JAWS and the 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot: James Shields

The next article is a part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing have a look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2024 Corridor of Fame poll. For an in depth introduction to this 12 months’s poll, and different candidates within the sequence, use the instrument above; an introduction to JAWS may be discovered right here. For a tentative schedule, see right here. All WAR figures discuss with the Baseball-Reference model until in any other case indicated.

On condition that he made only one All-Star staff in his 13-year main league profession (2006–13), and solely as soon as completed increased than eleventh within the Cy Younger Award voting, it’s robust to argue that James Shields was a star. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righty was a dependable, high-quality workhorse for many of his profession, totaling 200 or extra innings 10 instances and making 33 or extra begins 9 instances, 5 of which included an ERA+ of 110 or increased. He earned — or fairly borrowed from NBA legend James Worthy — the nickname “Massive Recreation James” for robust performances in high-profile spots, and whereas it wasn’t all the time apt, he was famend for his work ethic and competitiveness, considered as a participant who may mentor youthful pitchers and assist to rework the tradition of a staff. Shields helped each the 2008 Rays and 2014 Royals come out of nowhere to succeed in the World Sequence, and wound up on the middle of a few pivotal trades.

James Anthony Shields was born on December 20, 1981 in Newhall, California, simply north of Los Angeles. He was the youngest of three sons of Jack and Cindy Shields; the oldest, Jason, was the identical age as their cousin Aaron Rowand (b. 1977), the son of Cindy’s sister, and a future All-Star and Gold Glove winner throughout his 11-year main league profession (2001–11). As a baby, James would tag together with Jason, center brother Jeremy, and Rowand, enjoying no matter sport was in season, together with hockey and basketball in addition to baseball. He didn’t play journey baseball till he was 13 years previous.

Shields starred at William S. Hart Excessive College, the alma mater of 14 main leaguers together with a “tremendous six” who have been concurrently within the majors circa 2016; Trevor Bauer, Trevor Brown, Tyler Glasnow, Mike Montgomery (who would later be in a blockbuster involving Shields), and Pat Valaika have been the others in addition to Shields. By the point he was a sophomore, he was throwing 92 mph whereas additionally serving as a power-hitting first baseman. On the time, he threw a cutter and a “not-so-good” changeup as properly, a pitch he found whereas experimenting with completely different grips enjoying together with his brothers, and later honed into one which managers voted because the American League’s greatest 5 instances in Baseball America’s annual polling.

Hart Excessive was so dominant that in Shields’ junior season, 17 of the staff’s video games have been ended after 5 innings because of a mercy rule. Shields went 11-0 with a 2.35 ERA and .478 batting common that 12 months and was named the Los Angeles Occasions‘ Valley Participant of the 12 months and the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Part Division II Participant of the 12 months. As a senior, he helped the varsity win its first Foothills League Title.

Shields accepted a scholarship to Louisiana State, however when the Satan Rays selected him within the sixteenth spherical of the 2000 draft, he signed for a $262,500 bonus, although it took till mid-August for him to take action. Thus he didn’t begin his skilled profession till 2001, and solely after overcoming a minor shoulder damage that stored him in prolonged spring coaching. He posted a 2.55 ERA with 7.8 strikeouts per 9 in 98.2 innings at two A-level stops at Hudson Valley and Charleston. Sadly, he missed all of 2002 because of shoulder tendinitis and subsequent surgical procedure. Again in motion at Excessive-A Bakersfield in 2003, he pitched to a 4.45 ERA with 7.5 strikeouts per 9 in 143.2 innings, sporting down late within the season and scuffling with motivation.

That winter, Rowand — by this level three years into his main league profession, and about to interrupt out — pointedly advised that his cousin come prepare in Las Vegas, becoming a member of him for exercises earlier than dawn. “I used to be being type of lazy and simply attempting to let my expertise take over. And that wasn’t adequate,” Shields instructed the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales in 2008. Rowand instructed him, “I’m going to point out you the way massive leaguers actually work and easy methods to keep wholesome each season and do what it takes to achieve this recreation.”

