Ever since the offseason (and likely before it), the San Francisco Giants knew that they would have to count on Logan Webb in 2023. And something is wrong with him. Two weeks before opening day, he was announced as the starter for the season opener against the New York Yankees. He clearly was looked at as an ace. But he’s made three starts so far and lost every single one of them. The one that stinks most is the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite Losing His First Start, Logan Webb has Created a Positive Impression
His 12 strikeouts against the Yankees led people to believe that he was looking good. They evidently saw that factor as more significant than the four runs he allowed. And yet he hasn’t rebounded. It’s certain that he will use his tools and make plenty of good pitches this season. But the question is: can he pitch in a way that will make the Giants win games? He needs to fix what is wrong with the way he’s pitching.
The Dodgers are a great team. So maybe we shouldn’t be too discouraged about this recent failure of Webb’s. But it’s a fact that he will need to be effective against the very best teams if the Giants want to go anywhere this year. I don’t want to make too much of three starts, and I recognize the lack of offensive support in them, but Logan Webb will need to get this thing turned around soon.
Those Games Against the Dodgers Will Add Up
I want to be honest about the Giants’ actual situation. They don’t have a significant chance of winning the division. Their path into the playoffs would be a Wild Card spot. But even if they might not actually be chasing the Dodgers, every single game they play counts in the record. That’s why they have to at least be able to compete against them this year, even if they won’t overtake them. The competition they are facing in their division is still significant.
It’s not that the Giants are necessarily underdogs. If I were a San Diego Padres fan, I’d be saying that the Giants were a threat to their postseason chances. And it’s highly likely that the Padres truly feel that way.
The Giants Will Need Consistency
Players aren’t good unless they help their teams win games. It’s one thing when a starting pitcher throws a gem but the offense loses the battle (like Alex Cobb against the Chicago White Sox), but Webb hasn’t allowed less than four earned runs in any one of his three starts.
None of this comes without other encouraging news. Sean Manaea’s start was good. He allowed one run in six innings of work. It’s true that Manaea will have more to prove before he can be on the elite list. But he was effective in his first start.
There are plenty of potential luxuries the Giants could have if some of their less valued players prove to have been undervalued, but the essentials come first. We already have a good, accurate idea of which players will need to be consistently above average in order for the Giants to survive this year.
It is Difficult to Find a Definite Explanation for What is Wrong With Logan Webb
Since this slump was completely unexpected, it’s hard to know what is wrong with Webb’s pitching. All I can say is that baseball is all about making adjustments. Maybe the stupid new rules are playing a role too. At any rate, it really can’t be overestimated that the Giants need to rely on Logan Webb for their survival this year.
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Players mentioned: Brad Penner-USA Today Sports
