years, I haven’t abandoned watching the Reds on television. But, the truth is, before this season’s rise from the ashes, the Reds haven’t particularly been much worth watching. That’s changed too, and it’s helped me deal with the addiction.

But the withdraw pains are still there. I have a Google alert for anything with Brandon Webb’s name on it. It’s funny the information that comes across. I’ve read all the trade rumors, including one that says the Phillies are interested in him. Of course, the Phillies are interested in a lot of pitchers.

This is Webb’s last season under contract with the Diamondbacks, although the club can pick up an option year for 2010. They’re not talking right now, especially since Webb hasn’t taken the mound since the season opener.

There’s no public timetable on when he will return either, although the injury is more muscular than structural — officially a strained teres major muscle in his right shoulder.

Before he’s able to pitch again for the D-backs, Webb will have a couple of bullpen sessions (he’s scheduled for the first one this weekend) and a lengthy rehab assignment of two or three starts in the minor leagues. I’m not expecting him back before the All-Star break, and that could be optimistic. So far, he’s missed about one-third of the season and likely won’t make it back until about mid-season.

In the meantime, I’m trying to find new ways to beat my addiction. A friend said I should “adopt” Royal phenom pitcher Zach Greinke in Webb’s absence. I thought that was a good idea. I tapped into my MLB.com — luckily remembering the password — and tried to watch Greinke pitch against the White Sox on Sunday afternoon.

But it turned out I was blacked out from watching in that market, too. I guess they thought I should have driven to Kansas City to watch the game in person.

Maybe they could give me a partial refund on my MLB.com account to help pay for the gas and game tickets. After all, addicts need their fix.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.