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James Shields News & Rumors

Rays pick up Shields' option; Price opts for arbitration
November 1
Tampa Tribune
 
"As expected, the Tampa Bay Rays picked up the 2012 club options Monday on pitchers James Shields and Kyle Farnsworth and declined the option on catcher Kelly Shoppach. "James and Kyle played very large roles in our postseason run and are ready to help lead us back there in 2012," executive vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman said. "Kelly was a significant asset defensively this year and played extremely well down the stretch, but in looking to bolster the catching position this winter, we felt it necessary to assess all of the options available to us." Also, as expected, pitcher David Price officially opted out of his 2012 contract and will take his first dip into arbitration this"
Rays pickup options on Shields, Farnsworth but not Shoppach
November 1
Tampa Tribune
 
"As expected, the Rays picked up the options on James Shields and Kyle Farnsworth and declined the option on Kelly Shoppach, paying the catcher a $300,000 buyout. "I'm glad the waiting is over," Shields said. "I had a feeling they were going to pick it up, but it's good to know." Shields, whose career-season included a career-high 16 wins, a major league-leading 11 complete games and four shutouts, tied for the most in the AL, will make $7.5 million in 2012."
James Shields: "I believe I'm going to be back"
October 28
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields, speaking on 620-WDAE Thursday afternoon, sounded hopeful the Rays will pick up his $7.5 million option for the 2012 season. Teams are likely to announce picking up options following the World Series. Tampa Bay can buy out Shields for $2 million. "I believe I'm going to be back next year, and I think (executive VP Andrew) Friedman feels the same way," Shields said. "Obviously there's a lot of offseason to go. As far as my opinion, I believe I'm going to be back. But it's a business and you never know what's going to happen. As far as I'm concerned, I want to be back, I definitely want to be part of the team.""
Expect C.J. Wilson, James Shields finale in Game 5
October 3
Dallas Morning News
 
"August was a month of concern, and September was 30 days of panic. Did you really think the Rays would allow you to breathe easier in October? C'mon, these guys don't play that way. The Rangers? They've had a 12-game winning streak. The Tigers have, too. The Rays are lucky if they go 12 days without a crisis. It is, in part, what you love about this team. It is the Rays' pluck. It is their lack of fear. It is the way they play baseball on a high wire above a pool of sharks."
Surplus of pitching has Rays sitting pretty
September 9
Tampa Tribune
 
"Much to their delight, the Rays are challenging the baseball maxim that you can never have too much pitching. Tampa Bay's impressive starting staff at the major-league level is backed by some of baseball's top minor-league prospects, providing the organization with a strong comfort level moving forward. "I'm very proud of what our starters have accomplished this season," said pitching coach Jim Hickey. "There's a good, positive rivalry between them that drives all of them to be their best. James Shields strikes out 13 guys one day and then David Price gets 14, so he gets to stand on the top step for awhile. They each support one another so well. There are other places, and I've been to a"
Rays victorious against Rangers in 5-1 win
September 6
Tampa Tribune
 
"How well has James Shields pitched this season? Evan Longoria has an answer. "If we were any better offensively the whole year he'd probably have 20 wins by now," Longoria said. Shields was at it again Monday, firing another complete-game in the Rays 5-1 victory against the Rangers in front of a Labor Day crowd of 13,130. Shields, who has a major league-best 11 complete games, became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 1999 to throw that many complete games in the major leagues and the first since Scott Erickson in 1998 to throw that many for an American League team. Getting old, right? "It definitely doesn't feel routine for me," Shields said. "I'm definitely as excited about this"
Shields, Rays down Rangers, 4-1
September 1
Tampa Tribune
 
"There were hits Wednesday. Not a lot, but enough. Throw in a walk with the bases loaded and another home run from Johnny Damon and the Tampa Bay Rays did what manager Joe Maddon talked about after Tuesday loss and before Wednesday's game – find a way to score. The rest of the night belonged to James Shields, who continued his streak of impressive performances by throwing eight innings in the Rays' 4-1 victory against Texas at the Rangers Ballpark. With the Yankees losing to the Red Sox in Boston, the Rays now trail the wild-card leaders by 7.5 games with 27 games to play in the regular season. Shields, who pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning and recorded his"
Shields, Niemann make history in split with Red Sox
August 17
Tampa Tribune
 
