From Mr. Smiley to Mr. Ferocious in an Instant — Logan Webb

Today I thought I’d tell you a little bit about my gameday routine. It’s a bit different from a lot of other starting pitchers.

Before I reached the majors, I heard stories about Vogelsong, Bumgarner and others who totally shut down in the clubhouse before their games. They didn’t talk to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary and barely even had eye contact.

So when I was called up in 2019, I tried doing the same thing. I kept to myself. I stayed super focused in my own bubble while my teammates talked, laughed and had fun. It just wasn’t me. It actually made me more anxious. Having that kind of intensity before the game, and then even more intensity on the mound, I was wearing myself out.

Now I save all my intensity for the game. I’m happy-go-lucky, smiley-faced Logan right up until I run out to the mound for first pitch. I instantaneously switch to Mr. Ferocious. I’m locked in and fired up.

Having said that, I do have a pregame routine, and it isn’t just about making guys laugh at TikTok videos on my phone. And it sure isn’t the routine I had when I was drafted at 17, or even when I first reached the majors. Back then, I had no routine.

I remember a game in St. Louis when I was a rookie. I was the starting pitcher. It was an 11:30 start. A weird time. I was late to the park, late for throwing my warmup pitches, late for everything. I hadn’t really woken up, and I had some stomach issues. I was totally out of sorts.

And I absolutely sucked.

Stephen Vogt, who was a Giants catcher at the time, sat me down.

“Hey, we’re going to create a routine — a time routine,’’ he said. He told me to watch Bum. Every day, as soon as the clock hit a specific time, Bum would start his routine. Not one second before or after.

I followed his example. I begin each exercise in my routine at a precise time: stretching, physical treatments, weight training. The last exercise in my routine — precisely 40 minutes before game time — is warming up in the bullpen. Sometimes I’ll go through my exercises too quick and get to the bullpen a few minutes early. So me and Bails and JP (pitching coach Andrew Bailey and assistant pitching coach JP Martinez), we’ll just kind of sit there and talk and laugh about stuff until the time on the outfield clock (or on my phone) hits its exact mark.

But there was a downside to such a regimented routine. If I didn’t hit every start-time precisely, I’d get it in my head that I would pitch awful. Oftentimes, I was right.

So I kept talking with Vogt. He told me, “Give yourself extra time. Get to each thing early. If you have to wait for five minutes, it’s a good thing. You’re calming yourself down actually.’’

It didn’t immediately go the way I wanted it to go. It takes a while to embed these routines in your mind. Then all of a sudden it clicked. When that happened, I started doing routines for everything — not just on the day I pitched.

That helped me a lot. But I was still struggling with holding myself together when things went bad on the mound. I used to get so mad. Why am I not good? Why do I suck right now?

Kap would encourage me. “If you give up a home run, tip your cap and say good job. It’s one home run,’’ he’d say. “You’re not going to give up another one.’’

Staying calm while you’re screwing up isn’t something that happens overnight. You listen and listen to the advice and encouragement, but you don’t really believe it. And then one day — like with your routines — you actually hold it together and let the mistake roll of your back. And you’re like, “Holy cow. They’re right!’’

I don’t get crazy mad anymore. Confidence took its place (for the most part!). I have a lot more belief in myself. I feel prepared, calm and confident.

I still struggle, of course. Everyone does. But I know now how to get back on track: Put in the work every day. Don’t miss any steps in your routine. Lean on your teammates for motivation and encouragement and let them lean on you. And time your Red Bulls so they kick in at first pitch.