Webb Design

 

I'm not exactly sure who Logan Webb has to screw at this point to get an All-Star Game nomination. 

Last year, pre-ASG break, he went 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 101 Ks. No ASG nod, though his then-teammate Carlos Rodon got one. This year so far he's been just as good, 7-7 with a 3.43 ERA and 106 Ks, and owner of one of the best, and most consistent, pitching performances on the Giants. And yet there only seems to be room for one Giants player on this year's NL squad, that being Camilo Doval, who at least deserves it. Webb might be just as deserving, and has built up even more of a resume for himself. Yet something tells me that when Thomson has to pick someone to replace Kershaw in a day or so, it might not be Webb.

It funnels into a larger issue, which is the lack of league respect for the Giants for doing essentially what the Rays have done, except backwards and in heels. The Giants have utilized the same strategy, of employing a surefire conveyor of well-ironed prospects along with getting great players for nothing and turning them into stars. Just this season alone the Giants have brought up Casey Schmitt, Blake Sabol, Luis Matos and Patrick Bailey, and all four have had impacts on this team in different ways. Bailey's already the starting catcher, and both Schmitt and Matos have had web-gem moments defensively. At the same time, their biggest stars of the year have been LaMonte Wade Jr., Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski, none of whom came up with this team initially. This is the same thing the Rays have done, albeit more successfully.

What sets the Giants apart from the Rays is that they're more prone to take big swings with free agents, which explains banking on Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto, and also explains the big deal they gave to Carlos Correa. Conforto is, in fact, leading the team in home runs, but with only 12; this is not a peak-Mets-era Conforto season, and I think everyone knows it. Haniger, meanwhile, has done the thing he always does and gotten hurt. The Giants take bigger risks than the Rays, and thereby are prone to steeper drops. They have been a ton better recently, though the last week of June did level them a bit.

The Giants are at enough of a pace that they could still surprise people and sneak into the playoff race. Having somebody like Logan Webb, ASG or no ASG, also helps a lot.

Coming Tonight: He had a big June, and has made up for lost time by helping the Phillies become intimidating again.