"Sean Rodriguez hit into a triple play Tuesday night, but a Ray has hit into a triple play before. Ben Zobrist stole home, but that too has been done before by someone wearing a Tampa Bay Rays jersey. But a pair of complete games by two Tampa Bay pitchers in the same day? Slow down, brother, you are traveling through uncharted territory. James Shields and Jeff Niemann tossed a pair of three-hitters during the day/night doubleheader with the Red Sox at Fenway Park, but the Rays could only gain a split as the Red Sox won the first game 3-1 and the Rays bounced back for a 6-2 win at night. "That's awesome," Niemann said. "I was here early and saw him throw his and he threw great. One pitch got"
Rays starter James Shields bummed he misses out on facing Yankees
August 15
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields was disappointed Sunday's game was rained out because he had been pitching well overall, especially his past two starts against the Yankees, and felt the Rays had a good chance to win the series. "I was ready to go," Shields said. "I feel really good right now, and I wanted to face these guys." His consolation prize is to start Tuesday's opener in the day-night doubleheader in Boston (where he is 1-7, 7.71 in eight starts) as the Rays remixed their rotation after the postponement. Shields will replace RHP Wade Davis, who was bumped back to Friday's home game against Seattle. RHP Jeff Niemann, who is 5-0, 1.65 in his past seven starts, will work Tuesday's nightcap, and LHP"
Rays notes: Rainout means Shields starts Tuesday at Boston
August 15
Tampa Tribune
 
"Sunday's game with the New York Yankees was rained out just before 11 a.m., meaning the Tampa Bay Rays got an earlier start on their train ride to Boston and, once again, another shuffle to the pitching rotation. RHP James Shields, Sunday's scheduled starter, now will pitch Tuesday afternoon at Fenway Park in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. RHP Wade Davis, who was scheduled to start Tuesday afternoon, has been pushed back to Friday when the Rays open a homestand against the Mariners. RHP Jeff Niemann will pitch Tuesday's night game. LHP David Price is still set for Wednesday afternoon. "We don't want to skip (Shields and Price), and Niemann has been kind of the hot hand lately,"
Shields pitches eighth complete game as Tampa Bay Rays beat Kansas City Royals 4-0
August 10
St. Petersburg Times
 
"James Shields had plenty to be pleased with in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Royals. He threw his major league-leading eighth complete game and fourth shutout, picked up his 11th win, and with the game lasting 1 hour and 53 minutes — shortest for nine innings in team history — he had a chance to get home to Clearwater in time to tuck his two daughters into bed. But there was the one thing that left him shaking his head: the fourth-inning stolen base by rookie Eric Hosmer that was the first against him all season. "I was kicking myself in the butt there," he said. Everybody else — figuratively, anyway — was slapping Shields on the butt in congratulations for another outstanding effort before a"
Shields blanks Royals in six-hitter
August 10
Tampa Tribune
 
"The ninth inning is pure adrenaline. No time to be fancy. Just reach back, throw the ball, get outs. That is how you finish a complete game, James Shields said Tuesday. He would know. Shields, whose goal this season was to throw one complete game, tossed his major league-leading eighth Tuesday when he and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Royals 4-0 in front of 10,124 at Tropicana Field. At 1 hour, 53 minutes, it was the quickest nine-inning game in Rays history. "I think a few guys started looking up at the clock and wondering if there was a stadium malfunction," Johnny Damon said. It was the fourth shutout for Shields, which ties him with Derek Holland of Texas for the most in the American"
Rays starter James Shields superb coming off poor start
August 4
St. Petersburg Times
 
