Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — There were errors behind him that evoked memories of last season, when the Giants’ defense often let down Logan Webb.
That was about the only thing that has seemed to carry over, though.
Webb has had a near perfect spring training, and he continued it with a near perfect outing Tuesday, in which he didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and continually had Cleveland hitters off-balance.
That pushes his scoreless inning count to 11 in the Cactus League, in which he has struck out 17 and surrendered three hits and one walk. He entered camp as a candidate to begin his season in Sacramento after the Giants assembled a veteran five to hold down rotation spots. With nine days remaining until Opening Day, he is an essential starter and one with legitimate, front-of-the-rotation upside.
“My main goal coming in to the season and everything was just to show that I am better than what I showed the last two years,” said Webb, whose goal is being accomplished. “…I feel like I’ve had glimpses of being what I’m capable of. And now it just comes down to being consistent with it.”
He was paired again with Buster Posey, who was not around last year but who is helping Webb navigate this season, catching him three times straight. The Giants like the battery, but like Webb’s changeup more.
It has become an elite pitch with excellent downward movement that makes it nearly become a splitter; Curt Casali compared it with Luis Castillo’s, which is more highest praise than high praise. Webb is throwing fewer fastballs than he did last season and relying more upon his offspeed, a common theme around camp, but doing so to tremendous results.
“We asked him to really gain command of his changeup by using it a lot, both in his bullpen sessions prior to the game and in his live BPs and in game,” Gabe Kapler said after the 7-0 win over Cleveland at Goodyear Ballpark. “What we found is that he’s just getting better and better control and command of that pitch. He hasn’t lost any zip on his fastball, two-seamer’s looking good. And we also saw him use his breaker today, and use it effectively to right-handed hitters. So good all-around spring so far. Pleased with Webb’s progress and looking forward to seeing more.”
Webb had a confounding year last season, when he struggled to put away hitters and had defensive issues frequently behind him that he had to pitch around. He pitched six innings or longer just one time last year, which finished with a 5.47 ERA.
The problems behind him reappeared again Tuesday: a Harold Ramirez chopper to third that Tommy La Stella threw away, and an up-the-middle bouncer that Brandon Crawford let fly. Neither mattered on the scoreboard, Webb bearing down on a day when the wind was blowing out. It helped the Giants batters, but Cleveland couldn’t touch Webb.
Meanwhile, Webb did his best to touch Cleveland pitching, striking out once and rolling a grounder to third, before a quarter-hearted run to first. The Giants had “pretty much” instructed him not to get hurt in his first game of taking live at-bats. Mission accomplished.
“93 looks like 100, so it’s going to take some time,” Webb said over Zoom.
He will get chances at the plate, but suddenly it’s not crazy to envision Webb being part of the opening series in Seattle, which will have a designated hitter. Anthony DeSclafani still is the presumed No. 3 starter for the Giants, but Webb’s spring has elevated him into legitimate conversations about where he fits in the rotation.