They Threw a Party, Nobody Came

 

So, to recap, the week leading up to the All-Star Game has included the best player in the league getting a minor injury and choosing to sit out the game, another guy who rightfully was nominated to start at 1st base getting hurt and needing to miss the game, the guy who'd be the only representative from the Pittsburgh Pirates leaving with a high pitch count and needing to miss the game, and a guy who should have been nominated from the start turning down a nomination after he already knew he wouldn't get to play in it anyway. Also, for some reason, every time someone from the AL withdraws from the game, 2 more Red Sox sprout in their place. 

As mad as I am about Wheeler missing the game, Logan Webb, who also missed time and still makes the game, is a solid enough choice, solely because I don't think anyone else has summed up the possibilities of 2020s pitching consistency like Webb has. There are so many contemporaries that could be consistent standouts like Webb if they were built well enough to withstand the wear and tear. Justin Steele, Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber. Yet Webb is there every year, and has only had the occasional injury issue or the occasional down month. Though this will likely be the first year since 2011 where Webb doesn't make all his starts, he's still got a 3.86 ERA, a 1.156 WHIP and 80 Ks in 100 innings, a good line to put with a career of them. Webb passed the 1000 strikeout mark to begin the season, has a 3.42 career ERA, and will be making his third consecutive all-star game. I think we should just keep rewarding him for as long as he lasts, because somebody being that good and that sturdy for that long is rare nowadays. 20 years ago it'd be a Mark Buehrle type where he sort of ends up underrated, and I think that's still the case now with Webb, but Webb's more valuable now arguably. Everyone else on the Giants, either you hope he stays healthy [Ray, Mahle] or you hope he stays good [Roupp, McDonald]. 

The Giants being represented solely by Logan Webb and Luis Arraez might be a little mean. I would have put Matt Chapman in there, he's still one of the best third basemen in the bigs. Casey Schmitt could have also gotten a look, he's having a terrific year with 18 homers and a .281 average. But yeah, I see why Devers isn't there, he's still got some serious flaws as an all-round hitter, and I see why Jung Hoo Lee isn't there, he's good for singles but not as much for doubles, and I get that the Bryce Eldridge month has worn off. There's a lot of pop to this Giants team when things are going well, and Adames and Ramos, when hot, are very valuable. But it's tough getting everybody on the same page. It's also been a chore watching Drew Gilbert develop, he's simply not there yet, even three organizations in. 

It is possible the Giants will be selling in a couple weeks. I'm not sure what's really there to part with, maybe Ray or Arraez? Maybe Ryan Walker? They've got places to go but because so many guys are there for a while I'm not sure if it'll be anybody too big. Still, if they can get everybody in tune with each other, they could be closer than people think.

Coming Tomorrow- I'm not sure if it's time yet to talk about whether this guy's fully lived up to his rookie season but the longballs sure help me forget that.

They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore

 

Logan Webb, since he debuted in 2019, has made virtually all of his starts, averaged a 4.0 WAR per year has routinely kept his ERA below 3.50 and has shown no sign of slowing down or injury. I'm saying this because it seems all too rare nowadays that somebody can just make all their starts for 5 years. Typically someone will throw their arm out or need TJ surgery or have a quadding injury or some shit, but Webb, thus far, has been one of the most consistent and omnipresent starting pitchers of the decade so far. It's been Webb, Wheeler, Gausman, Bassitt, Nola [til now] and Framber Valdez, amongst others I'm probably forgetting. 

Fundamentally I shouldn't like Logan Webb, because buried in his ledger is the detail that at some point during the 2019 system he failed a routine drug test and was nearly suspended for 80 games. Unlike a lot of his contemporaries [Alvarado, Tatis, Profar, Cano], he was genuinely innocent and would be vindicated when it became clear that he had no knowledge of how the steroid got into his system. It's on the side of 'he's innocent', but there's this overall uncertainty, a lot like Mike Piazza or Gerrit Cole, on whether or not there was actually cheating involved. I believe him, though. And seeing as, as good as he's been since coming up, Webb hasn't hit the sensors again, I think he's clean for the long run.

Logan Webb, as it stands, is having a slightly more human year than expected, while also still being Logan Webb. Through 12 starts he's 5-5 with a 2.82 ERA and 84 Ks. The W/L ratio isn't scaring too much because the last two years he's had similar luck with that standard of Giants team, but with a better, more competitive squad he's still 5-5. Robbie Ray, for reference, is 7-0. I think Webb is still the Giants' best starter [though Jordan Hicks and Justin Verlander has made this relatively easy], but he's just come upon some tougher starts than usual. The good news is he still looks good by and large, and is on pace for another consistent, full season.

