ATLANTA -- Logan Webb smiled Sunday afternoon and said he has adjusted to facing players he grew up watching. No longer does the Giants rookie stand on the mound and think, "Holy cow, I'm facing Manny Machado." But Webb can still get wide-eyed at times.
The 22-year-old knows that plenty of former Giants are coming into town next week to celebrate Bruce Bochy, and he said he hopes to meet Jonathan Sanchez or Pat Burrell or ...
"Maybe Timmy?" Webb asked reporters.
Lincecum hasn't shown up at the park in years, but the Giants are quietly optimistic that he will next weekend. If No. 55 does enter the clubhouse, Webb won't just be a fan. He'll be part of the process, a 22-year-old rookie set to face the Dodgers during Bochy's final series as manager.
"I'm excited to see all the other stuff and take it all in," Webb said. "There are not many guys like (Bochy) who come around."
Webb has gotten to make seven starts for Bochy and Sunday's was the best. He limited the NL East champion Braves to two hits and one run over a career-high six innings. The Giants won 4-1 in Bochy's final road game.
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"I felt like today I was finally able to put it all together," Webb said. "I've got a lot more work to do but I felt a lot more confident and had command of all my pitches."
Webb mixed it up well, throwing 51 fastballs, 21 slurves and 18 changeups. He got 13 swinging strikes and had the Braves off balance all afternoon. Bochy said Webb is more polished than he anticipated.
"He's known for kind of a power sinker, but I think he's just getting better and better with his secondary pitches," Bochy said. "They're better than I thought. He's got a good breaking ball and changeup. He's got the weapons and arsenal to pitch up here because he's got command, too."
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Webb walked two on Sunday and has issued two-or-fewer free passes in six of his seven starts. That command, plus the raw stuff, has kept him in the rotation after a promotion in mid-August. A season that was extremely trying early on is ending on a high note, and Webb hopes to keep it going. He's well aware that every pitch he throws is another chance to impress a front office that will look to build a strong rotation this winter.
"I think all the young guys, that's what we're hoping to do," Webb said. "Obviously you want to do well for now, but we also set ourselves up for the future as well."