"For all the things that went right for the Rays in Wednesday's 9-1 win, from the successful bunts to big homers, manager Joe Maddon made sure one key aspect wasn't overlooked. "It all happens because you get a great performance by your starting pitcher," he said. RHP James Shields delivered another strong outing, allowing one run and three hits over 71/3 innings and bouncing back nicely from the worst start of his season one week earlier (10 runs, 12 hits in Oakland). Shields said he made some adjustments during his between-starts bullpen session, making his delivery more compact so that he could keep the ball down more effectively. "I think in the first inning, I was just a little amped"
Shields, Rays hammer Blue Jays
August 4
Tampa Tribune
 
"Believe it or not, the bunt is part of the Tampa Bay Rays offense. "It's about opportunity," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, "and the situation has to be set properly." The situation was set properly Wednesday night during the second inning against the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays' corner infielders were playing back so the Rays bunted. And bunted. And bunted again. Sort of like a mini version of the Green Bay Packers old Power Sweep, the Rays ran the same play three times and it worked, leading to the first of two big innings as the Rays beat the Jays 9-1 in front of 11,803 at Tropicana Field to maintain their hold on third place in the American League East standings. Ben Zobrist homered again,"
Shields eager to make up for season's worst start
August 3
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Having an extra couple of days to stew over his last start — the worst of his All-Star season — hasn't sat well with RHP James Shields. "I've been itching to get back out there since that day," Shields said. "I'm ready to go." Shields tied a career worst by allowing 10 runs on 12 hits over four innings in Oakland last Wednesday. Knowing how competitive Shields is, manager Joe Maddon said he's eager to see how he bounces back tonight against the Blue Jays. "He's been pretty focused since then," Maddon said. "He's been abnormally quiet, so I know he's not pleased." Shields said he threw a good bullpen session a few days ago and has things ironed out. He has had success against the Jays,"
Shields is still adjusting to six-man rotation
August 3
Tampa Tribune
 
"Rays RHP James Shields does not like his team's six-man rotation. It is easy to understand why. He had one of his worst career outings last week against Oakland. Shields gave up 10 runs, 12 hits, two home runs and walked two batters during a 13-4 loss. He also allowed nine runs in the fourth inning (career high for one inning) and it was the third time in his career he gave up 10 runs in a game. Shields (9-9, 3.03 ERA) pitches against Toronto tonight, marking the first time he has been on the mound since July 27. Needless to say, Shields is eager for redemption. "I've had six or seven says to reflect on what I did last game, but I've been itching to get back out there since the next day,""
Rays decide against trading Upton, Shields
August 1
Tampa Tribune
 
"CF B.J. Upton stopped what he was doing Sunday afternoon, which was playing catch on the field with 3B Evan Longoria before the game, and watched the Safeco Field clock reach 1 p.m., which on the West Coast was the deadline for non-waiver trades. Upton, still in uniform, still in the lineup, raised his hands over his head and yelled, "Word. I'm still here." They all were, RHP James Shields, RHP Jeff Niemann, RHP Wade Davis, DH Johnny Damon and anyone else mentioned in the slew of trade rumors the past two weeks. "I'm just glad it's over with," Upton said. "That's probably the most nerve-wracking two weeks I ever had. I've always said I want to be here. I grew up playing with these guys, a"
Shields shelled; Rays drubbed by A's, 13-4
July 28
Tampa Tribune
 
"There was a time not too long ago when this road trip to Kansas City and the West Coast was seen as a bit of a breather for the Rays, a chance to recharge their batteries against three of the weaker teams in the American League. Ha. Was that wishful thinking. Instead, this trip has erased all hope of the 2010 American League East champions returning the postseason. James Shields, the best pitcher on the staff, was hammered Wednesday night by the A's. The offense was a no-show against Trevor Cahill. Final score: A's 13, Rays 4. Ouch. "We're in one of those unlucky moments and we have to keep pushing until we turn it around," manager Joe Maddon said after the Rays lost their third straight"
Goodbyes are part of the game in Tampa
July 24
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Jeff Passan
"There are certain things, baseball players are taught, that are part of the game. Injuries, for example. Whenever a rash of them hits a team, someone in the clubhouse moans: "Just part of the game." And slumps. Hitters, pitchers, doesn't really matter. Everyone, at one point or another, goes through a slump. The best rationale? "All part of the game." July's chic part of the game is trade rumors, though for those wearing a Tampa Bay Rays uniform, it's much more than that. It's part of the Rays' life cycle. Arrive young. Succeed. Get expensive. Find your named bandied about radio airwaves, flung every which way on the boob tube and pingponged around the Web. Leave. As of now, no one is sure"
Shields, Rays win pitching duel with Yankees
July 22
Tampa Tribune
 