Also it is odd that JV is on this team, cause he used to be the 'go out there for 35 games every year' guy and then eventually his arm couldn't keep up. The tables have turned.

The Giants are in the middle of a close race for second place in the NL West, alongside the San Diego Padres. On their side, the Giants have an outstanding bullpen, some well spread-out power hitting, breakthroughs from the majority of the outfield, another strong season from Matt Chapman and the sudden RBI powers of Wilmer Flores. The Padres, however...still might have the better team. But the Giants at least have a Marlins series to whet their appetite before the Padres come to town. So we'll see if either one legs ahead.

Coming Tomorrow- He got off to a truly horrendous start and worried a ton of people that the Red Sox' money had gone to the right place. Suffice to say they're a lot less worried now.

Giant Justification

 

It's not often where a team can unceremoniously release a player they drafted #2 overall and primed to take the reins of the franchise and I can completely understand. But the San Francisco Giants are not where they were in 2020. Joey Bart could try and squeeze into the picture then, but now? Things are different. 

This past offseason, the Giants made some of the smartest moves of anyone. Bringing Jung-Ho Lee to America. Waiting til the moment was right to grab both Matt Chapman and Blake Snell. Flipping Mitch Haniger for Robbie Ray. Signing Jordan Hicks and insisting he start. All of these moves are working out at the moment; Chapman's off to a huge start at the plate, Lee's already providing heroic moments, Hicks had an excellent start in his first go, and both Snell and Ray will be along shortly.

Arguably, this wouldn't work if there wasn't a preexisting base on the team already. Mike Yastrzemski will be back from paternity leave eventually but Wilmer Flores, Michael Conforto, Kyle Harrison, Thairo Estrada and Patrick Bailey, aka the guy who rendered Joey Bart obsolete, are all picking up where last season left off and keeping the team strong. This is what the Rangers learned over time, how to build a base gradually rather than dump the contracts on and hope for success overnight.

The biggest piece of evidence in favor of the gradual build strategy in SF has been Logan Webb, who's gone from a lower-tier starting option to the staff ace within just a couple years. Webb was inches from a Cy Young last year, and this year he's still looking strong, durable and reliable. In his first start of the season, Webb went 6 innings, struck out 5 and only gave up 2 runs. It's the kind of 'best foot forward' the rotation is lucky to have, even if he's the only perennial starter not to have a win so far [I don't think Daulton Jeffries counts after what he came out with yesterday]. 

The thing is, as strong as Webb, Harrison and Hicks have looked so far, until Snell and eventually Ray get here, it's gonna really be up to the three of them to hold things down. They do have Keaton Winn, and are eventually thinking Alex Cobb will be back, but their depth options are chilling in Oakland and they have to hope people are ready. Winn will probably be serviceable at the back end but if their 5 guy is Jeffries, and if he keeps doing...that...it might be a long wait for Snell to finish late camp.

The Giants have a pretty well-rounded squad this year, and the contracts do help, but at the moment they're already looking at 2nd place if the Dodgers are gonna run this year, and they'll need to outdo both the Diamondbacks, who look good already, and the Padres, who they just split a series with. I do think the Giants have the team this year, and having Bob Melvin also helps tremendously, but they just need the luck. And hopefully they have some of that this year.

Coming Tomorrow- One of two guys this week to cause a bunch of people online to go 'omg stop what you're doing and sign this guy for as much money as he wants'

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.

Giants Who Are Still Healthy

 

Well usually it's the Yankees, but this year, the team that can make a pretty good roster just using its injured list is the San Francisco Giants. The Giants started the year without Evan Longoria, Tommy La Stella, LaMonte Wade or Matt Boyd, and have since lost Alex Cobb, Anthony Desclafani, Steven Duggar, Zack Littell and Mike Yastrzemski.

