NG Life

Mussina

一如大家所預期的，紐約洋基隊投手 Mike Mussina 決定退休，結束18年的大聯盟生涯。他在上週告知洋基球團他將在本週結束前會給予球隊一個肯定的答案。

下個月8號即將滿40歲的 Mussina 生涯前十個球季皆效力於巴爾迪摩金鶯隊，最後八個球季則為紐約洋基隊投球。生涯累積270勝在現役右投手中排名第二，僅次於 Greg Maddux。2813次三振則在現役球員中排名第六，大聯盟史上第19。Mussina 在生涯的最後一場先發中面對波士頓紅襪隊投出了6局無失分的成績，並且獲得勝投，也使自己生涯首度單季勝投數達到20場。1990年在第一輪被金鶯隊選上的 Mussina 生涯累積270勝153敗，自責分率3.68。

雖然 Mussina 的270勝未達到名人堂非正式標準的300勝，但是他入選名人堂的可能性將會因為他的投球生涯位於類固醇時代，且整個生涯接待在進攻能力較強的美聯東區而提高。

在大聯盟歷史上除了 Mussina 以外只有20位勝率超過5成的投手勝場數超過敗場數100場以上，其中16位為名人堂成員，另外四位尚未獲得票選資格，他們分別為 Roger Clemens，Pedro Martinez，Greg Maddux 與 Tom Glavine。

除此之外，史上也只有五位生涯超過270勝的投手的勝率比 Mussina(.638) 更高 - Lefty Grove，Christy Mathewson，Clemens，Randy Johnson 與 Grover Cleveland Alexander。

Mussina 在不久前才剛獲得了生涯第七座的金手套獎，並且在美聯賽揚獎與年度最有價值球員票選中分別排名第六與第八。

根據 Elias Sports Bureau 的資料，Mussina 為1900年後第五位生涯的最後一個球季拿到超過20勝的球員，也是自1967年的 Sandy Koufax 後的首位創下這項紀錄的球員。他同時也是創下這項紀錄的所有球員中，唯一一位在最後一場先發拿第20勝的。

相信在接下來的自由球員市場大亂鬥中，洋基隊會灑下更多的錢，開出更多讓人瞠目結舌的合約。

資料來源:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8818830/Yanks%27-Mussina-to-retire-after-first-20-win-season
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3713851

They are two teams, each playing extremely well, each with plenty of time to set their pitching and rest their bones.

這兩支球隊都打得非常出色，也都擁有足夠的時間休息與調整投手群。

They are the Dodgers and Phillies, and each swept a four-game series from the other in August. This will be the fourth time they have played in the National League Championship Series, but the first time since 1983. They dispatched the two Midwest teams, and now the NLCS will go coast-to-coast for the right to advance to the World Series.

他們分別是道奇隊與費城人隊，兩隊都曾在8月的四場系列賽中橫掃對手。這將是兩隊第四度在國家聯盟冠軍賽碰頭，但是卻是自1983年後的第一次。兩隊迅速的解決了兩支中西區的球隊，現在國聯冠軍賽將是進軍世界大賽的門票。

Here are five questions heading into the series:
以下是五個針對此系列賽的分析:

How good is the Dodgers' pitching?
道奇隊的投手表現的有多好?

Very good. The Dodgers led the NL in ERA, posting a 3.15 ERA in September, and they held the Cubs, the highest-scoring team in the NL, to six runs in three games in the NLDS. Derek Lowe is a seasoned postseason pitcher who has learned not to get flustered when things don't go his way, as he did in Game 1 with a very tight strike zone in the early innings against the Cubs. Lowe has been as good as any pitcher in the game over his past 10 starts.

非常的優異。道奇隊在9月份的3.15自責分率排名國家聯盟第一，並且讓國聯最會得分的小熊隊在國聯分區冠軍賽的三場比賽只得到6分。Derek Lowe是一名經驗豐富的季後賽投手，他知道場上情況不利自己時絕不能慌張，例如在第一場比賽面對小熊隊時前幾局非常窄的好球帶。Lowe在最近的10場先發表現的非常優異。

Now that the season is over for CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez is doing his part to get the big lefty to sign with the Yankees.

對CC Sabathia而言，球季已經結束了，Alex Rodriguez正用他的方法讓這位左投手跟洋基簽約。

In an attempt to show CC how great it is to be fabulously wealthy, Alex dined at a sidewalk cafe in the Village and casually wiped his face with a $100 bill.

為了要向CC顯示擁有驚人的財富是多麼的美好，Alex在位於市區的人行道上的餐館用餐，並且若無其事的用百元大鈔擦他的臉。

It is not known whether A-Rod then flung the soiled bill to the ground and said, “Let’s see Jeter do that.” But one would assume he did.

我們不知道A-Rod稍後是否將那張弄髒的鈔票丟到地上，並且說:「讓我們瞧瞧Jeter也這麼做」。但是有人認為他這麼做了。

It is expected once Sabathia learns that being a Yankee means you can use $100s as a napkin, he will sign immediately.

一旦Sabathia了解到成為洋基球員之後可以拿100元大鈔當餐巾紙，那麼他將會馬上簽約。

資料來源: A-Rod: Ace recruiter for the Yankees

星期六是洋基隊的菜鳥日，去年洋基隊的菜鳥打扮成綠野仙蹤的角色，今年的菜鳥則模仿1970年代的樂團Village People。

Alfredo Aceves 扮成印地安人

Brett Gardner 扮成工人

Juan Miranda 扮成警察

Francisco Cervelli 扮成機車騎士

Humberto Sanchez 扮成海軍軍官

Dave Robertson 扮成牛仔

Phil Coke因為沒有服裝了，所以逃過一劫。下面這張是真正的Village People。

繼之前對國家聯盟沒有採用DH制度開砲後，這個禮拜洋基的小老闆Hank Steinbrenner再度對聯盟目前的分區制度發表他的不滿意見。

There has been plenty of discussion about so many large-market teams being in playoff contention this season. But some small-market teams have been in the running all season. The Rays are the best example of that.

已經有許多關於本季如此多的大市場球隊打進季後賽的討論。但是也有些小市場球隊整季都在競爭行列中。光芒隊就是最佳的例子。

This is when the topic of revenue sharing usually comes up. That's a system I don't particularly like. It's a socialist system, and I don't agree with it. Does it work? It depends on your point of view. But is it right? Is it even American? I'd argue no on both of those points.

利潤分配這個議題經常被提出。這是我特別不喜歡的體制。它是屬於社會主義，我無法贊同。它行得通嗎?這將因個人觀點而異。那它是正確的嗎?甚至在美國都是嗎?這兩點我都不認同。

But if you want to talk about things that infuriate me about the game today, revenue sharing doesn't top the list. The biggest problem is the divisional setup in major league baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now.

但是如果你想談論現在讓我感到生氣的比賽，利潤分配不是最主要的。最大的問題是大聯盟的分區制度。我在1970年代時就不喜歡這個制度，現在則是恨透了。

Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we're not. This is by no means a knock on Torre -- let me make that clear -- but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the A.L. East, it wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The A.L. East is never weak. Ask the teams that finished behind us all of those seasons. I'll say it right now: Boston should have made the playoffs in 1978. We beat the Red Sox in that one-game playoff, but they still had a better record than the Royals, who won the A.L. West. And that's one of many examples.

大聯盟為了創造更多的競爭與刺激而走向數個分區的制度。但是這一點也不公平。你見到許多人在媒體上指出Joe Torre與道奇隊即將打進季後賽，但是我們卻沒有。這絕非是對Torre的貶損 -- 讓我解釋清楚 -- 瞧瞧他們所處的分區。如果道奇隊屬於美聯東區，哪麼道奇隊將不在季後賽競爭行列中。美聯東區總是競爭激烈，去問問這些球季排名在我們後面的球隊。我現在想說: 1978年紅襪隊應該要能進軍季後賽的，但是它在那唯一的一場季後賽比賽中被我們打敗了，但是他們的季賽成績卻比美聯西區冠軍皇家隊優異。這是其中的一個例子。

I'm happy for Joe, but you have to compare the divisions and the competition. What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers but the Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No.

我為Joe感到高興，但是你必須比較分區與競爭對手。假設洋基隊在球季結束時勝場數多於道奇隊，但是道奇隊卻能夠打進季後賽?這代表道奇隊是一支比較強的球隊嗎?不。

We play 162 games to determine the best teams, but why even bother if an 83-win team wins the World Series? Why not just play 30 games and then have a long playoff season? Otherwise, baseball's regular season becomes almost as useless as hockey's regular season.

我們藉由162場比賽來決定最佳球隊，但是如果一支83勝的球隊贏得了世界冠軍?那麼為什麼不要只打30場例行賽而改打長期的季後賽呢?大聯盟的例行賽變得幾乎和曲棍球例行賽一樣的無用。

The divisional setup is not right by any definition of logic. But the sports media rarely deals with logic -- so you never read about this.

由各方面的邏輯來看，分區制度是不正確的。但是運動媒體卻很少討論邏輯 -- 所以你不曾讀到相關報導。

So, what should be done? Have an A.L. and an N.L. and put the top four finishers from each in the playoffs. You'd still have eight teams and the same number of playoff rounds. The Yankees still wouldn't be in the postseason this year in my setup, so it's not sour grapes. It's just the smart way to do things. Unfortunately, we don't do that. But we should because -- here comes that word again -- it's logical.

那麼該怎麼做呢?聯盟分為國家聯盟與美國聯盟，由兩聯盟分別戰績最佳的四支球隊打季後賽。如此同樣有八支球隊進行季後賽，回合數也相同。今年洋基隊在我所說的制度下仍然無法打進季後賽，所以這不是酸葡萄心理。這只是用聰明的方法來做事情而已。不幸的是，我們卻沒有這麼做。但是我們應該這麼做，因為 -- 老話一句 --這樣才符合邏輯。

The one saving grace in the current six-division setup is the wild card. Without it, we'd have a complete disaster because a deserving team from each league would be kept out each season. You can't keep a strong second-place team out of the playoffs just because it finished behind a dominant first-place team. And if a wild-card team wins the World Series, great. It got there because it had a great record, not because it won a weak division.

目前六個分區制度唯一的可取之處就是外卡。如果沒有外卡，那麼一隻應打進季後賽的球隊卻年年被擋在門外，這就真的是個完全失敗的制度了。你不該讓一支優秀的球隊只因為排名第二而無法打季後賽。如果一支外卡球隊贏得了世界冠軍，太棒了。這不是因為他是競爭力較差的分區的冠軍，而是他真的擁有不錯的戰績。

資料來源: Hank Steinbrenner: Clean up baseball's mess

The Yankees have one starter who is guaranteed a spot in the 2009 rotation at this point: Chien-Ming Wang.

目前洋基隊有一位先發投手肯定會出現在2009年的先發輪值中: 王建民。

CMW is feeling pretty good these days. He’s out of his boot and has tossed the crutches. For the last week or so, he has been playing catch and is hoping to go on the road trip.

最近王建民感覺很不錯。他已經脫掉了保護靴，並且不需要使用拐杖了。大約上星期他已經開始傳接球練習，並且希望能隨隊到客場比賽。

“Everything feels good,” Wang said last night, looking down at his right foot. “No pain.”

"所有的感覺都好極了"，王建民昨晚看著他的右腳這麼說。"沒有任何疼痛的感覺。"

The plan is for Wang to head down to Tampa for a few weeks when the season is over and work his way up to throwing a bullpen or two. Once he throws off the mound, he’ll return to Taiwan. He will train at a facility in Arizona in January and plans to arrive in spring training in great shape, ready to throw.

目前的計畫是，王建民將在球季結束後到Tampa報到，並且待幾個禮拜，直到在牛棚練投一兩次。等到他能夠在投手丘上投球後，他將返回台灣。一月時王建民將待在亞歷桑納進行重量訓練，並且在春訓前達到標準身材，準備投球。

“This year was frustrating,” said Wang, who was 8-2 when he went down and probably headed for 20 wins. “Next year will be better.”

受傷前戰績為8勝2敗，並且有機會挑戰20勝的王建民說:"今年真是讓人感到沮喪的一年，明年會更好的。"

I kidded Wang about showing his face at Fenway Park next week. He threw that brilliant game up there in April, allowing one run on two hits over nine innings.

我跟王建民開玩笑要他下禮拜到芬威球場露個臉。他四月時曾在那投了一場精采的比賽，完投九局只被打出兩支安打失掉一分。

“The fans will say, ‘You suck,’ ” Wang said. “I will say, ‘See you next year.’ ”

王建民說:"球迷會說'你真是討厭'，但是他會說'明年見'"。

資料來源: An update on the ace