Why Kapler loves ‘vibe' ace Webb is bringing to Giants

SCOTTSDALE -- There are a lot of reasons for Logan Webb to be wearing a permanent smile, as he was last Saturday afternoon as he went through his first day back at Scottsdale Stadium.

At 25 years old, he is the ace of a team that won 107 games last season and an easy choice to start the first Opening Day at Oracle Park since 2009. That game should be similar to the final one of the 2021 regular season, with dozens of family members and friends making the trip down from Rocklin. 

If Webb pitches as he did in the second half and postseason, he will find himself among the NL Cy Young Award candidates, in the mix for the All-Star Game, and potentially on the receiving end of a very lucrative contract that buys out his arbitration years.

Oh, he's also the answer to a future question at your local bar's trivia night. Who was the final National League starting pitcher to hit a homer before the universal DH arrived? Webb, of course. 

None of those reasons, however, explained why Webb was beaming as players started arriving at Scottsdale Stadium. As he stood outside the clubhouse, he repeated something he tweeted shortly after the lockout ended.

"I can't hide my excitement," Webb said. "I'm just super excited for everyone to get here and get going with everything."

Honestly just excited to see my friends @SFGiants

— Logan Webb (@LoganWebb1053) March 11, 2022

The Giants will unofficially kick off their NL West title defense Friday at Scottsdale Stadium, playing their first game since Wilmer Flores checked his swing and was told to go back to the dugout anyway. Webb will start, facing opposing hitters for the first time since the National League Division Series, when he vaulted from young-right-hander-on-a-heater to potential star. 

Webb followed his Game 162 -- seven strong innings, plus a homer -- with two dominant performances in the postseason.

But that run of success hasn't seemed to change much. He got married and then spent his offseason in Arizona, working out at Push Performance as he has in the past and spending a lot of his free time tweeting about his beloved Raiders and Kings. 

Teammates still refer to the ace as "goofy," and Kapler got a kick out of reading some quotes from Webb's first group interview since Game 5, including a reference to likely having made the team already. Kapler said he finds his youngest starter to be "totally charming and endearing."

"I love his vibe. I love Logan's vibe," he said. "From a personality perspective, he and I could not be more different. But you need that in a clubhouse and on a field. His smile lights up a room. We talked about that all year last year. His confidence level has grown and I think he feels more established."

RELATED: Pederson thrilled to finally be back home

At the moment, Webb stands in stark contrast to the previous homegrown ace in San Francisco. Madison Bumgarner could be intimidating even to friends; Webb seems to always be around the clubhouse, a smile on his face as he moves from one teammate to the next. 

When the lights go on, however, the results are starting to stand up to previous Giants aces. Webb hasn't taken a loss at Oracle Park since Aug. 27, 2020, and he posted a 2.40 ERA and 2.41 FIP in his final 20 starts last season. Looking back, Webb said the uptick was largely about confidence. 

"It's being able to be confident knowing that I can throw my stuff in the zone," Webb said. "I know Kap has said it hundreds of times and (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) has said it, but it's just being able to know I can go out there and throw my stuff in the zone and get outs that way. My favorite thing to do is to get quick outs."

That continues to be the emphasis for the staff, particularly with the knowledge that an Opening Day start could be the first of nearly 40 appearances if this season goes how the Giants want it to. Webb jumped from 54 1/3 innings to 163 last season, and continuing to get quick outs on the ground will be helpful as the Giants stretch him out.

When Webb faced minor leaguers last week at Papago Park, Kapler stood behind him and was thrilled to see a couple of one-pitch outs. "Love that!" he told his starter.

That live BP session was part of a carefully crafted plan after Webb's breakout season. As the lockout neared, the Giants had 80 percent of a rotation to fill, but they knew where Webb would be and he started a throwing program. Two bullpen sessions this week prepared him to start the spring opener, and he should have time to make at least four exhibition starts.

After that, it'll be Opening Day at Oracle Park, where his last three appearances changed his life. They didn't change his demeanor in the clubhouse, but they certainly provided a boost.

"The confidence thing, knowing I did what I did last year and trying to build off of that," Webb said, "That's really cool for me."

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast