The Giants without Logan Webb. That's friggin weird, man. Even if he's back next week, you just don't see that often. It's a reminder of how consistent and reliable Webb could be; once he's taken away the team doesn't really have an identity. And even with Webb they kinda don't, honestly. They've been searching for an identity since Posey retired, and Posey climbing into the front office somehow hasn't helped. Right now, Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Harrison Bader have less home runs than utility man Casey Schmitt, who's got 9 home runs and a .293 average while starting at DH virtually everyday. If you're gonna bring Devers, Adames and Bader here, it should not be up to Casey Schmitt to hit all the home runs.
And with an even more depleted lineup, it's even more telling when Logan Webb's gone. Cause that's one start in a week's time where through 6 or 7 innings you're good. Without him, you're pressing your luck with guys like Robbie Ray and Landon Roupp, who are good but imperfect, high ERA innings eaters like Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, or the occasional bright future spot like Trevor McDonald whose ceiling still seems unknown. It's shakier ground than usual, and the fact that nobody's really hitting doesn't make the fact that two different pitchers have 6 losses particularly surprising. What is surprising is the strength of the bullpen right now. Matt Gage, Keaton Winn, Caleb Kilian, Joel Peguero, Sam Hentges and Ryan Borucki have all been pretty great. It's just a matter of scoring runs before they get there, and we're not really there yet.
This team has multiple guys brought in here specifically to make a difference that just aren't. Jung Hoo Lee is still maddeningly average, hitting .268 with 17 RBIs. Drew Gilbert is still not MLB ready, and neither is Bryce Eldridge or Jesus Rodriguez. Adames and Chapman are more fine than anything but we've seen them both do way better, especially by May. Devers has 6 homers and 20 RBIs, but is hitting .246 and has 61 strikeouts. The reliable accuracy of his Boston peak seems to have dissipated. Plus, without Heliot Ramos, they've taken to throwing Eric Haase in the outfield, which...isn't terrific. This team does still have Schmitt, Luis Arraez and Daniel Susac, so SOME people are hitting, but enough of the team is more okay than anything, and not in the way this team is usually okay.
And it stands out even more when the Dodgers, Padres and even the Diamondbacks are actually good this year. This is a year where the Giants looked close, and made steps to move in on the competition, but they're still here. And it's a wonder they're still in fourth given how many more Rockies are hitting right now. I know there's always time to rebound, but I'm seeing the same old stumbles even with a new regime. And a surprise breakout from Schmitt might not be enough.
Coming Tomorrow- He spent years as a depth starter turned swingman turned depth starter again. So when the Rays actually sign him with intent to start him consistently, imagine their surprise when he...became their best starter.
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