Shields Has Protected the Angels All Season

Angel reliever Brendan Donnelly doesn’t remember details from the game Scot Shields started for triple-A Salt Lake in early June of 2002, just that Shields threw about 100 pitches. What he does remember vividly is what happened the next day, when the Stingers were loosening up, getting ready for batting practice.

“We came out, we’re playing long toss, and he threw a ball from home plate over the center-field wall,” Donnelly said of Shields, an Angel middle reliever. “That guy’s a freak of nature.”

A super freak, as far as the Angels are concerned.

On a staff that includes Bartolo Colon, who is 13-4 since July, Kelvim Escobar, who has a rotation-low 3.93 earned-run average and a five-pitch repertoire, setup man Francisco Rodriguez, who has been one of baseball’s most dominant relievers, and closer Troy Percival, who has 316 saves, Manager Mike Scioscia has anointed Shields his most valuable pitcher.

“He’s allowed us to keep all of our bullpen roles intact because he’s filled so many roles,” Scioscia said of Shields, who is 8-2 with a 3.33 earned-run average and 109 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings, ranking first among American League relievers in innings and third in strikeouts.

“He has the potential to be a starter, but he also has the potential to be an impact reliever or closer, and that’s an incredibly important role to have.”

With Donnelly missing the first 2 1/2 months of the season because of complications stemming from a broken nose and a sore elbow, and Percival missing most of June because of elbow problems, Shields was the primary setup man for Rodriguez, the fill-in closer, in the first half.

Shields, 29, also closed on the nights Rodriguez wasn’t available and had four saves. But when the bullpen returned to full strength in early July, Shields went back to his original middle relief role, pitching anywhere from the fifth through eighth innings for a bullpen that is considered among baseball’s best heading into the AL division series against the Boston Red Sox.

Shields’ fastball touches 94 mph with a lot of late movement, he has an excellent slider, and whether it’s his wiry 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame or simply genetics, he has one of the most resilient arms in baseball.

After throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings and 38 pitches against the New York Yankees on May 11, he came back and threw a scoreless inning and 20 pitches the next day. After throwing two scoreless innings and 18 pitches against Texas last Tuesday, he bounced back and threw two scoreless innings and 31 pitches the next night. His 105 1/3 innings have come in 60 games.

“Every pitcher is jealous of him because he’s able to throw every day without doing much on the side,” Donnelly said. “We call him the Human Tendon.”

A starting pitcher for three minor league seasons before arriving in Anaheim for good in 2002, Shields has held opposing batters to a .238 average this season and left-handers to a .235 mark, important for a bullpen with no left-handed relievers.

Shields would like to return to the rotation someday, and he wouldn’t mind a more prominent bullpen role, but he realizes he has had a huge impact on the Angel bullpen and the team’s run to the American League West championship.

“I’m more valuable in the role I’m in -- you’re going to get the most out of me where I’m at,” Shields said. “In the bullpen, I can throw three innings one day and come back the next day and throw one or two. I’d like to start, but I know I’m better suited to the bullpen, and that’s fine with me.”

The rotation is where the big money in baseball is, but Shields, who is making $375,000 in his third big league season, is encouraged by some of the multi-million-dollar deals non-closing relievers such as Paul Quantrill have received in recent years.

“The two-inning guys are getting more and more important,” Shields said. “They’re starting to be more of a focal point.”

Much like Shields is in the eyes of his manager.

“I don’t think [Scioscia’s MVP claim] is absolutely true -- what would we do without the guy next to me?” Shields said, motioning toward Rodriguez. “It’s a whole bullpen effort. We’ve fed off each other all season, and that’s what makes our bullpen great.”