INSIDE PITCH

Posted on 2010 under Angels | Comments are off

23 Mar

The 2009 season was a painful one for Scot Shields. One of the most reliable relievers in the game over the previous three seasons, Shields was anything but in April and May. Trying to pitch through a partially torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Shields had a 1-3 record and 6.52 ERA in 20 appearances before admitting in late May that the pain in his knee was too much. He underwent season-ending surgery in June -- but still is not willing to let that explain his poor performance early last year. So manager Mike Scioscia does it for him. "All of it," Scioscia said when asked how much of Shields' problems early last season were attributable to his knee injury. "Everything he was trying to do was compromised by where his landing leg was injured. "It was everything." Nine months after the surgery, appears likely to be ready to go on opening day, teaming with free agent acquisition Fernando Rodney in a setup pyramid leading to closer Brian Fuentes. "We know what his talent is and what he can bring when he is healthy," Scioscia said. "We're going to need that." Shields will need to re-establish his health and reliability in order to secure his future. The 34-year-old right-hander (the last player from their 2002 World Series team still with the Angels) is in the final year of his contract. "If I wasn't on track, I'd say, yeah, (I'm worried about my contract status)," Shields said. "But I am on track and I'm not worried about being able to come back. The only thing you can do is go out and pitch."