Compiled by Alan Mattews
Fullerton, Calif--Trevor Plouffe has his post game routine down pat. When he
comes home, he doesn't rip off his pants and jersey and toss them in the
hamper .As superstitious as he is talented, the Crespi High senior makes sure
his entire uniform is washed the same way every time: all together - with
stirrups, sanitaries, jersey and all-and by no one other than himself. A job
usually reserved for moms, there are certain aspects of the laundry even
Plouffe's mother isn't allowed to handle, another twist in the background of
a player who is used to doing more than his share to help out. Especially
where his mom is concerned.
Trevor Plouffe 有一個特別的賽後習慣。比賽完回到了家，他不會將球褲球衣揉一揉丟
到洗衣籃裡。這個 Crespi 高中的高三學生不只有天份，也很迷信。每次賽後他都要親自
洗自己的球衣，以相同不變的方式。相同的水槽、球衣還有球褲，都是他一個人負責。因
為一些因素連 Plouffe 的老媽都沒辦法承擔洗衣這件差事，由於成長背景的關係這個球
員習慣於做超過自己份內該做的事。
Like many prep standouts, Plouffe does double duty in high school. He pitches
and he hits, and he is one of the best two-way players in the nation. He was
the utility player on Baseball America's preseason All-American team and
continued to split time effectively between the mound and shortstop for
Crespi, ranked No.17 in the preseason Baseball America/National High School
Baseball Coaches/Association poll and the runner-up in this year's National
Classic. Before this year, it seemed that every time Plouffe pitched, scouts
were more intrigued with his low-90s fastball, good curveball and spindly,
athletic, 6-foot-1, 170 pound frame. When he stepped to the plate, scouts
showed enthusiasm for his fluid stroke and power to all fields. As a junior,
Plouffe went 13-1, 0.71 on the mound and hit an equally impressive .500-6-47
with 17 stolen bases.
就像許多傑出的球員一樣，Plouffe 在高中不但擔任投手，也兼職打擊，可以說是國內投
打雙棲球員中很優秀的一位。季前不僅以工具人身分被棒球美國選為全美代表隊的一員，
更在棒球美國與全美高中棒球教練協會的票選中名列 17 名，在全國高中經典賽中成績更
是可圈可點。在今年之前，球探對他的投打都有很高的評價。他們對他上看 90 英里的速
球，絕佳的曲球，還有六呎一，170 磅的身材印象深刻。站上打擊區，流暢的揮棒以及爆
發力讓他們對這孩子感到樂觀。Plouffe 高三的成績相當不錯，13勝 1負，ERA 0.71，打
擊率 5成還有 6支全壘打，47個打點和 17次盜壘成功。投打的成績都很驚人。
As the draft draws near however, it looks like the decision over Plouffe's
future is less opaque. Helping matters is the low number of quality position
players in this year's draft class. "He's got a good arm, but he's not in the
upper echelon of pitchers," said a National League scouting director. "There
are so many righthanded pitchers out there that he's got a better chance as a
position player." Plouffe, a Southern California signee, homered five times in
his first six games as Crespi sprinted out to a 9-0 start. He snapped the
school's career home run mark of 15 set by Royals righthander Jeff Suppan,
also a two way player at Crespi, and was tearing up opposing pitching while
playing soundly up the middle.
他必須要做出決定，在投手丘或是游擊區之間做一個抉擇。隨著選秀的接近，態度跟著明
朗化。今年選秀中野手可看性不足似乎是個決定性的原因。「他的臂力不錯，但是還不夠
格擔任投手，」一個國聯的球探長如是說。「市場上有許多不錯的右投，改練野手對他來
說比較會有機會。」在南加州長大的 Plouffe，在前六場比賽中擊出了五支全壘打，
Crespi 也拉出了九連勝的紅盤。他打破了由現任皇家右投 Jeff Suppan 創下的 15 隻全
壘打的校史紀錄，Suppan 唸 Crespi 時也是投打雙棲，以中外野手的身分把對方投手打
得哇哇叫。
"Offensively he's got a little juice in his swing," another NL scouting
director said. "You hope he hits for average with a little bit of pop….You
wonder, if he gains 15 to 20 pounds, if he'll have to move to third if he'll
hit enough to play a corner." After a solid showing at the National Classic,
Plouffe was batting .500(22 for 44) with six home runs and 24 RBIs. He had
also walked 16 times and was beginning to envision himself more as a position
player. "Personally, I think I have more of an advantage playing everyday,"
Plouffe said. "I love all aspects of the game-pitching, hitting, playing
defense. It just feels to me that I am better in the field where I can
contribute more to the team." Some clubs are still scouting Plouffe as a
two-way player, and he says he could fall back to pitching if he struggled as
a hitter. "It really differs between organizations," Plouffe said. "A lot of
them have been saying 'You can go as a shortstop and if it doesn't work out,
go back to pitching.' "It doesn't work the other way. You can't put the bat
down for two years and expect to come back to hit."
