Another Bad Outing by Weaver in Defeat

Jeff Weaver’s trade value probably took a considerable hit Tuesday night, but the Angels right-hander may have positioned himself for a new endorsement deal.

From The Gap.

Weaver faced 16 batters in two-plus innings against the Colorado Rockies. Five of them rifled balls for doubles to either left-center field or right-center field, and one smashed a ball over the gap in left-center for a home run.

That set the tone for an ugly 12-4 loss to the Rockies in Angel Stadium, a game in which Colorado pounded out a season-high 18 hits, seven for extra bases, and cast renewed doubt over Weaver’s already cloudy future in Anaheim.

If Weaver, signed to a one-year, $8.325-million deal, slips back to his early season form, when he went 1-7 with a 7.30 earned-run average in his first nine starts, the Angels will have little choice but to demote him to the bullpen or release him.

If Weaver pitches well, the benefits are twofold -- he helps the Angels win and increases his value in the trade market, where the Angels have explored dealing the veteran to clear a rotation spot for his younger brother, Jered, who went 4-0 with a 1.37 earned-run average in four starts before being sent back to triple-A Salt Lake on June 16.

Weaver the Elder cooperated quite nicely in his six previous starts, going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA, his fastball gaining some life, his slider showing more bite, and trade interest in him beginning to perk up.

But Tuesday night, Weaver (3-10) took a huge step backward, catching too much of the plate with far too many pitches and probably attaching red flags to every scouting report that was filed after the game.

“They didn’t miss anything, whether it was a fastball or off-speed pitch,” Weaver said. “I didn’t think my stuff was that bad, but once they got the lead, they became extremely aggressive.

“They put the pressure on, put the ball in play and found all the gaps. Colorado is a much-improved team with a lot of good, young hitters. If you’re not on, they’re going to hurt you.”

Weaver gave up six runs and nine hits -- none of them cheapies -- in two innings, killing all the momentum the Angels gained with their come-from-behind victory Monday night and a two-run first inning Tuesday.

And had Weaver not struck out Garret Atkins with runners on second and third to end the first, it would have been even worse. Clint Barmes’ two-run single and Jamey Carroll’s RBI double highlighted a three-run second, and the Rockies went double (Matt Holliday), double (Atkins), home run (Brad Hawpe) to open the third.

The boos -- mixed with chants of “Bring back Jered!” -- cascaded through Angel Stadium, but those were replaced by cheers when Manager Mike Scioscia, after Jorge Piedra’s single, came to the mound to pull Weaver.

It marked Weaver’s shortest start since June 27, 1999, when Weaver, then with the Detroit Tigers, lasted only 1 2/3 innings against Minnesota.

“The frustrating thing right now is our inability to carry momentum from one game to the next and get on a run that will get us where we want to be,” Scioscia said. “The only way to do that is to play good baseball.

“Jeff made so much progress his last six starts, you hope this is just a bump in the road.

“We need to get those good starts every night that will give us a chance to win.”

Weaver’s replacement, Kevin Gregg, didn’t fare much better, giving up five runs -- two earned -- and six hits in three innings.

Third baseman Maicer Izturis’ error aided a four-run fourth in which the Angels gave up three unearned runs, bringing their major league-leading total to 57 unearned runs allowed.