LOCAL WATCH: DREAM WEAVER TIGERS PITCHER CONTROLS 97-MPH HEAT IN THIRD YEAR.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Jeff Weaver has a complaint about Major League Baseball's return to an unbalanced schedule. Because of the format, Weaver and the rest of the Detroit Tigers make only one trip to Anaheim this season. That means Weaver gets one chance to pitch in front of his friends and family in his native Southern California.

Weaver acknowledged a group of approximately 50 supporters as he walked off the mound last weekend at Edison Field. He later spoke at length about his tendency to pitch his best in Southern California.

``You can't fail in front of your biggest critics,'' Weaver said.

However, the way the Simi Valley High graduate is developing, he soon could be a fan favorite wherever he pitches.

``He's going to be a good pitcher,'' Tigers manager Phil Garner said. ``I think people are going to start taking notice of him. He's good.''

Weaver is 3-4 in his third year in the majors, but that is for a sub-.500 team that usually provides him little run support. The 24-year-old right-hander has not lost in his past three starts - during which he has allowed a combined four earned runs - and steadily reduced his ERA to 3.72 after giving up eight and then six runs in two early outings.

Weaver is used to not getting much notice beyond those close to him. He received only honorable mention all-league honors as a senior in high school before blossoming at Fresno State, where he became a first-round draft pick in 1998. Weaver reached the majors a season later, but playing for a struggling organization left him trapped in a sense of obscurity.

He is a fierce competitor with an arm capable of maintaining pitching speeds in the mid-90s (he topped out at 97 mph on the radar gun last weekend), has good command and is learning to be more consistent with a delivery that gives him an excellent breaking ball.

Among his dominant performances was the start against Anaheim in which he shut down the heart of the Angels order and held them to two runs.

``When you've got Weaver's stuff - quality stuff - you get the ball where you want to, you can succeed against anyone,'' Garner said. ``And that's what he's done. He buckles down and gets his pitches where he wants to and gets good results.''

Weaver ranked eighth in the American League in fewest walks allowed last season when he went 11-15. His 12.2 baserunners allowed per nine innings were the league's seventh-best.

To get a record that reflects his ability, Weaver needs his team to score. He suffered from the fourth-lowest run support per nine innings in 2000. The Tigers haven't given him much to work with this year either; Detroit has scored more than three runs in just one of his four losses.

The more runs his team scores, the better Weaver seems to get, as was evident in the win against the Angels in which the Tigers scored 10 runs.

``Once you get some runs put up on the board, you feel pretty confident the game is in your hands,'' Weaver said. ``And when they keep pouring it on, it makes it that much easier. You feel like the game is yours and you aren't going to let it go.''

Weaver's ability to work deep into games also impresses the Tigers. He led the staff with 200 innings pitched last year.

``He doesn't just eat 'em up,'' Garner said. ``He pitches well during those innings. That's the thing about him, he's good.''

WEAVER FILE

Name: Jeff Weaver

Team: Detroit Tigers

Position: Pitcher

Age: 24

Local tie: Simi Valley High

Career highlights: Became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a complete game on opening day since 1989 when he did so against Minnesota this year. ... Led Detroit with 200 innings pitched in 2000 and was second on the team in wins (11), starts (30) and strikeouts (136). His 2.79 ERA ranked 10th in the American League. ... In 1999, became the quickest Tigers draft pick to reach the majors and set a club record for strikeouts by a rookie right-hander (114). ... Selected by the Tigers in the first round (14th overall) of the 1998 draft.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver, a Simi Valley High graduate, enjoys returning to Southern California to pitch in front of family and friends.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Box: WEAVER FILE (See text)