December 2008 Times Publications Cover
This Month's Cover
 
SITE FEATURES
This month's top stories from the Valley's most popular newspaper - The Zany Press
 
Renowned restaurant critics' suggested Valley eats.
A closer look into the private workspaces of some of the Valley's high-profile personalities.
OPEN DOOR POLICY
Award-Winning Feature Writing


Read The Times most recent Arizona Press Club award-winning stories, the most revered awards in Arizona journalism.
Walking Tall
Guilty
Frozen Assets
The Vanity Tax
Addicted Youth
Silicone Valley
Fatal Lapse
Shooting Stars
Finding Love Again
Auction Action
 
open door policy

Brandon Webb
AZ Diamondbacks Pitcher


Standing on the pitcher’s mound, the focus of attention for thousands of D-backs fans: It all still seems surreal at times to Brandon Webb.

It wasn’t long ago that the 29-year-old Kentucky native was third in a pitching rotation that featured legendary future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Now Webb’s devastating sinker pitch and supreme dedication have elevated him to Major League-star status.

“Sometimes we’re all just out there in amazement of how far we’ve come since little league in what seems like such a short amount of time,” he says in his characteristic slow Southern drawl. “It’s amazing to see where we came from, for sure.”

Since Webb was drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2003, he has posted numerous accomplishments, including winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2006. Last year his string of 42 consecutive scoreless innings gained him even more national acclaim.

This month the Open Door Policy crew was thrilled to interview Mr. Webb in his “office” – a corner locker in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse. With plasma TVs and black leather couches, the setting is more like a luxury lounge than a locker room. Before games, Webb kicks back in the clubhouse, chatting with the other players, strumming guitar or just checking e-mail on his laptop.

Webb has had the same locker since he joined the Diamondbacks, and while other players initially warned him of some negative superstitions surrounding it, he clearly hasn’t been affected.

“They told me, ‘I don’t know if you want that locker,’ but I was like, ‘I don’t believe in that,’” he says. “For a rookie it’s one of the best spots. It’s one of the few corner ones, and those are the biggest ones. It’s nice to have the space.”

 
   
1. Guitar made by Fender to commemorate Webb’s Cy Young Award. “It says ‘Brandon Webb 2006 Cy Young award winner,’ up the neck. That’s pretty special.”
2. An English Mastiff calendar. Webb has four dogs including a Mastiff named Mick.
3. A baseball. “Byrnsie (Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks left fielder) gave me the ball after my last win which was seven in a row. It was kind of cool.”
4. A Michael Owings bobblehead and a DVD of the Diamondbacks’ first 10 seasons, recently given to all the Diamondbacks players.
5. Webb’s Ipod, which contains a mix of country and rock.
6. Jerseys. “I don’t ever wear a Jersey unless I’m pitching in a game. On Saturdays, we wear the black one. We’ll wear a black belt, black socks, black jersey and a black hat.”
7. Aerobie flying rings. “We take these on the road, and come out early and toss them around. These things will go all across the field; it’s good for conditioning and a little bit of fun.”
8. Reebok training shoes and Crocs sandals that Webb uses as shower shoes.
9. Oakley sunglasses.
10. Travel itinerary. “We’ll get the travel itineraries a week in advance so we’ll always know what we’re doing and when we’re getting somewhere and things like that.”
Back to Open Door Policy Page
Copyright 2008, Strickbine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
ODD JOBS
A closer look at some of the Valley's more interesting gigs. This month meet Jayson James the stunt man!