THAT...is a lot of big pieces. Like...that's most of the outfield, a good chunk of the rotation, and half the infield. So naturally, the Giants have been trying to use their insane depth to cover their losses. Here's how it's been going for them:

The Rotation: The good news is that the Giants' top 3 guys are all really good. Carlos Rodon is picking up exactly where his 2021 left off and is throwing fire, with 38 Ks and a 1.17 ERA. Logan Webb is similarly still a force to be reckoned with, with a 2-1 record and a 2.96 ERA in his first 3 starts. And Alex Wood is no slouch either, with a 2-0 record and a 2.56 ERA in his first 3 starts. Beyond that, things get tricky. One thing Kapler has been trying is using Sam Long as an opener and throwing in relievers, forgetting of course that starting a game with a man named Long and using someone else as a long man is very redundant. Said long man has usually been former Royals starter Jakob Junis, who's been pretty untouchable so far, with no earned runs and 10 Ks in 2 appearances in long relief work. If I were a betting man, I'd guess that Junis will be starting games in a little bit. As for the fifth spot, when not covered by openers, perhaps there's enough room to bring up prospect Sean Hjelle? He seems to be ready. Maybe he's up next week if Cobb or Disco ain't back yet.

The Outfield: When the only starting outfielder left non-injured is Joc Pederson, the least defensively-inclined one, you know you might be in trouble. The good news is Pederson's bat is off to a nice start, as he's hitting .353 with 6 homers and 10 RBIs. The other good news is that Austin Slater seems to be in decent shape filling in at right field, and while his bat needs some work, he's a solid replacement. As for center, the Giants have been starting Luis Gonzalez, the longtime White Sox prospect, and he's been alright, hitting .316 with 5 RBIs already. Dubon is slowly becoming more of a backup choice. 

The Infield: Replacing Longoria for a bit is easy, because the team still has Wilmer Flores, who was gonna be a bench bat if La Stella was healthy. Flores is doing well so far, hitting .266 with 12 RBIs. At second, in the grand tradition of Donovan Solano, we have Thairo Estrada, he's notched 11 RBIs in that time and doing pretty well. I think he'll be a similar choice to Solano, someone who feels like a replacement choice but who warms up eventually. 

So yeah, it's all working pretty well. And at the same time, the old heroes like Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Camilo Doval are working out as well. So hopefully the depth of this team will hold out, especially if more people get injured, which I hope isn't the case.

Coming Tonight: Last year he pitched a no-hitter for my team. Even as he suits up for a division rival, I'm still rooting for him.

Playoffs Day 2: Intriguing Trends and Also Some BS

Okay, most disappointing outcome first. The Astros are up 2-0 on the White Sox, thanks to a barrage of new figures including Chas McCormick, and have managed to get past Lance Lynn AND Lucas Giolito. This is not good at all, especially considering that the red-hot Astros only need one more win to advance, and the White Sox just aren't very formidable. Again, this White Sox team have spent the year looking really good, and being the far-and-away leaders of the AL Central, so for them to look so effete now is kinda sad. 

Tomorrow is the do-or-die game for Chicago, and while they will be home, the odds are no longer on their side. It's going to be very difficult to beat the Astros now, and I hope they have some energy left to at least win Game 3. 

Meanwhile, Game 1 of Brewers-Braves went kind of exactly the way I figured- a pitching battle. I knew Corbin Burnes would be on for a while, but Charlie Morton held his own as well, putting in a really nice start despite giving up a 2-run shot to Rowdy Tellez, finally having some nice postseason numbers [just not with Toronto]. The Brewers looked really good yesterday, and I'm still thinking they're the favorite here, despite some solid stuff from the Braves as well. Today is Fried v. Woodruff, and the former is known for giving up more runs than the latter.

Game 2 in Tampa was nice because it permeated the expectations set by the Astros series. Yes, Game 1 may have been a Rays blowout, but after the Luplow grand slam, the Sox got the best of the Rays' bullpen, beating up on Michael Wacha and friends and giving big moments to Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vazquez. It's much more exciting if the lower seed in a playoff series puts up a fight, and evening the series on the way to two more games in Boston is a nice turn of events. Again, it'd be very cool if the Sox somehow upset the Rays, even if...it's not looking like anyone in the AL will be worth rooting for for me..

The biggest statement of the night might have been Logan Webb absolutely silencing the Dodgers in San Francisco, all while Kris Bryant, Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford kept him warm. As awesome as the Dodgers have been this season, the Giants have always been one step ahead, and having Bryant along for the ride as the team shifts into October mode for the first time under Gabe Kapler is a little scary, especially for the Dodgers. I do think there's still a lot left for LA to do, but it's going to be an uphill battle for them, especially with Gausman on the hill tonight.

