SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Logan Webb knew he’d be the San Francisco Giants’ Opening Day starter lengthy earlier than his first Cactus League begin. For Webb, spring coaching at this level in his profession is much less about efficiency and extra about preparation. That freedom, then, affords Webb the chance to experiment.
Webb tossed two excellent innings with a strikeout because the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium, however greater than the outcomes, the true intrigue of the right-hander’s first begin of spring coaching lies in his footwork.
“Who knows? It might be different next week,” Webb mentioned. “For now, it feels pretty good.”
Final season, Webb saved his again foot stationary out of the windup. This spring, in contrast, Webb has been experimenting with pivoting his again foot as an alternative of protecting it planted. Discover how Webb barely strikes his again foot:
In Webb’s first inning, he used the previous methodology, protecting his again foot stationary. Webb didn’t like how that felt regardless of good outcomes, so he pivoted again to the brand new methodology within the second inning. Webb mentioned he carried out the change on his personal to get into his again legs. He tried out the idea of transferring his again foot a pair years in the past, however scrapped the plan following a foul outing.
Webb mentioned he feels the change will help him transfer down the mound higher and get out of unhealthy patterns mechanically. In Webb’s evaluation, when his again foot was stationary, there have been occasions when he’d get “stuck,” which might result in him being “out of whack.” If he’s transferring, in contrast, he good points extra momentum and his timing is in a greater place. When Webb’s mechanics are proper, he believes the rate on his sinker might be nearer to the mid-90s than the low-90s.
Together with the modified supply, Webb plans to include extra cutters and mentioned his want to regulate the form of his changeup, a pitch that was elite in ‘23 but below average in ‘24. Webb isn’t resting on his laurels regardless of ending sixth in NL Cy Younger Award voting final season, and extra experimentation could possibly be in retailer within the coming weeks.
“I think that’s something to continue to keep working on,” Webb mentioned. “I’m never going to be perfect with it, but keep tinkering with it. I think that’s what spring is for, these bullpens. The second inning felt really good.”
Together with Webb, Hayden Birdsong, certainly one of a number of starters in competitors for the rotation’s fifth spot, has made a delicate adjustment as properly.
After pitching on the first-base aspect of the rubber final yr, Birdsong plans to pitch on the third-base aspect this yr. Pitching coach J.P. Martinez urged the change to Birdsong, and right-hander Justin Verlander supplied extra suggestions. In his first outing on the third-base aspect, Birdsong allowed one run over two innings, placing out three batters and inducing 9 whiffs.
To this point this spring, Birdsong has had 4 alternatives to pitch off the best aspect of the rubber: two aspect periods, one stay bullpen and Sunday’s recreation. The precise-hander mentioned the transition has been “a little weird” however mentioned the change will assist his slider.
Birdsong’s transition from the first-base aspect to the third-base aspect was delicate, however the velocity he was posting on Sunday in opposition to the Reds’ hitters was something however. The 23-year-old peaked as excessive as 98.86 mph on Sunday, in response to Scottsdale Stadium’s radar gun, and sat within the mid-to-high 90s along with his fastball. That velocity is spectacular by itself, however particularly on condition that the calendar has but to flip to March. For comparability, Birdsong threw 5 pitches that hit at the very least 98 mph in 2024, topping out 98.4 mph.
“There’s a plan: to throw hard, you gotta throw hard,” Birdsong mentioned. “I feel like at some point, I’m going to have to be where I’m at right now no matter what.”
Price noting
Adames, who signed a franchise-record $182 million contract this offseason, reached base twice in three plate appearances, hitting a single and drawing a stroll. Adames will begin at shortstop on Monday in opposition to the Rockies alongside Matt Chapman as Justin Verlander takes the mound. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow to play with Chappy,” Adames mentioned with a smile.
After hitting a 450-foot homer in opposition to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, high prospect Bryce Eldridge blooped a single into left discipline in his lone at-bat of the sport. Patrick Bailey homered in his first begin of Cactus League play.
Initially Printed: February 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM PST
