Logan Webb shows in WBC what a shame Giants’ playoff drought has been

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Logan Webb showed once again in this World Baseball Classic that the Giants’ ace is built for the biggest stages. Shame he hasn’t had more of them.

Webb will finish the tournament allowing one run over 8 ⅔ innings after he held Canada in check into the fifth inning Friday night to send Team USA into the WBC semifinals.

He pumped his fist. Slapped his glove. Displayed October emotion in March.

For Giants fans, it was a pretty cool sight to see their guy on the international stage. But the fact that he wore red, white and blue instead of orange and black also served as a stinging reminder that the only organization Webb has known hasn’t granted him many similar chances.

Although his duties are done, Webb opted to remain with Team USA for the remainder of the tournament rather than return to Giants camp. Who can blame him?

The do-or-die stakes, playing for the ultimate prize, in front of an electric atmosphere: It’s something Webb has only experienced twice before in his career.

Back in the Bay Area, a telling debate took place on the Giants’ flagship radio station. Was Webb’s outing against the Canadians the most consequential of his career?

There was arguably more at stake on a Friday night in March than any other time Webb has taken the mound. Since 2021, there’s nothing arguable about it.

Webb has proven to be the ultimate competitor despite not pitching in the postseason since he ascended to ace status. With the Giants mired in mediocrity, Webb has had to go about it through other means: The man has never missed a start.

“I mean, prior to even having any conversations with Buster (Posey) or anybody else, you’re watching him and you want to be on his team because of the way he competes,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I’ve had a lot of buddies text me and talk about how big of a fan they are of him. It’s like, yeah, I know, I saw that before I even got here.”

Vitello is tasked with leading the Giants to finally holding up their end of the bargain. He became the third manager to name Webb his Opening Day starter the morning after his last WBC start. It will be the Rocklin native’s sixth time starting the season opener — all since his two increasingly lonely playoff starts.

Webb, 29, has accomplished a relatively rare feat as a starting pitcher. He’s the face of the franchise despite only taking the field every fifth day. But the distinction comes with an asterisk: This era of Giants baseball has played just five playoff games in Webb’s seven seasons.

To no fault of his own.

Webb, then 24, flashed signs of what was to come in the second half of that 107-win season, a key reason why they became the only team since 2012 to dethrone the Dodgers in the NL West.

He took it to another level the first time the Giants ever faced their archrivals in October. Like one run over 8 ⅔? How about one in 14 ⅔? Webb walked off the mound in Game 5 to roars from 42,275 with the score tied at 1 after seven. They lost, 2-1. 

Still, more than 1,600 days later, Webb’s career postseason ERA remains a pristine 0.61.

He’s proven to be arguably more valuable in the regular season: No pitcher in baseball has recorded more outs than Webb since 2021. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

So, no, the WBC quarterfinal wasn’t the biggest start of Webb’s career. Not when he was on a strict limit of 70 pitches and exited before the fifth inning was over.

But it could use some competition for third.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com