“My coach received him on a program, and over the course of some years he went from not having a lot of a piece ethic to most likely having one of the best work ethic of anyone I’ve ever seen,” Rowand mentioned in 2016.

Shields wasn’t out of the woods but. Tagged for a 7.85 ERA in 4 begins at Double-A Montgomery in early 2004, he was sidelined once more by tendinitis after which demoted to Bakersfield. By the top of the next spring, the Satan Rays weren’t satisfied he was value a roster spot. “I keep in mind in 2005 I used to be really alleged to get launched,” Shields instructed The Athletic’s James Fegan in 2018. “I ended up not making a staff out of spring coaching and so they despatched me to prolonged [spring training].”

Shields didn’t cease working to enhance, and as soon as he received to pitch, he carried out properly, placing up a 2.80 ERA and eight.6 strikeouts per 9 in 109.1 innings at Montgomery, then made one begin at Triple-A Durham and put collectively a stellar displaying within the Arizona Fall League, the place his 1.74 ERA was the circuit’s second greatest. “Although not overpowering for a right-hander, Shields confirmed he has the general bundle to be a stable fourth starter within the massive leagues,” wrote Baseball America, which ranked him twelfth among the many Satan Rays’ prospects. “He has good run on his 89-92 mph fastball, and he controls and instructions it properly. His changeup is his greatest providing, possessing wonderful deception and fade… He makes use of the curve to vary planes on hitters, and his slider as a chase pitch down and away to right-handers. He must sharpen one of many breaking balls so as to have a stable third pitch.”

After a powerful 10-start run at Durham to start out the 2006 season, the 24-year-old received the decision from the Satan Rays, debuting within the majors with a five-inning, five-run efficiency towards the Orioles at Camden Yards on Could 31. Javy Lopez was his first strikeout sufferer, whereas 4 of the runs got here in his fifth and ultimate inning because the O’s batted round. Shields adopted up with a pair of scoreless six-inning outings towards the Angels and Royals, and the remainder of the season was full of such ups and downs, befitting a rookie on a 101-loss staff. He completed with a 4.84 ERA (95 ERA+) and 4.39 FIP.

Because of improved command, Shields minimize his stroll charge from 7% to 4.1% whereas boosting his strikeout charge from 19.3% to 21.1%. He lowered his ERA to three.85 (117 ERA+) whereas throwing 215 innings en route to five.5 WAR, a efficiency all of the extra spectacular on condition that the Satan Rays shut him down in mid-September given his workload.

The staff’s enchancment to 66-96 in 2007 may have hardly ready anybody for what got here subsequent. With the arrival of rookie third baseman Evan Longoria, a commerce that introduced shortstop Jason Bartlett and starter Matt Garza from the Twins, and upgrades to the protection and bullpen, the staff exorcised the “Satan” from its title and gained 97 video games and the AL East. Shields, who signed a four-year, $11.25 million extension earlier than the season, led the rotation, making his first of eight Opening Day begins and pitching to a 3.56 ERA (124 ERA+) in 33 begins totaling 215 innings, good for 3.9 WAR.

He had already acquired the nickname “Massive Recreation James” from his teammates by the point the postseason rolled round, although at Sports activities Illustrated, Joe Posnanski pointed to his brief resumé and the comparability to Worthy, MVP of the 1988 NBA Finals, and referred to as the borrowed moniker “probably the most inappropriate nickname in sports activities since Andre Rison determined, fairly bizarrely, to name himself Spiderman.” Regardless, Shields did get the ball within the openers of each the Division Sequence towards the White Sox and the ALCS towards the Crimson Sox and pitched fairly properly, yielding three runs in 6.1 innings within the former and two runs in 7.1 innings within the latter, although the Rays misplaced that one 2-0. Shields gave up 4 runs (three earned) in 5.2 innings in defeat in Recreation 6 of the ALCS, however the Rays knocked off the defending champions in seven. He delivered 5.2 innings of shutout work in Recreation 2 of the World Sequence, gathering the win — the primary in franchise historical past — however that was the one recreation through which Tampa Bay beat Philadelphia. Nonetheless, it was a formidable run by the upstarts.