"James Shields walked into the Tampa Bay Rays' clubhouse Thursday afternoon dressed for business in a light gray tailored suit and tie. "It's getaway day," he said six hours later. "I always wear a suit." But he wore this stoic look that said he was ready for a big night. "I always feel that way," he said. Yes, but he was facing the New York Yankees. "I really wanted to beat those guys," he said. And so he did. Shields turned in another sparkling performance, took advantage of what little offense the Rays could muster against CC Sabathia and led them to a 2-1 victory in front of 29,279, the third-largest Tropicana Field crowd of the season. They picked a good one, too, a matchup of"
Rays' Shields gets just enough support to beat CC Sabathia and Yankees 2-1
July 22
St. Petersburg Times
 
"After watching James Shields outduel CC Sabathia in pitching the Rays to an important 2-1 win over the Yankees on Thursday night, manager Joe Maddon was quick with his answer to the pressing question of the veteran right-hander possibly being traded: "I really don't see him going anywhere," Maddon said. Besides, after perusing the box score, Maddon had a question of his own. "You look at his record, 9-8. How is that possible?" Maddon said. "How is that possible? You see Sabathia 14-5; that's what Shieldsy's record should look like." The reason is obvious, given the Rays' often-anemic offense. And that's what made Thursday's win, before an enthusiastic 29,279 at Tropicana Field, even more"
Jocketty ready to buy before Trade Deadline
July 21
MLB.com
 
"Many of the recent trade rumors about the Reds could possibly be false, but there is no disputing the fact that Reds general manager Walt Jocketty is in a buyer's mentality as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline closes in. "Oh yeah, definitely," Jocketty said. "We would like to improve our club since it's easier to do before the 31st. There is some urgency -- but not tremendous urgency. I still have a lot of confidence that we're good enough to win, but if there is a chance to upgrade the club, we would try to pursue it." Of course, this immediately begs the question -- who might the Reds be pursuing? The two leading names linked to the club in various reports have been pitchers Ubaldo"
Shields has no interest in being traded by Rays
July 21
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields would seem unlikely to be traded. He is not only one of the Rays' best starters, but also the leader of the staff, and not overly expensive next season even with a $7-million option. But if Shields were to be dealt, and the Reds and Cardinals are among those said to be interested, tonight would be his last start at the Trop. And after spending six seasons with the Rays, and 12 in the organization, and making his home in Clearwater, that's not an appealing thought. "I want to play here," Shields said. "I want to be here. This has been my home for my whole career. I haven't really thought about it, to be honest with you. I love this town. I want to be here. And I think we"
The Reds are interested in James Shields
July 20
Hardball Talk
 
"Buster Olney tweeted this morning that the Reds are interested in James Shields. The Rays may be receptive too, given that Tampa Bay scouts have been evaluating Reds minor leaguers this week. It would be a pretty good time for the Rays to trade Shields. He's been fantastic this year, logging seven complete games so far, and showing once again that he is a total workhorse."
Red Sox batter Shields, Rays, even series
July 17
Tampa Tribune
 
