Mike Krukow blames odd culprit for why SF Giants ace Logan Webb doesn't look right

SF Giants ace Logan Webb has not looked like himself so far this season. He’s gotten off to an uncharacteristic start and Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow has a theory on why Webb hasn’t been his usual self.

Ahead of Thursday’s game between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, Krukow was asked why Webb has struggled so far this season and he had the following to say:

“Well I think that, you know, the ABS has hurt sinkerballers more than any other style of pitcher…not a lot of those pitches that they want you to swing at are strikes and now hitters are starting to lay off them which causes the sinkerballers to elevate into the strike zone.”

Krukow thinks ABS system is to blame for Webb's struggles

Krukow is referring to the Automated-Balls-Strikes system which allows hitters, catchers, and pitchers to challenge balls and strikes. The system does seem to have an impact on the way umpires call the game so Krukow may have a valid point even if it may seem odd to blame the new system on its face especially since teams only get two challenges per game. If Webb is indeed starting to elevate his pitches that is an issue because sinkerballers ideally want to live around the knees.

Krukow recommended that to remedy this, Webb should start pitching up in the zone more by using his four-seam fastball and his cutter. Webb has tried to incorporate those pitches more over the years to avoid becoming too predictable with pitches at the knees, but he may have to start doing it more due to the ABS system. 

It's not the first time this year Krukow has had a theory on Webb's struggles. After Webb got shelled in the team's first regular season game against the New York Yankees, he theorized that Webb may have been tipping his pitches.

Webb has been harder on himself than anyone after his rough start to the season. In Baltimore last week after he allowed four earned runs in six innings of work he said that he felt like he was hurting the team even though the Giants won that game thanks to some rare run support for Webb.

He hasn’t been completely disastrous, though. It’s not like he’s getting shelled every start and getting removed from the game in the second or third inning. He’s still going deep into games and giving the Giants a chance to win every time he takes the mound.

His outing on Thursday against the Dodgers was not ideal, but LA has one of the most dangerous lineups in the game so Webb did well to battle through the way he did. He allowed three earned runs in seven innings of work and his ERA is now 4.86 on the season. He did get some payback on Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing in the process, though.

It’s still early in the season and there’s plenty of time for Webb to adjust. Whether he needs to get more used to ABS and how hitters are adjusting to him or if it’s more of a mechanical tweak that’s necessary, he should figure it out and get back to looking like the Webb we’ve come to know since 2021.

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