Key Stats: The player they nicknamed Big Game comes away from the 2011 season finally haveing some luck on his side. He set career bests in ERA (2.82), Wins (16), strikeout % (23.1%) and opponents AVG (.215). He cut his ERA nearly in half from 2010 despite advanced ERA measurements that were similar from the year before (xFIP, SIERA). Shields finished in the Top 10 in all of baseball in ERA, IP, Complete Games, Shut Outs, Strike Outs and WHIP.
Skeptics Say: His BABIP was well below league average at a mere .258. He stranded a career best 79.6% of his baserunners (he is usually closer to 71%) and his BB rate went up a 5th straight year. 2011 was the only season he has ever posted an ERA under 3.00. Despite the BABIP, LOB%, and BB/9, the rest of his peripherals all point to a more "coming of age" moment than a lucky season. Mike Podhorzer points out that he was mixing his pitches better and didn't throw his fastball as much this season, showing he has developed more...
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