Big Game, indeed.
Facts, presented without editorial comment:
Without any editorial comment from Passan, anyway. Here's my editorial comment ... Enough with the nickname, already. Look, I don't care what Shields calls himself. Whatever it takes to get that edge, man. And I don't mind media types using it, because it sounds cool. What bothers me is when media types assign some sort of predictive quality to the nickname. Because we've now got an abundance of proof that Shields does not have some special or magical ability to pitch particularly well in important games.
Hey, maybe he'll follow up that terrible first inning with five shutout frames, then shut down the Giants in Game 5. But if not, "Big Game" should be stripped of all meaning before the clubs next report to spring training.