Logan Webb made quick work of the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday in his first appearance of Cactus League play, pitching two perfect innings with four strikeouts as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve struggled in the past with the first one, so I\u2019m happy I could get it out of the way,\u201d Webb said. \u201cI think an easy way to get it out of the way is having to face Mike Trout in your second at-bat of spring training. But, it\u2019s a good challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
For some unknown reason, Baseball Savant accidentally listed Webb\u2019s second pitch of the afternoon as being 111.8 mph. That, of course, would be the hardest-thrown pitch in recorded history \u2014 if not for the fact that it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice,\u201d Webb laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manager Tony Vitello said the Giants expect Webb to have one more start for San Francisco before joining Team USA. If Webb sticks with his normal routine, his second start would be Sunday against San Diego at Scottsdale Stadium.<\/p>\n
From there, Webb will join his fellow Americans for the tournament. As things stand, Webb is in line to pitch against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston to begin pool play during the WBC. Webb did not confirm he would start that game for the U.S., saying he will leave it to Team USA manager Mark DeRosa to make any announcement.<\/p>\n
The two-time All-Star did confirm, however, that he is available to make multiple starts if the U.S. advances, as expected. The same cannot be said of two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and Hayward native Tarik Skubal, who will only make one WBC start before returning to Tigers camp in Florida.<\/p>\n
Skubal, who won a landmark arbitration case for $32 million earlier this month, is set to enter free agency at the end of this season, and Webb said he understands Skubal\u2019s decision-making. Webb was originally slated to play for Team USA in the 2023 WBC but elected to remain with the Giants. Several weeks into the \u201923 season, Webb signed a five-year, $90 million extension.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not in his shoes,\u201d Webb said. \u201cI got three years left on my contract. He doesn\u2019t. He\u2019s got one year, and then he\u2019s a free agent. So, I get the thought of it. That\u2019s a question for him. I don\u2019t really have any thoughts on it. \u2026 Him and his team and his agents came up with this plan. It\u2019s his life, his career. He can do what he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Giants will host Team USA, which will train at the nearby Papago Park in Phoenix, on March 4. Webb will not start for Team USA that day, but said during the San Ramon leg of the Giants\u2019 FanFest Tour that he wanted to face his teammates.<\/p>\n
The World Baseball Classic begins March 5, 11 days after the conclusion of the Winter Olympics, which saw the United States capture 12 gold medals to break its previous Winter Olympics record.<\/p>\n
One of the many highlights during the Winter Olympics came courtesy of Oakland\u2019s Alysa Liu, who became the first American woman to capture Olympic gold in figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002. The men\u2019s and women\u2019s hockey teams also captured gold, and several Giants broke into chants of \u201cU-S-A\u201d after Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s perfect timing,\u201d Webb said. \u201cWe get to watch that, then it fires you up for the guys going and playing. I didn\u2019t play in (the tournament) last time, but I was just as excited to watch Team USA go out there. Now, I get to be a part of it and it\u2019s extra special.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike those hockey games, it\u2019s like playoff intensity,\u201d Vitello said. \u201cThe fans get what they want. If you\u2019re ever going to watch the game and learn from it \u2026 it\u2019s an elevated sense of the importance of plays and things like that. It\u2019s fun to watch with coaches eyes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n