"The runs kept coming Saturday as the Tampa Bay Rays offense picked up where it left off after Friday's win against the Red Sox. This time it was three in the first inning, and with James Shields pitching, well, the Rays liked their chances of making it two straight against the American League East leaders. "We were feeling great going into the second inning," right fielder Matt Joyce said. "Put up three runs with Shields on the mound, we're like, 'You know what? We got this. Just throw up some more runs, hold them down and we'll be fine.' It just didn't go our way. Shoot, they're a good team." Turns out Shields wasn't fine, and neither were the Rays. The Red Sox had the lead by the third"
Rays pitcher James Shields seeks to pick up where he left off
July 16
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields will have a tough time topping his last start against the Red Sox, a complete-game shutout June 14, when he faces them today. But as is the case with Shields' first half of the season, in which he threw seven complete games and made his first All-Star team, he doesn't believe he needs to change much. "I'm going to try to build on what's going on," Shields said. "We're going to try to start this second off right, and there's no better way to start the second half than playing the guys you're trying to beat." Though Shields didn't pitch in the All-Star Game, he said the experience was "everything I thought it was going to be," a fun time, even with two-time All-Star LHP"
James Shields of Tampa Bay Rays had to grind way to All-Star Game
July 10
St. Petersburg Times
 columnist John Romano
"Some destinies are obvious. Some ballplayers are that blessed. The left-handers. The flamethrowers. The guys stamped early with greatness and viewed forever with anticipation. These are your first-round draft picks. Your Baseball America darlings. These are the majority of the players who will line the field during introductions at the All-Star Game on Tuesday evening. Then there is James Shields. The self-made All-Star. The blue-collar millionaire. The guy who saw 465 players selected ahead of him in the 2000 draft, and the guy who missed an entire minor-league season with a shoulder injury. The guy left off all of Tampa Bay's minor-league rosters in 2005, and the guy who took a step"
Matt Joyce, David Price, James Shields named to AL All-Star team
July 4
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Driving to Tropicana Field on Sunday morning, James Shields was fairly confident he would be named to the American League team for next week's All-Star Game. David Price had heard enough chatter in the past few days to have a pretty good sense he would be joining him. But Matt Joyce? "Wasn't even on my mind," the Tampa native said. Instead, Joyce was deep in thought working out the details to spend the All-Star break with fiancee Randi Jones at a buddy's beachfront condo, maybe snagging an invite for an afternoon on teammate John Jaso's boat. But Joyce has other plans now, elected to make his first All-Star appearance since his days in the North Brandon Little League. "I'm so pumped,""
Rays' Price, Shields, Joyce named to All-Star team
July 4
Tampa Tribune
 
"Rays outfielder Matt Joyce said he wasn't even thinking about the All-Star game selections when he arrived at Tropicana Field on Sunday morning. That changed quickly when Rays manager Joe Maddon entered the training room. "It was fun telling him," Maddon said. "I'm not even sure he heard me at first." Joyce, a graduate of Armwood High, will be part of a three-player Rays contingent for the July 12 All-Star game at Chase Field in Phoenix. Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers, the American League manager, selected Rays starting pitchers James Shields and David Price. Joyce was voted in by the players. Joyce and Shields made their first All-Star team. Price was the starting pitcher in last"
Rays' Price, Shields, Joyce named to All-Star team
July 3
Tampa Tribune
 
"Three members of the Tampa Bay Rays have been named to the American League All Star team today: pitchers James Shields and David Price and outfielder Matt Joyce. Today's announcement came somewhat as a surprise, as speculation had been that Shields might be the only Rays player selected for the July 12 All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. "It's pretty impressive,'' Rays Manager Joe Maddon said. "All three make sense. All three are deserving.'' Additionally, infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist is among five players who are contending for the American League team's final spot in a vote by the fans. For Joyce and Shields, it is the first All-Star Game selection. Price was last year's"
Shields overcame bumps in the road
July 3
Tampa Tribune
 
