List of top 100 performers in the game – MLB 2012 Update - Part 15
26. Jered Weaver
Once knows as Jeff’s younger brother, Jered Weaver has improved his game play significantly with every passing year to make a name for himself. Following his consistent performances in the majors, he is now regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Weaver displayed some high quality pitching skills in the 2009 season.
Going 16-8, he earned an impressive 3.75 ERA and topped 200 games for the first time in his career. After John Lackey left the Los Angeles Angels, Weaver was assigned the role of staff ace in Anaheim. Since then he has made the most of available opportunities
to register his name as one of the greats in Angels’ history.
It will not be wrong to say that he has certainly pitched like an ace since the start of 2010. With 233 strike-outs, he won his first strike-out title in the same season. Performing consistently, he also made it to the All Star team. In 2011, he raised his
game play to an even higher level as he took a sub-2 ERA into the month of August. He put up a brave fight against Justin Verlander for the AL Cy Young Award.
Showing his amazing determination and mental strength, he finished with his career best stats in 2011. With 18 wins, 2.41 ERA, 235.2 IP, Jered was the one of the most talked about players in the past season. Considering his recent success, Weaver is likely
to win a Cy Young Award before he calls it a career. However, to do well at the highest level, he will be looking to bring more consistency into his game play.
“I think any new guy coming in, it's going to happen. I kind of expected that. Jeff told me to expect that. Like I said, it gave me a chance to work on my composure. In the past it's kind of gotten to me in college and I've been working on it a lot. I felt
like I did a good job with it.”
“I'm just going out there and doing what I have to do. There's a lot of good talent on this team and I'll be glad to go to (Double-A) Arkansas. I'm going to work hard either way.”
27. Cole Hamels
For years Cole Hamels has been overshadowed by a strong pitching line-up, consisting of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. That being said, Hamels can very easily be the Number one starter on over half of the other teams in the Major League.
With his excellent pitching skills, the reliever made it to the All Star team and he finished sixth in the NL Cy Young voting in 2008. However, it was not until October 2008 when he truly realised his immense potential, going 4-0 with an incredible 1.80
ERA and 0.91 WHIP in five starts. Showing his amazing temperament and fighting spirit, he led the Phillies’ to their first World Series win in nearly 25 years.
Although he failed to live up to the expectation in 2008, he came back strongly in the following two season to justify his place in the Phillies’ side. Since 2009, he has won 26 games with a sensational 2.92 ERA (seventh best among all starters). Phillies’
will be looking to sign a deal with him for the 2012 season as well before he decides to hit the open market.
Continued in Part 16
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