James Shields (baseball)

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays (2006 -present)

James Anthony Shields ( born December 20 1981 in Newhall (Santa Clarita, California)) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Career

Shields was drafted in 2000 in the Amateur Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He played his first game in MLB on 31 May 2006 against the Baltimore Orioles. In his rookie season with the Rays Shields played relatively inconspicuous. He finished the season with a win- loss of 6 to 8 and an ERA of 4.84.

In the 2007 season, Shields has developed into one of the most important pitcher in the rotation of the Rays Scott Kazmir next. He finished the season with a 12-8 with an ERA of 3.85 in 31 missions. With 184 strikeouts in 215 innings Shields was one of the best in its league. In the 2008 season he could still improve some values ​​, respectively ( 14-8, 3:56 ERA in 33 games ). 2009 Shields, however, was less successful with 11 victories in 12 defeats in 33 games.

In 2008, Shields signed a contract for seven seasons with the Rays, which can bring him up to 44 million U.S. $.

Because of the violation of the No. 1 pitcher, Scott Kazmir, Shields pitched the opening game of the 2008 season for the Rays.

Shields has been locked due to its role in a scuffle by the league for six games. With the game on June 5, 2008 against the Boston Red Sox Shields Coco Crisp hit with a hit by pitch. At the subsequent Charging the Mound Shields Crisp tried to miss a fist, but missed his target. Also Crisp tried to beat his opponent. As a result, all the players, managers and coaches stormed both teams on the court and there was a so-called " bench- clearing brawl ". Later Shields stated that he had tried to protect his teammates, and that he believed to do the right thing.

2008 World Series

Shields reached with the Rays, the 2008 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. In game 2 of the series Shields started and was able to record the win in a 4-2 victory of his team. It was the only success of the Rays, who lost the series with 1:4.

Personal

Shields lives between the seasons with his wife and his daughter Ashtyn Ryane in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Shields is a cousin of the outfielders Aaron Rowand, who is active with the San Francisco Giants.