James Shields Comments on Passing Kidney Stone During ALCS

Kansas City Royals ace James Shields is gearing up to start Game 1 of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. However, he didn't exactly get to savor the Royals' first American League pennant run since 1985 in ideal fashion.    

Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star reported Monday that Shields passed a kidney stone during the American League Championship Series. Although he endured a CT scan, which determined he'd passed the stone, Shields wasn't quite fit for what turned out to be the clinching Game 4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

"It was excruciating pain," said Shields on Monday, per McCullough. "I wasn't feeling good."

Shields could have started that closeout game, but the grueling situation he endured may have been a blessing in disguise. Now Kansas City has the luxury of trotting out its premier starting pitcher for the Fall Classic opener on 11 days' rest.

Coming off a stellar regular season in which he notched a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA, the 32-year-old veteran has seen his ERA balloon to 5.63 in the postseason. That's something Shields is intent to improve upon, starting with Tuesday's monumental showdown with the San Francisco Giants, per McCullough:

"

I haven't pitched the way that I've wanted to. There's no doubt about it. I feel like I could pitch better. But that said, I've felt really good. My bullpen sessions have been really good. I feel as good as I can feel right now.

I'm a big believer in amnesia. I've been doing it my whole entire career. I've had a bunch of bad outings. And I've always been able to come back from them. So I'm not really too worried about it.

"

Having a short memory is indeed key for a pitcher not meeting his own expectations. That is especially true ahead of the World Series, where Shields will encounter a Giants nucleus that has captured the Commissioner's Trophy as recently as 2010 and 2012.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports 1 noted how valuable Shields' experience is—and it's something the Royals may not benefit from again, considering Shields is a free agent this offseason:

Madison Bumgarner, Shields' Game 1 counterpart, has had a tremendous run in this year's MLB playoffs, posting a 2-1 record, a 1.42 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP.

Bumgarner's current form will require Shields to back up his words, bounce back and position Kansas City to take the first game at home in Kauffman Stadium.

As Shields alluded to, though, the K.C. bullpen has been tremendous, as it's helped the Royals to an unprecedented eight-game winning streak to start the postseason. Even though Kansas City will still be perceived as World Series underdogs, there is a certain amount of pressure to keep the victorious momentum going and to hold court on its home field.

The good news is that Shields' unenviable health situation is behind him, and now he can fully focus on helping the Royals' magical run continue by matching or outplaying Bumgarner.