Keep up the good work. Hoping for the Brewers and Giants to keep it going and avoid a complete playoff cycle repeat from 2020. 

Webb Slinging

 

The five top performers during the Giants' comeback 2021 season may not be the ones Giants fans were thinking. Okay, maybe they could have guessed Brandon Crawford, and maybe they would have figured Kevin Gausman would have another strong year, but...Disco coming through immediately? Darin Ruf rising to the top? Logan Webb outdoing Cueto and Wood? That's a lot harder to see coming.

Logan Webb, after struggles in previous years as a starter, managed to capture the league's attention recently for his cumulative stats, like...barely allowing many runs per start, with a 2.64 ERA and 9 wins. The season may have been ruled by people like Gausman and Disco from the start, but Webb was consistent, staying under the radar and providing great starts the entire time, to the point where once September rolled around, his consistency and stats stood out more. 

With Cueto and Wood injured, the Giants may have to make some close calls to round out the rotation [looking like Sammy Long and Jose Quintana]. But that top three, of Gausman, Webb and Desclafani, is strong, and in a very unassuming, underrated way. People are throwing the Brewers rotation, the Dodgers rotation forward as the titans to beat in the NL. I honestly think that Giants trio is right up there with 'em, and could get a lot done in an NLDS situation.

This is also a really versatile, strong team. Kris Bryant has improved the lineup. LaMonte Wade Jr. has become an underrated outfield bat with some incredible range. Mauricio Dubon and Tommy La Stella are trading off at 2nd, both giving relatively nice results there in place of Solano. And the foundation of Posey, Crawford, Belt, Longoria and Yaz has held.

They're only a few games ahead of LA, and will need to hang on for the rest of the month in order to get the top seed...which could, potentially, lead to another Giants-Dodgers matchup in the NLDS. Unless, of course, a lower wild card seed sneaks in. So they do need to work on stating with certainty that they're better than the Dodgers, and proving it with receipts. 

Coming Tonight: A closer who just saved his 300th game. Hopefully his team can reward him further.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Giants (Part Two)

Continuing the reminiscence of the Giants' 2020 season...the Giants started the season with Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval, and they were both gone before September 27th. Earth-shattering for longtime fans, but necessary.

Pablo Sandoval didn't have much left in the tank in 2020, sad to say. .220 in 33 games, 18 hits and 6 RBIs. And then he's released and Atlanta picks him up.

Austin Slater fared a bit better, I suppose. His season this year was similar to last year's, in that he wasn't relied upon immediately, but once he was he was trusted in killer situations. Slater hit .282 in 32 games, led the team in stolen bases and had 7 RBIs and 5 games. Hopefully he'll be able to start the year in the majors next year.

2021 Prediction: A full year, moving Dickerson to the bench, with 20 homers and some good number of steals. The breakout year is nearly upon us.

Logan Webb was an early standout for the rotation, moved from the bullpen on a whim. Eventually he bottomed to a 5.47 ERA with a 3-4 record and 46 Ks.

2021 Prediction: Predominantly bullpen work.

 And Trevor Cahill had an opposite year, starting the year in the bullpen but making the best of a rotation audition, with a 4.05 ERA and 23 Ks in 6 starts, not bad at all. 

2021 Prediction: Similar split between the bullpen and rotation for whoever picks him up.

I don't exaggerate- when I first saw Darin Ruf's name appear in the stats for the Giants, I did a double take. THAT Darin Ruf? The guy who used to be a killed Philly prospect then got traded for Chase Utley and bottomed out in LA? We speaking the same language here? But yes, it was Darin Ruf making a comeback in SF, hitting .276 with 18 RBIs off the bench, and being a generally great fringe presence despite the occasional outfield error. The fans seem to love him, and it seems fitting that Gabe Kapler has inherited him.

2021 Prediction: Perhaps some of the magic wears off, but I expect a few more big moments from the big guy.

And then there's Joey Bart. The man all of San Francisco were waiting to debut once Posey opted out, the catcher heir apparent whose seat was just being filled by Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp. And once he got to the majors...he was okay. He hit .233 in 33 games yet had more strikeouts than Brandon Belt had in 51. Whatever the Giants fans were expecting to happen evidently won't happen immediately.

2021 Prediction: Once Posey gets back, probably either more time in the majors or backup duty. Whatever it is, hopefully it'll help him be majors-ready when the time comes. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Cleveland Indians made it back to the playoffs, and had the Yankees on the ropes for a second. Here's how they did it.