James Shields got torched again today... Is this the norm?

by JT12340 on Jun 20, 2007 8:17 PM EDT

Or do you guys think this is an abberation based upon the first 13 starts of this season. I figured the bubble would eventually burst, but I didn't think that he'd get lit up like this.

Let me know your thoughts as to how you perceive his performance to be the rest of the season....

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yep!

his last 2 starts are the norm,
a 9 era and 1.5 whip,
he's somehow regressed past last year,
his rookie year.

was he going to continue pushing near the top in the cy young race? probably not.
but he's still a very good 3 and solid 2 regardless of whats happened lately.

by god allah star on Jun 20, 2007 8:34 PM EDT reply actions

its not often

that you give up two three run homers. If those are both solo blasts he just had himself another great game most likely.

by wildthang on Jun 20, 2007 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

People have off nights

Happens to everyone. Sure, everyone knows Shields was pitching over his head but he will probably have a nice 3.75ish ERA the rest of the way and win about 12 games

by dlpme77 on Jun 20, 2007 8:41 PM EDT reply actions

I think these are just two bad outings.

Before today, his last outing was at Colorado, so I pretty much ignore all games there.

So far in June, he has 20 K's and only 2 walks in 25.1 innings. So, his K/BB has been great.

IMO His big problem has been homers. He's allowed 7 so far in those 25.1 innings. But, he's only allowed 1 double in those innings, if you ignore his Colorado start. (He allowed 2 at Colorado.)

by omambiyick on Jun 20, 2007 9:22 PM EDT reply actions

Shields

He completely sucks. I think you should trade him for Jeff Weaver.

by GregJP on Jun 20, 2007 9:57 PM EDT reply actions

I love getting answers from tools, like you...

you might as well go troll other sites with that garbage attitude of yours...

Lincecum is the truth!

by JT12340 on Jun 21, 2007 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions

mmm

sarcasm?

by playingwithfire on Jun 21, 2007 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Shields

is a poor man's Germano.

by LipstickOnDipstick on Jun 21, 2007 2:58 AM EDT reply actions

To a large extent I believe that the league is adjusting to him similar to what happened last year. He relies a lot on deception and there is only so long you can dominate with it. The increase in HRs are showing this. That said, he's got enough tools to settle in as a solid #3 type starter.

by pakdawgie on Jun 21, 2007 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

that makes zero sense

adjusting to him? the two bad starts to which you refer were against NL teams. how is adjustment relevant? that makes no sense.
increase in home runs? 7 home runs in April; 2 in May; 7 in June. Granted there's one start left in June, but basically except for May he's been susceptible to the long ball all year, but has remained effective.
the premise of this thread is moronic. He hasn't been getting torched: he had one poor start in Coors, which is virtually to be expected, and gave up the 2 dingers yesterday in AZ. He still has great overall numbers, a 20/2 K/BB ratio in June (89/19 overall), and really it's kind of bizarre that there's some sort of irrational Shields hatred on this board. In May he also had one poor start and there was also an immediate thread started about how this was the real Shields.

I don't what the future holds, but the past says Shields is a damn good pitcher and one poor start in AZ doesn't lead me to think differently. I do know one thing, though, if he has a good start agaisnt the White Sox next time I'm not going to start a thread proclaiming his greatness...would make as little sense as this thread.

by scooter on Jun 21, 2007 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Adjusting

Nowadays with all games televised and the widespread use of analyzing pitcher's every tendency, it really doesn't matter that it was 2 NL teams that made the adjustments. The bottom line is that he relies mainly on deception and I just don't see him continuing to dominate. The declining strike-out rate and the ununsually low BABIP indicate to me that an adjustment is imminent.

It's also interesting that a lot of folks (Baseball America, Keith Law) keep indicating that he is has a low ceiling.

by pakdawgie on Jun 21, 2007 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Shields

I'm going to have to disagree with the commenter who said last night's start was a good one other than the homers being 3-run shots rather than solos. Giving up 10 hits in 5 innings is bad any way you slice it. I don't care if you walk zero.

Shields was pitching over his head earlier this season. He's not a 1.00 WHIP pitcher. Few are. His best seasons he'll probably be between 1.20 and 1.28. He's always going to give up dinger. With his K/9 that makes him an Aaron Harang type pitcher. The good starts will out number the bad but there will certainly be bad starts.

sig: Karim Garcia posted dominant AAA stats at 19. So can we stop acting like ARL trumps all in every discussion...

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jun 21, 2007 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

Homer-prone

Shields is a somewhat homer-prone pitcher, so it's not coincidental that he got lit up while playing in two of the three most homer-friendly ballparks in the game.

Vice-Chairman of the Sonnanstine Underground Railroad

by Brickhaus on Jun 21, 2007 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

Yes

I said the exact same thing that he would become a three starter and was pitching over his head before these two starts and got BLASTED! Now look what's happening.

Check out MVN.com/mlb-braves for the best Braves coverage

by was385 on Jun 21, 2007 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with the downturn,

however, I think he's going to settle in as a #3 starter. I think he has a meddling ceiling like Law mentions (as was mentioned in an earlier post), but at the same time, I think Shields is a smart enough pitcher to get by on guile and location. His stuff isn't anything special, but his change up has been getting a lot of publicity.

What's everyone's opinion about his repettiore?

Lincecum is the truth!

by JT12340 on Jun 21, 2007 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

lmao

Some of you are outrageous.

Tim Lincecum is a future #3 then too?

You can't adjust to a 80 pitch. PERIOD. END OF STORY.

He gave up a few bombs, he's given up bombs all year. If he gives up too many hits, those will be multi-run homers. If he doesn't, then he's working with 1 or 2 ER per game. On average, that will likely result in an ERA under or around 4.

It's as simple as that. The rest of you need to get a clue.

Rays in '08.... Free Andy Sonnanstine.

by youALREADYknow on Jun 21, 2007 9:00 PM EDT reply actions