Weaver Pitch Count Interests Stoneman

Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver, the Angels’ first-round pick in Monday’s draft, threw 137 pitches in Friday’s NCAA super-regional game against Arizona. They were not doing cartwheels about it in the Angel front office.

“That’s pretty much at a limit, I would think,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “That’s a lot of pitches.”

The Angels, like many teams that draft highly touted college pitchers who are still involved in the playoffs, are in a difficult position. They’re thinking of sinking $7 million or more into Weaver, the 12th pick overall, and they’d like to protect their future investment. But Long Beach State wants to reach the College World Series, and Weaver has the kind of arm that can carry the 49ers there.

The objectives of the professional and college teams will conflict if a college coach bent on winning overextends a top pitcher, risking injury.

“I guess I’m so old school that high pitch counts don’t bother me,” said Eddie Bane, Angel scouting director. “The only thing I’d be concerned about is if they bring him back in relief in the super-regional [today]. He’s done his job. I hope that’s it.”

Weaver went 15-1 with a 1.65 earned-run average this year, striking out 201 in 136 1/3 innings, and even if he signs soon after his college season, the Angels want him to take a lengthy break before pitching again. Weaver went 7 2/3 innings in Friday night’s loss, giving up five hits, one earned run and striking out 12.

Long Beach beat Arizona on Saturday to even the best-of-three series. The Angels hope Weaver, who has a glandular infection, will be a spectator in the deciding game today, and not a late-inning relief candidate, but Stoneman said he had no plans to phone 49er Coach Mike Weathers with his concerns.

“All we own is negotiating rights -- he’s not our employee, so we don’t have a whole lot of pull with him,” Stoneman said. “We’re going to have to hope they handle him intelligently.”

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Casey Kotchman, the 21-year-old first baseman who was called up from double-A Arkansas to replace the injured Darin Erstad in early May, has been superb defensively, and while he was batting only .221 entering Saturday’s game, he has not been overmatched offensively.

But when Erstad comes off the disabled list -- he was hitless in three at-bats in his third rehabilitation game for triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday and is expected back Tuesday -- Kotchman, considered the Angels’ top prospect, probably will return to the minor leagues, where he can be a full-time starter.

“He’s been a bright light for us, and he’s really given us a hand in Erstad’s absence,” Stoneman said. “But any developing player is a guy you want playing every day, no question about it.”

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Kansas City GM Allard Baird has gone public with his plans to dismantle the disappointing Royals, and All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran is by far the most attractive piece Baird is looking to trade.

The Angels have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Beltran, and they had an interest in dealing for Beltran last season, but Stoneman indicated Saturday that he has no plans to pursue Beltran this summer.

“Now that we have Garret Anderson back, we have a full outfield,” Stoneman said. “I think our priorities are elsewhere.”

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An MRI exam on Bengie Molina’s left calf confirmed a strain, and the catcher, who has been out since June 4 but has not gone on the disabled list, received a cortisone injection Friday. Molina will not play today but could play Tuesday or Wednesday.