Weaver feels at home in the National League

MARINERS

The verdict is in. Jeff Weaver needs to be in the National League. Preferably, in the National League Central.

Look at the facts. The guy has had one incredible successful half a season in his career, when he was throwing for the St. Louis Cardinals, an NL Central team.

And he’s had one incredibly successful start for the Mariners this year, last night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, an NL Central team.

Ergo – or some other Latin phrase – he needs to be in the NL Central. Trade him quick while he has value.

Wednesday night Weaver shut down the Pirates for a complete-game, four-hitter and a 7-0 win, shutting down the M’s six-game losing streak why he was at it.

In the process he lowered his ERA to 8.56 and raised my embarrassment quotient to 8.325 million.

The M’s will try to build on that Weaver-started momentum – could this be the turning point of the year? – tonight (7:05; FSN; 920-AM) when Felix Hernandez (3-4, 4.58 ERA) takes the mound against John Van Benschoten (0-1, 3.17).

Today’s hot list …

• Weaver’s shocking performance was the lead of all the game stories. And why wouldn’t it be? Here they are from the News Tribune, the P-I, Times and the Herald. Here’s the view from Pittsburgh, from the Post-Gazette story and the Tribune-Review piece.

• Our John Blanchette is in Seattle and his column reflects the shock and awe we all feel after Weaver’s outing.

• Did you know Ken Griffey Jr. will be in town starting Friday? If you didn’t, here’s a News Tribune story to get you in the know, if not up-to-date. And the P-I’s Jim Moore wants everyone to treat him right. So does Griffey’s old friend, Jay Buhner.

• Seattle’s minor leaguers have their memories Junior as well.

• Manager Mike Hargrove didn’t talk after Tuesday’s loss. He made up for it Wednesday night.

• The M’s hope they’ve discovered the problem with Felix: He’s rushing his windup. Tonight he’ll try to correct the flaw.

• It looks like left-hander Ryan Feierabend will start Friday instead of Cha Seung Baek, who has been struggling lately.

• The M’s batting order featured Richie Sexon seventh and Jose Vidro eighth last night.

• And our question of the day …

• As you were watching of listening last night, when did you realize Jeff Weaver was really going to get the job done?