Although he began on Opening Day and took the ball 33 instances for over 200 innings, Shields’ efficiency declined in every of the subsequent two seasons. He put up a 4.14 ERA (105 ERA+) in 2009, nevertheless it was 5.58 over his ultimate six begins. His ERA swelled to five.18 (75 ERA+) — together with 7.59 over his ultimate six begins — in 2010 whereas he allowed league-high totals of hits (246), earned runs (117) and homers (34). His FIPs in these two seasons have been simply 4.02 and 4.24; he was seared by a .344 BABIP within the latter 12 months. The Rays gained simply 84 video games in 2009 however have been again to 96 and a first-place end the subsequent 12 months. They made a rapid exit, shedding a five-game Division Sequence to the Rangers, with Shields lasting simply 4.1 innings and permitting 4 runs in Recreation 2.

Amid his tough season, Shields began the Massive Recreation James Membership, donating a set at Tropicana Subject to start a particular membership for foster kids and their households. He additionally started finding out biomechanics, realizing he wanted to do greater than strengthen his arm, to “[use] 100% of my physique to throw a baseball as a substitute of 40%,” as he instructed USA As we speak’s Mark Whicker. With the assistance of a private coach, he centered on ankle, knee, and core stability. The work paid off, as he turned in one of the best season of his profession in 2011, posting a 2.82 ERA (134 ERA+) with AL bests of 11 full video games and 4 shutouts. His 249.1 innings, 225 strikeouts, and 5.8 WAR all set profession highs and respectively ranked second, third, and sixth within the league. He made his lone All-Star staff, and positioned third within the AL Cy Younger voting behind Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver.

Shields got here up notably massive down the stretch in 2011, with a 2.43 ERA in 89 innings (!) over his ultimate 11 begins; the Rays went 8-3 in these, and 35-20 in August and September, ending with 91 wins and nabbing the AL Wild Card on the ultimate day of the season. Their postseason keep wasn’t lengthy, nevertheless. This time the Rangers dispatched them in 4 video games, with Shields giving up seven runs in 5 innings in Recreation 2.

After the season, the Rays exercised the primary of three membership choices in Shields’ contract, good for a $7.5 million wage in 2012. He turned in one other stable marketing campaign, however with a want to get youthful and cheaper and to satisfy a positional want, the Rays traded Shields (whose $10.25 million possibility that they had picked up), Wade Davis, and a participant to be named later (Elliot Johnson) to the Royals in alternate for Baseball America Participant of the 12 months Wil Myers and three different prospects (pitchers Montgomery and Jake Odorizzi, plus infielder Patrick Leonard). The transfer was one thing of a shock on condition that the Royals had simply accomplished their ninth straight shedding season and didn’t seem like in place to contend. However normal supervisor Dayton Moore felt the strain to win, and believed Shields was the appropriate man to herald as a pacesetter.

“We knew — our scouts, our analytics division knew — that James Shields wasn’t what he was two years (earlier),” Moore instructed The Athletic’s Andy McCullough in 2020. “However he would nonetheless be our No. 1 starter. We felt that he would deliver an perspective, a swagger, a toughness that we wanted on the time in our clubhouse.”

With Shields and one other commerce acquisition, Ervin Santana, solidifying their rotation, and Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer rising as productive regulars, the Royals gained a decent 86 video games in 2013, ending third within the AL Central. Shields did his half by posting a 3.15 ERA (131 ERA+) in a league-high 228.2 innings and rating ninth with a 4.7 WAR. Selecting up his $13.5 million possibility was a no brainer for the Royals, and he turned in one other robust season (3.21 ERA, 227 innings, 3.7 WAR). The Royals not solely gained 89 video games however made their first postseason since 1985, then beat the A’s, Angels, and Orioles, and got here inside 90 ft of sending Recreation 7 of the World Sequence into further innings towards the Giants.

For as thrilling a experience because it was, Shields was Inconsistent Outing James. He threw a pair of six-inning, two-run begins in Recreation 3 of the Division Sequence towards the Angels and Recreation 5 of the World Sequence towards the Giants, however in his different three outings — the Wild Card Recreation and the ALDS and ALCS openers — he yielded a mixed 13 runs in 13 innings and completed with a 6.12 ERA. That raised his profession mark to five.46 in 59.1 innings.

