Weaver stands tall amid it all

BOSTON -- Jered Weaver has seen more this season than he ever could have imagined. Surreal is a word he finds fitting.

Angels at a glance 2009 record: 97-65 2008 record: 100-62 AL West champs WHO ARE THESE GUYS? • Figgins: Staying true • Angels: Road warriors • Figgins/Abreu: Spark plugs • Bullpen: Stepping up • Figgins: The ignitor • Scioscia: Fundamental key • Vlad: Focused on present • Hatcher: Enjoying success • Scioscia: Approach the key • Aybar: More than just glove • Morales: Putting it together • Abreu: Lauded by 'mates • Wilson: Not alone • Vlad: Resume builder • Weaver: Family matters • Abreu: Hall of Famer? • Saunders: Overcame injury • Lackey: Playoff veteran • Kazmir: Ties to Morales • Jepsen: Remembering Nick • Weaver: Path to pros • Hunter: Humbled by honor • Lackey: It all began in '02 • Weaver: Growing as player • Reagins: Built from within • Morales: Back in the groove • Abreu: Influence extends • Scioscia: Catcher at heart • Lackey: Halos' leader • Morales: Gomez's legacy • Abreu: Embracing his role • Jepsen: Honoring Adenhart • Lackey: Takes place as ace • Weaver: Glue of staff • Scioscia: Postseason fixture • Morales: Perseverance More Angels coverage • Halos' title run comes to an end Vlad's gaffe latest blunder on bases Angels won't let rain stall momentum Who will handle changes best? Rain-induced rest should benefit both Rain may clear way for Lackey in Game 7 Halos ready for Round 6 of tight tussle Escape to New York: Angels take Game 5 Bauman: Moves don't cost Halos in the end Bats finally break out against Yankees Angels place fate in Lackey's hands Mathis brings QB skills to job Sporting News tabs Scioscia top skipper Halos staying positive despite deficit Stymied by CC, Angels on the brink California weather suits Lackey Umpires shaky on several Game 4 calls UConn tragedy hits home for Scioscia Kazmir rady for Game 4 Mathis lifts Angels in Game 3 Bauman: Halos prove they're a tough out Momentum shift in store for Game 4? Kendrick sparks rally Mathis delivers biggest hit of career Vlad silences critics Kazmir gets chance to prove worth Vlad remains in cleanup role Home cooking could revive Angels Halos not making excuses Hunter saw A-Rod's homer coming Angels drop heartbreaker in Game 2 Weaver in control at home in Game 3 'D' betraying Halos at worst possible time Halos falling short in RISP-y situations Neighborhood non-call the 'right call' Figgins' slump-buster nearly a game-winner Saunders rewards Scioscia's faith Halos come to life in wild fifth Defense abandons Angels in Game 1 Yankees benefit on close call at first Fielding miscues costly in Game 1 Saunders ready after long break Angels stun Sox in ninth, finish sweep Halos bury demons at Fenway Moreno revels in Angels' sweep Red Sox tip their hats to Angels Left side of infield a strength Fuentes wraps up phenomenal ALDS Vlad's heroics a long time coming Aybar rises to occasion in Game 3 Halos ready to go after late arrival Fenway doesn't faze Kazmir Angels making Sox taste own medicine Abreu getting due credit Oliver has reinvented himself Weaver's gem puts Angels in control Game 3 setup forces Angels to adjust Aybar, Izturis live up to clutch reputations Weavers etch spot in postseason lore Lackey baffles Red Sox in Game 1 Weaver must set aside second-half falloff Napoli earns Game 2 rematch with Beckett With 10 pitchers, Halos set ALDS roster Halos need quick start against Sox Lackey eyes October success Angels twice as tough at second Early adversity a motivation Fuentes set to thrive in playoffs Angels need wins at the Big A Bulger raring to face Red Sox Abreu embodies aggressive style Angels healthy, deep in rematch Halos out to end hex Ready for ALDS, Kazmir mows down A's Weaver excels in final tuneup Angels drop regular-season home finale Halos team up to one-hit Rangers Angels wrap up AL playoff picture History vs. Sox means nothing to Torii Angels shuffle rotation in wake of title Halos tee up title clincher by holding off A's Huge lead becomes crushing loss Magic number still four as A's win Gloves recharged, Angels believe Angels on losing side of duel in finale Morales providing value daily to Angels Angels get breather, then go back to grind Oliver's skills highly valued by Angels Halos rally to tie Yanks, fall in end Saunders puzzles Yankees in series opener Kendrick's five RBIs help Lackey win No. 102 Angels willing to learn Abreu's lessons Napoli trying to recapture Fenway magic Halos fall in makeup game with Yanks Hunter's homer drives Halos past Sox Angels fall despite late rally Angels down White Sox, pad lead Lackey goes distance, silences Mariners

"It's been a weird season, that's for sure," he said. "Some ups and downs, as far as the pitching staff is concerned. Our offense helped us get through some bumps in the road, and now we have five guys with experience we have confidence in every five days. We've come together, and it's a good feeling."

The season wasn't a week old when Weaver and his Angels teammates lost a good friend, pitcher Nick Adenhart, to a fatal car wreck. Nothing could possibly prepare a team or an individual for those kinds of emotions.

Weaver watched another buddy, Kelvim Escobar, work feverishly to rebound from shoulder surgery, make one promising start and disappear. The shoulder would allow no more.

Weaver watched John Lackey and Ervin Santana miss the opening month and a half of the season to arm issues, come back and search and search before finding what was missing.

Weaver saw Joe Saunders struggle to varying degrees with shoulder issues before going to the disabled list, coming back 19 days later with his All-Star stuff from 2008.

Weaver has seen 13 teammates make starts over the course of a season unlike any other, from Shane Loux and Dustin Moseley to Matt Palmer and Anthony Ortega to Sean O'Sullivan and Trevor Bell.

Through it all, Weaver -- and only Weaver -- has taken the ball every fifth day.

"He's been so good, so consistent," teammate Torii Hunter said of the slender right-hander who proudly calls Simi Valley, Calif., in Ventura County his home. "I don't know where we'd be without Jered Weaver."

Weaver is 15-6 with career highs in victories, innings pitched (194) and strikeouts (164) in his fourth season. He endured a dead-arm stage after a brilliant first half, sending his ERA soaring, but he kept taking his turn and his lumps, knowing how much he was needed with a depleted rotation.

Now, as if by magic, Weaver finds himself nearing the finish line, surrounded by quality starters.

Scott Kazmir arrived from Tampa Bay and has been lights out in three starts (1.86 ERA) even though he has no wins to show for his efforts.

Lackey is back to being Lackey, the lead dog, snarling and bringing the heat.

Saunders is on a roll, four wins in four starts, his fastball command back in fine working order.

Santana hasn't found a groove close to the one he had in 2008 when he joined Saunders on the American League All-Star team, but he's delivering quality work again.

Manager Mike Scioscia is calling it the best, deepest rotation he's had in his 10 years in Anaheim, and Weaver sees why.

"When we got Kaz, that was big," Weaver said of the Aug. 28 trade that sent Sean Rodriguez, Alex Torres and Matt Sweeney to the Rays. "He's done a great job for us already. We just haven't been able to get him any runs.

"We had guys come in and do a great job when we needed them. But some of the guys didn't quite have the experience. It's nice to have five guys who can do the job and who know what it takes, guys who have been through it. Kaz is only 25, but he's already achieved a lot of things.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can do now. It's exciting to be part of this."