ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver
planned a nice getaway for the All-Star break, a quick trip to the Napa
Valley wine country.
Instead, the Los Angeles Angels'
pitcher will be right at home, in the ballpark where he spends much of
the season.
Pitchers Justin Verlander, Andrew
Bailey and Weaver were added Sunday to the American League team for the
All-Star game.
"It's a tremendous honor and something
you think about when you're 9 years old. It's kind of surreal but it's
going to be a trip to be surrounded by guys you've looked up to all your
life," Weaver said.
A couple of AL spots opened up because
of a new rule — pitchers who start on Sunday are ineligible to play in
Tuesday night's game. That meant All-Stars CC Sabathia of the Yankees
and Trevor Cahill were out.
AL manager Joe Girardi of the Yankees
picked Weaver as a replacement. Only one problem: Girardi didn't realize
the Angels' right-hander was pitching Sunday, too.
That means Weaver can't play, but he
can take part in the festivities and be announced to the home crowd at
Angel Stadium.
"Being able to line up on that line
and tip my cap to the fans who have supported me for the last four years
will probably give me goose bumps. It's also humbling," he said.
"It would be nice to warm up in the
bullpen and get into the game but it is what it is. It will be fun to
watch the Home Run Derby. To be in the dugout with all those guys is
going to be cool," he said.
He's not sure whether his
mini-vacation to Northern California is refundable, either.
Weaver and Cahill pitched against
each other Sunday in Oakland, and the Athletics beat the Angels 5-2. The
loss left Weaver at 8-5.
"It gives other guys an opportunity
to go. I'm happy with the situation," Cahill said. "There's so many guys
that deserve to be in the game and so many guys that don't get picked,
so I think it's a good way. Weaver deserves to be there so maybe this is
the best way to get everybody out there."
Bailey earned his 18th save Sunday
and made his second straight All-Star team. The Oakland closer already
was planning to be at the All-Star game for a promotional appearance.
"I like the rule. I guess it is
weird, but since the game does mean something you want as many eligible
guys as you possibly can. I think it's good that way," he said.
"The right representatives make the
team then the replacements, we go in there and do what we can. I think
it's cool that the guys that definitely deserve it are still
acknowledged by getting an opportunity to go. I think it's good for the
game of baseball. Maybe we can go 25 innings with all the pitchers we
have," he said.
Verlander became a three-time
All-Star. He is 11-5 for Detroit and thought there was a chance he'd get
added.
"It is obviously a flawed system, and
there are probably better ways to do it," he said. "This is the first
year they've done it this way, so I'm sure there will be changes,
because this is hard on the guys who have a chance in this situation."