Another positive step for Shields in Chicago White Sox's loss
When he reported to spring training some two months ago, James Shields answered all of the obvious questions.
Most had the same theme - why were you so bad last season?
A proud athlete, and a proven winner over 11 major-league seasons, Shields took his lumps in 2016.
Between the Padres and the Chicago White Sox, the veteran right-hander had a nightmarish season.
Shields was 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts with San Diego before being traded to the Sox on June 4. In 22 starts with the White Sox, he was 4-12 with a 6.77 ERA.
What went wrong?
"I wish it could have been better," Shields said. "There's no doubt about it. I'm a competitor and I don't like to lose and I don't like to get hit around like that. Shocking? Not really. Sometimes those things happen, but unfortunately it happened too often.
"But this season, I'm feeling good. I've got a lot of confidence right now in my ability and what I did this off-season and I'm going to carry it on."
White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper had his own take on Shields' struggles last year.
"He was traded midseason, after getting hammered by the owner (Paul Fowler) out there," Cooper said. "It couldn't have been a great situation. He comes to a new team, with us, trying to impress, trying to really want to jump in there and help. He tried to do a lot more than he was capable of doing. He wasn't there."
Shields vowed to improve, and so far he's backing that up.
The White Sox lost to Cleveland on Tuesday, 2-1 in 10 innings, but Shields continued to look like his old self.
Taking the mound for the second time this season, Shields pitched 5⅓ innings and allowed 1 run on 2 hits to go with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Indians star Francisco Lindor hit a solo home run in the first inning but that was the extent of the damage.
Todd Frazier tied the game with his first homer of the season in the fifth inning, connecting against Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco.
The Indians walked it off with two outs in the 10th. Sox reliever Tommy Kahnle struck out the first two Cleveland hitters before walking Lindor. Michael Brantley followed with an opposite-field double to score Lindor.
In 2 starts this season, Shields has allowed 2 earned runs on 10⅔ innings (1.69 ERA).