But he would spark interest in the team at the very least

MIAMI -- Chicago White Sox right-hander James Shields nine-year streak of double-figure wins is in serious jeopardy.Sheilds, who starts Saturday night against Miami Marlins left-hander Adam Conley, is 5-14 with a 5.43 ERA this season.Perhaps Shields, who turns 35 in December, has gotten old all of a sudden, and his days as an ace are over. Perhaps that is the answer, but its still a bit odd because Shields has been so consistent for so long ... only to unravel this year.Shields, who started the season with the San Diego Padres, was acquired by the White Sox on June 4. Thats when things went from bad to worse -- in 12 starts with the White Sox, he has a 6.68 ERA.Things have been really bad for Shields in his two previous starts as he has allowed 14 runs on 15 hits in a combined total of 6 1/3 innings. He got just four outs in his most recent start, against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing eight runs.I was pretty much bad all-around, Shields told the media after his most recent loss. I wasnt in my spots, and they were capitalizing.So what happened to Shields?The short answer is that Shields is giving up too many walks and too many homers.Shields has always been a fly-ball pitcher. For example, he gave up the most homers in the league, 34, in 2010, but still managed to win 13 games that year for the Tampa Bay Rays.Last year, he again led the league by allowing 33 homers, this time for the Padres. But again, he won 13 games.In fact, entering this season, Shields had an impressive 127-97 career record.But Shields, who prides himself on a deluxe changeup that he can throw on any count and a fastball that ranges between 89 and 94 mph with movement, has allowed an alarming 2.2 homers per nine innings since his trade to Chicago. His career average is 1.1.Shields control has also been an issue. His walks have gone from a career mark of 2.4 per nine innings to 4.2 this season.Whatever it is that is ailing Shields, the White Sox hope he can be fixed because he is under contract through the end of the 2018 season on a four-year, $75 million deal.The Marlins, meanwhile, dont have nearly as much invested in Conley, a rookie who is 8.6 with a 3.70 ERA. Conley was Miamis second-best starting pitcher in the first half of the season, trailing only All-Star Jose Fernandez.But Conley is averaging just 5 1/3 innings per start in the second half of this season and has eclipsed the 100-pitch mark just once. His 4.00 ERA and 5.6 walks per nine innings are also signs of decline from his first-half numbers.His ERA was 3.65 in the first half of the season when he won six games.The Marlins, who dropped to 60-55 after Fridays 4-2 loss to the White Sox (55-60), are fortunate to be a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the battle for the second and final NL wild-card playoff berth.At least, that is the view of Marlins manager Don Mattingly.Somebody is going to get hot, Mattingly said of the teams that are chasing that wild-card spot. Somebody is going to win 10 of 12 or 11 of 14 and put you in harms way. So we are going to have to get going.It may happen in time for Saturdays game or it could happen later or not at all, but the Marlins are reportedly considering signing Alex Rodriguez, who is due to be released by the New York Yankees after playing his final game for the club Friday.The Marlins would use Rodriguez at first base as a replacement for injured Justin Bour, who wont return until September at the earliest, according to Miami manager Don Mattingly.Rodriguez, 41, hasnt played in the field much, and he may not have much left. But he would spark interest in the team at the very least, and he may be able to supply some power. Houston Astros Shirts . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . 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CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon was driving his RV through Virginia two years ago when he got the news. Andrew Friedman was leaving Tampa Bay to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers.One pivotal moment on the road to this years NL Championship Series.A month after Friedmans departure, Maddon was introduced as the 54th manager of the lowly Chicago Cubs. Friedman hired general manager Farhan Zaidi in his first big move in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers continued their winning ways.Now Maddon and Friedman are together again, with a spot in the World Series on the line. The Cubs and Dodgers play Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.We stay in touch all the time, Maddon said before his team worked out on Friday. I know his family really well. His moms a trip. I really enjoy the whole group. So Andrew and I are very close.Friedmans move to sunny LA triggered an opt-out clause in Maddons contract, and Chicago jumped on the opportunity to put the Pennsylvania native in its dugout. The decision has worked out quite well so far, with the Cubs returning to the NLCS for the second straight year for the first time.It turns out there are lots of friends on each side of this years series.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts contributed a famous steal to Bostons run to the World Series title in 2004, stopping an 86-year drought. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer worked for the Red Sox at the time, and they acquired Roberts in a trade with Los Angeles on July 31 that year.I kind of put Theo and Jed together and theyre good friends of mine, Roberts said, and theres a lot of, a little bit of banter, but obviously Ive got the ultimate respect for those guys and they really helped me get a ring.Roberts and the Dodgers arrived in Chicago on Friday, fresh off a dramatic 4-3 victory at Washington in Game 5 of their NL Division Series. The NL West champions used six pitchers in the series-clinching win, including closer Kenley Jansen for a career-high 51 pitches and ace Clayton Kershaw for the final two outs.The taxing finale in Washington left Roberts few options for Game 1 of the NLCS, and he said Kenta Maeda will get the ball for the opener against the Cubs. Roberts wasnt ready to announce his rotation for the rest of the series, but hinted Kershaw likely would go in Game 2 on Sunday night.Physically, he feels great, Roberts said before the Dodgers workkout.dddddddddddd. Hes going to go out there and get a lift in and throw and run and do what he does. So, obviously, were not prepared to make that decision yet, but hes tracking to start when we all think.Jansen thinks he will be ready for the NLCS opener, and Kershaw said he felt fine. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner also said he isnt sure when he will make his next start.I havent heard a thing, he said.The 28-year-old Maeda went 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in his first season in the majors. But the Japanese right-hander has lost three straight starts, lasting just three innings in his first career playoff appearance Monday against Washington.Weve been relying a lot on our relief pitchers to take the load, so I want to be able to -- Im really just focused on throwing quality innings as long as I can, Maeda said through a translator. And as long as I keep throwing quality innings, then I would be able to throw longer and deeper into the game.The Cubs have been resting since they used a four-run ninth to finish off San Francisco with a 6-5 victory in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Jon Lester is lined up to start Game 1, followed by Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey in a repeat of the Division Series.Lester pitched 15 innings of one-run ball in two starts against Los Angeles this year, and the Dodgers hit .213 against lefty pitching overall.Hes good. And right now hes at the top of his game, Maddon said. I mean, from what Ive seen, hes had a couple hiccups, which everybody does. But, man, hes been pretty much right on the last couple months, including the first game of the playoffs for him.There was some question about Hendricks health after he had a comebacker go off his right forearm in Game 2 against the Giants. But the right-hander, who had a major league-best 2.13 ERA this year, felt fine after a bullpen session on Thursday, allowing the Cubs to finalize their rotation.Our staff has been really, really good this year, and I think that, really, if you put all of our names in a hat and pulled one out, I dont think you could go wrong, Lester said. So, its a huge honor, especially for an organization like this, to get the ball again and try to go out and give us a good start.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '