#34 SCOT SHIELDS, Relief Pitcher (2001 - Present)
Post-2005 Ranking: 48 - Read our Scot Shields writeup.
Franchise Win Shares Rank: 39 (67 Regular Season Win Shares)
Highest Franchise Record Ranking: 2.93 ERA in 633+ IP is 3rd All Time; His 152 Adjusted ERA+ is 2nd All Time; 1.19 WHIP is 4th All Time; His 7.50 Hits per 9 IP is 5th All Time
Highest Single Season Ranking: His 78 Games in 2005 ranks 1st, his 74 in 2006 ranks 3rd and his 71 in 2007 ranks 5th.
Easily the greatest middle relief pitcher in Angels history -and a good argument for the title in baseball history- Scot Shields was overshadowed by Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez on the back end and by a stellar starting pitching staff on the other, but the lack of attention is mirrored by the paucity of pitches it takes him to quickly get through the 8th inning. Try this: leave to get a beer when he makes his first pitch, crack it in the kitchen and look at what else is in the fridge - you might miss his half of the 8th.
A great Angel with a few seasons left to possibly continue his climb on this list.
0 recs | 17 comments
My favorite recent Angel other than Tim Salmon
I remember Scot coming up through the Angels farm system and hearing glowing reports not only about his stuff but that he was an equally great person. He certainly had some great years and I loved watching him pitch.
He became my favorite Angel on the current team though when I took the son of on of my friends to a game since he was a huge Angels fan. He had just gotten a ball for his birthday or something but I made sure he understand he wasn’t going to get any autographs for sure. I was sure hoping that he would, and so we went down by the 3rd baseline before the game, and Shields signed autos for a good 20 minutes and he was so personable. My friend’s son a grin on his face that I just couldn’t describe.
Scot has also proven to be very loyal, you can tell he likes playing here and at least IMO he took less money than he could have gotten to stay here. He is also the player I end up defending the most. He has a couple bad stretches intermingled in between what has been (as the Rev mentioned) one of the best setup careers of All-Time and you still hear idiotic comments about his pitching. Anyone that says anything like Gas-Can Shields can go jump off a cliff for all I care. The same goes for anyone that booed Joe Saunders when he gave up 3 homers to the eventual AL champs when he entered the game in freaking June with a 2.63 ERA. I’m still embarrassed about that one for Angels fans.
MH252525 - February 17, 2009
If only the season ended in June.
PhiSlamma - February 17, 2009
Saunders?
After that start against TB his ERA only went to 3.17 on August 17th. He then had 2 bad starts against the Twins and the A’s which raised his ERA over half a run. But he rebounded to end the season by going 5-0 in September and at least to me looked like the Angels best starter in the postseason.
MH252525 - February 18, 2009
His bad stretch
coincided with KIDNEY STONES fro crryin in yer beer… Dude’s a stud.
Rev Halofan - February 18, 2009
I am a huge fan of Shields
Sometimes it borders on a man crush but I love Shields. He has been as dependable as a reliever can be for the last four years. He is one of the guys that is always hard to watch struggle cause you are so used to seeing him succeed. K-rod owes a lot to Shields
UCIHalo - February 17, 2009
4 years?
He has been really good every year since 2003. His worst year was 2007 – and that wasn’t awful.
His IP numbers are decreasing a lot though – probably just a statement on the depth and quality of the pitching staff now as opposed to 2003 and 2004.
He was more amazing when he was throwing over 100 innings in relief, but I’ll take what we get from Scot these days.
jimmuscomp - February 18, 2009
Absent his Chernobyls against the BoSox, the guy's damn good.
I don’t feel that I have to hit the EKG monitor as much as when K-Rod would take the hill. Still THE best mid in baseball.
PieceOfAase - February 17, 2009
Eh....
Marmol last year was far better. Joba is far better.
PhiSlamma - February 17, 2009
Yeah...
right now, he isn’t quite in their class, but let’s see if they can string together 6 seasons like Scot has…
In 2009, I take Marmol. From 2002-09 I take Shields.
jimmuscomp - February 18, 2009
Two seasons does not a great player make
Otherwise we’d be crowning Mighty Joe Charbonneau the greatest player who ever donned the spikes. Marmol and Joba have to put in the time to prove a level of consistency to be truly Shieldsian. I stand by my view of Shieldsy.
PieceOfAase - February 18, 2009
I gotta agree with you here
Last offseason there was a lot of talk about Putz being the man over Frankie and we all know how that turned out. Middle relievers are notoriously inconsistent year over year and Shields consistency is truly remarkable.
LosAngel - February 19, 2009
Scoty dooooooooooooooooooo
is the man
norcaliangelsfan - February 17, 2009
Team Player
Not many guys out there like Shields anymore. Gotta love the guy.
UpStream15 - February 18, 2009
There are precious few moments in a close game when I can relax
But, if the Angels have the lead, the eighth inning is always a pleasant experience.
Carl Johnson - February 18, 2009
Team Player
That’s what I love abotu Scot Shields. He will never have gaudy save numbers to get him into the HoF, but he’s been alights-out middle reliever for years and still has some time left. The guy is a beast and a great all-time Angel, and I’ve never heard him complain once. At the very least he belongs in the Angels’ Hall; he is a testament to a player putting hsi team before himself and going out to do his job every day.
Kernel - February 18, 2009
Very much agree with the first commenter
If you have ever sat in section 101, you know how friendly Shields is to the fans. Before games, he’ll stand there and talk people’s ears off. Really cool guy.
Higz - February 18, 2009
and he gives out AT LEAST one signed ball per game just prior to the first pitch.
Downing Rules - February 18, 2009
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