"The news is expected to come sometime this morning. James Shields, author of a major league-best six complete game wins and an American League-high three shutouts, is headed to his first All-Star Game. It will be happy news for sure, as Shields continues his remarkable comeback from a poor 2010 season. Shields, who takes seriously his role on the pitching staff and the legacy he is building during his 11 years in the organization — 11 years! — will look back on all the steps that led to this one, including the bad, which he calls "bumps in the road." There was the right shoulder surgery that robbed him off his 2002 season, and the environment he found when he finally reached the big"
James Shields loses complete-game streak in otherwise solid start
June 30
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields may not have gone the distance Wednesday, snapping his spectacular streak of three compete games. But he was far from disappointed, having delivered another strong performance, allowing four runs and striking out 10 in a hard-luck loss to the Reds. "I think (Wednesday), I had a couple innings where I threw about 20 pitches," Shields said. "That kind of killed me a little bit. I threw seven strong, that's my goal, to go seven to nine and try to get a quality start. Unfortunately I was one pitch away from a quality start, but I hung in there." Shields (8-5), who walked two in a 104-pitch performance, made a few mistakes, including a hanging curveball that Ryan Hanigan"
Shields' good, just not good enough
June 30
Tampa Tribune
 
"Tampa Bay Rays RHP James Shields' impressive streak of consecutive complete games ended at three Wednesday, though not without another strong performance. Shields struck out 10 in seven quality innings against Cincinnati, but it came in a losing effort as the Reds defeated the Rays, 4-3, in the rubber-game of a three-game series at Tropicana Field. "I threw seven strong. That's my goal, to go seven to nine and to try and get a quality start," said Shields, who went at least seven innings for the 15th time in 17 starts this season. "Unfortunately I was one pitch away from a quality start." The biggest mistake Shields made came with two on and two out in the fourth. He hung a 2-1 curveball"
Shields delivers for Rays, offense doesn't against Reds
June 30
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Tampa Bay Rays reached the midpoint of the season Wednesday, playing a game that has been all too familiar during the first half — pretty good pitching, not enough hitting. The result was a 4-3 loss to the Reds in which the Rays mustered only five hits and wasted a 10-strikeout performance by James Shields, who made one bad pitch and fell two innings shy of throwing his fourth straight complete game. Naturally, the game was played at Tropicana Field, where the good-pitch, poor-hit theme has taken root. The loss dropped the Rays' record under the dome to 19-20 as opposed to a major league-best 26-16 on the road. And yet, after 81 games, they are 45-36 (third best in club history at this"
Schedule means James Shields is unlikely to pitch in All-Star Game
June 26
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields has pitched himself into position to make the American League All-Star team. But the Rays' plans will leave him in a position where he won't be able to pitch in the July 12 game. Manager Joe Maddon confirmed that Shields is scheduled to start the Rays' final game before the break, July 10 at Yankee Stadium. Under MLB rules, pitchers who work that day can be named to the team but are ineligible to pitch and are replaced on the active roster. "It appears to be his day as of right now," Maddon said. "The Rays are much more important. … We have set this thing up for a while." Shields said he was okay with the plan, which also has him in line to face the Red Sox and Yankees"
Shields pitches sixth complete game as Rays defeat Astros 5-1
June 25
St. Petersburg Times
 
"James Shields was actually soaked with sweat, so much so that his jersey was a darker shade of gray than his pants. But if not for that proof, it would have been hard to tell if he had broken one as effortlessly as he dispatched the Astros in Friday night's 5-1 win on the way to his third consecutive complete game and majors-leading sixth of the season. "He rolled through that lineup pretty good," said third baseman Evan Longoria, who supplied much of the support. "And that's a big-league lineup. "It shouldn't look that easy." But Shields made it that way, allowing only three hits, striking out nine and using only 106 pitches. "What do you want me to say?" catcher Kelly Shoppach said."
Shields dominant again as Rays drop Astros
June 25
Tampa Tribune
 
"Well, James Shields did say he wanted to throw some complete games this year for the Tampa Bay Rays. But six before July? And three in a row? Come on, James, you're making this look way too easy. "It's kind of surreal right now," Shields said. "I've never done that before in my career. I don't think I ever done that in high school and those were seven-inning games. It's awesome. This is great. This is a good time right now." The good times continued to roll Friday night at Minute Maid Park, where Shields threw his major league-leading sixth complete game and became just the fifth pitcher in the last five years to throw complete-game victories in three straight starts when he dominated the"
James Shields shares AL player of the week, hopes for All-Star berth
June 21
St. Petersburg Times
 
