EA Sports gave us an opportunity to interview Jered Weaver, pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and cover athlete for MVP 07 NCAA Baseball.

Operation Sports:  You have been able to be dominate in the Majors in just your first year. What makes you different from other rookies that have trouble pitching so consistently? Is there anything you do when things don't seem to go your way in a game?

Jered Weaver:  You know, just kind of step back and take some time and take a deep breathe, is kind of what I like to do.  Just slow things down, if I feel things are speeding up to much.  I like to step off, take a deep breathe.  You know, settle back down, get back on the mound and go back after it.

Operation Sports:  As you travel from city to city, how would you compare the atmosphere between the college game and the major leagues?

Jered Weaver:  The atmosphere of college, there is more like team comradery type thing.  You kind of get away from that when you go to pro ball.  Its not saying that it’s not team oriented, but there is a lot of guys that are in it for themselves.  And they kind of rely on what they do as far as their stats.  So college is definitely different in that regard.  

Operation Sports:  What stands out as the biggest obstacle when progressing through college to the majors.

Jered Weaver:  Just getting a routine down I think.  You know, just knowing your goals, and what you want to obtain, and going about your business to get to the next level, is huge. 

Operation Sports:  Who was your toughest out in college and now in the majors.

Jered Weaver:  Shane Costa in college, and now David Ortiz in the big leagues.  

Operation Sports:  Growing up, who was your favorite player and have you met him yet?

Jered Weaver:  Growing up, Roger Clemens was my favorite player, and I had the privilege to meet him, actually when my brother was with the Yankee’s.  Got a chance to meet him there, and then when I won the Roger Clemens award coming out of college, I had the chance to meet him there too.  That was something pretty special for me.  But nowadays, I’m looking at Jeff.  He’s pretty much who I look to for everything.  But definitely Roger Clemens growing up, was my favorite player.

Operation Sports:  How does it feel to be on the cover of a baseball game?

Jered Weaver:  Unbelievable, you know, you never expect it.  When I was growing up, when you see the big time guys on the videogames, and never think you are going to have the chance to do it.  And now looking over there, at the poster, it’s all realistic, and right there in front of me, and so it’s a very cool feeling that’s for sure.  

Operation Sports:  What kind of video gamer are you? Would you consider yourself a sports gamer or do you play a little of everything? What’s your favorite game?

Jered Weaver:  Yes I’m a gamer, I love playing video games.  My favorite games are NCAA Baseball, Tiger Woods, Gears of War, and Halo.

Operation Sports:  Did you help out in any areas of MVP 07 NCAA Baseball?

Jered Weaver:  Yeah, I put my pretty mug on the cover of the game.  

Operation Sports:  How do you like the new “Rock and Fire” pitching interface, do you feel that it is very realistic?

Jered Weaver:  Yeah, it’s the most realistic baseball game that I’ve ever played.  Having the Rock and Fire feature with the game now, adds more of a challenge.  It’s more realistic with regards to pitchers going through it and pitchers playing the game will know what I am talking about.  Just being able to set up hitters and throw different pitches and see the different approaches that hitters have.  The Rock and Fire really helps out in that regard.  

Operation Sports:  If there was one pitch you could master that isn’t in your arsenal, what would it be?

Jered Weaver:  The knuckleball.  Absolutely.

Operation Sports:  Can the Angels win it all this year?

Jered Weaver:  Absolutely.

Operation Sports:  Out of all the stadiums you’ve ever played in, which is your favorite?

Jered Weaver:  Boston.  Just the aura of it.  Just walking in, and knowing that Babe Ruth and everybody played here.  Boston and New York are the same thing practically, but I just like Boston, because of the green monster and they’ve been around forever.  It’s cool to go visit old parks like that.  I got the chance to see old Tigers stadium too.  Just really any old park is something, just cool to go see.

Operation Sports:  What does the training for a pitcher consist of? Is it mostly core strengthening, isometrics, plyometrics, weight training or something completely different?

Jered Weaver:  It’s all legs, core, back, shoulders, everything you can fit into one.  It’s like training to be a wide received in the NFL kind of thing, obviously not to that extent, but you’re just trying to keep your legs and hips healthy and in shape and obviously your core is huge for pitching.

Operation Sports:  We wish you the best of luck in the 2007 season and the rest of your career.

Jered Weaver:  Thanks, thanks for having me.