Kirk Gibson will be part of the Monday meeting between Brandon Webb and Kevin Towers to discuss Webb's desire to pitch again this season. Gibby expressed his feelings about it before the final home game of the Diamondback's season.
"I've said all along if Webbie's ready to pitch in the big leagues I'm not going to stop him," the old school baseball man said.
There's been plenty of discussion about the organization's obligation to give Webb the opportunity to pitch if he wants to. Many feel that Webb has earned that right based on all the wins he gave the organization while others look at the $15 million paid over the past two years and the perception that Webb hasn't pushed to get back on the mound sooner.
'We could debate this all day. It could be good, it could be bad. It could be right, it could be wrong," Gibson said, before adding his own opinion on Webb's lengthy recovery time.
He's pushed really hard. I've watched it all the way. When you don't pitch for that long you really have to learn ... part of it is it's not just the health -- part of it is you've got to learn how to pitch again."
Gibby talked about finding the arm slot, locating pitches, and pitching out of the stretch as hurdles for a pitcher who has missed this much time.
The discussion Monday will include pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and the training staff to help determine if he Webb is ready.
"We don't want to put him out there if he's not ready," Gibby said in statement that gives his new boss Kevin Towers plenty of wiggle-room to decide either way.