71 days ’til Opening Day

We’re 71 days away until that best day of the year, Opening Day.

71 is also the number of games that Scot Shields pitched in 2007, amazingly, his lowest total in three years. From 2005-2006 Shields was dominant, clearly establishing himself as one of the best set-up men in the league. In 2007, he became human again.

2004: 3.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 105. 3 IP, 109 K, 40 BB
2005: 2.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 91.7 IP, 98 K, 37 BB
2006: 2.87 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 87.7 IP, 84 K, 24 BB
2007: 3.86 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 77 IP, 77 K, 33 BB

Was 2007 just a down year, is Shields getting worn down from overuse, did he just get unlucky or were 2005 and 2006 his peak?

Shields is 32 years old, so he’s not exactly over-the-hill, but he’s no young guy anymore either. I’m encouraged by the high strikeout total, but his walk rate did go up significantly in 2007.

I’d like to think Shields will still be an effective, good reliever, but I’m willing to say that he might not repeat his 2005 and 2006 performances again.