「進攻方面他的揮棒很有一套，」另一個國聯球探長說。「你期待他可以維持一定的打擊
率，偶而來幾隻長打。或是猜想，如果他增重15到20磅，如果他能守三壘，如果他的打擊
夠力站穩外野。」經過全國高中經典賽中 5成打擊率（44個打席22安打），六支全壘打還
有 24 打點的表現後，他開始對自己擔任野手有比較實際的想法。「我自己覺得每天都能
夠上場對我自己是個利多。」Plouffe 說，「對於投球、打擊和防守我都一樣熱愛。上場
打擊對隊上貢獻更多，我覺得很棒。」有些球團仍希望 Plouffe 能夠繼續投打雙棲，表
示如果打得不好還是可以回去投球。「各家球團有不同的差異，」Plouffe 說，「大家都
說，如果練游擊行不通，你還是可以回去練投手。這樣子是行不通的，你不可能放下球棒
兩年然後再回去打擊。」
Plouffe has raw power. He keeps his hands back and his bat explodes through
the hitting zone. He uses his front foot as a timing mechanism, holding it
briefly in the air before triggering his hands, as a style similar to Yankees
third baseman Alex Rodriguez. But Ozzie Smith was the major leaguer Plouffe
chose to emulate, more for the way Smith carried himself on the field. "He had
the flash without the cockiness," Plouffe said. Plouffe humility was fostered
by adversity. When he was 13, his mother Diane was diagnosed with breast
cancer. She was treated and has continued to pass routine check-ups, but
Plouffe still play with his mother close to his heart. "I can remember looking
back over my shoulder at her when I was about to bat, and thinking of how
strong she is and how much I wanted to make her proud," he said. It was during
their 30-minute commute to school when Trevor's father Warren talked to his
three children about their mother's condition and tried to tell them what to
expect. Diane recalls the most difficult times being when she reflected on her
children's future, concerned she could miss their maturation. "It was tough,"
She said. "There was a time when it was pretty scary. I was afraid I wouldn't
be able to see their success. But we came through it pretty good." Today, all
signs point to a full recovery for Diane. All signs point toward more success
for Trevor, too.
Plouffe 擁有強大的力量。他習慣把球棒拿得後面一點，藉著長一點的揮棒讓速度爆發出
來，在揮棒之前他習慣舉起前腳，當作抓時機的一個機制。這個動作有點像洋基的三壘手
Alex Rodriguez。實際上 Ozzie Smith 才是 Plouffe 師法的對象，像是 Smith 在場上
表現出來的風格。「他有閃電般的氣勢，但是並不自傲。」他說。Plouffe 的謙卑是困苦
的環境造就出來的。13 歲時他的媽媽被診斷出罹患了乳癌，她接受了治療還有例行性的
檢查，到今天 Plouffe 仍為著媽媽力求表現。「我還記得每次打擊時都會回頭看看她，
我多麼想讓她以我為傲。」Pliuffe 說。他的父親 Warren 在開車載孩子們去學校的半個
小時時間內，向他們解釋媽媽的情形以及可能出現的後果。Diane 回憶起處於最惡劣狀況
時，可能會錯過孩子們未來的成長。「這真的是相當難受。」她說。「有段時間真的是相
當可怕，我害怕錯過他們的成就。但是我們至終還是熬過來了。」今天，所有的跡象都
顯示 Diane 已經完全復原。也顯示了 Trevor 會有更多的成就。
※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.167.235.214 (06/14 22:41)
※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.167.235.214 (06/14 22:59)