Jeff Weaver aims for comeback11:07 PM PST on Monday, February 23, 2009
By DIAMOND LEUNG
The Press-Enterprise
PHOENIX - Jeff Weaver was flipping through channels when he came upon the MLB Network replaying Game 5 of the 2006 World Series.
Until then, Weaver hadn't seen a tape of himself tossing eight innings for the win that night to clinch the championship for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"Instant chills," Weaver said.
For better or for worse, emotions always have played a big role in Weaver's career, which has been defined by playoff success and failure.
Now 32, Weaver is merely a spring training non-roster invitee in his second go-round with the Dodgers, trying to make it back to the majors after spending all of last season in the minors.
And after a chance meeting with General Manager Ned Colletti at a Manhattan Beach restaurant, Weaver got a minor league contract and yet another chance.
"I let him know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get back to the big leagues in whatever role I can help them compete and win, hopefully continue what they did last year," Weaver said.
To do so, the right-hander will have to impress Manager Joe Torre, whom he still refers to as "Mr. Torre" from their Yankees days together.
In his book "The Yankee Years," Torre is quoted as telling New York general manager Brian Cashman that "You've got to get rid of this guy because emotionally he can't handle it, trying to come back from that."
That refers to Weaver giving up the game-winning home run to Florida's Alex Gonzalez in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series.
Torre said he had no problem with Weaver personally, but the Yankees traded Weaver to the Dodgers along with Yhency Brazoban for Kevin Brown, and Weaver won 27 games over the next two seasons.
"I'm hoping to get him back to where he was," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. "I know what he had in the past. He's a great competitor."
After winning a World Series with the Cardinals, Weaver admits to slacking.
"I didn't handle it properly, as far as you go late into October and usually you're home resting by that time," Weaver said. "I really think it was my fault not getting back into the workout routine. I was tired. I was beat.
"I felt like I could just go into spring, get my work in, and everything would be fine and dandy. Obviously, it backfired."
Weaver went 7-13 with Seattle and then pitched in the minors for Milwaukee and Cleveland, swallowing his pride to work as a reliever in the Indians organization.
Weaver wants to pitch another three to five years, and said he pitches with a lower arm angle now while getting his sinker back in form.
"Just to see that, my confidence is high," he said.
― Andy K, Thursday, 26 February 2009 16:23 (seventeen years ago)