James Shields Shows Fatal Flaw of ‘The Trade’

Oct 26, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during game five of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The James Shields trade to the Kansas City Royals has been analyzed to death for nearly 2 years now. And, make no mistake, it’s clear that GM Dayton Moore’s judgement has been vindicated by the Royals playoff run.

More from Kansas City Royals

• This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
• The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
• DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
• 3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year
• LAST CHANCE to Claim $250 GUARANTEED Bonus With FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!

Yet, this World Series has demonstrated The Trade’s fatal flaw: James Shields is not an ace.

Shields is good. He eats innings. He takes the ball every start and gives you quality performance. Royals players and coaches insist he makes the entire team better with his attitude and leadership.

Who am I to doubt them? I’m not in the clubhouse. I will readily concede that the Royals would not be 2 home wins away from winning the World Series without James Shields.

Yet, Shields’ two head-to-head matchups with San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner has shown what Shields is not: a starting pitcher that will carry his team through the playoffs.

The difference is clear. Bumgarner has a 2.27 ERA in his playoff career, and has surrendered 1 run in his 4 World Series starts. James Shields is 3-6 in his career during the post-season, with an unsightly 5.46 ERA in 11 starts.

Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher James Shields before game three of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Sandy Koufax he is not.

Instead, it has been Kansas City’s dominant relief trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland that have loomed over every game in this World Series, and the Royals playoff run. The group known as HDH has forced opposing managers to accept that they are playing a 6-inning game against Kansas City. Let the Royals get a lead in the middle innings, and your team is probably cooked.

The threat of HDH has caused  opposing teams to change their tactics.

Now, Wade Davis did come to Kansas City along with Shields. But, Shields was the clear headliner, while Davis was thought to be a bottom of the rotation starter—not a lights-out reliever.  Davis moved to the pen because he could not hack it as a starter.

Herrera, Davis, and Holland have been so good, they are challenging the conventional baseball wisdom that it is dominant starting pitching that rules the post-season. Kansas City, at the very least, is showing that a flamethrowing pen can make up for the lack of dominant starters.

In short, if the Royals win the 2014 World Series, it will have been on the back of Herrera, Davis, and Holland—not James Shields.