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What Has Happened to James Shields?

16
Vote

by Romiezzo

I know a lot of people are going to say "Who cares?" or "It's because he's on the Devil Rays," but I feel that someone should get some recognition, rather than having every minute of baseball on ESPN dealing with either Barry Bonds, the Red Sox or the Yankees.

...This one's for you Manny!! :)

What the heck has happened to James Shields? He did so well as a pitcher during the first two months in the 2007 season, and now, his ERA went from 3.91 to 4.44 in one day!! He got clobbered by the Yankees, as he surrendered 10 runs, and got credited for the loss, as the Yankees beat the D-Rays in a landslide victory 21-4.

Many people could be surprised, but James Shields WAS a good pitcher. At one point, he was 3-0, with a 2.94 ERA. About 20 days later, he was 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA, which is pretty darn good. I was surprised that no one has been talking about him at all this season. Unfortunately, he probably won't be talked about anymore due to the fact that he is 8-6 and a 4.44 ERA. 8-6 isn't GOD AWFUL, but because he's on the DRays, no one will. He is also 6th in the American League in strikeouts (he has more than guys like Justin Verlander, Josh Beckett, Jeremy Bonderman, and John Lackey). He is also 7th in WHIP, which is better than guys like C.C. Sabathia, Kelvim Escobar, Justin Verlander, Fausto Carmona, and Chien-Ming Wang.

I guess being on a team with the worst winning percentage really is overlooked by a baseball community, doesn't it? I hope people can look at him now as another Scott Kazmir, because, in my opinion, I think he's a good, young pitcher, who has the potential of doing even better numbers than Kaz.


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ChristofMVP
860 days ago
Score -2+-
Who?
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Awrigh01All-Star
860 days ago
Score 0+-
I think teams figured him out. Now, shields needs to adjust to maintain his dominance.
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RomiezzoLegend
860 days ago
Score 2+-
If only, I'd like to see Tampa Bay get out of last place for only the second time in their franchise.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Romie, when they get there... it will be to stay for a long while! The young talent is developing nicely and more talent is coming soon!
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RomiezzoLegend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
I like change. I think the Devil Rays just need some experience, and a couple more good pitchers for the bullpen, and possibly some talent. They got some good starting pitching (excluding Edwin Jackson) and they're relying on their farm system. There are a lot of young players on the Devil Rays that I'm sure some good teams want to get a hold of. Carl Crawford, Kaz, Shields, Upton. They have some good players, they just need to get it together. I'm sure they'll do good in a couple more years.
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Niteowl049AAA-er
860 days ago
Score 1+-
Shields has lost 6 of his last 8 decisions. Who would have thought that Edwin Jackson 2-9 would be the only Rays pitcher to beat the Yankees in the last series?
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RomiezzoLegend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
I know. Tell me about it. EDWIN FRIGGIN JACKSON!!
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JuTMSY4Legend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
He plays for the Devil Rays!
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
He challenges hitters too much. He is a very headstrong and confident individual and he wins the majority of his battles, but he goes AT too many guys perhaps? Of course, the bullpen has absolutley crushed his confidence - He gave up a couple bombs in Colorado and then got touched up in his next start in Arizona in June and hasn't really come back to full form since.

Him and Kazmir are both headed for WELL over 220 IP this season.

Shields has a mid 90's fastball, a definite "plus" curve and has confidence with his slider and change at any count.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 1+-
The more appropriate question about the Rays is "How 'bout that Delmon Young?"
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JuTMSY4Legend
860 days ago
Score -1+-
he does have the bat flip down...
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Kwitt11Varsity Captain
860 days ago
Score 1+-
Kazmir's thrown 125 innings this season in the D-Rays' 98 games, putting him on pace for about 207 IP. Still high, but not "well over 220".
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
220 was a typo, it was supposed to be '200'... 220 is not a number of significance.
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DNLLegend
860 days ago
Score 3+-
He gives up way too many fly balls. Fly balls against good hitters tend to become home runs. He has given up 23 this year, most in the AL, and averages almost 1.3 per 9 IP. He is also Aaron Rowand's cousin, so, maybe he expects his outfielders to run into walls for him, or something.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
1.3 per 9m isn't bad (especially for a Rays pitcher)

Don't discount pitching coach Jim Hickey's eye surgery as having some effect on Shields.

He's still what? 25, 26? Lots of time to get back on track.
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RomiezzoLegend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Nice info, Dan.
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DNLLegend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Yeah, he's not beyond saving :) Look, he's thrown about 270 career IP and given up 41 bombs. That's about 35 over a full season (210 IP), which is high at best. The name I keep seeing is Eric Milton. You'd not be surprised to see Milton go 6-0 with a stellar ERA, only to finish at 13-11 with an ERA of 4.50.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Eric Milton throws powder puffs compared to Shields A guyplaying in Tampa(x) with the name (panty) Shields - is this only funny to me?
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Twins15Varsity Captain
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Milton was a pretty solid pitcher for the Twins early in his career... certainly a nice guy to have. Of course, he sucks now, but he was good once. As a Twins fan, those are the days I prefer to remember of him. :)
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
BIG difference between Kazmir and Shields. That's why they compliment each other so well. Kaz is not, I repeat, not a big dude (he doesn't look like he can do what he does) and Shields is a prototypical big righty with a hard overhand curve. From what I've seen from Jamie Shields is a very confident, talented kid and strong clubhouse presence/leadership. But he needs to take some knocks or have a Battle tested Vet around to take some pressure off him.
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 1+-
When you lead the league in HRs allowed, it usually means you faced a lot of hitters (or your name is Jose Lima) Look at the All-Time HRs Allowed list sometime, it's exclusive
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JuTMSY4Legend
860 days ago
Score 1+-
Lima time! I love how Jamie Moyer is 7th on that list...what's it like to be a crafty lefthander who is lucky to touch 85 once a game...
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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
860 days ago
Score 0+-
It's all about how many innings you throw. You gotta be good enough to have the opportunity to give up an all-time amount of something.
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Twins15Varsity Captain
860 days ago
Score 0+-
For example Cy Young, the all-time MLB leader in losses.
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Twins15Varsity Captain
860 days ago
Score 1+-
He's coming back to normal a little bit... his hit race was a bit flukey through the early part of the year, which is why the ERA was down. Now that it is getting back to normal the other numbers are coming back to normal. He's still really solid though... his peripherals are pretty solid. He's got a nice K rate and strikes out about 5 times as many batters as he walked. As mentioned the HR rate is a little high but the other numbers look pretty nice.
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RomiezzoLegend
860 days ago
Score 0+-
After surrendering 10 runs, are you thinking that he's coming back to normal in a bad way?
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Twins15Varsity Captain
860 days ago
Score 0+-
Pretty much... his numbers were a little out of whack when the ERA was down at like 3... that was a bit extreme, but I'm assuming his numbers will probably stay at around what they are right now... ERA at like 4 or slightly higher.
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Orioles1818Waterboy
860 days ago
Score 0+-
He remembered that he was James Shields...
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Yakob878MVP
860 days ago
Score 1+-
he is a talented rookie and is on a young team you do the math
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Angels FanJV Squad
859 days ago
Score 0+-
I agree. His early success was not necessarily a fluke, but his current struggles are not necessarily either. I think the 10 runs he gave up to the Yanks IS an aberration. I think the fact that the DRays have gone 5-14 in July and have the worst record in the majors has something to say about how good his 8-6 record really is. Shields and Kazmir are the only pitchers on the team with winning records and he's really only had 4 bad starts. On any other team, he'd be viewed positively with that record. I think it will be a test of his willpower to get past the 10 runs he gave up on Monday.
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