"RHP James Shields was honored to get a share of a second American League player of the week award after his pair of complete games, but it's become clear the true reward he's seeking for his stellar start is a spot on the AL All-Star team. "If I get picked it would be a really, really big honor for me," Shields said. "That's one of the things that I've strived for, is to be able to make an All-Star team in my career. And if that happens I would definitely be happy about it." The next issue, though, would be whether he'd be available to pitch. The Rays are again tweaking their rotation, and there is a decent possibility Shields will pitch the final game before the break, July 10 at New"
James Shields' complete game lifts Rays to 2-1 win over Marlins
June 20
St. Petersburg Times
 
"There have been a lot of ways the Rays have described right-hander James "Complete Game" Shields during his remarkable bounceback season. "Dominant," Evan Longoria said. "Lights out," said Sam Fuld. "Up there with the elite," Casey Kotchman said. And after Shields delivered another spectacular performance Sunday, tying a club record with his major league-best fifth complete game of the season in a 2-1 sweep-clinching win over the Marlins, manager Joe Maddon said he's deserving of another moniker. "If that does not put him in the All-Star Game, I don't know what does," Maddon said. "Five complete games before the All-Star break, that doesn't happen every year. It's the way he's done it,"
Shields pitches shutout as Tampa Bay Rays end Boston Red Sox's nine-game winning streak 4-0
June 15
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Getting the chocolate whipped cream, applied oh-so-expertly by David Price in a postgame facial, out of his eyes and ears was about the only thing James Shields really had trouble with Tuesday night. Otherwise, Shields pretty much had his way, shutting down and shutting out the red-hot Red Sox and returning Carl Crawford with a five-hit complete game to lead the Rays to a 4-0 victory. "That was one of my better games, that's for sure," Shields said. "No doubt about it as far as the magnitude goes." It was Shields' major league-leading third shutout and American League-high fourth complete game in his remarkable bounce-back season and furthered his bid for a spot on the All-Star team with a"
Rays, Shields shut out Crawford, Red Sox
June 15
Tampa Tribune
 
"Forget the long road trip and everything that happened over the course of those 13 days, good or bad. Forget the record at home this season, which has been very un-Trop-like. The Red Sox were in town, and the sight of those Boston jerseys has a way of getting the Tampa Bay Rays' attention. So what if the Red Sox were the hottest team in baseball, and big deal if Boston Carl Crawford was starting to look like Tampa Bay Carl Crawford. None of that mattered Tuesday. What did matter was James Shields was as good as he's ever been, and Justin Ruggiano, the Rays' third left fielder this season, is playing like an All-Star. That combination was good enough to produce a 4-0 victory in front of"
Shields ties club strikeout record in three-hit shutout as Tampa Bay Rays beat Florida Marlins 4-0
May 23
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The dominant three-hit complete game was the third, and the most impressive, of his thus-far remarkable bounceback season, and the second with nary a run. The 13 strikeouts were one more than he'd ever had in 161 big-league starts and matched the team record, and the 126 pitches the most he'd thrown in a game at any level. But what James Shields — naturally — was most pleased about in the Rays' 4-0 sweep-avoiding Sunday win over the Marlins was the hard ground ball he hit to third that was misplayed by Greg Dobbs and knocked in Tampa Bay's first run. "I definitely liked the rib-eye," Shields said. "That was real nice. It got me going, got me the lead. And that's all I needed." As much as"
Shields shuts down Marlins in 4-0 win
May 23
Tampa Tribune
 
"Nothing about the Rays this season has been more remarkable than the improvement of James Shields. The pitcher who earned three consecutive opening-day starts from 2008-10, but lost his edge last season, pitched his third complete game and second shutout Sunday, a three-hitter to lead the Rays to a 4-0 victory against the Marlins. Shields (5-2, 2.00 ERA) set a career-high with 13 strikeouts and threw a career-high 126 pitches to stop the Rays' three-game losing streak and help them stay within percentage points of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Rays had lost six of eight but now begin a three-game series at Detroit tonight with positive momentum. "We were in a little skid"
Rays' Shields named AL Player of the Week
April 26
Tampa Tribune
 
