Webb looks to stick in Division I
Pawtucket hurler finally has home with Rhode Island
You can say that Pawtucket native Mike Webb has fit in quite nicely in his first and what will prove to be his only season with the University of Rhode Island baseball team.
A righthanded pitcher, Webb’s time to date with the Rams has seen him excel as a weekend series starter – a coveted designation within college baseball circles. Specifically, he’s been asked to hold down the Saturday starter job.
Webb’s name appears a few times when checking the Atlantic 10 pitching leaders. As of Wednesday, his 2.75 ERA in eight starts ranks fifth. He’s thrown the third-most innings (52.1) and ranks ninth in strikeouts (39). He’s thrown two complete games and will carry a perfect record (3-0) into his next start.
Did we mention that Webb is a graduate transfer who’s a newcomer to the Division I ranks? Previously, he made stops at Division II (St. Michael’s) and Division III (Rhode Island College). How many ballplayers do you know who can claim the rare distinction of appearing in college games at all three NCAA levels?
Webb can, hence his story is one that should be celebrated and cherished, for it’s one fueled by drive and determination.
“It definitely validates all the hard work. My thing has always been to get to the next level. [Taking the mound for the Rams] has been a great steppingstone to help propel me to wherever else I reach,” said Webb when reached on a recent day. “I’m super grateful that I’ve gotten to play at this level. Hopefully we can win some more games and make the [A-10] playoffs.”
Knowing what day he’s going to get the ball from URI head coach Raphael Cerrato has helped Webb map out his business that in turn has allowed him to take the mound with the pitching equivalent of a full tank of gas.
Sundays are devoted to mobility and recovery. Mondays, Webb won’t throw a baseball, but he’ll make sure to work out. Tuesdays, he’ll play catch and get in a heavy
lift. Wednesday is bullpen day while on Thursday and Friday, he’ll work on flat ground.
“It allows me to have a pretty good routine so I know what’s coming every weekend,” he said. “As a reliever, it can be tough. You don’t know when you’re going to throw or what days you can lift or do your running. I have everything planned out which I like.”
Webb is approaching the one-year anniversary of his verbal commitment to the Rams. He credited URI pitching coach Kevin Vance for getting him to consider heading down to the Kingston campus. From the sound of it, Vance has been essential in bringing the best out of Webb.
“He’s been helping me with my mindset … to work and giving me the freedom to do what I’m used to doing,” said Webb, a graduate of Bishop Hendricken. “There have also been little critiques that have helped when things aren’t going well … how to bounce back and how to make better pitches and adjusting to different guys.”
Specifically, Vance has helped Webb understand the importance of finishing off hitters when getting
ahead 0-2.
“Early in the season, I was sitting too much in the strike zone. We’ve been working on getting hitters to swing and miss,” said Webb. “I definitely give [Vance] a lot of credit.”
Lately, the Rams’ bullpen has received the equivalent of a day off when Webb starts. He’s in the midst of a three-start groove where he’s logged no fewer than seven innings and thrown 100-plus pitches each time out. The stretch began March 27 at UConn when Webb turned in a complete-game effort where he allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five.
Turns out facing the Huskies held special meaning. That was the program Webb wanted to join out of his transfer from RIC.
“I definitely wanted to compete against those guys. It was like a rivalry of my own,” he said. “Basically, I tried to pitch to guys’ weaknesses. Their weaknesses were my strong points. I wasn’t trying to strike out guys or do anything crazy. The goal was to pitch to weak contact with the hope that it would allow me to go deeper into the game. That’s been the goal the whole year …. see if we can get seven innings no matter what.”
Syncing up the mental with the physical represents a major reason
why Webb has emerged as a reliable member of URI’s rotation. He’s failed to provide at least five innings only once in eight starts.
“Sometimes, you feel you have it mentally, but the physical aspect wasn’t there. I definitely feel I’m a late bloomer with the physical aspect. I feel I’m more capable of that mental aspect that can propel me to go a little further,” said Webb. “Now it’s about trusting myself to see if I can take it to the next level.”
At 24, Webb understands that signing a contact with an MLB franchise and getting assigned to a minor-league affiliate is a longshot. The next best thing would be to go the independent league route. Along those lines, Webb has been in touch with clubs in the Frontier League.
Webb has a more-than-solid backup plan once baseball runs its course. He’s fully registered with the state as a nurse. At URI, he’s taking healthcare management classes as part of the requirements for his master’s degree.
“Once baseball is over, I’ll be prepared to work in the medical field,” he said.
For Webb’s sake, let’s hope that doesn’t happen for a while.