Shields reached free company that winter and landed a four-year, $75 million cope with the Padres. The staff hadn’t been to the playoffs since 2006, and new GM A.J. Preller sought to shake issues up, which he did by making a number of massive trades to amass the likes of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Derek Norris, Myers, and extra throughout that offseason. With the pitcher’s monitor report in thoughts, Preller hoped Shields may assist reshape the Padres’ tradition. Shortly after signing, Shields set a aim for the staff’s rotation to succeed in 1,000 innings.

They fell 54.2 innings brief in that division whereas the staff declined from 77 wins to 74. Shields led the workers with 202.1 innings and 215 strikeouts, however his 3.91 ERA equated to a 95 ERA+, and so just one starter (Tyson Ross) was higher than league common. Eleven begins into the 2016 season, lower than a month after he gave up the Second Shot Heard ‘Around the World (Bartolo Colon’s first and solely main league homer), and two days after Padres govt chairman Ron Fowler publicly referred to as him out, he was traded to the White Sox together with about $30.8 million to cowl a bit over half of his remaining wage. In alternate, the Padres obtained righty Erik Johnson and 17-year-old infielder Fernando Tatis Jr., who was only a few weeks away from making his skilled debut after signing for a $700,000 bonus on July 2, 2015.

The commerce turned out badly for Chicago, and never solely as a result of Tatis ultimately blossomed right into a star. The 34-year-old Shields’ efficiency collapsed; he served up 31 homers in simply 114.1 innings, with a 6.77 ERA, and completed with simply 181.2 innings, ending his nine-year streak of 200-inning seasons. In 2017, he missed two months because of a strained latissimus dorsi — remarkably, not solely his first journey to the injured checklist in his main league profession, however his first time lacking a begin — and managed only a 5.23 ERA, although a transfer to a decrease arm slot kind of on the fly in early August paid some dividends. In the meantime, the White Sox drooped from 84 losses to 95. They misplaced 100 video games in 2018, with Shields dutifully beginning on Opening Day and 32 extra instances for a complete of 204.2 innings, main the league with 16 losses however mentoring Carlos Rodón, Lucas Giolito, Dane Dunning and different younger hurlers.

Shields netted simply 0.4 WAR in 503.1 innings over the lifetime of that four-year deal, and so it was a straightforward name for the White Sox to show down his $16 million membership possibility for 2019. As a 37-year-old free agent, he went unsigned over the winter however reportedly threw for no less than 5 groups as soon as the season began. No deal materialized, nevertheless, and he by no means pitched once more.

On March 30, 2023, for the Rays’ residence opener, Shields threw out the primary pitch and formally retired as a member of the franchise that drafted and developed him. The Rays introduced that the suite he had donated, which had been renamed the Dwelling Run Membership after he was traded away in 2013, would revert to its unique title and goal.

Like everybody else within the one-and-done section of my poll sequence, Shields lacks the numbers for Cooperstown. However this isn’t about framing his case for election, it’s about recalling the mark he left on the sport. In his case, the workload stands out, notably at a time when starters’ innings are so restricted. On this millennium, solely two pitchers have totaled extra 200-inning seasons:

Amongst energetic pitchers, the one one who would possibly catch Shields is Gerrit Cole, who has six such seasons. After all, Shields most likely paid a value with these workloads, as he was executed at 37 and didn’t even attain 3,000 innings, which till lately was a benchmark for longevity. Nonetheless, Shields prioritized answering the bell and conserving his staff within the recreation for his lengthy as he may, attitudes that left a mark on his teammates.

“My no. 1 aim was outwork all people. I used to be all the time the primary one right here; I used to be all the time the final one to depart. I didn’t enable anyone to outwork me,” he instructed the Tampa Bay Occasions‘ Mark Topkin final April. “If that translated right into a profitable tradition or a unique tradition and other people, and it was contagious, nice. My aim was to win for this staff and win for this group and attempt to be as unselfish as I presumably can.”