Jacob Webb 2024

[Safelykept]

48 minutes ago, Aristotelian said:

He also gave up a solo homer in the first game.  I agree, the grand slam was 95% on Baker for loading the bases without getting an out and forcing Webb in the game. I can forgive Webb for that one.

I'll forgive him for both if he can keep pitching the way he has. Baker? you will probably see him this Summer in a Shuttle move or 2 to eat non leveraged innings, hopefully not in October.  

[Three Run Homer]

A closer is born?  

[now]

35 minutes ago, Three Run Homer said:

A closer is born?  

Yeah it makes you think again before considering swapping a high-end talent like Basallo for a top closer like Miller. When you can plug in a DFA guy like Webb or Coulombe or Perez, or groom a wild flamethrower like Bautista from the farm. Just throw strikes.

[interloper]

1 hour ago, Three Run Homer said:

A closer is born?  

While I'm not buying in to that degree, his stuff did play up during his save opportunity, so you never know sometimes. He was hyped up. 

But overall, I don't think he has the pure stuff to close for an extended period of time. During the rebuild years he would absolutely have been an option for that. 

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, Three Run Homer said:

A closer is born?  

I seriously doubt it.  But I’ve argued that Hyde should use Kimbrel no more than 5 times every two weeks, and if he followed my advice (ha ha) that means we’d need a “Plan B” when Kimbrel is not available, and Webb is one of the guys you can use in that role, depending on matchups.   

[Say O!]

Last year Webb fastball was 95mph.

Earlier this year Webb fastball was 91mph. The last couple outings the velo has ticked back up to the 93-94mph range and his secondaries (both changeup and sweeper) are noticeably sharper with swing+miss.  I wonder if Webb went through the proverbial “dead arm” period in April and has now reverted back to normal. 

[Three Run Homer]

1 hour ago, interloper said:

While I'm not buying in to that degree, his stuff did play up during his save opportunity, so you never know sometimes. He was hyped up. 

But overall, I don't think he has the pure stuff to close for an extended period of time. During the rebuild years he would absolutely have been an option for that. 

Ideally you'd have someone with knockout stuff (like Bautista or Holmes) as your closer.  But if you don't have that, you at least need someone with decent stuff who isn't fazed by pitching in the 9th inning. 

Cano, for instance, probably has the best talent in the bullpen but it seems he is better in the 7th and 8th innings for whatever reason.  Kimbrell no longer has top-end stuff but at least you don't have to worry about his mental makeup (as long as his latest struggles are a physical issue as opposed to the early stages of Steve Blass disease).  

Webb's performance this week opened my eyes both as to the quality of his stuff and his makeup.  I'm guessing those were the highest-leverage innings he has ever thrown in the major leagues, and he rose to the occasion.  

[Moshagge3]

What makes closers reliable is that they have a pitch that's so good that it doesn't matter if the secondaries aren't working or can't be thrown for strikes. Felix Bautista throws a fastball in the triple digits so even if the splitter isn't there he can get the job done more often than not. Nobody ever said "Zach Britton can't locate his slider, we're doomed." Webb looks awesome when all the stuff is working, just like Cano or Perez, the question is how often is that going to be the case.

[sportsfan8703]

1.40 ERA 265 ERA+ in 21 appearances this season  

He has a 2.40 ERA in 46 appearances total with us going back to last year. 

[banks703]

45 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

1.40 ERA 265 ERA+ in 21 appearances this season  

He has a 2.40 ERA in 46 appearances total with us going back to last year. 

I’ve never understood the Webb hate by some. He’s probably not as good as he’s been this year and probably not even as good as he’s been with the O’s but they’ve clearly unlocked something in him that has made him a relatively reliable dude. Everyday Jake. There’s value in a guy who will throw for you until his arm falls off. Albeit not at a detriment to his team. 

[Aglets]

Would like to see him get his walk rate down (he walked the bases loaded yesterday..........    has a career 4.2 BB / 9),  but there's obviously still value in a guy who can get some K's and apparently allows pretty weak contact most of the time.

[Frobby]

6 minutes ago, Aglets said:

Would like to see him get his walk rate down (he walked the bases loaded yesterday..........    has a career 4.2 BB / 9),  but there's obviously still value in a guy who can get some K's and apparently allows pretty weak contact most of the time.

Honestly he wasn’t at his best yesterday.  But he escaped his self-inflicted jam.   

[InsideCoroner]

42 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Honestly he wasn’t at his best yesterday.  But he escaped his self-inflicted jam.   

a/k/a “The Stanhouse”

[emmett16]

I have not been a Webb fan.  I’m happy to eat crow.  His CU is pretty devastating and when batters are protecting against it his FB plays.  Yesterday he was not at his best and found a way to make a pitch when he needed to.  It will be interesting to see how he does for a full year.  If he could be a 2.5-3.0 BB/9 guy, he’d be super valuable. 

[sportsfan8703]

1 hour ago, banks703 said:

I’ve never understood the Webb hate by some. He’s probably not as good as he’s been this year and probably not even as good as he’s been with the O’s but they’ve clearly unlocked something in him that has made him a relatively reliable dude. Everyday Jake. There’s value in a guy who will throw for you until his arm falls off. Albeit not at a detriment to his team. 

Webb gets hate because of the postseason homers.  Oddly, Hicks still gets hate despite his postseason homer and stats.