When the Kansas City Royals traded for James Shields two offseasons ago, they gave up minor league outfielder Wil Myers, among the top prospects in baseball in the process. The premise was that "Big Game" James would be the veteran leader that a young team could rally around, and that presence was worth the several extra years of control they had for Myers.
It's hard to say the trade hasn't worked out. The Royals improved drastically last season, barely missing the playoffs; this season, they are in the World Series, and have an 8-1 record in the postseason. They even got Wade Davis from the Rays, a failed starter who has become an integral part of Kansas City's rock-solid bullpen.
They've won these games largely in spite of Shields though, who dropped Game 1 on Tuesday night. He lasted just three innings in the World Series opener, giving up five earned runs on seven hits.
Prior to being battered by the Giants, Shields' ERA in the 2014 playoffs was an unsightly 5.63-he had given up 10 runs in 15 innings of work, and allowed opponents to bat .309 against him.
Shields' postseason issues go beyond 2014 too, leaving many to wonder just why his nickname is "Big Game" James. His career postseason ERA is 5.19, compared to a regular season ERA of 3.72. The gap can't be brushed aside as the product of a small sample size either, as Shields has logged 53.1 postseason innings now.
In 10 postseason starts, Shields has lasted fewer than six innings seven times and surrendered fewer than three runs just three times. After Tuesday night's loss Shields said, "It just wasn't my night tonight."
Unfortunately for the Royals, and before them the Rays, he's said that quite often following playoff starts. Until now it hasn't bitten the Royals, but if they can avoid a sweep Shields should get a crack at redemption in Game 5.
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