MIAMI — San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb has emerged as a dominant force this season, posting a 0.87 ERA over his past 31 innings with just three earned runs allowed. His recent performances include three consecutive starts of eight or more innings, a feat not seen from Giants pitchers since Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain.

A key factor in Webb’s success has been his decision to take control of pitch-calling during games. Since his second start after returning from the injured list, Webb has opted to call most of his own pitches rather than relying exclusively on his catchers. This shift began with a near-perfect game performance in Milwaukee, where trust and familiarity with catcher Patrick Bailey—a two-time Gold Glove winner—played a significant role.

Following Bailey’s trade to the Cleveland Guardians just six weeks into the season, the Giants have turned to catchers Daniel Susac and Eric Haase, who are still gaining experience and working to build rapport with the pitching staff. The adjustment has proven challenging. Pitching coach Justin Meccage acknowledged the difficulties in replacing a seasoned catcher and has encouraged pitchers across the staff to consider calling their own games, citing examples from other players like Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp.

However, not all outcomes have been positive. Reliever Adrian Houser, who was recently moved to the bullpen, described struggles with pitch sequencing and a lack of cohesion with the new catchers. "We’re kind of falling into holes, falling into traps that hitters are setting up," Houser said, underscoring ongoing communication issues.

The impact of Bailey’s departure has been reflected in team statistics. With Bailey behind the plate, the Giants’ pitching staff posted a 3.63 ERA over 238⅓ innings. Since his exit, combined catcher statistics including those of Susac, Haase, and Jesus Rodriguez show the team’s ERA rising to 4.91. Manager Tony Vitello conceded the transition posed challenges but noted that other variables influence results and cautioned against using lack of familiarity as a sole excuse.

Both Susac and Haase have acknowledged the learning curve involved in assuming lead catching roles midseason. Haase, who has the highest catcher’s ERA on the staff at 6.57, described efforts to "get on the same page" with pitchers and the void left by Bailey’s experience and rapport with the pitching staff. Despite struggles, both catchers expressed openness to pitchers calling their own pitches when it instills confidence.

Webb, who developed trust with Bailey over time, remains hopeful the new catcher combination will soon allow him to relinquish pitch-calling duties back to the catchers. "It took Patty about five or six games for me to trust him," Webb said. "I think it’ll get better each time... Hopefully, in a start or two, I’m not having to call my own pitches."

With the Giants’ roster now valued at over $200 million but facing playoff elimination, the team continues to adapt amid lineup changes and ongoing efforts to find consistency on the mound. The evolving dynamic between pitchers and catchers will be a critical storyline as the season progresses.