Scot Shields

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Scot Shields
position=Relief pitcher
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=62
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|7|22
birthplace=city-state|Fort Lauderdale|Florida
debutdate=May 26
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Anaheim Angels
statyear=August 17, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=44-37
stat3label=Earned run average
stat3value=2.94
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=564
teams=
*Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2001-present)

Robert Scot Shields (born July 22, 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with whom he has spent his entire career, serving as their setup man since mlby|2005.

Minor League Career

He graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School and attended Lincoln Memorial University while majoring in Health. He was drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in the 38th round (1137th overall) of the by|1997 draft.

He began his career as a reliever in 1997 with the Single-A Boise, earning a 7-2 record with two saves and a 2.94 ERA. The next year, he moved to Single-A Cedar Rapids, compiling a 6-5 record, seven saves and a 3.65 ERA. In by|1999, he split his time as a starter and a reliever at High-A Lake Elsinore, gaining a 10-3 record with a 2.52 ERA and one save. In nine starts, he pitched two complete games and one shutout. For his efforts that year, he was named Angels Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He was promoted to Triple-A Edmonton in by|2000, where he struggled with a 7-13 record and a 5.41 ERA.

Major League Career

Though he started the by|2001 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Shields was called up to the major Leagues on May 25, making his debut against Tampa Bay on May 26, pitching one-plus innings and allowing one hit and one walk. He was optioned back to Salt Lake, but was recalled on June 27. In eight relief appearances with the Angels, Shields allowed eight hits and seven walks before being optioned back to Salt Lake, where he stayed for the remainder of the season.

Though he began by|2002 with the Bees, Shields was recalled to the major leagues on June 14, this time for good. In his final 38 relief appearances, he allowed only seven earned runs, only allowing opponents a .176 average, the best in the league. He also started for the club on September 27 against the Seattle Mariners, receiving a no-decision and allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out two.

Shields has been a fixture in the Angels bullpen since that mlby|2002 campaign. He was a member of the 2002 World Series Champion team, but did not fare well in the postseason--he allowed 2 home runs in 1 2/3 innings in Game 5 of the Series, his only appearance in the playoffs that year.

Shields began mlby|2003, his first full year in the bigs, in the bullpen. He posted a 1.68 ERA, working at least three innings twelve times. He led the American League with 69.2 innings of relief before moving into the Angels' starting rotation on April 26 versus the Boston Red Sox. As a starter, Shields was 4-6 with a 3.89 ERA, pitching at least seven innings in six of his thirteen starts. He ended the season with a 5-6 record and a 2.85 ERA.

For the mlby|2004 campaign, Shields returned to the Angels bullpen. He pitched 22 consecutive shutout innings from May 9 to June 11, and worked three scoreless innings five times during the season. With fellow reliever Francisco Rodríguez, he was part of the first pair of relievers to post 100 strikeouts in one season since mlby|1997, and was third in the American League in strikeouts with 109. In the post-season that year, he struggled in two appearances during the ALDS, pitching three innings and allowing two earned runs with a 6.00 ERA.

When Rodríguez replaced veteran Troy Percival as the Angels' closer in mlby|2005, Shields emerged as the club's trusted setup man, pitching the eighth inning as the bridge to Francisco. In this capacity, he led the American League with 91.2 innings of relief pitching, and ranked second with 98 strikeouts and 32 holds. When Francisco was placed on the disabled list from May 15 to May 31, Shields stood in as the club's closer, earning five saves in six save opportunities. Overall, Shields posted a 10-11 record with a 2.75 ERA.

Shields represented the United States in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the only member of the Angels to play for the USA squad. Shields finished the mlby|2006 season with a 7-7 record, an ERA of 2.87 and 84 strikeouts. He led the league in holds with 31, and was second among American League relief pitchers in innings pitched with 87.2 innings.

On June 21, mlby|2008, Shields became one of a select group of pitchers to pitch 4 strikeouts in one inning.

Pitches and Abilities

Shields is currently the setup man for the Angels, holding the lead if necessary in the 7th and 8th innings until the Angels go to closer Francisco Rodríguez.

He is highly prized not only for the quality of his performance, but for his versatility. In his career with the Angels, he has served as a starter, long reliever, middle reliever, setup man, and closer, depending on the needs of the team at the time. Shields is known to have a "rubber arm," meaning he has excellent endurance and does not need to ice his arm after pitching. During college, he once pitched a game of 16 innings, throwing 261 pitches. He throws a hard, sinking fastball that clocks anywhere between 92-99 MPH, and a slurve.

Personal life

Shields resides in Northville, Michigan, during the off-season with his wife, Jaimie Hill Shields and two daughters, Kayla and Ella.

Shields is known for talking to fans during ball games. A Miami Heat fan, he will sometimes wear a Shaquille O'Neal (now with the Phoenix Suns) jersey during interviews.

External links