Jered Weaver used to be known as “the reluctant one.” There was nothing reluctant about his gem Wednesday night as he threw a no-hitter against the Twins and further solidified his place atop the rotation.
Gifted beyond belief, it took him a while to take to the number one starter role for the Angels. Last season was his best year statistically in an Angels uniform finishing second in Cy Young voting and signing a five-year extension to remain in Anaheim and if his performance to date hasn’t validated his status last nights performance certainly did.
nine-innings, one walk, nine strikeouts, no runs and no hits. On the season, Weaver is putting together a solid follow-up to a 2011 campaign that was only foiled by an MVP/Cy Young season from Justin Verlander in Detroit. He’s 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA, 45 k’s to just 7 walks and he’s given up just 28 hits in 44.2 innings pitched.
To put his season in perspective to this point, the Angels entire starting staff without him are 6-9 with just 98 k’s. That’s standard production from an ace.
It is early, and while it’s easy to look at those numbers and consider it a hot start I look at it as carryover from his performance from last season when he was an 18-game winner. If the Angels are able to come out of their early season hole and contend for their division and spot in the playoffs, don’t be surprised if Weaver is considered for more than just that “pitcher’s” award.
