Seattle Mariners’ Kyle Seager, Angels’ Jered Weaver escalate ill will
ARLINGTON, Texas – The schedule puts Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager in line for another matchup against Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jered Weaver in a little more than a week.
It should be interesting.
The war of words between the two escalated Thursday, one day after Weaver was ejected for hitting Seager with a pitch in the Mariners’ 3-1 victory at Safeco Field.
Seager suggested after the game that Weaver effectively “quit on his team” because he knew he’d be ejected for hitting him following their verbal spat in the fifth inning.
Weaver fired back prior to the Angels’ game at Minnesota by telling reporters: “I don’t even know who this kid is.”
Seager has faced Weaver on 35 occasions. The only pitcher in his career that he’s faced more often is Weaver’s teammate, C.J. Wilson.
The incident occurred Wednesday when Seager came to the plate in the fifth inning with two outs and nobody on base. The Mariners, at the time, led 3-0.
Seager stood in the box and asked umpire Brian O’Nora for time to gather himself. Weaver took exception to the delay. The two exchanged words before Weaver’s first pitch hit Seager in the arm.
O’Nora immediately ejected Weaver, while Seager remained in the game. Seager made no move toward the mound while being escorted by O’Nora to first base. But the two exchanged more words as Weaver left the field.
“He definitely started the conversation,” Seager said. “It definitely escalated, and he handled it the way he wanted to.
“I was surprised he hit me because if he hits me there, it’s pretty obvious what’s going to happen. He’s going to be out of the game. … I guess he was tired of pitching. He quit on his team.”
Weaver’s version is the Seager effectively signaled he was ready because he had both feet in the batter’s box, even though O’Nora granted the requested delay.
“It’s not when he’s ready,” Weaver said. “It’s when we’re both ready. When you’ve got both your feet in there, it means you’re ready to go.”
Weaver also denied throwing at Seager.
“I haven’t thrown two-seamers in to left-handers with good control in six months,” Weaver said. “I’ve hit more guys this year (11) than I have in my entire career. So control has not been as good as it has been.”
The Angels’ rotation, as it currently lines up, projects Weaver to face the Mariners again on Sept. 26 or Sept. 27 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.