Weaver solidifies All-Star case.

Jered Weaver was lights out in the rubber match of the huge three game series with Texas. He needed to be. The AL K King tossed a strong 7 innings of 2 hit shutout ball, punching out 6 in the process. He saw Vlad Guerrero and Josh Hamilton go a combined 0 for 6, the first time they've been quiet in the series, and ended Hamilton's 23 game hit streak. He was electric, dominating, and an All Star. Fernando Rodney tried his damndest to blow the game, allowing one run but getting out of an eventual bases loaded jam after a horrible no call on an "in the neighborhood" play by Howie Kendrick. It was a nail biting experience. Luckily, our nails easily stayed intact through a perfect 9th for Tito Fuentes (where's the press coverage, now that he's good?). Napolini and Aybar both had 2 hit nights, and HK 47 added an RBI in the opening frame of the tight win. The series finished tied for runs at 12-12. 

So, is Jered Weaver an All Star? Might we even consider the Angels ace getting the start on his home turf in the Midsummer Classic? Let's explore!

There is actually a long list of potentials ahead of him. The following are All Star starter hopefulls:

Ranked in wins-

+David Price (TB): 11-3, 2.44, 84 K
+CC Sabathia (NY): 10-3, 3.33, 93 K
+Phil Hughes (NY): 10-2, 3.58, 81 K
+Clay Buttholz (BOS): Haha, 10-4, 2.45, 64 K
+Andy Pettitte (NY): 9-2, 2.72, 74 K
+Carl Pavano (MIN): 9-6, 3.30, 63 K
+John Lackey (BOS): 9-4, 4.46, 59 K
+Justin Verlander (DET): 9-5, 4.02, 93 K
+Jon Lester (BOS): 9-3, 2.86, 111 K
+Matt Garza (TB): 9-5, 4.08, 83 K
+Then Weaver and the other 8 games winners (Garcia, Piñero, Ervin, Slowey, etc).

Nice to see that 8 out of the top 10 pitchers in wins comes from the AL East. Weak. Now the All Star starting potentials ranked in ERA-

+David Price, as mentioned
+Clay Buchholz, as mentioned
+Cliff Lee (SEA): 2.45
+Trevor Cahill (OAK): 2.74
+Jeff Niemann (TB): 2.80
+Jason Vargas (SEA) 2.80
+Jered Weaver: 2.82.

A little more spread out among various teams, with Seattle surprising me. Now the All Star starting potentials ranked in strikeouts-

+Jered Weaver: 124
+Felix Hernandez (SEA): 116
+Jon Lester, as mentioned
+Fancisco Liriano (MIN): 106
+Ricky Romero (TOR) 103

Finally a category our boy is leading! Now the All Star starting potentias ranked in WHIP:

+Cliff Lee: 0.92
+Carl Povano: 1.05
+Trevor Cahill: 1.05
+Jered Weaver: 1.06
+Colby Lewis: 1.07

At least J Weav is top 5 in this category (top 4, really). Finally, let's rank the potential starters in WAR:

+Ricky Romero: 3.5
+Jered Weaver: 3.3
+Jon Lester: 3.2
+Jeff Niemann: 2.8
+Andy Pettitte: 2.7

That me the most telling stat of all when trying to sort this out. Let's take a look at the WAR numbers for the starters with more wins than Weav:

+Price: 2.5
+Sabathia: 2.0
+Hughes: 1.3
+Buchholz: 2.6
+Pettitte: 2.7
+Pavano: 2.6
+Lackey: 0.9
+Verlander: 1.3
+Lester: 3.2
+Garza: 1.2

And again, just to remind you, Weaver's WAR is an AL runner up 3.3. Also, keep in mind that a WAR of 5+ is considered to be of All Star quality (8+ is MVP, 2+ is starter material). Also, keep in mind that the only MLB player with a WAR of 5 right now is Justin Morneau. That would be a pretty boring game to watch! So, WAR should be taken with a grain of salt, but when you are the #2 starter in the AL in WAR, you lead the AL in strikeouts by +8, you are 4th in WHIP, and you are just -3 off the wins lead in the AL.

What if I added that Weaver has 13 quality starts this year, second only to Felix Hernandez's 14? 

This all boils down to the question we asked at the start of this: Should Jered Weaver start the All Star game? Well, I think I've shown that he definitely deserves to be on the AL All-Star roster, easily. However, putting my bias aside, I think I'd have to say that he hasn't done enough to earn the starting nod. Even though it would be cool to see and Angel starting at home, I'm not sure how you can give it to anyone but David Price. Price has the most wins, the lowest ERA, and deserves the start.

What do you think?

Exactly half way through the season, my Halos are 45-36 (projected at a 90 win season, which might not be enough) and are 3.5 games back of the 1st place Rangers. Lucky for us, we're starting a weekend series with the Royals tonight. Even more lucky for us, we're going against Kyle Davies (4-6, 6.06). He's lost 3 in a row and allowed 5 runs in 7 IP the last time out against the STL. We counter with Joey Joe Joe Saunders (6-8, 4.88), who looks to continue his good vibrations. The Colonel went 7 innings of 2 run ball with 8 big Ks against Colorado in his last stop. He's also undefeated against the Royals, so we have that going for us!

Let's just all it a sweep.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē