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Scot Shields, Angels’ setup specialist, discusses retirement

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Scot Shields, the Angels’ brilliant setup man for much of the last decade, announced his retirement Friday.

Shields, 35, has suffered through a knee injury and arm pain in recent years, but from 2004 through 2008, he struck out 432 batters in 435 innings, setting up Francisco Rodriguez in the team’s gifted bullpen.

Shields said in a conference call with reporters that although he had an opportunity with another team to continue pitching this season, “nothing seemed like the right fit. I had to talk myself into playing. I just didn’t have it; my mind has been made up for awhile.”

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Looking back, Shields -- Sports Illustrated’s “setup man of the decade” -- said he would recall fondly pitching in the 2002 World Series and joining Rodriguez as 100-strikeout relievers in 2005. He expressed no regrets over never being a full-time closer.

“I didn’t back down from anybody,” he said. “I had some walks, but I was, ‘Here it is, hit it,’ and that attitude helped me out a lot.”

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-- Lance Pugmire

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