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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"They would be getting a workhorse, an established big league pitcher." Will Myers said of Shields on Saturday. "He has been a leader on both teams he's been on ... I would be excited to get him. He's a great pitcher."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
— Royals.com
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FACT OF THE DAY
Royals.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: Who else was in the running for James Shields' pitching services?
A: The Cubs
THE MORNING BREW
James Shields signs to San Diego Padres
There was no doubt around the league that the Royals wouldn't be able to hold onto their starting pitcher for another year following an AL Pennant and subsequent World Series run. With so much anticipation surrounding his next move, it came as no surprise when James Shields signed with the San Diego Padres two days ago for four years and $75 million.
Shields did for the Royals exactly what he was needed to do: He brought leadership, confidence and excitement to a team that had missed the playoffs for 27 years straight prior to his much-needed arrival. Dayton Moore's big gamble paid off for both parties.
When the Royals sent Will Myers and Jake Odorizzi to the Rays in exchange for Shields and right-handed pitcher Wade Davis, Royals faithful were angry and confused.
put into the role of starting pitcher, and went 8-11 with a 5.32 ERA. The Royals missed the playoffs again, and wit-nessed Will Myers earn AL Rookie of the Year. Fans were calling for Dayton Moore's head and understandably so.
The Royals administration held strong with Dayton Moore's plan, and during this past season, the Royals started to win consistently. Shields proved to be a solid starting pitcher, going 14-8
During the 2013 season, Shields went
13-9 with a solid 3.15 ERA. Davis was
with an 2.21 ERA, according to ESPN.com. Wade Davis then became part of the trio of pitchers (Davis-Herrara-Holland) that could finish any batting order off with a lead that it faced.
The Royals slipped into the playoffs with a wild card, and stunned the Athletics. They
swept the Angels and Orioles to make it into the World Series, where they eventually lost to the Giants. In two short years, the gamble paid off and Dayton Moore's risky move proved to be genius.
Shields didn't pitch well in the post-season, but he didn't pitch poorly either. He posted a 5.85, according to ESPN.com. He did lose both games he started in the World Series, but they were against MVP Madison Bumgarner. He remained level headed and poised, and continued to keep his young team positive as they pushed it all the way to Game Seven.
What shields and do was earn himself big money. In just two years with the Royals pitching staff, he showed that he could be a leader, he could help young pitchers develop the confidence
they were missing, and more importantly, that he could be the face of a team that makes the World Series.
San Diego made another good decision this off-season, as they also acquired Will Myers, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp. The Padres may look to compete immediately and will rely on the same intangibles that James Shields brought to the Royals' AL Championship run.
Edited by Victoria Kirk
TONY GUTIERREZ/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baylor forward Taurean Prince (21) is fouled going to the basket by Oklahoma State's Michael Cobbins (20) as Le'Bryan Nash (2) and Christian Sager (15) in the first half of the basketball game Monday in Waco, Texas. With six Big 12 teams in the Top 25, the conference is set to face some tough competitors this week.
Big 12 facing string of big games this week
IJOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press
With six teams in the Top 25, the Big 12 has big games pretty much every week.
This one will be no different as the 10 teams in college basketball's deepest conference jockey for position.
It started on Monday night, when No. 21 Oklahoma State won at No. 16 Baylor 74-65 and No. 17 Oklahoma beat No. 14 Iowa State 94-83.
On Wednesday, No. 21 West Virginia tries to end a two-game losing streak at Kansas State, which
may need a late push to get an NCAA tournament bid.
The Big 12's big day is Saturday, highlighted by Kansas at Baylor.
The Jayhawks lost at No. 21 Oklahoma State last week, but didn't lose any ground in The Associated Press Top 25, remaining at No. 8 this week.
The Bears (18-6) moved up three spots to No. 16 this week after routing TCU and West Virginia last week, but could drop after the home loss to Oklahoma State.
Kansas and Baylor opened their Big 12 seasons against each other on Jan. 7, when Wayne Selden scored
three straight baskets, including a tiebreaking three-pointer, to send the Jayhawks to a 56-55 win in Waco.
The Jayhawks (19-4) lead the Big 12 at 8-2, a game ahead of No. 13 Iowa State, in their bid to win an 11th-straight regular-season conference championship.
"It's so early. My thinking is, a lot of times when you wish for something to happen early in conference play, it turns out to be totally irrelevant late and it may end up biting you," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "So we just watch, not get too hung up or emotional in what's going on and then just focus in on what we need
to do."
The rest of Saturday's schedule includes more important games in the Big 12 race.
Iowa State (17-6), down three spots to No. 14 in the latest poll, faces a tough test at West Virginia.
After knocking off the Cyclones, Oklahoma (17-7) plays at Kansas State after climbing four sports to No. 17 in the latest poll.
Oklahoma State (16-7) closes out its week against TCU, which is 1-9 in Big 12 play.
The Big East has a pretty big game Saturday as well.
Villanova (21-2), which moved up
to No. 6 in this week's poll, faces a tough road test against No. 18 Butler.
The Wildcats have bounced back from a loss to Georgetown by reeling off four straight lopsided victories.
Villanova beat Butler 67-55 in their Big East opener, but the Bulldogs (18-6) have won five straight and moved up four spots in the latest poll. Butler is second in the Big East at 8-3, a half-game behind Villanova.
"They've earned the right to play a meaningful game in February," Butler coach Chris Holtmann said. "Now, let's go and prepare for it."
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