Angels Toss One Weaver For Another
On Friday, the Angels designated Jeff Weaver for assignment and gave his rotation spot to little brother Jered. Jered had been lights out in his previous stint with the club, going 4-0 in his first four starts; the only other Angel ever to do so was Cy Young winner Dean Chance. Jeff, by contrast, had given the Angels only three wins over sixteen starts, although in some fairness, some of that can be laid at the feet of the Angels' offense.
By giving Weaver The Younger a permanent shot at a rotation slot, it does two things: first, it shows the team has faith in Jered. That's completely understandable, as he's mostly dominated his major league opponents to date. Second, and more importantly, it shows that the team has faith in the next guy waiting in the wings at AAA Salt Lake, the unheralded southpaw Joe Saunders.
Saunders' hidden effectiveness becomes crucially important to the remainder of the Angels' 2006 season for the simple reason that Bartolo Colon appears to still be injured. His awful game yesterday, in which he surrendered six runs over seven and two-thirds innings, put on display for all the league to see that he has neither velocity, nor consistent control. Colon had shoulder trouble in last year's postseason, most notably in Game 5 of the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees, in which he had to beg off in favor of Ervin Santana. An offseason (albeit one interrupted by the World Baseball Classic, a bad idea all around) later, and he still isn't well. Another stint on the DL, possibly a season-ending one, could be in the works.
As for the return of Jered Weaver, however much he may be missed by Angels fans desperate to see a win, the fact is he can do nothing to help the team hit. Howie Kendrick and his .386 average languish at AAA, while Adam Kennedy — who is almost certain not to return to the Angels next year — slumps and slumps and slumps. The clock ticks, and the calendar pages turn; I assume Bill Stoneman's patience also wears thinner.
*Incidentally, Nick Adenhart was recently promoted to high-A Rancho Cucamonga, and will be making his first start there on Sunday. I know I'll be there with fellow conspirator Rich Lederer, taking notes and taking photos.