Rays select Shields as opening day starter

Mar 12, 2010 - 10:33 PM By FRED GOODALL AP Baseball Writer

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.(AP) -- Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields joked he's already told his wife that nothing is going to change his plans to be the Rays' opening-day starting pitcher.

Not even the expected birth of the couple's second daughter next month.

The Rays open the season at home against Baltimore on April 6 - four days before the baby's due date.

"We're going to play it by ear and kind of go with the flow, but I'm planning on making my start," Shields said Friday after manager Joe Maddon slated him for the assignment for a franchise-record third straight season.

The 28-year-old went 11-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 2009, pitching much better than his record suggests. Maddon said the right-hander deserves the honor because of the example he sets for the rest of the pitching staff - on and off the field.

"I feel as though he's earned the right to maintain that position," said Maddon, who made the announcement after Shields' scheduled exhibition start against the Philadelphia Phillies was canceled because of rain.

Instead, he threw four simulated innings indoors at the club's spring training complex.

"You look at his record and it could have been better, but he was pitching against a pretty good guy every time out," Maddon said.

"When you are the opening-day starter or the No. 1 pitcher in the rotation you are going to meet a lot of challenges. A guy like Shieldsy likes that idea, and I believe he can hold up to it."

Shields went 14-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 33 starts two years ago, helping the Rays make a surprising run to the World Series. His numbers suffered last season, in part, because of a lack of run support.

The right-hander made seven starts in which he allowed one earned run or less, yet only won two of them. In one of the losses he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, and wound up allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.

Nevertheless, Shields is one of just four pitchers who have worked 215 or more innings each of the past three seasons. CC Sabathia, Dan Haren and Roy Halladay are the others, and Shields' career 1.93 walks per nine innings ranks third among active pitchers with a minimum of 100 starts.

The eldest member of a young rotation that includes Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, David Price and likely either Wade Davis or Andy Sonnanstine, Shields is a leader by example.

Maddon lauded his attitude and work ethic.

"James in the beginning pretty much set himself apart from the pack based on how he went abut his business and his work and his prep work. All of that is being rewarded by this honor," the manager said.

"I think some of it is he did spend some time in the minor leagues and he did have to overcome injury to get here. Nothing was just handed to him. With that, he earned everything. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about the bad moments."

Garza will begin the season as the No. 2 starter. Maddon hasn't decided what order Niemann and Price will follow, and the No. 5 spot remains up for grabs.

Davis was one of three rookies, along with Niemann and Price, in the rotation during the final month of last season.

Shields relishes the opportunity to be No. 1.

"It means a lot. It shows how hard I've been working over the last couple of years," he said. "It's what every starter kind of strives for, to be that front-line guy ... is very special."