Advertisement

Jered Weaver: The All-Star who’s not an All-Star

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

In an announcement that seemed as inevitable as a happy ending in a Disney movie, New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi has officially selected Angels pitcher Jered Weaver to replace Oakland’s Trevor Cahill as a member of his American League All-Star team.

At the same time, Girardi picked Athletics reliever Andrew Bailey to replace Weaver.

Say what?

According to new rules implemented this season, a pitcher who starts on the Sunday preceding the All-Star game is ineligible to participate in baseball’s midsummer showcase, although he is recognized as an All-Star and introduced in uniform before the game.

Girardi needed a replacement for Cahill once he threw his first pitch to Angels leadoff hitter Erick Aybar on Sunday at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Weaver became ineligible once he made his first offering to Oakland’s Coco Crisp in the bottom of the inning.

Good thing for Bailey he’s a reliever.

Weaver was expected to replace the New York Yankees’ CC Sabathia on the All-Star team, but he may have been selected as a replacement for Cahill since the Oakland pitcher threw his first pitch before Sabathia did Sunday and thus needed a replacement sooner.

Advertisement

It looks like Weaver will have to scrap those plans to go to Napa Valley for the All-Star break. But at least he’ll be able to buy a case of pricey Cabernet Sauvignon (may I suggest Screaming Eagle?) with his $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star team.

-- Ben Bolch in Oakland

Advertisement