LA Angels fans knew this day would come: An Ode To Jered Weaver

Many LA Angels fans held out hope that somehow, some way Jered Weaver would again be wearing Angels red when the 2017 season started.  I will admit, that I was one of them.  Even though logic said now, my heart said yes.

When the LA Angels allowed Jered Weaver to take a curtain call in the third inning of the team’s season finale against the Houston Astros the writing was on the wall.  The Angels did this as they knew pretty much without a doubt that Weaver’s time in Anaheim was over.

Weaver had just finished a 12-12 season his 11th with the club and his contract was expiring.  In the media Angels general manager Billy Eppler and Weaver both said the right things agreeing to let free agency play out and re-visit the possibility of 12th season with the Angels for Weaver in January.

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For awhile it seemed like no team was going to a chance on Weaver until about a month ago when the San Diego Padres made it known that they were interest in Weaver being their staff leader.  The Padres made it official today when they announced that they will sign the 34-year old Weaver to a one year deal.

With one swoop of the pen Weaver’s Angels career is now going to be a distant memory.  This is a sad day for Angels fans, but a day we knew would come.  I definitely saw all the signs that this would be the case, but I hoped there would be some divine intervention.  If real Angels could play in the field for the Angels in a movie, maybe some how they could help bring Jered Weaver back to Anaheim for at least one last go-around.

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Now Angel fans only have memories to hold on to such as Weaver’s May 2, 2012 no-hitter vs. the Twins which was the first at Angels Stadium April 11, 1990 when Mark Langston and Mike Witt combined for a no-hitter against Seattle.

Who could forget when Weaver burst on the scene in 2006 going 11-2 in only half of the season as a rookie. Weaver had 150 wins as an Angel with a 3.55 ERA and 1598 strikeouts.  The 150 wins leave him second on the Angels career wins list only behind Chuck Finley.

Weaver was 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in seven post-season appearances.  His most memorable performance was in Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS vs. Boston when Weaver pitched 7.1 innings of three-hit and one run ball striking out seven to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the series.  I was at this game and it was an amazing performance.

I fortunately got to see his last victory as an Angel at Angel Stadium on September 11th of 2016.  Weaver was on his game vs. the Rangers striking out eight batters in 6.2 innings giving up only two solo homers. Andrelton Simmons made Weaver a winner with a his second solo homer of the game in the sixth inning.  The bullpen held the lead and Weaver had win #149 and myself and my friends to kids had a memory of a true warrior that I will definitely not forget.

What I will remember the most with Weaver was having the chance to interview him multiple times when he was rehabbing from a hip injury.  Weaver was nothing but class and I felt privileged to have had the chance to interview him and see what a great ambassador he was for the Angels as well as a leader.

Next: Jered Weaver signs with Padres

All I can say in closing is good luck Jered and thanks for the memories.