"James Shields was named the American League Player of the Week today after throwing a pair of complete game victories last week. Shields beat the White Sox 2-1 on April 19 and the Blue Jays 2-0 on Sunday in Toronto. He allowed four hits in both games and struck out a combined 16 batters. Sunday was Shields' first shutout since May 9, 2008 when he blanked the Angels at the Trop. Shields joined Rolando Arrojo (1998) and Albie Lopez (2000) as the only pitchers in team history to toss complete-game victories in back-to-back starts. Sunday was the seventh complete game and third complete-game shutout of his career"
Shields pitches second straight complete game in 2-0 win
April 25
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The ritual started in Boston a couple of weeks ago, and they'd kept it pretty much within the clubhouse. But Sunday was worthy of going public. James Shields had just finished off a stunning second straight complete game victory in the Rays' 2-0 win over the Blue Jays, and when David Price ran out on the field Shields greeted him with the now obligatory full-bore, full bear hug. "It was a good one; he picked me up off the ground today," Price said. "I don't care. When you throw a complete game shutout, you can do whatever you want out there." And why not, since for the second straight game, Shields pretty much did what he wanted on the mound. He held the Jays to four hits and struck out"
James Shields pitches four-hitter as Tampa Bay Rays beat Chicago White Sox 2-1
April 20
St. Petersburg Times
 
"James Shields had been handling the pitching part pretty well heading into the ninth inning Tuesday night. And if he'd only taken a minute to talk with Dwayne Roloson when a half-dozen Lightning players came by the Trop on Saturday, he might not have been in the predicament he suddenly was: the chance for a victory, and a complete game at that, on the brink, the tying run on second and White Sox sluggers Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko looming. "After being the worst hockey goalie in baseball and having the ball go through my five hole," Shields said, "I definitely needed to battle through those two guys." Shields completed the job, striking out Dunn on three pitches and Konerko on five —"
Shields tosses gem as Rays outlast White Sox
April 20
Tampa Tribune
 
"So there was Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields on the mound in the ninth inning Tuesday with the tying run on second, one out and two of the biggest mashers in the Chicago White Sox lineup waiting to bat. That was exactly where Shields wanted to be, although he could have done without speedy Juan Pierre on second, especially since Pierre got there on an infield single that went through Shields' legs and a sacrifice bunt. Anyway, the game was on the line and it was still Shields' game. "I wanted it real bad," Shields said. "I told Joe (Maddon) in spring training one of my main goals was to get a complete game this year. I think there were a lot of games last year when I was taken out. I"
Boston rain moves Shields' start to tonight vs. Twins
April 14
Tampa Tribune
 
"Tampa Bay starter James Shields left a rainy Fenway Park on Tuesday night with a pretty good idea he wasn't going to be pitching there the following evening. The heavy rain that washed out Wednesday night's Rays-Red Sox game began falling the night before and continued through Wednesday, proving forecasters right. So, while trying to maintain his focus on the Red Sox just in case the weather took a turn for the better Wednesday, Shields began looking ahead for tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins, which kicks off an eight-game homestand that includes four games next week with the White Sox. Shields, in the friendly confines of Tropicana Field, will finally take the mound tonight. "I"
James Shields believes he can rebound from down 2010
March 25
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The explanations for James Shields' rough 2010 season span from bad pitching to bad luck with some poor mechanics and pitch selection along the way. With a career-high 15 losses, 5.18 ERA and an AL-most and team-record 34 home runs allowed, there is a lot to talk about. Shields' version is it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked, more a matter of a couple of pitches in a couple of innings over a couple of games that inflated the numbers. "If you take away three or four of my games," the right-hander said, "I've got a sub-4 ERA and no one's really talking about it." There's something to that, although his math might be a bit off — given the six-homer debacle in Toronto, a"