2009 Arizona Diamondbacks Pitching Rotation

The 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks pitching rotation could shape up to be the best in the NL West, if not the Major Leagues.

But while the first four spots are a lock, the fifth spot is up for grabs.

Let's take a look at the locks for the pitching rotation.

Leading off the rotation is one of the two aces, Brandon Webb. Webb finished the 2008 season with 22 wins and seven losses.

The former number could have been higher if not for the offense having stretches of non-existence. May 21, against Florida, Webb pitched seven innings and only allowed three runs. Another hard loss for Webb to take was July 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers; he pitched eight innings and only allowed one run.

With those two wins, Webb could have finished 24-7. He did post a 3.30 ERA, with 183 K and only 65 BB. He finished second to Giants P Tim Lincecum in NL Cy Young voting.

The next guaranteed starter is the other ace of the staff, Dan Haren.

The 2008 season was Haren's first as a Diamondback after coming over from the Oakland A's during the offseason; he lived up to expectations by posting a 16-8 record with a 3.33 ERA. He struck out 206 to lead the team and walked only 40.

This offseason, he signed a two-year contract extension with an option for a third year that could keep him in Arizona through the 2013 season.

The next two pitchers have an interchangeable order.

Doug Davis has the ability to pitch out-of-his-mind one night and the pitch sub-par the next. But in 2008 Davis had more good starts then bad ones.

He finished the season with a 6-8 record, a 4.32 ERA, 112 K, and 64 BB. Doug missed a few starts in May due to the removal of his thyroid.

There were stretches during the season when Davis pitched well, but the offense did not produce and/or the bullpen blew it. During a stretch of three starts from June 13 to June 24, Davis pitched a total of 20 innings but either lost or picked up a no-decision. Later, during a stretch of four starts from Sept. 3 to Sept. 20, Davis had more than 24 IP, yet didn't pick up a victory.

The newest addition to the Diamondbacks rotation is Jon Garland; he signed with the club about two weeks ago. He pitched in 2008 with the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim, and posted solid numbers, including a 14-8 record, a 4.90 ERA, 90 K, and 59 BB.

Now we get to the fifth spot of the rotation. Two pitchers stand to be up for the job entering spring training.

One of our contestants is Yusmeiro Petit. In 2008, Petit was the normal fill-in for Randy Johnson when he could not make his scheduled start. He posted decent numbers in his few starts: He won three games while losing five. He had a 4.31 ERA with 42 K and 14 BB.

The other pitcher up for the fifth spot is Max Scherzer.Most of his time in the Big Leagues has been spent in the bullpen, though he did start a few games.

While Scherzer did not win a game in his first season in the majors, he sure had his chances. On Sept. 7 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, he pitched five innings, gave up three runs, and struck out 11 batters. His next start, on Sept. 14 against the Cincinnati Reds, Scherzer pitched six innings, allowed one run, and struck out nine.

Without a doubt, the Diamondbacks have a solid rotation from spots one through four. But it will take spring training to see who will round out the rotation.