Spring training is right around the corner, so it’s as good a time as any to take a look at the 2012 Tampa Bay Rays. This is a talented team from top to bottom, and has as good a chance as any of making the playoffs. Each part in the series will focus on a key player – what they’ve done so far, and what they’re capable of doing in the future.
Coming off a down year in 2010, nobody knew what to expect from James Shields. In the past he’d proven to be a dependable arm in the rotation capable of going deep into games, but he struggled throughout the season. Most of James’ problems in 2010 were due to allowing too many hits and home runs, and it led to his embarrassing 5.18 ERA.
Well, in 2011 Shields was able to correct those problems, and the results were nothing short of incredible. Shields went 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA (3.42 FIP), striking out just over 8 batters an inning while earning 4.9 WAR. Even more impressive is that he did that while pitching ...
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