Is Big Baby ready to be #1?

Baseball season is so close I can taste it. Yesterday, Jered Weaver came out in what is most likely his final start of the Spring and pitched like a Cy Young winner. Big Baby went 5 innings of shutout ball with 9 punchouts and allowed just 1 hit. He nearly doubled his total K count for the preseason, which was 10 prior to the match against the Cubbies. I, for one, was somewhat worried about our probable #1 ace of the staff based on his Spring performance, but this final start got me thinking that he may be ready to be a #1. Is he?

Yes: This young stud has been nothing but solid since getting up with the Halos, and replacing his elder brother back in 2006. Remember he won like 7 straight to start his career, and we were all washing his balls like it was our profession? He finished that season 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA. Since that, Weav has produced seasons of 13-7, 11-10, and most recently 16-8. His Ks have continued to improve, finally reaching 174 over 211 innings last year. He kind of took on the role of the ace in last year's division title run when Lackey spent time on the DL, and he has proved time and time again ("Every fucking time") that he will go out and pitch his best ball against anyone. Keep in mind, he's 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over his career in the playoffs, and was great for us last year with 14 Ks in 13.67 innings. With Lackey off to Bean Town with his ugly wife, now is the time for Big Baby Weaver to step it up, look like a caveman, and pitch his brains out as the Halo ace.

No: Mental toughness. This is a seriously underrated non-stat quality that so-called clutch players need to have. While John Lackey was a solid #1, we all become acustomed to his tyraids after giving up a single in the middle of a shutout in the 5th. Lackey would get angry and allow a marry go round of hits. Is Jered the same way? We've seen J Weav get plenty upset on the hill (again, "Every fucking time") and we've seen how losing his cool has only led to negative consequences. Has he somehow developed the toughness we haven't seen in him thus far, a toughness that maintains when the other team starts to catch a break? Also, how many World Series Championship contendors are placing their rotation ace hopes in a kid with 2 1/2 years under his belt, who just one year ago only earned a record 1 game over .500 play? If you take the name out of it, and just present those facts, Halo Nation may think twice before hopping on the bandwagon with Baby Weaver running the mound. 

While it's fun to play devil's (lowercase because I'm a God Warrior) advocate, you know that I'm a "Believer in Weaver." T-shirt contract, anyone? I think the Halo rotation of Weaver, Saunder, Kazmir, Santana, and Piñero is the legit #1 rotation in the AL West (in your face, ESPN-supported Mariners!), and I wouldn't want any of the other guys out there against the Twins on opening day other than The Caveman. 

Prediction: Jered Weaver goes 17-6 on the year with an ERA sub-3.50. 

-- Sent from my Palm Prē