SF Giants ace Logan Webb is 'tired of losing' calls for 'big changes'
The SF Giants have had few bright spots over the final months of the 2023 season, but ace Logan Webb remains one of them. On Monday night, facing off against Padres ace Blake Snell and the current National League Cy Young favorite, Webb delivered a complete game to lead the Giants to a 2-1 victory. Following the game, Webb was asked about his desire to win a Cy Young one day. His answer said a lot about the state of San Francisco's locker room after falling out of playoff contention but even more about Webb himself.
“Definitely something I would like to do, but to be honest with you, winning is more fun," Webb said. "If we don’t do that, it’s kind of a waste. I’m tired. I’m tired of losing. It’s not fun. We’ve got to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture. We want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing. I mean, I think we’re there. I don’t know what it is. I’m just sick of losing, to be honest. It’s never fun.”
Athletes provide plenty of platitudes during conversations with the media, but Webb's energy is not reflective of someone focused on his media training. He is soft-spoken and direct. No matter how well he pitches, Webb's always glum after losses. He rarely has much to say beyond placing responsibility for the loss on himself. Even when he's left with a lead, and the bullpen has blown games late, he's pointed to his own inefficient pitching early that led him to be removed in the first place.
At one point earlier this year, when he was asked about the offense's continued struggle to provide him run support, Webb subtly mentioned how he was thankful that he had an opportunity to hit before the National League permanently adopted the designated hitter.
Out of context, that could be viewed as a shot at his teammates, but when Webb is asked a question about underperformance, his answer almost always starts looking inward. So, when he was asked about the offense's struggles, his first response was wishing he could have helped the team score runs with his bat. Webb puts all of the responsibility on himself to win when he pitches.
Webb acknowledged that he's been "a little more frustrated" on the mound recently. However, that frustration was not rooted in offensive, defensive, or bullpen struggles around him that have plagued his recent starts. He's been frustrated with himself.
"I haven't done my job, I haven't done the best job. Same thing, I kind of felt it tonight, I gave up a run. I felt like I let the team down right there as the game was going on. The boys came and picked me up. They scored those two runs, and I knew it was my turn to back them up."
Obviously, Webb's drive and competitiveness are the leading factors, but it also reflects his desire to help his teammates as well. When Webb was voicing his disappointment with how the season has played out, he pointed to the locker of veteran starting pitcher Alex Cobb beside him.
"I know Cobb hasn't been to the playoffs in a long time and I feel for a guy like that," he said. "He pitches his ass off this year, is an All-Star. He should be pitching in the playoffs, and I want to help make that happen for him. It's tough. It's not fun."
When Webb was asked to clarify what those "big changes" he wants to see might look like, the Rocklin, California native deflected to those above him in the organizational hierarchy. He mentioned that the team needs to have a "winning mentality every single day," but immediately pulled back and said, "Not saying we don't already have that."
Perhaps Webb had some teammates in mind with the pointed comment, but given how he approaches most media conversations, that does not seem like the case. It simply reflected the dogmatic results-oriented way that Webb approaches everything. As far as Logan Webb is concerned, every year the SF Giants fall short of winning the World Series, he will think he could have done more to make that happen. They won't even make the playoffs this season. So, some "big changes" need to be made.
No one will disagree.
