Webb is carrying Arizona

The best pitcher in baseball isn't making a prorated portion of 28 million dollars this season.

He's not openly asking why he should re-sign with the team that currently employs him either.

And he's definitely not blogging about Barry Bonds' tax problems.

He's Brandon Webb and even though his 42 consecutive innings without giving up a run is among the most impressive stretch of performances you'll ever see, you probably wouldn't know the defending National League Cy Young Award winner from Spud Webb.

Webb is the best player on a team only Baseball America subscribers and keeper league nerds could get excited about. He's the best pitcher on a team that has the most dominant pitcher of an era dominated by hitters. And he'd still be the best if Randy Johnson's back wasn't in shambles.

Led by guys like Webb (13-8, 2.63), Jose Valverde (37 saves), Eric Byrnes (.300, 18, 70), and the second best Chris Young (24 HR) in their division, the Arizona Diamondbacks have the best record in the National League and lead the San Diego Padres by five games in the West.

Step aside Milwaukee, Arizona is quickly becoming the story of the National League.

That’s because Webb has gotten stronger since the All Star Break, something he didn’t do during his Cy Young campaign a year ago. Following the mid-summer classic, the right hander is 5-2 with a .84 ERA, and looks like he might be the first repeat Cy Young winner since The Big Unit won it four times in a row from 1999-2002.

As October nears, there isn’t a team in the National League that wants to see Webb and his team of prospects, especially in a five game series.

With the way Webb is pitching, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll be there.

STATS SHMATS: Brandon Webb