Jered Says It’s All Part of Business

It was a bittersweet return to Angel Stadium on Saturday for Jered Weaver, who was ecstatic about his promotion from triple-A Salt Lake but devastated that it came at the expense of his older brother Jeff, who was designated for assignment Friday to clear a roster spot for Jered.

“There are mixed emotions,” said Jered, who will take his 4-0 record and 1.37 earned-run average into Monday night’s start at Seattle. “I’m glad to be here, but these are not the circumstances I wanted to come back under. It’s a business-oriented game. You definitely realize that.”

Jered, who at 23 is six years younger than Jeff, had never played on the same team or been in the same dugout with his older brother until this spring.

The two spoke for about half an hour Friday after being informed of the move, which gives the Angels 10 days to trade or release Jeff.

“He said to just keep doing your thing, I’ll be all right,” Jered said. “There’s not going to be any bad blood between us. I have a lot of love for him, and baseball has bonded us together. He’s not going to have any trouble finding another job.”

When Jeff signed a one-year, $8.325-million deal with the Angels on the eve of spring training, there was some concern he might block Jered’s path to the big leagues. Was it ironic, then, that it was Jered who wound up blocking Jeff’s path in Anaheim?

“It hasn’t really set in yet,” Jered said. “I’m at a loss for words right now. I don’t really know how to take it, but what are you going to do? I have a job to do. I wish he was in the dugout watching me, and I was watching him.... It’s going to be tough to put this behind me, but once you get between the lines, it’s a different story.”

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Garret Anderson’s sixth-inning single to left-center against former teammate Aaron Sele was the 2,000th hit of his career, making the Angels left fielder one of five active players with 2,000 hits and 1,000 runs batted in for the same franchise. The others: Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas and Bernie Williams.

Anderson, mired in an eight-for-55 slump before Saturday, showed little reaction to his latest milestone, declining to tip his cap during the ovation he received.

“I’m not one to do things on the field during the game,” Anderson said. “That’s how I was schooled in this game.”

Does Anderson, who turned 34 Friday, think he can reach the 3,000-hit plateau?

“I’m just looking for No. 2,001,” he said.

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With his first-inning walk Saturday, shortstop Orlando Cabrera has reached base safely in 58 consecutive games, tying him with Barry Bonds for the longest streak since 1960. Ted Williams holds the major league record, having reached base safely in 84 consecutive games in 1949.