Where’d Ya Get Those Shoes?

. According to the Los Angeles Daily News the Angels have placed a deadline on a one year offer to Weaver with a second year team option. Supposedly the deadline for the offer is Wednesday. I don’t know if Weaver is worth the 9 mil the offer is rumored to be. I say he’s worth 7-9 million to us and here’s why:

Kris Benson
Over the Last 2 seasons: Games Started: 39- Innings Pitched: 242
Jeff Weaver
Over the Last 2 seasons: Games Started: 68-Innings Pitched: 444

I am not one of the stats guys so I don’t want to debate their VORP or RIBSY or whatever. I’m looking at durability. We can all agree that Benson is not the diamond in the Pittsburgh we all thought he was when Duke dealt for him. He was mediocre to decent. But besides a crazy wife the guy had problems down the stretch or weak armed, Weaver is capable of giving 220 innings. With the shaky make-up of this staff 7 million for a guy that can chew innings like that is a bargain. Look, I’m not saying that this guy is an ace but for what we were paying Benson it’s not outrageous. What makes you less uneasy?
A 1. Pedro
2 Glavine
3. Trachsel
4. Zambrano
5. Hielman
OR

B 1. Pedro
2. Glavine
3. Weaver
4. Trachsel
5. Zambrano/ Hielman
A or B? Now many people I talk to dismiss the claims that Hielman may get lit up his 3 time though the order and think that he can easily transition. I’m not one of those people. But let’s say he is serviceable. What happens, and I hate to write this, if Pedro gets hurt. I’m not predicting anything but we all know it’s in the realm of possibility. Now pick one
A
1. Glavine
2. Trachsel
3. Zambrano
4. Hielman
5. Iriki?
Or
B
1. Glavine
2. Weaver
3. Trachsel
4. Zambrano
5. Hielman
If the answer is A then you obviously don’t remember Kaz Ishii to fill Trachsel slot. Hey, Maybe Lima will have a comeback year! And maybe Danny Graves would make us not want to sign Billy Wagner the second the World Series was over. Offer the guy 7 with performance based options to be worth 9.5; if he meets them, maybe a second year option. Without a solid and legitimate back-up plan the season may hinge on a shoe. With out a solid staff there might not be a lead in the 9th- and I like Enter Sandman. Omar, send the offer now - or wait for the deadline to pass and you might get him cheaper. Boras owes us one (if not many).