© David Kohl | 2021 May 17
Logan Webb entered the 2021 season as an insurance policy. Just a few months in, he’s looking like a key piece of the rotation.
If you think his performances — specifically Monday’s six inning, no run showing and May 11th’s 10 strikeout gem — indicate that Webb is staying in the rotation, you’re not the only one. Former Giants’ starting pitcher and current broadcaster Shawn Estes sung his praises when he joined Papa & Willard on Tuesday.
Logan Webb was DEALING today. 10 Ks in six innings ? pic.twitter.com/fkWTNuegHo
— KNBR (@KNBR) May 11, 2021
Estes was especially impressed with Monday’s start and pointed to one at bat, and one pitch, that indicate Webb has turned the corner.
“Logan Webb, let’s face it, has really struggled on the road this year, and I think he struggled mainly because he hasn’t been able to limit damage in innings. He hasn’t been able to stop the bleeding,” Estes began. “He got the bases loaded last night and (Jesse) Winker’s up who’s leading the league in hitting. He’s a tough out. And he got him 3-2, and Winker had not seen a breaking ball that whole at bat. He decided to pull out his slider for the 3-2 pitch and have the confidence that he could throw it, and got the ground out to first.
“That told me he’s turned the corner. This may be a defining moment for Logan Webb as far as being able to trust your stuff in those situations. We’ve seen him in the past nibble a little bit too much in that situation, walk a guy, then have to come over the middle part of the plate and get hit. That could’ve turned into a three, four, five-run inning and he was able to stop the bleeding at Jesse Winker, and then after that I felt that he just continued to gain confidence as the game went on. Even though he gave up some hits, they were all singles, and he wasn’t phased by any adversity he faced last night.”
Before last night, Webb had given up at least three earned runs (3, 4, 3, 6) in his previous four starts away from home. Now he’s off the schneid, but another trouble as arisen in the form of a shoulder issue that saw him pulled after just 86 pitches. The good news is that manager Gabe Kapler said the concerns are minimal, and that Webb is expected to make his next start vs. the Dodgers.
“I’m hoping that this shoulder soreness he was feeling isn’t going to be an issue this year,” Estes concluded. “Because I think he turned the corner last night and I think he’s in this rotation to stay.”
Listen to the full interview below.