MLB: Why James Shields Doesn’t Deserve Clutch Nickname

MLB won’t be calling him “Big Game James” anymore.

In a game pitched by James Shields, the San Francisco Giants easily took Game 1 of the 2014 World Series from the Kansas City Royals, beating them 7-1 on Tuesday night.

Shields, the Royals’ ace, was named the Game 1 starter because of his ability to handle the pressure of big game situations–hence the nickname “Big Game James.”

Or at least perceived ability.

Shields could muster only three innings against the Giants on Tuesday night, throwing 70 pitches and allowing five earned runs on seven hits–including a three-run jack by Hunter Pence in the first inning.

In all fairness, it’s worth mentioning that Shields did pass a painful kidney stone just days before his World Series start, but he himself admitted that he felt fine during his start on Tuesday night.

Shields’ dismal start in Game 1 of the World Series helped to inflate his postseason ERA, and more importantly, further solidify the fact that he’s overrated when it comes to the big stage.

It’s worth noting that Shields’ clutch nickname derives from his minor league teammates due to his love of James Worthy and the Los Angeles Lakers (according to David Schoenfield of ESPN.com), but we have to wonder why that nickname has stuck all these years, with Shields struggling in big situations.

ERA 
2.88 
8.31 
12.60 
7.11 
5.74   

Let’s examine. This postseason, Shields has played some of the worst baseball of his postseason career. While the Royals have in fact won three out of four playoff games that Shields has started, it’s Kansas City’s offense that has bailed him out.   The 32-year-old right-hander is pitching to a 7.11 ERA this postseason after last night’s debacle, and is averaging less than five innings pitched per start, not to mention opponents’ batting average against him.

Flash back to Shields’ 2011 postseason start for the Tampa Bay Rays–Game 2 of the AL Division series against the Texas Rangers–and you’ll again see Shields fail to live up to his clutch nickname.

Shields surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits and threw 100 pitches over just five innings. That would be his only start that playoff season, as the Rays didn’t make it past the Rangers in that series.

Then, there’s 2010, when Shields got the start in Game 2 of the AL Division series–also against Texas. Shields went a mere 4.1 innings and allowed four earned on four hits and was yanked after just 68 pitches.

Who’s still left defending Shields? Because your time is running out.

Shields is a fine regular season pitcher. For his career, he owns a 114-90 record with a 3.72 ERA and 7.66 K/9 mark, but his reputation as a big game pitcher is blown out of proportion.

His 2008 playoff campaign with Tampa was well-deserved of the nickname–a 2.88 ERA and 2-2 record–but those days are long gone.

Win or lose, Shields will hit the free agent market this winter looking to garner a hefty deal, but his lousy postseason play this year and in the four years past should ultimately be factored into whichever club opts to open their checkbook to the free agent pitcher.

Shields has been highly ineffective in his postseason career–especially here in 2014–and it’s time to disassociate the phrase “big game pitcher” with No. 33.