As Evan said: "[James] pitched his ass off."
9 innings, 1 hit, no walks, 8 strikeouts, 92 pitches, 61 strikes, 66.3% strikes (!!!)
Sorry Sonnanstine, Jackson, and even Kazmir, tonight was the best pitching performance in team history, and it's not even that close. Shields was amazingly effective while being so efficient that hybrid car owners looked on in envy. The Angels stood no chance tonight and that's no disrespect to them whatsoever, but Shields didn't just bring his A-game tonight, he brought a once in a lifetime performance that should live in our hearts and minds for quite some time.
When Shields was called up -- before my time here began -- I remember reading about him in that year's Baseball Prospectus handbook and made it a point to watch that night's game. Just shy of two years to the day, Shields just may have pitched a game that cannot be topped. After a 13 innings roller coaster up north the Rays needed something like this, but this was simply amazing.
This is what amazing looks on a chart:
via 38.99.108.6
And in the flesh:
via d.yimg.com
No MVP poll tonight, if you vote for anyone but Shields you're insane.